Summer is still far from over and Citizen has a nice new watch for the budget-conscious divers. Besides the choice of vibrant colors, Citizen Scuba Fin Eco Drive BN0095 has another ace in its sleeve. The “green” solar-powered quartz movement inside its oversized case runs for almost whole six months before its built-in battery never needs to be replaced. Claimed to work for as long as 20 years without losing its properties, the battery has a good chance of outliving the watch itself.
When Citizen first introduced their 2011 Eco-Drive Signature Perpetual Calendar, there was a considerable amount of hullabaloo among the enthusiasts community.
Several bloggers and twitterers(?) even claimed that the watch was, um, inspired by nothing else than the 2009 TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5!
Looks like Citizen learned its lesson and decided to introduce a new version of the Scuba Fin. While still not looking terribly original, the refreshed “diver” finally brings to the table the brand’s own DNA.
I mean, although the unidirectional rotating bezel, the pair of crown guards, and even the luminous hour markers on the dial look too generic, a couple of finishing touches here and there make this watch easily noticeable among the hundreds of similarly designed diving companions.
Measuring 46 millimeters in diameter, the new Scuba Fin is large but is also relatively thin at some 12 millimeters top-to-bottom.
Thanks to the choice of proportions, the setting crown is also very prominent and will be easy to operate even if you happen to possess a set of clumsy fingers. Like the rest of the body, the crown is treated with black ion-plating,
Frankly, like many other Japanese watches in this price range, the new Scuba Fin looks a bit, I don’t know, silly? Personally, I like that the wide polyurethane strap is available in bright colors that match similar patches of paint on the dial, as well as the hour and minute hands.
However, there will be lots of eye-rolling and raspberry-blowing from more serious gentlemen in their forties and above.
Still, if these minor visual annoyances don’t bother you, this big baby certainly deserves a second glance.
With a price of slightly below $300 (for comparison: a more toy-looking Casio Men In Dark Purple Frogman costs twice as much!), this new Scuba Fin Eco-Drive makes an impression of a nice choice for a person who needs a new diving tool in their life.
WWR’s Final Rating
Originality 3.5/5
Versatility: 3/5
Build Quality: 4.5/5
Ergonomics: 4.5/5
Overall Legibility: 4.5/5
Nighttime Legibility: 5/5
Value for Money: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Photos: Citizen Watches Co.
Citizen Scuba Fin Eco Drive 200M BN0095 specification
Price: $299 (can be found below $250 online)
Movement: Quartz, caliber Eco-Drive, Made in Japan
Power reserve: 180 days
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date
Case: Stainless steel, black ion-plated
Shape: Round
Size: 46.00 mm
Case height: 12.00 mm
Lug width: 26.00 mm
Strap: Polyurethane band with color accents in orange, green (ref. BN0090-01E) or blue
Front crystal: Mineral glass
Back: Solid, screw-in
Dial: Black, Grey, or White
Numerals: Arabic (on the bezel and date aperture)
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Steel, luminous
Water resistance: 200 meters