@@JustOneMoreWatch The Citizen at least tries... Bruce Williams reviewed a $250 ARK GMT quartz a few days ago and raved over its features and quality...but neglected to mention the second hand hitting between every marker. It was awful.
@@jankay8569 lol what? He just started a fact. Lol. I mean, He does get paid and I do question his ethics and you'd be surprised about how much money the brands give him.... But for this video, there is no reason to think he was paid
You need an eleventh category ... hands alignment! That would drag the Seiko total points down considerably. I still can't comprehend in this day and age of automatic assembly how Seiko repeatedly misses those minute markers with the second hand on most of their models. 😲
I saw both watches at a big box store Costco. The seiko displayed was missing the markers. I was looking for a solar watch to gift my younger brother. I didn't by any.
I’m a self-confessed Seiko fanboy and I can see why the Seiko scored more, but… aesthetically speaking, the Citizen is a much better looking watch to me. Hard to be objective and score that one fairly though Jody! Great Sunday morning entertainment 👍😬
I own 4 Seikos and 1 Citizen, so theoretically I should prefer the Seiko here, but I agree with you. I find the Tuna case to be extreme looking, perhaps more appealing to enthusiasts, but not necessarily to the "urban street divers" target audience here. Also, the Tuna bezel loses it on legibility for me. It's a close call, but I think I would go for Citizen number 2.
@@MessagingMatters To be honest. "urban street"-models of iconic diver watches is a stupid idea to begin with. Just looks like something that should not exist.
I think the Citizen manages to hit the markers more accurately than the Seiko. It may not matter, but given how pedantic we watch people can be, it probably does. The Citizen lume pip is a beast.
Not hitting the markers is a total dealbreaker for many watch enthusiasts; yet here's Jodie comparing two quartz watches and it doesn't even get a mention.
Not bad, perhaps a tad generous to the Seiko 😉 I’d take the Citizen on visual style and dimensions personally, so it really is subjective in the end! It has to tug the heartstrings 😄
Dimensions wise, the Tuna would fit my wrist better with that 46mm lug-to-lug, but looks wise, I definitely prefer the Citizen. Might be because I own one myself 😅😂 Not this green version, but the regular black dialed one.
Once again Seiko's lack of quality control hurts them: the bezel doesn't quite line up all the way around, and the second hand lands between the markers. I like the Seiko more, but I don't think I'd ever buy a Seiko without being able to examine it in person before handing over my cash.
I like the comparison. I am a proud owner of the Green Promaster and take it swimming at least 3 times a week. Had no issues and it is my daily beater. Solid, reliable, and markers are all spot on unlike Seiko with QC issues. I am a Seiko fan boy, but this Citizen has turned my attention to its other product lines. Respect to Citizen who are often over looked but the price to quality ratio is phenomenal, giving way better value than Seiko.
I love both and have a version of both of these watches. But if i’m diving/operating in a rough environment/need to pick one watch and not worry about it, I’m going with Citizen. I know SEAL team guys that wear Promaster’s on their wrist as their hands hold M4’s and MP7’s. That’s really the only endorsement I need.
Now Jody, on this one I must disagree. I think the Citizen is at least as good as the Seiko. The seconds hand of the Seiko misses all the markers on the dial, for example. I think in this comparison your ratings are a little subjective. No problem, it is your rating and your opinion. But I would go for the Citizen, if you don't mind.
Good comparison; although I'm not quite sure I agree with you on the movements as the Citizen appears to hit the second hand markers more consistently than the Seiko. I still don't understand how some more expensive quartz watches can be less consistent in this regard than Evan a $50.00 AUD Casio.🤔
During every close up, I don't think the Seiko hit it's seconds marker once - unlike the Citizen. That & Seikos well known QC issues, totally rules it out for me.
Have both green promaster and seiko monster mk1, granted, those 2 are different movements but Citizen is significantly ahead of Seiko in terms of quality and finishing let alone the fact that 7s26 pretty much makes Seiko unusable as a time keeping device.
There was 2 issues right off... Seiko - plastic shroud and miss alignment of the bezel(maybe just the angle). And doesn't apper to hit the markers. Honestly Seiko as a brand desn't give me any more confidence than Citizen, especially when we talk Solar... The Eco-Drive tech is proven, true, and only getting better. They are the benchmark TBH I've had issues with Seiko. Yet they still put out some watchs that I find attractive/interesting... This isn't one of them.
Good comparison. I bought the Citizen BN0158-85X last year from a physical store for €200. I saw the Seiko Street Solar from a physical AD for €350. I preferred the Citizen as I liked that there are numbers on the bezel which the Seiko lacked. Also the metal bracelet on the Citizen is way better than most Seiko bracelets under €1,000 with solid end links and ratcheting clasp.
Usually a Seiko lover but it would have to be the Citizen as the second hand hits 98% on the markers unlike the Seiko that is way out. This flaw needs to go on ANY quartz costing over $150.
try comparing the lume after 8hrs and you'll fine the Seiko fails miserably. I've learnt this from experience as I own both of these watches as the Citizen is the daily AND nightly beater by far. On a side note the Citizen Steel bracelet and clasp is FAR superior.
I've had the Promaster in blue for 5+ years as a beater watch. It's the watch I wear when I'm doing something that will damage a watch and I have beaten on it. It is very durable. The bezel seems to take most of the damage and looks pretty good scratched up, the crystal is still excellent. Ditch the factory strap.
Absolutely no legibility with the Seiko bezel Jody aside from the pip. I also think the Seiko dial looks crowded. I have a number of Seikos & Citizen including this model in a different colour. Citizen easily for me.😎👍🏼
I think the Seiko dial is crowded too. The Citizen is more open. The watch body is thinner than the Seiko which I like. However, the Citizen’s bezel is cheap looking and too shiny for the matte look of everything else. Live the matte look but the bezel?😬
That Seiko wouldn't last a day in my collection after I saw how it hit it's markers. Jody, THAT'S what the Seiko brand means for a lot of collectors now.
I agree. I’ve owned a blue lume Seiko Monster and a Citizen Promaster, and while the Seiko has brighter lume initially after being charged, the Citizen (in my very anecdotal experience) took a charge better from dim light, and was better at lasting longer into the night. In my experience, it was better than the Seiko in real life usage.
If given a choice of those two actual watches, I would go for the citz… it would drive my OCD crazy looking at that second hand on the Seiko, I would just sit there stirring at it all day like I did during this video…
I think one thing worth considering with the movements is that the Eco Drive uses a capacitor, meaning it won't degrade. The Seiko, as I understand it uses a rechargeable coin cell battery which will degrade and requires replacement.
The low points for the brand make sense in general but I think it is the other way around in the eyes of young urban dwellers. They know the Flighty....
I've had several modern Citizens and Seikos. I've sold all on the Seikos. I still have 2 Eco-drives and 2 Citizen autos. IMO, modern Citizen is by far much better.
I was waffling about these two, but bought the Seiko from Jomashop on sale last year and have been very happy with it, however I did swap out the strap for a NATO which I found to be more comfortable for me. I do want to say I have and earlier Citizen diver eco drive that is now 20 plus years old and still going strong, so kudos to Citizen for longevity and being robust. Great matchup! Cheers from Nova Scotia. Mike.
I own the citizen and I believe you were brand struck on the seiko lol but 90% was purely subjective as with most watch reviews! I love the citizen and the seiko not a fanboy of either so while I’m not saying the citizen deserved to win but I don’t think the seiko is all that much better if at all better than the citizen! Thanks for the review!
The basic promaster models are 120-150 USD all day in the US, there's no seiko tuna that approaches that in price. Seiko might be a bit better but for 100$ more there's not enough difference. Awesome comparison.
I have that prospex (grey version) and, despite i love its looks, solar capacitor died in about a year and a half 😢 I guess ecodrive still is a better and more reliable option.
Yeah this is what I have read. Lots of Seiko Solar owners report their movements conking out within a few years for no good reason. Was part of the reason I went Eco Drive since lots of people report 20+ years longevity.
I have the gray version of the Street Tuna and I have to say that to me personally the Citizen is much more appealing. To me the hands on the Citizen are much more in harmony together compared to the GIANT hour hand and teeny tiny minimal minute hand on the Seiko.
Agree with those who point out that, 250 Ausie bucks and they still can't get the second hand to index with the dial second markings. Seems universal, bought a Nite Alpha 300 from the showroom, Ronda 715 with the CR2032 battery, 10 year life, nice, spent a while trawling through the supply they had to try and find one that indexed. Found one in the end that indexes at the top but not the bottom. Make of that what you wish.🙄
I’ve owned the that exact Seiko solar and enjoyed it greatly. Surprisingly a very comfy strap, but the bezel action felt a little light and cheap. As always, thanks for the great videos Jody!
Whenever there is a Seiko v Citizen review the reviewers usually give the win to the Seiko because of some perceived view they are better quality/desirable but when you go to the comments the general public always give the win to the Citizen 🤔
Thanks Paul! The Seiko not hitting the marks is, again, a QC problem. Both great watches, I like the tanky Citizen a bit more. Great content as always Jody!
It's funny you released this video today because I just so happen to be wearing my Citizen Promaster. It's the exact same model only I have the blue one. I picked it up off of Amazon during their Amazon Prime days a couple weeks ago for only $150! Very happy with this purchase especially for the price. Personally, I prefer my blue Promaster over that Seiko for two reason, first I like the 44 mm size a lot better that the 46 mm Seiko Tuna, and second that Seiko seconds hand manages to miss every single marker around the dial, that would drive me crazy and I would probably end up just flipping it. Also, with the blue model, the minute hand is orange which makes it pop and makes the overall dial look more interesting. I'm not sure if the hands/dial score, $150 price score and seconds hand hitting the markers would make it beat the Seiko in your head to head, but I think it would have made it a lot closer. Thanks for the head to head, these are always fun!
Maybe between those 2 specific models Seiko wins (only price wise) but you can get the BN0150 and 151 for $150 all day! And i have never seen a seiko solar tuna under $250 in my life lol. Citizen wins all day in solar powered watches
Jody, having owned 2 solar quartz Seiko and 3 eco-drives I can tell you you’re score on movement is off. The seikos have some reliability issues with solar movements. Both of mine required service and never a problem from the citizens. If memory serves your Seiko didn’t run well out of the box either. All my citizens ran no problems out of the box despite they all came with the every other second low charge warning. I would rate the Seiko at 7 and citizen at 9. I’m not sure there’s a more reliable, magnetic resistant solar quartz movement outside a Gshock. Otherwise the Seiko brings a lot to the table!
I've had a Citizen eco-drive for 10 years that I regularly wear Scuba diving mostly in cold, dark UK waters (I bought it expressly for that purpose) and I've never had a single issue with it. Great movement (On mine the solar cells are really visible, which I think is a really cool feature - It's a BN0085-01E). I don't particularly disagree with the result in this case (I'd probably pick the Seiko of these two, although the bezel is almost worthless on it - I'd make sure I got one that had the second hand stop in the same postcode as the marker, though), but I think the margin is a bit generous.
Citizen and Casio have been in the solar game for a long time now, Seiko just doesn't compare. Fine for Jody to be bias, but if he's a paid shill, that's another story.
Agreed. I had to send one of my Seiko solars off for warranty repair as the battery failed to charge after only a few months. My Eco drives on the other hand are very reliable
Both great watches, but my money goes to the Citizen 100%! Citizen should have won the movement and dial categories hands down! I've worn both and I own the Citizen, and it just wears so much better.
I'm sure you're right by your measurements that Seiko wins this one. But that particular Seiko watch in this video did not align the second hand on any of the second indices even once. Nice job, Seiko! I see their inattention to detail is still top-notch. Color me shallow, but that disqualifies Seiko for me. I much prefer the Citizen in this video because the seconds hand seemed to be spot-on.
Nice video, but two quibbles. I agree on giving Seiko the nod re: Brand, yet 2 points seemed high. One would have been better. Also, the Citizen is likely more wearable than the Seiko (thinner and not as wide) and that should count. As you say, they are very equal watches, yet the final tally was a bit large in favor the Seiko, imho. Well done!!
Its most impressive how spot on between the markers the Seiko is with the second hand =P I wish Citizen had some textured dial, could really do alot for that model. Dont need much but something. But think i would go for the Citizen but both looks really cool.
If I were in a shop considering the Seiko I would ask if they had another in stock as the second hand alignment on this one was total crap! If they didn’t I would turn on my heel and leave. It would have annoyed me constantly that it wasn’t even close to the markers.
Hey Jody, I agree with your parameters and scoring. But, I couldn't help but notice that the Seiko's second hand doesn't hit the minute markers as it goes around while the Citizen hits its markers all the way around. I wouldn't know where that characteristic falls under what parameter, but shouldn't that have given the Citizen at least an additional point?
I'd be going Citizen. Have an Eco-drive Promaster with the E168 movement (BN0085-01E) that has accuracy of 5 seconds per year. Have owned several quartz Seiko's and whilst sufficiently accurate, none come close to my Citizen. Also hand and bezel alignment much more consistent with Citizen in general.
I would swear that Citizen is cheaper and Eco-Drive is better than Seiko Solar... but I stand corrected. I am more of the Seiko fanboy than the Citizen watchlover (I have 4 Seiko and only 1 Citizen).. but here I would take Citizen. It is better looking, it is more legible, wears better because of neat dimensions and that Seiko is not Diver's certified any more, by new ISO standard. It doesn't have lumed indices on all markers. Citizen wins by my book, for those reasons, but I cannot argue with Jody's logic, either.
I guess we can't always agree. I've never had much luck with the Solar Seikos but the Citizen have been bulletproof. We have used them for several years as actual dive watches in several countries. I definitely wouldn't want the Seiko as a dive timer. So, I guess if we are talking only about "fashion watches" I might agree with your conclusions. But you're really comparing an obvious dive watch to a half fashion/half working watch.
The difference between a professional to 'use' the watch as a tool and a collector to just 'have' the watch or use it as fashion part. Thumb's up my friend.
Nice comparison Jody. I agree with the scores, except for the movement (Eco-drives at least manage to hit the markers most of the time), lume (Citizen and Seiko lume are comparable, though Seiko usually wins out, but not by much), dial/hands (that Seiko has one of the most generic dial designs ever), bezel insert (with that color scheme, is there a point to having a timer scale at all on the Seiko?) or brand (Seiko might have been a good brand, before they became the topic of QC jokes). So....I basically only agree that as nice as that Citizen is, for a watch with a mineral crystal and aluminum bezel (without easy access to replacement aftermarket parts), the price is a bit steep.
I go with the Citizen, something about there desk divers is really appealing. The Seiko is a bit meh for me in comparison, although I'm sure it's a fine watch on it's own merits
Both very nice and for sure with a great value for money. My vote for the Seiko: I own this one in white and black and I have to say it is a watch that I always wear with pleasure.
It seems to me that aside from the aesthetic, these two are really much of a muchness. I guess I will have to take your word for the tactile appeal, but I have the BN0151-09L and it's one of my favorites once I ditched the resin strap for an orange bonetto cinturini. You're right though, turning the bezel takes some getting used to.
Ha! Thanks again Paul for the loan, and for being a good sport about my scores. A great watch you have there, and it is in an Express Post bag to you as I type. All the best mate!
CITIZEN Eco-Drive BN2038-01L Aqualand Promaster Own it. Own two Seikos. The Citizen is at a MUCH higher standard, lume is awesome but so is the Seiko, and the Citizen seems to be a much more polished watch. Seiko is nice, Citizen is better. Squale 50 Atmos next level up, and Gshock Frogman Analog or Mudmaster 2000 to round out the collection.
Bought the Promaster about 6 years ago and overall pretty happy with it. Only exception is that I’m not very nice to my watches and the aluminum bezel insert started getting scratched immediately. Otherwise I’ve beat on it pretty hard and mechanically it’s still holding up.
I bought the Seiko, but to be honest I think the Citizen is a better looking watch. The Tuna doesn't do for me what I thought it would when I bought it.
Citizen urban colours is the most expensive of their range, Seiko the cheapest. I think the warranty difference is worth more, at the moment Citizen is 5+1 , Seiko only 2 and as per comments below you need every one of Seiko’s, although jomashop offer 3…
Is that Seiko bezel made for right-handers? Wear it on your right wrist and use the thumb and index finger of your left hand. You'd expect to get free grip at the 10 and 4 o'clock positions. Not so: blocked by that shroud. Gripping at 2 and 8 o'clock then (no shroud there) becomes an awkward manoeuvre for lefties.
Feels like there's a smidgin of Seiko-bias in this one, especially in the double-point categories. That Seiko second hand never troubles the markers. As a left-hander (10% of the population, so worth one point?) that offset bezel doesn't look like much fun either.
I picked up the automatic type of the citizen two years ago for £199 with a Dry box on a metal strap and a changeable rubber it still comes on offer for the same price every now and again in the U.K.
I love my citizen in all black. 150 bucks from Amazon. And it hits EVERY marker. Can’t say that about seiko. The lume on it, is a beast! The seiko bezel looks cheap and plastic. Can’t believe you choose that over the citizen. Lol😅
I I disagree with you in the "Brand" category. I think it should be the same score, since both are made by big japanese watch companies. Great video , as always. Congrats.
I have the same model Seiko. It’s one of my favourite Seikos. It has an interesting textured dial and is very comfortable to wear. I guess I’m lucky in that the second hand on mine hits the minute markers every time. As for the battery, I’ve had no issues at all with the Seiko or the Eco drive
Minus 50 points Seiko for not hitting any markers.
Neither of them hit the markers.........
@@JustOneMoreWatch The Citizen at least tries... Bruce Williams reviewed a $250 ARK GMT quartz a few days ago and raved over its features and quality...but neglected to mention the second hand hitting between every marker. It was awful.
@@JustOneMoreWatch But the Seiko was far worse. Not that you'll admit it.
@@JustOneMoreWatch were you paid by seiko for this review? You seem oddly defensive
@@jankay8569 lol what? He just started a fact. Lol. I mean, He does get paid and I do question his ethics and you'd be surprised about how much money the brands give him.... But for this video, there is no reason to think he was paid
Citizen is my choice hands down.
You need an eleventh category ... hands alignment! That would drag the Seiko total points down considerably. I still can't comprehend in this day and age of automatic assembly how Seiko repeatedly misses those minute markers with the second hand on most of their models. 😲
Chapter ring is also misaligned, Jody just can't get out that toxic relationship with Seiko
I saw both watches at a big box store Costco. The seiko displayed was missing the markers. I was looking for a solar watch to gift my younger brother. I didn't by any.
Seiko chinese they play joke they go peepee in your coke
That Citizen is a looker. The Seiko is nice but the second hand missing it's markers does my head in.
I’m a self-confessed Seiko fanboy and I can see why the Seiko scored more, but… aesthetically speaking, the Citizen is a much better looking watch to me. Hard to be objective and score that one fairly though Jody! Great Sunday morning entertainment 👍😬
I own 4 Seikos and 1 Citizen, so theoretically I should prefer the Seiko here, but I agree with you. I find the Tuna case to be extreme looking, perhaps more appealing to enthusiasts, but not necessarily to the "urban street divers" target audience here. Also, the Tuna bezel loses it on legibility for me. It's a close call, but I think I would go for Citizen number 2.
@@MessagingMatters To be honest. "urban street"-models of iconic diver watches is a stupid idea to begin with. Just looks like something that should not exist.
@@TheMonsterHunterTV I would probably agree with you on that.
I think the Citizen manages to hit the markers more accurately than the Seiko. It may not matter, but given how pedantic we watch people can be, it probably does. The Citizen lume pip is a beast.
It absolutely DOES matter 😁
Look at Citizens chapterring
Not hitting the markers is a total dealbreaker for many watch enthusiasts; yet here's Jodie comparing two quartz watches and it doesn't even get a mention.
The pandemic definitely matters.
SEIKOs missed every single marker where it looked like the CITIZEN got the first 25 seconds then was as bad as the SEIKO
Not bad, perhaps a tad generous to the Seiko 😉 I’d take the Citizen on visual style and dimensions personally, so it really is subjective in the end! It has to tug the heartstrings 😄
Dimensions wise, the Tuna would fit my wrist better with that 46mm lug-to-lug, but looks wise, I definitely prefer the Citizen.
Might be because I own one myself 😅😂
Not this green version, but the regular black dialed one.
Once again Seiko's lack of quality control hurts them: the bezel doesn't quite line up all the way around, and the second hand lands between the markers. I like the Seiko more, but I don't think I'd ever buy a Seiko without being able to examine it in person before handing over my cash.
The Padi version I got does. Just have to try and get a good one or return it.
@@G-rig6969 8 out of 10 seiko hands do not line up well.....unfortunately.
I like the comparison. I am a proud owner of the Green Promaster and take it swimming at least 3 times a week. Had no issues and it is my daily beater. Solid, reliable, and markers are all spot on unlike Seiko with QC issues. I am a Seiko fan boy, but this Citizen has turned my attention to its other product lines. Respect to Citizen who are often over looked but the price to quality ratio is phenomenal, giving way better value than Seiko.
I love both and have a version of both of these watches. But if i’m diving/operating in a rough environment/need to pick one watch and not worry about it, I’m going with Citizen. I know SEAL team guys that wear Promaster’s on their wrist as their hands hold M4’s and MP7’s. That’s really the only endorsement I need.
Citizen hit exactly on the index, competition is over, citizen won
First of all, citizen does quartz way better than seiko when it come to hitting markers and aligning chapter rings
Now Jody, on this one I must disagree. I think the Citizen is at least as good as the Seiko. The seconds hand of the Seiko misses all the markers on the dial, for example. I think in this comparison your ratings are a little subjective. No problem, it is your rating and your opinion. But I would go for the Citizen, if you don't mind.
Good comparison; although I'm not quite sure I agree with you on the movements as the Citizen appears to hit the second hand markers more consistently than the Seiko.
I still don't understand how some more expensive quartz watches can be less consistent in this regard than Evan a $50.00 AUD Casio.🤔
Casio = God tier..😁
The second hand lining up on the Seiko is absolutely shocking ....... And a better solar movement.... I don't think so!!!
During every close up, I don't think the Seiko hit it's seconds marker once - unlike the Citizen. That & Seikos well known QC issues, totally rules it out for me.
My Casio Duro’s seconds hand hits the marks perfectly & I paid $15 for it. 🔥
If 5 year warranty is a 10 then a 3 year warranty is a 6...
Have both green promaster and seiko monster mk1, granted, those 2 are different movements but Citizen is significantly ahead of Seiko in terms of quality and finishing let alone the fact that 7s26 pretty much makes Seiko unusable as a time keeping device.
There was 2 issues right off... Seiko - plastic shroud and miss alignment of the bezel(maybe just the angle). And doesn't apper to hit the markers.
Honestly Seiko as a brand desn't give me any more confidence than Citizen, especially when we talk Solar...
The Eco-Drive tech is proven, true, and only getting better. They are the benchmark
TBH I've had issues with Seiko. Yet they still put out some watchs that I find attractive/interesting... This isn't one of them.
Good comparison. I bought the Citizen BN0158-85X last year from a physical store for €200. I saw the Seiko Street Solar from a physical AD for €350. I preferred the Citizen as I liked that there are numbers on the bezel which the Seiko lacked. Also the metal bracelet on the Citizen is way better than most Seiko bracelets under €1,000 with solid end links and ratcheting clasp.
Usually a Seiko lover but it would have to be the Citizen as the second hand hits 98% on the markers unlike the Seiko that is way out. This flaw needs to go on ANY quartz costing over $150.
try comparing the lume after 8hrs and you'll fine the Seiko fails miserably. I've learnt this from experience as I own both of these watches as the Citizen is the daily AND nightly beater by far. On a side note the Citizen Steel bracelet and clasp is FAR superior.
I've had the Promaster in blue for 5+ years as a beater watch. It's the watch I wear when I'm doing something that will damage a watch and I have beaten on it. It is very durable. The bezel seems to take most of the damage and looks pretty good scratched up, the crystal is still excellent. Ditch the factory strap.
Absolutely no legibility with the Seiko bezel Jody aside from the pip. I also think the Seiko dial looks crowded. I have a number of Seikos & Citizen including this model in a different colour. Citizen easily for me.😎👍🏼
I think the Seiko dial is crowded too. The Citizen is more open. The watch body is thinner than the Seiko which I like. However, the Citizen’s bezel is cheap looking and too shiny for the matte look of everything else. Live the matte look but the bezel?😬
Okay, but the Seiko seconds hand misses the markers. None of my 3+ year old Seikos ever have that issue.
That Seiko wouldn't last a day in my collection after I saw how it hit it's markers. Jody, THAT'S what the Seiko brand means for a lot of collectors now.
You should include second hand hitting the markers and bezel alignment in the scoring
Are you having a laugh Jody? 2 points better lume on the Seiko? What are you seeing that I can’t.
I agree. I’ve owned a blue lume Seiko Monster and a Citizen Promaster, and while the Seiko has brighter lume initially after being charged, the Citizen (in my very anecdotal experience) took a charge better from dim light, and was better at lasting longer into the night. In my experience, it was better than the Seiko in real life usage.
Wow -- that Citizen looks stellar. The colours, strap, bezel, etc. just rock. Thanks for putting another watch on my bank account destroyer radar....
I like the look of the citizen better
Yeah, the fact that the seiko second hand was SOOO far off the markers … -10 points!
Both are good watches, but I would definitely prefer the Citizen Promaster over the Seiko. The only tunas I like are mini or Arnie.
If given a choice of those two actual watches, I would go for the citz… it would drive my OCD crazy looking at that second hand on the Seiko, I would just sit there stirring at it all day like I did during this video…
I think one thing worth considering with the movements is that the Eco Drive uses a capacitor, meaning it won't degrade. The Seiko, as I understand it uses a rechargeable coin cell battery which will degrade and requires replacement.
I love that you are reviewing more Citizen now.
And I'm headign down the JDM Citizen rabbithole as we speak mate. Stay tuned!
@@JustOneMoreWatch I will. Show us those Citizens
The low points for the brand make sense in general but I think it is the other way around in the eyes of young urban dwellers. They know the Flighty....
@@JustOneMoreWatch Better late than never. Welcome to the party!
@@JustOneMoreWatch Better late than never. Welcome to the party!
I've had several modern Citizens and Seikos. I've sold all on the Seikos. I still have 2 Eco-drives and 2 Citizen autos. IMO, modern Citizen is by far much better.
I was waffling about these two, but bought the Seiko from Jomashop on sale last year and have been very happy with it, however I did swap out the strap for a NATO which I found to be more comfortable for me. I do want to say I have and earlier Citizen diver eco drive that is now 20 plus years old and still going strong, so kudos to Citizen for longevity and being robust. Great matchup! Cheers from Nova Scotia. Mike.
Very good review as always Jody, but I think there’s a slight Seiko bias, and I am a Seiko/Grand Seiko man!
Citizen all the way for me! Even the colour is better...
I think alignment of bezel and seconds hand alignment could be another factor in comparison. Nice comparison Jody.
I own the citizen and I believe you were brand struck on the seiko lol but 90% was purely subjective as with most watch reviews! I love the citizen and the seiko not a fanboy of either so while I’m not saying the citizen deserved to win but I don’t think the seiko is all that much better if at all better than the citizen! Thanks for the review!
Interpunction?
The basic promaster models are 120-150 USD all day in the US, there's no seiko tuna that approaches that in price. Seiko might be a bit better but for 100$ more there's not enough difference. Awesome comparison.
I have that prospex (grey version) and, despite i love its looks, solar capacitor died in about a year and a half 😢
I guess ecodrive still is a better and more reliable option.
Yeah this is what I have read. Lots of Seiko Solar owners report their movements conking out within a few years for no good reason. Was part of the reason I went Eco Drive since lots of people report 20+ years longevity.
Remember that a promaster won a lime war. I have one and I love it
Lume war..
As a lefty I'm a big fan of the promaster automatics with crown at 8. Even if they do have a pair of Y-fronts at the 12.
Love your comparison videos Jory, keep them coming!
I have the gray version of the Street Tuna and I have to say that to me personally the Citizen is much more appealing. To me the hands on the Citizen are much more in harmony together compared to the GIANT hour hand and teeny tiny minimal minute hand on the Seiko.
Agree with those who point out that, 250 Ausie bucks and they still can't get the second hand to index with the dial second markings. Seems universal, bought a Nite Alpha 300 from the showroom, Ronda 715 with the CR2032 battery, 10 year life, nice, spent a while trawling through the supply they had to try and find one that indexed. Found one in the end that indexes at the top but not the bottom. Make of that what you wish.🙄
Always enjoyable watching the head-to-head video's so keep them up Jody!
Nice comparison video, on the surface the Citizen looks better imho. Does the Seiko align/line up?
I’ve owned the that exact Seiko solar and enjoyed it greatly. Surprisingly a very comfy strap, but the bezel action felt a little light and cheap. As always, thanks for the great videos Jody!
Whenever there is a Seiko v Citizen review the reviewers usually give the win to the Seiko because of some perceived view they are better quality/desirable but when you go to the comments the general public always give the win to the Citizen 🤔
Thanks Paul! The Seiko not hitting the marks is, again, a QC problem. Both great watches, I like the tanky Citizen a bit more.
Great content as always Jody!
You're welcome 👍
It's funny you released this video today because I just so happen to be wearing my Citizen Promaster. It's the exact same model only I have the blue one. I picked it up off of Amazon during their Amazon Prime days a couple weeks ago for only $150! Very happy with this purchase especially for the price. Personally, I prefer my blue Promaster over that Seiko for two reason, first I like the 44 mm size a lot better that the 46 mm Seiko Tuna, and second that Seiko seconds hand manages to miss every single marker around the dial, that would drive me crazy and I would probably end up just flipping it.
Also, with the blue model, the minute hand is orange which makes it pop and makes the overall dial look more interesting. I'm not sure if the hands/dial score, $150 price score and seconds hand hitting the markers would make it beat the Seiko in your head to head, but I think it would have made it a lot closer.
Thanks for the head to head, these are always fun!
Sorry but this isn’t an objective review. I don’t think you should review a Seiko against anything else because the result is predictable.
Love my Citizen and would not trade it in for any other watch if being honest!
Maybe between those 2 specific models Seiko wins (only price wise) but you can get the BN0150 and 151 for $150 all day! And i have never seen a seiko solar tuna under $250 in my life lol. Citizen wins all day in solar powered watches
Jody, having owned 2 solar quartz Seiko and 3 eco-drives I can tell you you’re score on movement is off. The seikos have some reliability issues with solar movements. Both of mine required service and never a problem from the citizens. If memory serves your Seiko didn’t run well out of the box either. All my citizens ran no problems out of the box despite they all came with the every other second low charge warning. I would rate the Seiko at 7 and citizen at 9. I’m not sure there’s a more reliable, magnetic resistant solar quartz movement outside a Gshock. Otherwise the Seiko brings a lot to the table!
I've had a Citizen eco-drive for 10 years that I regularly wear Scuba diving mostly in cold, dark UK waters (I bought it expressly for that purpose) and I've never had a single issue with it. Great movement (On mine the solar cells are really visible, which I think is a really cool feature - It's a BN0085-01E). I don't particularly disagree with the result in this case (I'd probably pick the Seiko of these two, although the bezel is almost worthless on it - I'd make sure I got one that had the second hand stop in the same postcode as the marker, though), but I think the margin is a bit generous.
Citizen and Casio have been in the solar game for a long time now, Seiko just doesn't compare. Fine for Jody to be bias, but if he's a paid shill, that's another story.
Agreed. I had to send one of my Seiko solars off for warranty repair as the battery failed to charge after only a few months. My Eco drives on the other hand are very reliable
Both great watches, but my money goes to the Citizen 100%! Citizen should have won the movement and dial categories hands down! I've worn both and I own the Citizen, and it just wears so much better.
I'm sure you're right by your measurements that Seiko wins this one. But that particular Seiko watch in this video did not align the second hand on any of the second indices even once. Nice job, Seiko! I see their inattention to detail is still top-notch. Color me shallow, but that disqualifies Seiko for me. I much prefer the Citizen in this video because the seconds hand seemed to be spot-on.
I have the Citizen in blue and I love it!
I bought one of those citizen divers because I got sick of looking at my seiko turtle misalignment master.
Absolutely love the citizen .
Nice video, but two quibbles. I agree on giving Seiko the nod re: Brand, yet 2 points seemed high. One would have been better. Also, the Citizen is likely more wearable than the Seiko (thinner and not as wide) and that should count. As you say, they are very equal watches, yet the final tally was a bit large in favor the Seiko, imho. Well done!!
I got the blue version of the Citizen a year ago for about £130 - great watch for a really good price
Its most impressive how spot on between the markers the Seiko is with the second hand =P
I wish Citizen had some textured dial, could really do alot for that model. Dont need much but something. But think i would go for the Citizen but both looks really cool.
I love that when Jody does these videos, he still breaks out a sharpie and a ruler! Ha ha ha.
If I were in a shop considering the Seiko I would ask if they had another in stock as the second hand alignment on this one was total crap! If they didn’t I would turn on my heel and leave. It would have annoyed me constantly that it wasn’t even close to the markers.
Been a Seiko buyer since 1972! Bought a new Prospex Solar Diver's Chronograph last year. Love it!
Quick question: where do you buy your shirts? Like: all of them.
Lets go! Another JOMW Citizen review. Now just need him to review the NB1050 because that thing is a hidden gem I believe. Keep it up mate!
Got the Citizen with an orange hour hand & neoprene black strap with orange highlights
Just one minute in and I can say my general view point is Seiko for automatics but Citizen for quartz/solar. I love Citizen Eco Drive.
@@rayhann8626 this is probably true. But the variations available for Citizen in the automatic area seems slim.
Hey Jody, I agree with your parameters and scoring. But, I couldn't help but notice that the Seiko's second hand doesn't hit the minute markers as it goes around while the Citizen hits its markers all the way around. I wouldn't know where that characteristic falls under what parameter, but shouldn't that have given the Citizen at least an additional point?
I'd be going Citizen. Have an Eco-drive Promaster with the E168 movement (BN0085-01E) that has accuracy of 5 seconds per year.
Have owned several quartz Seiko's and whilst sufficiently accurate, none come close to my Citizen.
Also hand and bezel alignment much more consistent with Citizen in general.
Nah, Jody. This Citizen is obviously better 😉👍😁
I love my Citizen diver. It gets the most wrist time for me. To each their own! 👍
🖖🇺🇦🙏
I would swear that Citizen is cheaper and Eco-Drive is better than Seiko Solar... but I stand corrected. I am more of the Seiko fanboy than the Citizen watchlover (I have 4 Seiko and only 1 Citizen).. but here I would take Citizen. It is better looking, it is more legible, wears better because of neat dimensions and that Seiko is not Diver's certified any more, by new ISO standard. It doesn't have lumed indices on all markers. Citizen wins by my book, for those reasons, but I cannot argue with Jody's logic, either.
Thanks for the video. I am not a big fan of dive watches but am looking at the Seiko PADI dive watch with titanium case and solar powered movement.
I guess we can't always agree. I've never had much luck with the Solar Seikos but the Citizen have been bulletproof. We have used them for several years as actual dive watches in several countries. I definitely wouldn't want the Seiko as a dive timer. So, I guess if we are talking only about "fashion watches" I might agree with your conclusions. But you're really comparing an obvious dive watch to a half fashion/half working watch.
The difference between a professional to 'use' the watch as a tool and a collector to just 'have' the watch or use it as fashion part. Thumb's up my friend.
Nice comparison Jody. I agree with the scores, except for the movement (Eco-drives at least manage to hit the markers most of the time), lume (Citizen and Seiko lume are comparable, though Seiko usually wins out, but not by much), dial/hands (that Seiko has one of the most generic dial designs ever), bezel insert (with that color scheme, is there a point to having a timer scale at all on the Seiko?) or brand (Seiko might have been a good brand, before they became the topic of QC jokes).
So....I basically only agree that as nice as that Citizen is, for a watch with a mineral crystal and aluminum bezel (without easy access to replacement aftermarket parts), the price is a bit steep.
I go with the Citizen, something about there desk divers is really appealing. The Seiko is a bit meh for me in comparison, although I'm sure it's a fine watch on it's own merits
Movement aside Citizen Eco-drive wins over Seiko solar...
I need, yes need, that Citizen in green...
Another entertaining video challenge.
I like both,but would opt for the Citizen.
Thanks, Paul.
The Time Teller's revelation of the Seiko Metronome Watch was a huge surprise of a gorgeous watch.
I prefer the Citizen, but the Seko is nice as well.
Both very nice and for sure with a great value for money. My vote for the Seiko: I own this one in white and black and I have to say it is a watch that I always wear with pleasure.
It seems to me that aside from the aesthetic, these two are really much of a muchness. I guess I will have to take your word for the tactile appeal, but I have the BN0151-09L and it's one of my favorites once I ditched the resin strap for an orange bonetto cinturini. You're right though, turning the bezel takes some getting used to.
Hi Jody, great vid as always. Although I still prefer my Citizen to your Seiko 😉 keep up the great work mate 👍
Ha! Thanks again Paul for the loan, and for being a good sport about my scores. A great watch you have there, and it is in an Express Post bag to you as I type. All the best mate!
@@JustOneMoreWatch No problem at all mate, absolute pleasure 👍
CITIZEN Eco-Drive BN2038-01L Aqualand Promaster Own it. Own two Seikos. The Citizen is at a MUCH higher standard, lume is awesome but so is the Seiko, and the Citizen seems to be a much more polished watch. Seiko is nice, Citizen is better. Squale 50 Atmos next level up, and Gshock Frogman Analog or Mudmaster 2000 to round out the collection.
Bought the Promaster about 6 years ago and overall pretty happy with it. Only exception is that I’m not very nice to my watches and the aluminum bezel insert started getting scratched immediately. Otherwise I’ve beat on it pretty hard and mechanically it’s still holding up.
I bought the Seiko, but to be honest I think the Citizen is a better looking watch. The Tuna doesn't do for me what I thought it would when I bought it.
The Seiko that you specifically sought out and purchased for a song, won by a landslide. Never could have seen that coming. 😬
Citizen urban colours is the most expensive of their range, Seiko the cheapest. I think the warranty difference is worth more, at the moment Citizen is 5+1 , Seiko only 2 and as per comments below you need every one of Seiko’s, although jomashop offer 3…
Is that Seiko bezel made for right-handers? Wear it on your right wrist and use the thumb and index finger of your left hand. You'd expect to get free grip at the 10 and 4 o'clock positions. Not so: blocked by that shroud. Gripping at 2 and 8 o'clock then (no shroud there) becomes an awkward manoeuvre for lefties.
Feels like there's a smidgin of Seiko-bias in this one, especially in the double-point categories. That Seiko second hand never troubles the markers. As a left-hander (10% of the population, so worth one point?) that offset bezel doesn't look like much fun either.
Double weighting a smidgen of bias makes it a double smdgen of bias.
I picked up the automatic type of the citizen two years ago for £199 with a Dry box on a metal strap and a changeable rubber it still comes on offer for the same price every now and again in the U.K.
What atomic type?
@@e28forever30 opps
@@eddiejones.redvees ?
I love my citizen in all black. 150 bucks from Amazon. And it hits EVERY marker. Can’t say that about seiko. The lume on it, is a beast! The seiko bezel looks cheap and plastic. Can’t believe you choose that over the citizen. Lol😅
I I disagree with you in the "Brand" category. I think it should be the same score, since both are made by big japanese watch companies. Great video , as always. Congrats.
I have the same model Seiko. It’s one of my favourite Seikos. It has an interesting textured dial and is very comfortable to wear. I guess I’m lucky in that the second hand on mine hits the minute markers every time. As for the battery, I’ve had no issues at all with the Seiko or the Eco drive