[VIDEO] Hands-On: the Citizen Promaster Navihawk 40

Citizen- it’s a brand name loaded with connotations for many enthusiasts. For me, before I knew that watches were something you could be enthusiastic about, it represented a significant step up from the Casios and Fossils I wore. It was the ubiquitous display case filled with somewhat flashy and easily recognizable watches that I was drawn to when visiting the mall as a teenager, yet was completely out of reach for my weekend job at Taco Bell budget. Though phrases like “wrist presence” and “over engineered” weren’t in my high school vocabulary, if I asked my past self what drew me to these often-oversized watches, I’d probably find a less articulate way to describe these characteristics.

These days, as a budget conscious enthusiast with thankfully a bit more cash than my Taco Bell days, my views on the brand have evolved. I now associate it with attainable prices that punch above their price point and a versatile and extensive catalog that has been embraced by general consumers and enthusiasts alike. In a landscape where many brands are moving up market and MSRPs are seemingly tracking egg prices, it’s easy to see why Citizen has become the default choice for many collectors seeking value driven iconic designs in the sub $1000 (and often considerably less) category.

While some Citizen models such as the Promaster line of dive watches and the integrated bracelet Tsuyosa have been accepted with open hearts and empty wrists in enthusiast circles, others with more aggressive diameters have simply sized themselves out. But I suspect that is about to change with the newly shrunk collection of 40mm Promaster Navihawks. Available in silver, green and a copper-leaning salmon and brimming with functionality, the midsize Promaster Navihawk has all the markings of a watch you would expect to see proudly worn at your next RedBar event.