Review: the new Citizen Promaster NB6046-59E SKY Series Mechanical GMT 

We got our hands on the new Citizen Promaster NB6046-59E SKY Series Mechanical GMT watch and ran it through its paces. Here are our thoughts on the watch after about 2 weeks on our wrist.

Review: the new Citizen Promaster NB6046-59E SKY Series Mechanical GMT 

The Citizen Promaster NB6046-59E SKY Series GMT Ref. NB6046-59E retails for SGD 944, inclusive of GST.

The case, dial and hands

The Citizen Promaster SKY Mechanical GMT is the Japanese brand’s answer to the aviation themed watch market place. The watch is available in either a silver toned stainless case or a black-toned stainless steel case. The case shape is perhaps best described as a tonneau shape with angular sides. The surfaces feature faceted sides and is finished with matte surfaces in juxtaposition with polished ones. The case is rather large at 44.5mm and has a water resistance rating of 200m, quite impressive for a pilot’s watch.

The layout of the case is clean, with two knurled crowns, one at the usual 3 o’clock position which is used for regular crown functions, including manipulating the date display and the red arrow GMT hand. The other crown at the 7 o’clock is used to operate an aeronautical slide rule. This is similar to what Breitling provides in their Navitimer Series. And though the famous Navitimer slide rule occupies quite a lot of real estate and makes the dial look cluttered. But the Citizen Promaster SKY’s slide rule remains at on the angled rehaut and does not seem to affect clarity of the dial or clutter it in any way. We need to also point out that the Citizen is a dual or triple timezone watch, but the Navitimer is a pilot’s chronograph, and certainly are not in the same utility space.

The scale runs around the periphery of the dial and is marked on the rehaut. The bezel with engraved markings infilled with white, and feature markings for 24 hours. The bezel is bi-directional, and can be used to provide a third timezone. This feature is similar to the Rolex GMT Master-II, also an aviation timepiece with very different aesthetics. Like the two crowns the bezel also carries knurling which provides it with a good surface to grip, even with gloved hands.

Despite the large number of markings on the Promaster SKY dial, legibility is excellent. The markings for the hours are very large, with huge arabic numerals for 12 and 6. The hands are equally large, and sword shaped for the hours and minutes, and a long javeline like pointed needle for the continuous second hand. As mentioned the GMT hand is arrow shaped and is red.

The hour, minute and GMT hands carry strong lume, which is also applied to all the hour markers. The view of the dial in the dark is as legible and clear as in good light.

The movement: Caliber 9054 Mechanical

Inside the new Promaster SKY is the Citizen Caliber 9054, a reliable automatic mechanism featuring a 50-hour power reserve, accurate to -10 / +20 seconds per day, and magnetically resistant up to 16000 A/M.

The Cal. 9054 is a workhorse movement and is a true GMT movement. The same movement is found, with a display back on the Series 8 880 GMT. A true GMT movement is one where the second timezone can be set independently of the main hour hand. In the case of the Cal. 9054, the main hour hand can be set and adjusted in one hour increments, and is set independently of the GMT hand.

Movement finishing cannot be directly assessed on the Promaster SKY as it has a closed case back. But judging from looking through the sapphire glass on the case back of the Series 8 880 GMT which carries the same Cal. 9054 movement, we are satisfied that it is finished to a high engineering standard. Knowing the Citizen engineering philosophy, we are certain that it will function flawlessly for years to come. In terms of decoration, it features little extraneous decoration, but is perhaps better finished than most watches in this price range. An appropriate comparison will probably be with the ubiquitous ETA or Sellita movements. And in this visual inspection, the Citizen’s finishing comes up as more pleasing to the eye.

Competitive Landscape

This is an interesting product for Citizen to play in the lucrative aviation sector. This landscape is littered with perhaps hundreds of watches which can meet the need. The aforementioned Rolex GMT Master-II and Breitling Navitimer are two examples. But almost every manufacturer, from Bell & Ross to Sinn to IWC and Zenith offer watches with more or less the same functionality: true GMT, 24 hour marked bi-directional bezel for a third timezone. A robust, reliable mechanical movement. Good clear dial markings which remain legible in good or poor light. Indeed even Citizen’s own Series 8 880 GMT is a competitor, albeit with a higher level of case and dial finishing and associated higher pricing. But the theme of being less expensive than the competition carries across the board to the other suitors as well. The Promaster SKY Mechanical GMT, at just below the SGD 1k mark is just excellent value.

Concluding thoughts

Overall, we found the watch to be consistent with the Citizen philosophy. Sturdy, well designed watches which meet a specific function (aviation or travel in this case), and built to meet a modest pricing point. And priced at below SGD 1k, the Promaster NB6046 SKY Mechanical GMT is certainly a good buy.

The balance of aesthetics, clear dial legibility, aviation features of multi-timezones as well as the less useful pilot’s slide rule, coupled with a robust case with an excellent, reliable and accurate movement ticks all the boxes. This is a beautiful watch, even if one’s needs are not as lofty to use it to pilot an aircraft, but for more mundane day to day urban use. Despite the 44.5mm case dimension, I think it wears a bit smaller than the measurement would suggest, but of course there is no way to hide the bulk, and for those with very slim wrists, it may be best to try one first before buying. With these considerations, the Citizen Promaster SKY Mechanical GMT comes with our very high recommendations.

BTW, an all black version with darkened case, crowns and bracelet exists for those who prefer to be on the dark side. This darkened version comes without the bright red accents.

Product Features Citizen Promaster NB6046-59E SKY Series GMT

• Brand : Citizen
• Series : Promaster
• Model : NB6046-59E
• Release Date : 25 January 2024
• Movement : Automatic winding (9054/made in Japan/with manual winding)
• Glass : Sapphire glass (non-reflective coating)
• Case material : Stainless
• Band Material : Stainless
• Size : – mm x 44.5 mm x 12.7mm (H x W x T)
• Weight : 177 g

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Other Features

• 20 ATM water resistant
• Average daily difference -10 to +20 seconds
• Vibration frequency: 28,800 times/hour
• Number of stones: 24 stones
• Second hand stop function
• date display
• Time difference setting function
• GMT function
• Driving period: 50 hours (at maximum winding)
• magnetic resistance: meets JIS Type 2 (16,000 A/m)
• Luminous (hands + index)
• aviation slide rule
• Screw lock crown