Like many people who find themselves deeply into watches, I went via a interval the place I purchased loads of watches, and by “quite a bit” I imply an unusually excessive quantity. After figuring out slightly about watches, I needed considered one of every watch. This helped me study what I preferred, what I did not like, and what I in the end needed to gather. Many of the watches I purchased in that preliminary rush have now been offered; What stays are the watches that I actually love, the cornerstones of my assortment. Under is my Citizen Promaster Diver BJ8050-08E, or as we watch nerds name it, Ecozilla. I mentioned this again in 2013. So think about my delight when the nice of us at Citizen requested me to jot down concerning the new Promaster Diver BJ8059-03Z Godzilla Restricted Version. It is massive, it is unhealthy, and it’d even be cooler than my very own.
The Ecozilla moniker got here from the easy incontrovertible fact that the BJ8050x Eco-Drive sequence is large and Citizen is from Japan. It isn’t sophisticated, nevertheless it matches. A lot in order that the watch is now listed underneath that title on the Citizen web site, inspiring this restricted version to mark the thirty fifth anniversary of the Promaster line and the seventieth anniversary of Toho Studios’ authentic Godzilla movie.
It might be sacrilegious for a Godzilla-themed watch to be something apart from a diver’s mannequin, and this one goes into depth. It is rated for 300m and incorporates a screw-down crown, high-contrast dial and the wild ashtray bezel. Inside is a B873 Eco-Drive photo voltaic crystal that fortunately hums together with its 180-day reserve, absorbing power from any first rate mild supply. The glass is fabricated from mineral glass, and whereas that will appear unusual in a world the place each micro-brand gives sapphire, let me remind you that mineral glass is much less prone to shatter, and I want to be aware that the excessive bezel does an ideal job of defending it from the occasional scratches.
Like the remainder of the Ecozilla sequence, The Promaster Godzilla LE is a beast. Its bowl-shaped, nearly black stainless-steel case is simply over 48.2 mm extensive and a whopping 18.5 mm thick. This watch is as chunky because the King of the Monsters’ thighs. Once I put it on, my wrist not solely seems to be smaller, it additionally seems smaller. It makes my entire life appear small. “I’M AWAKE,” it screams, “HEAR ME ROAR!”
Regardless of all this, I all the time discovered these watches snug to put on, even on my comparatively skinny 6.75-inch wrist. That is partly as a result of crown, which, whereas sufficiently massive and straightforward to grip, screws nearly invisibly between two stub guards at 9 o’clock, holding it out of your hand. An much more necessary issue is tab freedom. Whereas a 48mm case is massive in each method, it feels much less massive when it is a first rate 48mm lengthy.
One other issue that helps offset the big dimension is the dial to bezel ratio. Watches with massive dials have a tendency to seem bigger than they’re. Most pilot watches fall into this class. Conversely, watches with comparatively small dials seem smaller. That is the case with the unique Doxa SUB300, for instance, and the identical trick works on the ‘Zilla too, decreasing its optical footprint, though the depth at which the dial is recessed into the case reminds you simply how thick this watch actually is.
In case you flip the watch over, you may see the bracelet disappearing inside. These 4 screws don’t maintain the rear housing cowl, however moderately a hoop that fixes the ends of the strap. The again is the one side of the Godzilla LE that upset me. My previous Ecozilla has a good looking image of a diving helmet in excessive reduction. The LE’s Godzilla footprint is flippantly etched, providing little distinction on the satin end.
Sufficient from behind. This simply presses towards your wrist, proper? The actual motion is on the prime. Citizen adorned each the bottom and the dial with a novel Godzilla sample. There are two fashions within the LE vary. One is black and accommodates a picture of a standing Godzilla. The opposite, pictured right here, is crimson and incorporates a close-up of a roaring Godzilla head. The sample is laser etched into the highest of the case and printed onto the dial. Citizen says the thought was to imitate the creature’s pores and skin whereas hiding it from the general public eye. It is an ideal thought that would simply flip into pure camp and make this tribute watch a cartoon novelty. I am blissful to report that this isn’t the case in any respect. it really works splendidly.
The sample has a dense camouflage or mineral look. The seek for Godzilla grew to become extra of a sport of “The place’s Waldo” for my spouse and children, with us all taking turns it. Lastly, Mrs. Time Bum noticed the picture on the a lot bigger floor of the watch field. Once I lastly pulled out a magnifying glass, I noticed the beast’s open jaws on the casing.
With this reference and the magnifying glass in my eye, I used to be in a position to establish the pinnacle that repeated itself on the dial. You are able to do this too when you look to the left of “300”. When Citizen says “hiding in plain sight” what he actually means is that he’s hiding, and the sight is that of somebody with keener eyes than mine.
That is under no circumstances a foul factor. Godzilla, the film creature, has many meanings to many individuals. Sure, it’s a large monster that’s destroying Tokyo. Nonetheless, relying on the movie, it’s also a metaphor for nuclear weapons, the violence of nature, the USA or the militarism of Imperial Japan. An apparent Godzilla would have ignored these complexities and ruined the watch. As an alternative, we’re handled to a splendidly advanced construction filled with coloration and form variations. And sure, the beast lurks deep inside, however it’s a must to search for him.
The opposite parts on the dial are equivalent to these of different Ecozillas: the thick sword arms, distinctive markers and the robust white lume on the dial and bezel tip.
The polyurethane strap is similar as others within the Ecozilla assortment. It’s a snug and useful unit with an “EcoDrive” buckle and stainless-steel holder (each color-matched to the case) and a separate extension that may be strapped on to be used over a diving go well with. It matches the character of the watch and can serve for years. I simply want it did not have such apparent mildew parting traces.
The Citizen Promaster Godzilla Restricted Version is on the market now for $900 at Citizenwatch.com. In line with my final go to to the web site, there are nonetheless many black BJ8056-01E fashions left, however the crimson BJ8059-03Z is in brief provide. That is considerably greater than the usual Ecozillas, however Godzilla solely turns 70 as soon as and is a kind of uncommon media-themed watches that does justice to its material with out turning into a parody.
Seize the crimson, strap it on, let loose a primal roar, then settle in with a film. I might recommend a double characteristic of Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla Minus One (2023). You’ll not remorse it.
