Citizen launches a limited edition model of the Citizen Asia Limited NY009 – in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the PROMASTER Series. The new Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m NY0097-87A Asia Limited Edition comes on a metal bracelet, with a red bezel and, for uncommonly for a watch from the PROMASTER series, a white dial. Limited Edition 888 pieces.
Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver NY0097-87A Asia Limited Edition: The Fugu
The Fugu returned to the diving scene last year with the 2018 Edition watches, reviewed in detail here. The collection was renewed in 2019 with the NY009 collection which we reviewed here: Citizen Promaster Fugu 2019 Edition. In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Promaster series which also falls on 2019, the new NY0097-87A SEA Limited Edition is released.
This new watch, the (NY0097-87A) comes in a Limited Edition series of 888 pieces and will be available in the territories of Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Thailand.
The case, dial and hands
To say the watch is handsome is to considerably understate the facts. The NY0097 Fugu is a beautiful timepiece in a stainless steel case of 42mm diameter, and a three link stainless steel bracelet. And it is a looker. Especially in this colour combination of the bright red bezel insert over a stunning white dial. The red bezel insert is the same hue as that used in the original Promaster introduced 30 years ago.
Diver’s watches have traditionally come with a black dial in order to provide contrast against the typical white indices and hands for enhanced legibility underwater. Even in the case of the dials from the NY008 and NY009 series, all are black except the luminous dial (NY0080-12X), the green dial in the S.E.A Limited Edition (NY0099-81X) and the blue dial in the (NY0096-12L).
The dial design and layout is a study in simplicity and clarity. As required in a dive watch, the markings and hands are huge, and generously coated in SuperLuminova to give a massive glow in the dark.
The finishing of the case and bracelet is beautifully executed. Running one’s fingers across the watch gives a smooth feel, like a well worn pebble which have withstood the weathering of water passing over. A rather nice tactile feel, which contrasts to the rough serrated edges on the bezel, and the knurled crown tucked in at 8 o’clock.
The movement: Citizen C. 8203
As a diving watch, the case back is screw down, and engraved with the details on the watch, including a caricature of a puffer fish.
We did not open the caseback, and thus were not privy to see how the Cal. 8203 movement looks like in the flesh, but the following photograph is taken from the website 17 Jewels. An analysis of the movement and more photographs as the movement is being disassembled is found on the web page.
This is a standard mass produced movement, and built rather robustly to withstand the rigours of life. As applied within a tough case and used for diving and other tool watch duties, it should prove to be reliable.
As mentioned in earlier reviews, the movement finishing is kept to an absolute minimum, with zero effort devoted to cosmetic finishing. The original movement is made by robots in the Citizen automated production lines at Miyota. And though is marked “Unadjusted”, performs quite well in our experience, coming to near chronometer specifications in daily use.
Concluding thoughts
We left out the section on Competitive Landscape, as the landscape is unchanged since we published the review of the NY008 series. Please take a look at that section to see what are the competitors of this latest Fugu iteration.
For a watch of this stature, dive depth rating of 200m, the qualities of a full blown tool watch, and with its handsome good looks, we think buying the Citizen Promaster NY0097-87A becomes somewhat of a no-brainer. It will appeal to Fugu collectors (where it is a MUST HAVE), and to the casual tool watch buyer. After all, it retails for a modest S$ 633.40, and is a limited edition of 888 pieces to boot.
Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver NY0097-87A Technical Specifications
PROMASTER Mechanical Diver 200m – ASIA LIMITED EDITION
Launch December 2019
Model NY0097-87X
Retail Price SGD 633.40
Limited Number 888 pcs
Case/Band Stainless Steel
Crystal Mineral Crystal
Dial Colour White
Bezel Insert Colour Red
Size diameter 42mm *Design specification only
Movement Cal.8203 / Automatic / Day & Date Display / Rotating Bezel
200m water resistance / Luminous (hands + indices + bezel at 12 o’clock)/approx. 40hr
