Citizen Promaster Land GMT Adds a Second Timezone to a Popular Design
The Citizen Promaster Land GMT builds on the rugged heritage of the Promaster Tough, featuring a brushed stainless‑steel case measuring 39.5 mm in diameter with a 200‑meter water resistance and a fixed bezel engraved with a 24‑hour scale for a secondary timezone display. It is offered in two configurations—a blue dial with a gray nylon NATO strap and a red dial paired with a stainless‑steel bracelet—both showcasing oversized Arabic numerals, a date window at 3 o’clock, and luminous hands that emit a bright blue glow. Powering the watch is Citizen’s Eco‑Drive Caliber B878, a quartz‑based movement that charges from any light source and includes a low‑charge warning, over‑charge protection, and a quick‑start feature. While the watch’s construction and legibility are strong points, the Caliber B878’s approach to GMT functionality is unconventional. The movement links the date display to the 12‑hour hand and requires the local hour hand to be advanced when changing timezones, making backward adjustments impossible and complicating travel use. Despite this limitation, the Promaster Land GMT offers solid value at $525 USD for the strap version and $595 USD for the bracelet version, delivering a durable field watch with a practical, if imperfect, second‑timezone capability.
Buying Time Analysis: This story is important because it evaluates the Citizen Promaster Land GMT’s innovative addition of a second timezone to a rugged field watch, highlighting its design choices, pricing, and the practical implications of its unconventional GMT movement for both enthusiasts and everyday wearers.
