Citizen is set to commemorate a significant milestone in dive watch history with the upcoming release of the Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition. This new model, identified as JP2008-06E, serves as a tribute to the groundbreaking 1985 Aqualand, renowned as the world's first diver's watch equipped with an electronic depth sensor. The anniversary edition aims to capture the spirit of the original while incorporating contemporary materials and updated specifications, reflecting Citizen's continued dedication to innovation within the realm of professional sports watches.
The history of
Citizen Watch Company is one of relentless pursuit of improvement and technological advancement, guided by their core belief: "BETTER STARTS NOW." Founded in 1918, Citizen established itself as a true manufacture d'horlogerie, possessing the comprehensive capability to design, develop, and produce all components of a timepiece in-house, from the smallest gear to the final assembled product. This integrated approach has allowed Citizen to pioneer numerous watchmaking technologies over the decades, including their famed light-powered Eco-Drive system. Their venture into professional dive watches was a natural extension of this innovative drive, seeking to provide tools that meet the rigorous demands of underwater exploration.
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The original Aqualand, launched in 1985, was a revolutionary product that fundamentally changed the landscape for diving instruments. Before its arrival, divers relied on separate, often bulky, mechanical depth gauges. The Aqualand integrated this crucial functionality directly into a wristwatch, combining it with timekeeping and other features. This innovation offered divers a more streamlined and accessible way to monitor their depth and dive duration, significantly enhancing safety and convenience. The impact of the 1985 Aqualand cemented Citizen's reputation as a leader in dive watch technology, creating a legacy that the 40th-anniversary model now proudly carries forward.
The Promaster line, under which the new Aqualand is released, was itself established in 1989, building upon such pioneering efforts. Promaster watches are conceived as high-performance instruments for professionals and serious enthusiasts operating in demanding environments. The collection is broadly categorized into three distinct areas: MARINE, for aquatic adventurers; LAND, for those who conquer terrestrial challenges; and SKY, for airborne professionals. Each category emphasizes durability, reliability, and specialized functionality tailored to its intended environment. The Aqualand series has always been a cornerstone of the MARINE collection, embodying the Promaster ethos of pushing boundaries.
Visually, the Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition (JP2008-06E) is a striking piece that immediately evokes its historical predecessor while presenting a modern interpretation. The watch features a substantial stainless steel case with a distinctive gray matte brushed finish, often referred to as a honing finish. This surface treatment gives the watch a tool-like, non-reflective quality, appropriate for a professional instrument. The case's robust architecture is punctuated by carefully placed yellow gold plated accents, which highlight key operational elements and lend a celebratory feel befitting an anniversary model.
A defining characteristic, faithfully reproduced from the 1985 original, is the prominent, bulbous depth sensor located on the left side of the case, at the 9 o'clock position. This feature is not merely aesthetic; it is the very heart of the Aqualand's primary function. Complementing this are the crown, positioned unconventionally at 4 o'clock, and three strategically placed push buttons. These elements, also accented in gold, maintain the distinctive silhouette of the first Aqualand, ensuring immediate recognition by enthusiasts familiar with its lineage. The overall impression is one of rugged capability combined with thoughtful commemorative detailing.
Courtesy of Citizen
The dial of the JP2008-06E is rendered in black metal with a solid, non-reflective finish, crucial for maintaining legibility under challenging lighting conditions, both above and below the water's surface. Large, applied indices mark the hours, appearing to float above the dial surface. These indices, along with the watch's hands, are generously treated with luminous material to ensure visibility in low-light underwater environments. A digital display panel is seamlessly integrated into the dial, providing a clear readout for various functions, including depth and dive time, without cluttering the analog time display.
The case back of this limited edition model further emphasizes its commemorative nature. It is engraved with a special 40th-anniversary logo. This logo's design is directly inspired by the iconic shape of the Aqualand's depth sensor, creating a thematic link between the watch's most recognizable feature and its celebratory status. This attention to detail on the case back provides a private acknowledgment of the watch's heritage for the wearer.
Beyond its primary timekeeping, the Aqualand 40th Anniversary model is packed with features catering to both everyday use and serious diving applications. Standard functions include a perpetual calendar, eliminating the need for manual date adjustments, an alarm function, and the ability to switch the digital display between 12-hour and 24-hour formats. For precision timing, it incorporates a 1/100th of a second chronograph with a 100-minute measuring capacity, useful for a variety of timing needs beyond the dive itself.
The dive-specific functionalities are where the Aqualand truly asserts its purpose. The watch offers a dedicated dive mode that displays current depth and tracks dive duration. Critically for diver safety, it is equipped with an ascent rate alarm. This function monitors the speed at which a diver is ascending and sounds a warning if this rate exceeds a preset safe limit, helping to prevent decompression sickness. These features underscore the Aqualand’s role as a genuine diving instrument.
Courtesy of Citizen
Internally, the watch is powered by Citizen's Caliber C520. This is a battery-operated quartz movement, known for its reliability and precision, with a stated accuracy of ±20 seconds per month. The battery life is approximately two years, and the watch includes a battery life warning function to alert the user when a replacement is needed, ensuring the watch remains dependable when it's most critical.
The case construction of the JP2008-06E is engineered for resilience. Crafted from stainless steel, its considerable dimensions – a diameter of 50.7mm (which includes the sensor) and a thickness of 14.8mm – give it a commanding presence on the wrist. This size is not merely for show; it ensures readability and accommodates the complex sensor technology. The watch adheres to the ISO 6425 standard for diving watches, boasting water resistance to 200 meters. This capability is supported by a screw-lock crown, which prevents accidental operation and water ingress at depth, and a one-way rotating bezel, a critical safety feature for tracking dive time.
The bezel is designed to rotate counter-clockwise only. This ensures that if the bezel is accidentally knocked during a dive, it will only ever indicate a longer elapsed dive time, providing a margin of safety for the diver regarding air supply or decompression stops. The crystal protecting the dial is a durable crystal glass, offering good clarity and resistance to scratches that might be encountered in demanding environments. Furthermore, the watch possesses Type 1 magnetic resistance, protecting the movement from magnetic fields that could otherwise affect its accuracy.
A significant innovation in the strap material accompanies this anniversary model. The strap is made from BENEBiOL™, a biomass-based polyurethane developed by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. This material is notable for being plant-based, which contributes to a lower environmental impact compared to conventional polyurethanes. Functionally, BENEBiOL™ is selected for its enhanced resistance to hydrolysis – the breakdown of the material when exposed to moisture – which is a common issue for dive straps constantly wetted and dried. This makes the strap more durable over time.
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The black BENEBiOL™ strap is designed for comfort and security, featuring a robust buckle and a strap extension. This extension is a practical inclusion, allowing the watch to be worn comfortably over the sleeve of a wetsuit without needing a separate, longer strap. The band width is a standard 24.0mm, offering a secure and balanced fit for the large case. The texture and finish of the strap complement the matte grey of the case, contributing to the watch's overall professional and modern look.
The Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition is a testament to Citizen's enduring legacy in the world of professional dive watches. It successfully bridges the past and the present, honoring the revolutionary spirit of the 1985 original with faithful design cues while integrating modern materials and technology. The careful consideration of both aesthetic and functional details, from the matte grey and gold finishing to the advanced BENEBiOL™ strap, makes it a distinctive offering.
For collectors and diving enthusiasts, this model represents an opportunity to own a piece of Aqualand history, reinterpreted for the modern era. The combination of its iconic design, comprehensive dive functionalities, and the limited nature of its production run adds to its appeal. It’s a functional tool built for the rigors of underwater exploration, but also a wearable piece of watchmaking heritage that tells a story of innovation.
The attention to detail extends to the user experience, with features like the perpetual calendar and battery life indicator adding convenience for daily wear, while the core dive functions provide genuine utility for underwater activities. The large, luminous markers ensure legibility in the murkiest conditions, and the ascent rate alarm provides an important layer of safety.
Citizen's choice to use a plant-based polyurethane for the strap also speaks to a contemporary awareness of environmental considerations, aligning the product with broader concerns for sustainability without compromising on the durability required for a dive watch. This thoughtful approach to material science reflects the "BETTER STARTS NOW" philosophy, looking for improvements in all aspects of watch design and production.
Courtesy of Citizen
This anniversary edition is more than a simple reissue; it's a celebration of a lineage that has consistently provided reliable tools for those who explore the underwater world. The tactile experience of the matte case, the positive action of the pushers, and the clear demarcation of functions on the dial all contribute to a sense of a well-engineered instrument. The gold accents, while adding a touch of commemorative flair, are tastefully executed so as not to detract from its professional demeanor.
The Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition (JP2008-06E) is scheduled for release in July 2025. It will be a limited edition with only 5,800 pieces available worldwide. The projected price is USD $595. Considering its heritage, comprehensive feature set, and limited availability, it represents a notable point of interest for those who appreciate the history and functional integrity of dive watches.
Case: Stainless steel (Grey matte finish and Yellow gold plating); 50.7mm diameter (design specification, includes sensor); 14.8mm thickness (design specification); Crystal glass; ISO-standard 200M water resistance; One-Way Rotating Bezel; Screw lock crown.
Movement: Cal.C520; Battery operated; Accuracy ±20 seconds/month; Approx. 2-year battery life; Battery life warning function.
Dial: Black metal; Luminous hands and indices; Digital display for time, calendar, alarm, chronograph, depth measurement, dive time, ascent rate alarm; Perpetual calendar; 12/24 hour display; 1/100 second chronograph (100 minutes).
Strap: Biomass urethane (BENEBiOL™); Black; 24.0mm width; Clasp type with extension band included.
Price: USD $595 (projected).
Reference Number: JP2008-06E.
Notes: Limited to 5,800 pieces worldwide. Marks 40th anniversary of original 1985 Aqualand (first electronic depth meter diver's watch). Features distinctive bulbous depth sensor at 9 o'clock. Release scheduled July 2025.