Take to sci-fi skies with the new Citizen Promaster Skyhawk collection
Fergus Nash- The new Citizen Promaster Skyhawk collection steps from modernity into futurism.
- It’s rich in functionality but still remains legible and stylish.
- The solar charging and atomic synchronisation make it an extremely convenient watch to throw on.
When you think about pilot’s watches, it’s easy to cast your mind into the past and think of the legends. As incredible as those classics are, they do still belong to a bygone era and modernity craves more. The Citizen Promaster Skyhawk range has been offering thoroughly-modern pilot’s watches for around thirty years, and now they’ve introduced three new references which take the next step into the future.
Of the previous generations of the Citizen Promaster Skyhawk, most have been pretty monstrous. The second generation took a sleek, integrated-bracelet approach, but the others generally sported huge cases with chunky protrusions, lumpy bezels and bumpy bracelets. Admittedly, the new case designs are still giant at 46mm across, but their sleek shell-like silhouette and chopped facets give it a retrofuturistic sleekness that’s a fun departure from previous stoicism. The brushed finishes emphasise their industrial and rugged nature, and makes the polished surface of the pushers shine brighter. It’s not just for looks either, with 200 metres of water resistance meaning you could theoretically take it diving.
Functionally, the dial is laid out in the exact same manner as the other recent Citizen Promaster Skyhawk models, but the way the frames and printed markers have been laid out changes the look completely. Rather than a hodgepodge of digital screens and floating subdials, each function is given a distinct border with clean, controlled angles. The 24-hour dual-time subdial at 12 o’clock and the function subdial are both surrounded by a hexagon with faux-screw holes, almost looking like little watches in their own right. The whole arrangement looks much more like a futuristic cockpit, as well as being easier to read amidst the chaos. The Eco-Drive technology means that the dial is actually capable of solar charging, even through the colour variations. The three dial options with complementary bezel inserts are black, blue, and of course, green. They’re paired with matching leather integrated straps, retaining a mostly casual nature.
The U680 movement which powers the Citizen Promaster Skyhawk is as much of a beast as the watch, packed with functionality that expands upon the pure utility of the dial and slide rule bezel. Your standard chronograph, alarm, and countdown timer are included alongside rarer complications like a perpetual calendar. It can detect radio signals in Japan, China, Europe, and the USA for receiving atomic time, keeping it synchronised automatically to the most reliable timing source possible. Also on the dial are displays for alternate world time zones, digital time, the power reserve, and a 24-hour hand as an AM/PM indicator. You’d need to sit down with the manual for a while to figure out everything it has to offer, which is exactly what you want from a watch like this.
Citizen Promaster Skyhawk collection pricing and availability
The new Citizen Promaster Skyhawk collection is now available. Price: US$750
| Brand | Citizen |
| Model | Promaster Skyhawk |
| Case Dimensions | 46mm (D) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Black, blue, or green |
| Lug Width | N/A |
| Strap | Colour-matched integrated leather strap |
| Movement | Citizen U680 |
| Power Reserve | 180 days on a full charge |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, perpetual calendar, world time, chronograph, alarm, countdown timer, slide rule bezel, UTC display, power reserve indicator, and more. |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$750 |