The Citizen Dive Watch: The Worlds Best Solar Powered Diving Watches

Article by Rod McAnally

The Citizen dive watch is amongst the most trusted and established dive watches on the market. Far be it from creating an expensive dive watch that is out of the range of the average user, a Citizen diving watch is both solid enough to hold up to the rigors that go with a seawater environment, yet affordable enough that it can be purchased as both a primary or second watch. This maybe why the Citizen watch company has gained the loyal following that it has amongst not just scuba divers, but wind surfers, wake surfers, sailors, barefoot water skiers, swimmers, surfers and jet skiers.Citizen was originally launched under the name “Shokosha Watch Research Institute” back in 1918. The trading name “Citizen”, originated from a pocket watch with the same title that was sold to the public in 1924. During the last seventy five years, Citizen expanded its business. Citizen wrist watches would eventually attain global recognition and over the last 25 year period have enjoyed its most impressive rise, leading them to the commanding position maintained today as one of the most celebrated watchmakers in the world.Citizen is most recognized for its “Eco-Drive” system. “Eco” watches feature an ecologically friendly system that uses ambient light sources to significantly extend the life span of the battery. Using solar technology, the Citizen watch can rejuvenate even under fluorescent and other types of non-natural light sources.Citizen “Eco” watches also house a smart power saving mode that starts up when the power generating mechanism stop harnessing energy because of a deficiency in light energy input. In this reduced state, the watch halts the second hand at the twelve o’clock position (the power save effects deviate from model to model). If the watch remains in the dark for over 3 days, the other hands as well as the calendar stop moving to reduce energy entirely. In all power save states, the internal time is preserved, so that when more light is received by the dial, the watch will commence regular operation with accurate time.In fact, when you get a new Citizen eco watch, you can anticipate that the watch battery will be “topped up” by the natural light in your day-to-day life. Put another way, you may never need a replacement battery over the lifetime of the watch at all, however a timely service is still recommended and will insure your analog watch runs efficiently over the long term. It is also recommended that seals (in watches that contain them), be exchanged every two or three years so as retain their water tolerant qualities.There are several watches within Citizen’s “diver watch” line. Nearly all of Citizen dive watches can resist water pressure equivalent to 200m below sea level. Others watches like the Professional Men’s ($ 1000 plus) Diver Watch Automatic 1000 meter NH6931-06E exceed this range by a long shot, but for just about all scuba dives, 200 meters is certainly passable.Citizen watches across the board are either marked as WR200 (water resistant 20 bar (200m)) or Diver’s 200M (air diver’s 200m) – (or to the depth level of the particular watch). The difference between the two depth rating systems are that Diver’s 200M (Air diver’s 200m) are subjected to several severe water resistant tests prior to delivery from the factories, whereas WR200 (Water resistant 20 bar) watches, while suitable for people who are frequently in contact with water in their daily lives, are not subjected to the same rigorous testing procedures as the Diver’s 200M, so are not warranted to stand up to the harsher conditions of deep salt water dives.The most popular Citizen product lines in the dive category are the Citizen Perpetual Calendar, Citizen Aqualand, Citizen Professional Diver and Citizen Promaster Carbon. All current model Citizen dive watches posess the Citizen EcoDrive solar recharging technology.A complete overview of all Citizen dive watch can be viewed on our website.