Four decades ago, Citizen accomplished something most watch brands only dream of by fundamentally changing how an entire community interacted with their environment. The 1985 Aqualand was the first dive watch to pack an electronic depth gauge, essentially strapping a dive computer to your wrist.
Now, with diving having evolved so much in nearly half a century, Citizen’s looking back to where it all started with the Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition.
A Worthy Anniversary
Fortunately, the anniversary model doesn’t mess around with the original’s DNA. It still features the bulbous depth sensor at the 9 o’clock case position, jutting out as aggressive as ever to reach a 50.7mm total diameter measurement. Without it, the actual case measures a much more reasonable 44mm across. Likewise, Citizen’s kept the matte gray stainless steel case but added celebratory gold accents on the bezel, crown, pushers, and sensor housing that nods to the coveted C033 reference from the ’80s.
The retro-futuristic ana-digi hybrid dial setup remains pretty straightforward with its beefy printed indices, cathedral hands with a signature orange-bordered minute hand, and the digital display positioned at 12 o’clock like you’re looking through a porthole of a ship to read your current depth.
Where The Magic Happens
Inside, the in-house Caliber C520 quartz movement handles the standard timekeeping, depth indicator, dive timer, calendar, chronograph, and alarm functions. The depth measurement capability tracks your descent in real-time, while the ascent rate alarm prevents you from rushing back to the surface too quickly — a feature that could literally save your life by preventing decompression sickness.
The chronograph function measures down to 1/100th of a second, and dive mode automatically tracks your underwater time. It’s essentially a stripped-down dive computer that happens to tell time on the surface. Battery life sits at two years with ±20 seconds monthly accuracy, which is perfectly adequate for a tool this specialized.
Materials Worth Mentioning
Citizen’s decision to use BENEBiOL for the strap, a plant-based polyurethane that actually outperforms traditional rubber in hydrolysis resistance, meaning it won’t degrade as quickly when constantly exposed to moisture. The accordion-style design is also practical for adjusting over wetsuits.
Lest we forget to mention the water resistance, at 200m here, which is admittedly conservative by today’s standards. But then again, this isn’t trying to be a saturation diving tool. It’s designed for recreational diving where its electronic depth sensing can legitimately help you.
Spec Sheet
Model: CItizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary
Case Material: Stainless steel with matte grey finish and yellow gold plating
Case Size: 50.7mm (44mm excluding sensor)
Case Thickness: 14.8mm
Movement: In-house Caliber C520 quartz
Water Resistance: 200m
Band: BENEBiOL biomass-based polyurethane strap
Functions: Time, calendar, alarm, chronograph, depth measurement, dive timer, ascent rate alarm
Limited Edition?: Yes, 5,800
Pricing & Availability
Limited to a fair 5,800 pieces worldwide, the Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition is priced at $595. It launches in July via Citizen’s website.
Recap
CItizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary
Citizen celebrates 40 years of its groundbreaking Promaster with an on-board dive sensor with this gold-and-steel limited edition.
