This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Citizen Promaster watch collection, renowned for its tool-oriented watches. To celebrate, the Japanese manufacturer has introduced an entirely new timepiece packed with features.
Equipped with the new Eco-Drive Cal. H864 movement, the Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker is a robust radio-controlled timer debuting in two different color schemes.
Made from stainless steel, the new Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker is available with a standard matte finish, like model ref. BY3006-53H, or with a dark gray finish, as seen on model ref. BY3005-56G. In addition, while the stainless steel watch ref. BY3006-53H features a dark gray dial with a fully monochromatic color profile, the gray-finished watch ref. BY3005-56G is equipped with a black dial accented with subtle red highlights, enhancing its tactical appeal. Aside from dial color and finish, the two new Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker models are otherwise identical. Both versions feature the same stainless steel bracelets with a combination of matte and polished surfaces complementing their cases.
In terms of size, the new Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker watches have a diameter of 46 mm and a thickness of 11.5 mm. The cases have a slightly tapered profile to maximize dial size while reducing overall wrist presence. Flat sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating protect the watch dials, and they are accompanied by bezels that appear to have aviation scales with fuel consumption markings. I won't pretend to know how to use a bezel of this type, but if you're using the watch to calculate your aircraft's fuel consumption, you probably don't need someone like me at a computer explaining it to you.
Flip the Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker over, and you'll find a massive stainless steel case back on the reverse side. The case back has a fully matte finish and is engraved with a map of the Northern Hemisphere. At 3 o'clock, there's a screw-down crown with a signature, along with a set of pump-style buttons. The Promaster Geo Trekker is water-resistant to 200 meters, meaning it should withstand virtually all types of moisture exposure.
The Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker features the brand new Cal. H864 Eco-Drive movement, named after the number of seconds in a day (24 hours = 86,400 seconds). Like other premium Eco-Drive movements, Caliber H864 can be powered by any light source, and in power-saving mode, it will run autonomously for 2.5 years. In addition to radio-controlled timekeeping, Citizen Cal. H864 is equipped with a perpetual calendar and power reserve indicator, as well as a world timer displayed via a rotating UTC disc adorned with a Northern Hemisphere map located at the 6 o'clock position on the dial.
The dial of the Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker is quite informative: three registers, several scales around the perimeter, and a date window at the 4 o'clock position. Opposite the UTC disc at the top of the dial is a multifunction register that acts as a day of the week indicator, while a smaller subdial at the 9 o'clock position serves as an AM/PM indicator and displays time in a 24-hour format. The font used for the UTC disc numbers and city names around the perimeter of the dial is inspired by inscriptions on world maps and navigation charts from the Age of Discovery, and the hands and hour markers are coated with green luminescent material for improved visibility in low light conditions.
Citizen is one of the few brands still striving to produce modern watches, and while it continues to offer a wide range of traditional mechanical watches, models like the new Promaster Geo Trekker push the boundaries of possibility with a fully analog display. Priced at USD 795 for the standard stainless steel model ref. BY3006-53H or USD 850 for the model ref. BY3006-53H with a dark gray finish, the Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker is positioned at the price level of entry-level mechanical GMT watches, though they offer enhanced functionality that can only be rivaled by digital displays and smartwatches. For more information on the Citizen Promaster Geo Trekker, visit the brand's website.