As a teenager in the ‘80s, I remember seeing ads for the Citizen C020 in magazines and wondered to myself what sort of rugged individual would wear such a timepiece.
Being a former Marine, a retired LEO, a fervent motorcyclist, an avid outdoorsman, and a recreational SCUBA diver, I’ve realized, decades later, that I have become that rugged individual. The article above reminded me that I was lacking the Citizen Aqualand Promaster in my collection and was the catalyst in causing me to purchase a modern JP2000-08E last year!
Thank you for such a great article on such a milestone of a watch, Jason! It’s one of my favorites!
Interestingly, while toggling through the dive functions, I noted that there was a recorded dive on a June 29th around 7pm at around fifty-something meters for about five minutes. I was boggled by this discovery and surmised that perhaps it was a factory pressure test that didn’t get deleted before the watch was packaged up for distribution?
Good to know. I was initially worried that I might’ve been scammed by purchasing a used watch, but I thought it was odd that only one dive had been recorded.
I was on the flip side of your story. I really didn't embrace the 80s quartz revolution, my choice was an automatic. Undergrad at Macalester, I wore a mechanical Bulova, loved it. In 1984 when I started Grad School at the Univ of Minnesota, I bought my first SEIKO dive watch, the 6309-7049. I still have the 6309 on the original rubber band. The watch works, but could stand a service, and the band is a little faded in places but no cracks etc. The only reason I have the original band is because I wore the watch on a NATO strap all those years ago. The NATO is long gone, but the great memories remain. Thank you Jason for the excellent article, fun read.
I forgot to mention that I bought the SEIKO 777 to wear in its stead. Slightly larger, but a modern diver very close in appearance. Whenever I wear the 777 it makes me smile thinking about the 6309. Have the 777 on wrist with a NATO as I type this.
A brilliant tale of the wonders of early adventures while growing up.
We all start on our long road carrying with us some kit that we hope will last a lifetime. Generally, the kit wears out before our ambitions, but those pieces that do stay with us become talismans as well as little memory chambers.
I had to smile at the 1985 date. It reminded me of how old I am. In 1985, I was starting on a third career, wearing range of black resin watches that best matched that career.
At that point, my Bulova Deep Sea had already reached an ancient wreck as well as my first (and only!!) cave dive. It was my dress watch worn with shirt and tie. It’s days as a tough guy watch mostly (but not exclusively) in the past.
Today it is in Central Watch receiving a well deserved full restoration so that it will join me on adventures for another 50 years (it will last that long even if I don’t).
My dad graciously bought me the second gen aqualand, even though the 1985 mode is more iconic, I have had mine since 1993. Super heavy watch, all steel. Like your article, so many memories and the blissful 1980’s.
Hello Jason, loving the stories, I was wondering how you think the depth gauge would fair with alot of sand like beach days and shore diving? I'm wondering if it'll get clogged or damaged? I'm looking into getting one myself, Thanks!
I've never had issues with the depth sensor clogging nor read any complaints from other owners of the same watch so I think you'll be safe. Very easy to rinse out anyway. Enjoy it!
Not being a diver, I had and used the Citizen Altichron for some years, a tool watch in its truest sense. Wore it everywhere except when swimming, used it for all mountain tours summer and winter, and the barometer kept me updated on changes in air pressure / weather when stationary.
When it stopped working and Citizen did not supply spare parts / new caliber, I was more than a little heartbroken.
The new and insanely cluttered Altichrons do not appeal, of course. Garmin Instinct and Casio Protrek have me covered, but I do miss my Altichron, the first watch with an altimeter.
Though it was a Citizen that first pulled me down the watch rabbit hole - and I became aware of the Aqualand about the same time - I had no clue the Aerochron and the Altichron existed, let alone that they and the Aqualand formed a Citizen air-land-sea trio!
How did I not know that!? I feel like someone is coming for my watch geek card...
Few things are cooler than a lume dial, but one of them is a well-loved and well-used old dive watch.
This seals it- I’m def getting one of these new ones. Official #HenchmanWatch?
As a teenager in the ‘80s, I remember seeing ads for the Citizen C020 in magazines and wondered to myself what sort of rugged individual would wear such a timepiece.
Being a former Marine, a retired LEO, a fervent motorcyclist, an avid outdoorsman, and a recreational SCUBA diver, I’ve realized, decades later, that I have become that rugged individual. The article above reminded me that I was lacking the Citizen Aqualand Promaster in my collection and was the catalyst in causing me to purchase a modern JP2000-08E last year!
Thank you for such a great article on such a milestone of a watch, Jason! It’s one of my favorites!
Interestingly, while toggling through the dive functions, I noted that there was a recorded dive on a June 29th around 7pm at around fifty-something meters for about five minutes. I was boggled by this discovery and surmised that perhaps it was a factory pressure test that didn’t get deleted before the watch was packaged up for distribution?
Thanks, DD. And yes, I believe it’s a simulated test “dive” they do to test the function. I’ve seen similar on mine.
Good to know. I was initially worried that I might’ve been scammed by purchasing a used watch, but I thought it was odd that only one dive had been recorded.
I was on the flip side of your story. I really didn't embrace the 80s quartz revolution, my choice was an automatic. Undergrad at Macalester, I wore a mechanical Bulova, loved it. In 1984 when I started Grad School at the Univ of Minnesota, I bought my first SEIKO dive watch, the 6309-7049. I still have the 6309 on the original rubber band. The watch works, but could stand a service, and the band is a little faded in places but no cracks etc. The only reason I have the original band is because I wore the watch on a NATO strap all those years ago. The NATO is long gone, but the great memories remain. Thank you Jason for the excellent article, fun read.
I forgot to mention that I bought the SEIKO 777 to wear in its stead. Slightly larger, but a modern diver very close in appearance. Whenever I wear the 777 it makes me smile thinking about the 6309. Have the 777 on wrist with a NATO as I type this.
Jason,
A brilliant tale of the wonders of early adventures while growing up.
We all start on our long road carrying with us some kit that we hope will last a lifetime. Generally, the kit wears out before our ambitions, but those pieces that do stay with us become talismans as well as little memory chambers.
I had to smile at the 1985 date. It reminded me of how old I am. In 1985, I was starting on a third career, wearing range of black resin watches that best matched that career.
At that point, my Bulova Deep Sea had already reached an ancient wreck as well as my first (and only!!) cave dive. It was my dress watch worn with shirt and tie. It’s days as a tough guy watch mostly (but not exclusively) in the past.
Today it is in Central Watch receiving a well deserved full restoration so that it will join me on adventures for another 50 years (it will last that long even if I don’t).
Thanks for being back those memories.
JR
old warrior/new novelist
Wonderful article!
My dad graciously bought me the second gen aqualand, even though the 1985 mode is more iconic, I have had mine since 1993. Super heavy watch, all steel. Like your article, so many memories and the blissful 1980’s.
Hello Jason, loving the stories, I was wondering how you think the depth gauge would fair with alot of sand like beach days and shore diving? I'm wondering if it'll get clogged or damaged? I'm looking into getting one myself, Thanks!
I've never had issues with the depth sensor clogging nor read any complaints from other owners of the same watch so I think you'll be safe. Very easy to rinse out anyway. Enjoy it!
Ok, Thank you!
Another excellent piece of writing. Thank you!
Not being a diver, I had and used the Citizen Altichron for some years, a tool watch in its truest sense. Wore it everywhere except when swimming, used it for all mountain tours summer and winter, and the barometer kept me updated on changes in air pressure / weather when stationary.
When it stopped working and Citizen did not supply spare parts / new caliber, I was more than a little heartbroken.
The new and insanely cluttered Altichrons do not appeal, of course. Garmin Instinct and Casio Protrek have me covered, but I do miss my Altichron, the first watch with an altimeter.
Keep on diving and writing, Jason!
Another great installment, I am glad to see the Chronosport got an honorable mention.
Another great piece, Jason!
Though it was a Citizen that first pulled me down the watch rabbit hole - and I became aware of the Aqualand about the same time - I had no clue the Aerochron and the Altichron existed, let alone that they and the Aqualand formed a Citizen air-land-sea trio!
How did I not know that!? I feel like someone is coming for my watch geek card...