The Citizen Fujitsubo (which means "barnacle") Promaster Watch (model NB6021-17e) is a beautiful titanium watch based on a 70s era watch called the Challenge Diver. It features classic styling, and a solid, utilitarian case which pairs exceptionally nicely with nato-style straps.
Here, I review this outstanding value of a watch and compare it to a deceptively similarly-sized watch, the Omega Seamaster Professional 300m.
Despite the difference in their appearances, I was surprised to discover that the two watches have almost the exact same diameter, case thickness, and lug width! Even their lug-to-lug distances are not too different.
Even more surprising is that although the two watches are dimensionally extremely similar, they wear quite differently on the wrist, which I demonstrate in this video.
Although I didn't immediately "click" with the Citizen Fujitsubo, after giving it some time on the wrist (and removing the unimpressive stock polyurethane strap) I grew to enjoy wearing it quite a lot; though perhaps not as much as the Seamaster, which is one of my absolute favorite watches.
Considering that the Citizen is a much less pricey watch than the Omega and the fact that it is available at substantial discounts, I believe it stacks up very well among the dive watch competition.
The beautiful dial, beveled crystal, and titanium case finished with Citizen's proprietary "Duratect" treatment (which renders the metal 5x harder than regular titanium) combine to make this a rather distinctive piece among many other automatic dive watches that are available in the market.
These features also make the Fujitsubo a great complement to any watch collection, from budget to ultra expensive. I have no reservations about keeping this Citizen alongside my Seamasters, and find it to be a refreshingly different yet still beautiful watch.
I bought my Fujitsubo second-hand, but if you are interested in a new one, the watch is currently available on Amazon here:
amzn.to/4gHlvkt