The Marina Militare's Choice - Citizen Promaster Automatic NY0040 Review - Best Diver Under $200? 

My father bought the citizen in 1998. He handed it over to me when I was 18, because I have always loved it. And I basically haven't taken it off since. After 20 years it still works perfectly fine...

I just bought this watch and I can't be more impressed with it. I'm a Diver, Kayaker, Sailor and Water Skier and the crown placement is perfect for wrist articulation. The bezel is mechanically precise, functional and aesthetically pleasing. It has a very robust yet elegant design that gives it tremendous wrist presence. The inky black dial, framed day-date window and the slight spark of red make it visually striking from a distance - mechanically rugged, slightly understated but incredibly handsome. Like a new world red zinfandel, it can be paired with pizza or filet mignon. A gentleman's watch for any occasion.

What ho mate! 🇬🇧 At risk of chucking a spanner in your clockworks, reference accuracy: I broke your law of ’No DIY’, and during the first month of my owning my own Promaster, out came my horologist kit (case-back remover, large sewing needle, and sober hands!) and bit by bit, proceeded to adjust. I got it down to 0.46 sec in 24 hrs and it’s stuck to that over the past seven years of my continuous wearing of it. Okay already, it swings around a couple of seconds each way during the month but at the end of it, hand on my heart, it’s still spot-on at an unvarying aggregate of + 0.5 seconds in 24 hours 🤡 PS: thank you for a great site! Also, I am relieved to know that there is at least one other watch obsessive lunatic out there who wears two watches at the same time!

I love the intros and how they're unique to every video. This one just blew me away. Absolutely excellent!

Finally, my beloved Promaster! Among others, I have both the SKX and the NY0040 and I love them both with all their good and bad sides, but this is the watch I would take to the end of the world and back. It is accurate way above my expectations and robust beyond belief. Thanks for this video, I´m looking forward to the comparison and your final verdict.

Watching this video three years after you made it I actually bought one and with the current conditions I think it makes way more sense than SKX

Hot damn, best quality video production of any 'review' channel dare I say? I've decided this is going to be my first automatic, now I just to find one on special. Cheers

Just came across this old school video of yours. This type of in-depth look at timepieces is what brought me to your channel. Not just the watch itself but all the history surrounding it. Onward and upward, friend!

Now THAT was an intro.... Loved the review, thanks TGV great vid as always!

This is the watch channel I always come back to. Modern classic 🖒🖒

Ok, l'intro mi ha decisamente emozionato, e se avevo ancora qualche dubbio sull'acquisto ho assolutamente risolto. Thank you man!

I have one and mine is only 5+ sec fast per day. Love this watch! Nice video and review!

You looked so serious back then. Now you look happy. I´m glad about that. Keep it up with the videos, better and better every day. Cheers!

The best intro yet and yet another watch I didn't have on my radar. Looking forward to the review.

It is the second or third time I watch this review. I appreciate the intro showing the Comando Subacquei e Incursori (COMSUBIN) of the Marina Militare Italiana and the petit aircraft carrier Garibaldi in action. I bought one with a metal bracelet today on eBay for a fair price. I can't wait to receive it. Ciao from Italy.

Really great review! I recently got the full lume version of the NY-0040 as my first official dive watch, partly based on this review and your mention of the watch’s history with the Marina Militare. I recently went scuba diving for the first time and was super excited to bring this watch and put it to the test, and not only did it pass with flying colors, I almost think it looked even better underwater! An amazing true tool watch with vintage style and history

It's 7 years later and I'm watching your review for the third time... 3 days ago I got me a NY0040 in black, and it is my first automatic and my first proper diver watch. Your description is spot on, it's absolutely comfortable on a small wrist. Great rubber strap, let's the skin breathe while securing the watch. Finally, the current models have hacking.

Man your intros are always spot on

thank you so much for reviewing this, never owned a citizen before, this is my daily watch now.

Thanks for giving Citizen some love. I live near the Citizen facility in California, and they have amazing sales every year, so I own a bunch of them!

Killer intro and clip TGV ! FYI I've managed to purchase 2 of these divers since watching your reviews. A blue and a black version. They're both keeping time within +4 to 5 sec/day !! I also flip the watch around so my right hand adjusts the crown easily. Keep up the great work and Thank you \m/

Hi TGV - Thanks for the Citizen Presentation. I've not considered a Citizen before but was impressed with its features. Also, really liked the intro action. Cheers!

dear TGV ,as happy owner of this piece for the last 10 years among many diver watches.. i just want to bring precisions on a few points about the citizen pro master .. 1. the lume is THE MOST IMPRESSIVE i have ever tested in terms of picking the ambiant light and giving it back ..because of the surface of handles and generous layers applied on them.even a 3 o clock ! 2. the crown position is very good because : it doesn't hurt the hand when flex, it doesn't hook to some gear or stuff passing around during actions like sports or military drilling,it pleases left handed wearers for easy winding, 3.the miyota movement is not the sharpest on the market ..but its robust and as you said this piece is a die hard boy ..a real assault tank ..despite the weak glass showing scratches in time.^^ 4.best value for money on the divers watch market cheap/strong 5.only weak point is the design a bit "rough" its my favourite bad boy at night or in the jungle..beating all my seiko /rolex/ squale /tudor because of the toughness and the lume cheers ! James

The intros keep getting better!

Just bought the blue version from Germany after watching your review. Amazing watch and brilliant review, TGV!

4 years later... FYI the SKX was introduced in 1996 and the NY0040 in 1997. Great watches and great channel been seen your videos since the start. Stay safe

I used to own a navy one of these, I loved it. I gave it to a friend after enjoying his admiration of it and both of us enjoying one too many glasses of wine.

Watching the video after 4 years. You have changed so much TGV. Anyway I bought the blue version of that piece which isn't hard to find in Greece. It is a great piece and I'm looking forward for having great adventures with it!

I was thinking that im an outdated person, looking for a citizen watch from decades ago for my scuba diving. I actually ordered and waiting for this very watch. Your review really sums up my internal battle choosing between skx with the promaster. Cant believe you did this on 2016. Thank you for your review ;)

It's amazing how this video came out right before I was searching information on the watch I was gifted 5 years ago. So proud of it now!

After a eight month hiatus from purchasing watches(damn you Covid) I’m going back in purchasing a couple of modestly priced watches I’ve always wanted. This one arrives today. It’s the second time I watched your review and it’s great! thanks!

Hey TGV! It´s an old video, but I just wanted to share a bit with you. About 6 months ago I was on the hunt for my first dive watch. After thorough consideration, this video was key for me to eventually lean on getting a NY0040 just in time for vacation. When it arrived, I was eager to try it on and my disappointment was abysmal. It wore so small in comparison with my other pieces, and I didn´t get the hang on the design at all, it just looked small and weird on my wrist. But being a relatively cheap watch, and since I had nothing else that would endure what I intended to do with it, I decided to keep it. I wore it for a full week in greece, making it earn its share with plenty of trecking, lung diving and whatsoever you can imagine in a week of active tourism. And I gotta say, few days into it, it finally clicked in my head. No matter what I did to it during the day, how high I was head diving in the sea, how many bumps it would take against walls and undersea rocks... it calmly kept on ticking on and on, with a deviation of 2 sec per day. Stubbornly steady. And that blue, sunburst dial under the sun! Such a gorgeus sight! And the way it changed to dark navy blue when the sun went down and flashyness was no longer needed, it just took a few days to climb from the bottom to the top of my collection. I am wearing it now, knowing that it is a piece that will never leave the watchbox, and I though it would be nice to re-watch this video, and also to send you a big THANK YOU for sharing this disease with all of us. Keep safe!

Great intro. Did not know know the history of the this citizen with the Italian navy. Another great review. Cheers, TGV

Good evening, It's always a real pleasure to watch your videos and to listen to you (and it's easy - I'm french-)! They are very professional and your opinions look like a reference. Please, cary on your so nice videos about watches, all watches ! Regards from FRANCE.

I found a blue one for $230 US and I love it. I’m left handed and it wears just the way I want. It looks great on Natos and Zulus. Thanks for the excellent review.

I just got the Citizen promaster ecodrive BN4044-15E and i love it! - this will be my EDC watch now! thanks for the video - greets, Levi

Wow! Fantastic intro! Luv it. Never know this citizen diver, very interesting. Thanks for reviewing it, will certainly check it out in details. Great vid!

Just get blue version few days ago, its with rubber strap but without decompression table and wih different clasp with Citizen logo on it. Love the watch !

Tristano, this is such a cool review of this great watch! I always was thinking about of buying it. I did and it was the right decision. best wishes, Michael Lima (from Facebook Urban Gentry member)

Hi, TGV. I've been following your channel for the past few months and glad to see your thoughts today on this Citizen diver. I've had the lume dial version of this watch for about half a year and love it. I can't wait to see the duel with the SKX.

Got a citizen promaster, thanks for you videos... Helped me lot in deciding. Keep going

I'm re-watching the intro because it's so good +the urban gentry

I will buy this watch some day! Its indices and hands really make this watch unique and interesting. The quality and style make this watch look very expensive and like a timeless classic. But thats just my opinion and taste! Thanks again for these entertaining and well made content Sir!

Great video, I don't mind the look of the watch. Nice that the watch has been on a journey. Cheers.

Fantastic video once again and that is just a great intro you are becoming the Scorsese of RU-vid just loving the videos :-)

The stunning deep black ink dial got me loving this more than the SKX

Best watch specific intro thus far, bravo!

Me and my girl found this watch on holiday two months ago and she decided to gift it to me as a christmas present. This watch is just great for me. It can take a pure beating, i can wear it while diving and it just looks breathtaking in person. Might switch to a nato strap later on though :)

citizen promaster is simply the best diver watch if we consider the INCREDIBLE affordable price for such INCREDIBLE quality and amazing design and style. Simple the best watch for a man to wear in every moment [non only a diver watch] of the day in every circumstance [at sea, diving, at work every day, free time, elegant outfit at evening events, etc]. You don’t need other watches, the promaster it’s the full package, period.

Great video TGV and love the history of this watch, what a great beater and to wear on holiday on the beach/sea/pool etc and just knocking around with. Can't wait for the seiko vs Citizen showdown of these two great reasonable priced watches. Talking of Seiko would love you to review the Shogun (Seiko SBDC007)

I was just about to write you asking for this review when I realized you already done. This is a TGV kind of timepiece, isn't?

love the intro. Looking forward to seeing the actual duell between this one and the SKX

Very nice intro. Exellent video as usual. Can't wait to see the dual! Keep up the good work :) Hadrien

Yay! Another TGV upload. Time to sit back and relax 😀

Cheers from 2024. I just picked up 2 of these. One new and one vintage. The vintage has the 8202. I love the left side crown. But I do rotate the watch upside down to operate it lol. Great video - thank you.

Governor, Very interesting to have the SKX confronted to its peers. Good unbiased comparison. I look forward to the duel video. Best regards, JRB

Dear Mr. Gentry, thank you for the awesome HD close ups on this watch. And thanks for such a comprehensive review. But I do wish you ill fortune for enabling my watch addiction... I just bought one of these off ebay from a seller in Poland. These things are rare in Canada eh? Keep up the good work!

Great video, TVG.... Nice watch, love the big lumes on the face. So this is a 1997 watch with little change I've 20 years? Wow!

I recently bought the blue version with its beautiful blue sunburst dial and I've just ordered the black dial version which is still readily available here in Europe. Wearing the watch really gives me lots of pleasure. Cheers!

this intro must have been crazy to edit....so good... Seiko = Japan Citizen = Japan Japan makes very good entry level watches.....but not just for a cheap price, but with high quality... Best regards... =)

TGV. Great watch!! Indestructable build features. Had this model for years! Total respect for Japanese divers. Well edited intro, blending watch into the Marina intro, wonder if they were used by Consubin divers in the Italian Navy? Ciao.

Damn it. Your intros is what gets to me I WANT THIS WATCH NOW of course in the blue not the common black one can't wait for my pay check lol

I like the fact I can always come back to your vid catalogue as my tastes change. I bought the skx over this, but I've been craving one of these for a while now. Since they brought out the special edition. I feel this will be more robust than the seiko, and I personally love the 90s style with the big hands.

i think, since the promaster has been updated (serial-no now starts with R instead S) and skx-prices have risen, it is the better choice and you get a screw-down-crown and hacking. still one of the best channels. best regards from germany

finally a citiizen promaster...........love those military watches marathon, glycine, etc i love citizens i think i've said that before personally i think the promaster definitely gives an skx a run for its but both great

I just picked up the NY0040 fully lumed and I must say, it is the best bang for buck timepiece out there. As an added bonus, the NY0040s now come with a Miyota 8204 movement which has both hacking & handwinding! Sweet!

I just bought the watch in blue!! It's gorgeous, and your videos is the reason I learn about it!! Thank you so much from Greece 😉

Great video, I like your new intro's ! I think that citizen is a really good alternative to a skx. Greetings from The Netherlands !

I own one of these and I couldn't be happier with it! Really looking forward to that duel with the skx! Cheers

I own this and the skx....and for me.its simply no contest the citizen takes it by a country mile,it's robust,far more accurate, reliable slimmer on the wrist,the bezel is far grippier,the comfort on the wrist with the crown at the 8 position is sublime,why don't all watches do this?... honestly I'd take this over just about anything....and let's not forget that the miyota 82-- series has been around since 1977,it's one of the most proven movements there is,the 7s26 can't even come close,I got married wearing my skx...but my citizen to me is utterly indispensable,it's only watch I'd be crushed if I lost And as a final bonus it looks amazing on any strap/bracelet you care to mention,it's not just great "for the price"....it's simply great an all time under rated,and deeply understated classic. Of all my mechanical pieces this is my absolute favourite,and it's not even close. If you're in the market?by it!

Those applied indices are awesome.

Cracked me up at "mortal enemies" and at the blaring horns!😂

Great review, I had no idea about the Italian military history. And testing to 500m, awesome!! I love mine. Have a good one:-)

Thankyou for a really great review!...Citizen and Sekio.. Especially the Grand Sekio are my fave watches!.... :)

Thanks for review! Great watch for sure. With NATO strap it looks fantastic. I got both black and blue model 😀🤘 Cheers

Nice watch. I have the NY0040-09E and NY0040-09WB in my daily rotation along with the SKX-007J1. love dive watches.

Seems very nice , and affordable price can't beat it like you said . And the crow spot very different!! Great videos as always !!!

Tristano, I enjoyed the video. The heritage of the watch is wonderful and adds romance. The nuance of the dial is fun. Keep up the great work. SKX09 and three Citizen not or. :). Tom

Great watch. I had one, but I sold it - nothing wrong with the watch, just needed the money at that time. Anyway, I like very much design of the bezel - it's very distinctive to the watch. The only thing, I don't like is greenish tone of the lume in comparison with SKX lume. Great review, Tristano! Can't wait for the duel!

I really thought I had a good range of divers, but that crown at the 8 o'clock position looks quite different and needs to be in my collection! haha thanks for the review TGV, nice video as always!

That's one hell of an intro! Well done bro. I really like this watch but, too bad it's not a bit bigger.

I've wanted the blue dial version of this Watch since I saw one in 1997, and back then it was expensive. To my surprise and absolute delight my daughter bought me the blue sunburst dial model for Christmas 2021 to replace my 9 year old Citizen Pro Master Eco drive Dive watch. I replaced the black rubber strap with a Dark Blue NATO strap, its my daily day time wear, I've done a couple of dives with it and its attracted interest because of its History, I'm very happy with it ,and its a nice addition to my collection, and it has a hacking movement.

I think of all the watches that you reviewed... this is the best-looking... especially on your wrist 👍

I have 2 blue faced ny0040 and they are an eye grabbing diver more so than my skx009 really great value

I just bought a NY0040-09E (one E), black looks exactly like the one in this video from a European dive shop. $170 + $50 in tax and shipping. The watch shipped from Germany and the dial says 8203 caliber but the back says 8204 and this watch hacks. Was not expecting that. Very happy.

I am in love with the dial!

Great work, got all the information I needed here. I think Citizen should link to this video. You are doing a better job at providing the information that users need. :)

Beautiful intro but I still loved the glycine airman one the best when it comes to you're Militaryesque vids.. 🍷

I bought this watch based on your review and another video you did. It's my first mechanical watch! 2021 builds use Citizen's 8204 movement which is hackable! The ND tables are gone from the band though. I love the blue dial, but I got the black one because of how inky black it is. Stunning watch for the money. Thanks for the content. It really helped me decide!

Wow! Now that was a smashing intro! Loved it!

Really great intro! Great watch in overall. I think I prefer than the loved skx... Greetings from Brazil!

Thanks for your information, I have one, and I'm very happy to be the owner of this very good watch.

I follow your channel for a while now. I been seeking for reviews of the 2016 version of this watch before I buy it. I never saw you reviewing a citizen before so i wasn't hoping for this review. I bought the watch this morning (bn0150-28e) and I'm loving it. And them you posted a vry positive review of its predecessor, what a coincidence. Anyway I hope you review the 2016 one. Keep up with the good work. cheers.

Great review and nice watch! Thanks for the video! :)

I’ve had my eco drive pro master diver for about a year now and it’s easily in my top 3 favorite watches! I thought about putting it on a NATO strap but there’s just something unique with the rubber strap with the navy dive tables. I may buy a NATO to throw on from time to time!

I was thinking that im an outdated person who looking for a citizen watch from decades ago for scuba diving. because none of recent dive watches suits me. I actually just ordered and now im waiting for this watch. Your review sums up all my inner battle of choosing promaster and skx. after tons of reviewing i finally choose promaster over skx. skx turns out too bulky, too flashy and too mainstream. I just still cant believe you did this review on 2016!!!! Keep up the good work, i really enjoy your channel. cant wait for the duels. cheers ;)

I found the blue version you have mentioned and purchased it a few seconds ago. Brand new from Germany.

Hello I follow your channel since France congratulations I have these two in my collection skx007 and the citizen promaster its caliber has the nickname of indestructible and with the same strap you present, my favorite brand is seiko, Japan 🇯🇵

Thought I was watching a movie.. 👍🏼👌🏼 great review!

What a looker! I cant have enough of it really