Sorry, but this is stupid choice. lt's a nice, rugged watch, but hardly a "beater" in the sense that it's okay to abuse it because you won't care if it gets beat up and scratched. For most of us, a "beater" is something that's rugged and reliable and equally important cheap, as in $50 or less, or the UK equivalent. This watch isn't cheap and anyone who wears, abuses it and doesn't care if it's scratched up can easily afford any of the numerous alternatives in the same price range. A more appropriate would beater would be any of the numerous Casio tough solar, or solar gShocks, available for substantially less money.
I have worn mine every day for nearly a year now. That's while at work, while doing manual cobblers like DIY and chopping wood fer me fire, while hiking, while mountain biking and while going out at night. It's had several shades of shizzel kicked out of it. And it hasn't missed a beat and still looks like new. Incredible watch.
I've had one of these for 25yrs! Never stopped, never been serviced! Worn every day, still looks mint. Had a few straps though. Thoroughly recommend this watch!
After years of different watches, I have (very wisely I think) standardized on Citizen or Citizen owned companies. I have also gone for Eco-Drive. It is difficult to fault Citizen, excellent quality and unbelievable accuracy at a fair price. My favorites being a Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Marine and a Frederique Constant Moon phase.
@@happydogg312 I agree, having only one watch manufacturer would be very boring. What I should have said is, that I find Citizen bomb proof, they are reliable and the quality control is excellent.
@@mgolabek89 They make the best quartz watches. Their Chronomaster line is accurate to 5 seconds/year and their Calibre 0100 movement is good for 1 second/year.
I agree. I love my moon phase rectangular face. I only saw one other in. Jewelry shop for several hundred more than I paid and I was looking for a simple perpetual calendar watch. I picked one up an eco drive with perpetual, day time date not a bunch of other items not wanted. I couldn’t find anything similar to what I have. Is the perpetual calendar only in the more gadgety versions?
I've recently purchase quite a few Citizens. It's strange how I've resisted buying Citizens till I was in my 60s, but I'm now quite a fan of them. This titanium eco drive seems to be built like a tank and I love its no-nonsense look.
I am a great fan of Citizen Eco Drive Titanium watches. I am a watchmaker although have been working in the computer field for years. They are the ultimate watch. Very accurate and no expensive maintenance.
These “Ray Mears” Citizens are meant to last forever…. Absolutely worth the money! Glad they still make them (regardless of the exclusivity). I do prefer them on the Kevlar strap though.
I have the blue dial version and added the titanium bracelet from this version. I love the watch. It's really comfortable. It hugs the wrist with the monocoque caseback. Tough, light, easy to read and very accurate. The proportions are aesthetically pleasing in person.
Couple of additional points about this model that are cool- 1. In some circles it is referred to as the Citizen Ray Mears ( the survivalist/bushcraft expert). He wore one for a very long time and it's in many of his TV shows. So proof it is a beater. 2. It is a UK only model. It used to be sold internationally but now it's a UK exclusive. Which is cool! There is a JDM equivalent that has atomic syncing and a true citizen tough movement (it locks the movement down when it detects impact and then re-adjusts itself - it's not clear if the UK has this movement, I've read people saying yes and no)
Wore mine today. I've had it for a couple of years. I've never really tested the lume in the field. Got a discount , although the strap version was cheaper & tbh it looks better on a good nato/ zulu . I'd advise research on the JDM model as I had reservations (ressons?) ( & I own an Oceanus anyway & the Citizen is too brutalist for a GADA).
@@DouglasRosser PMD56-2952 I believe is the 'standard' one. There is also a green one... And some other colour variants. I believe the depth rating might be lower and also double check what the deal is with the atomic sync - some JDM models only sync to the Japanese atomic clock (but you can get phone apps that mimic it if you want)
The JDM model you are refering to (I assume PMD56) is a completely separate item. It doesn't share anything with the watch we are looking at today. It has different - nicer in my opinion - proportions and is not a monocoque design. The crown guard wrapped around the crown is particularily cool. The only reason I don't own one is that the radio sync functionality only works with the two Japanese transmitters.
I've had a citizen eco drive for 22 years. Their customer service is excellent. I recently bought a Q&Q,citizen discount brand,stainless eco drive for $32 us fob Japan.
Great suggestion but more a case of 'disposable' than indestructible. With the low cost buy two, so you have a replacement to hand, when you find out how fragile they are. No doubt a more economic choice but more prone to breakage and needs bateries. And then there's the 'look'. No one needs a watch (we all have perfect time on our phones) to tell the time, we wear them as jewelery. They say something about our personality. If you want everyone to know you are skint, (or careful with money), wear an obviously cheap looking watch.
I bought one of these, exactly the same spec, 3 years ago and absolutely love it, and it's nice to see it getting some attention. I consider it to be a competitor for the Rolex Explorer, as it ticks all the same boxes as the Explorer, only at a fraction of the price. Never mind it being the greatest beater, I think it is the most under-rated watch out there!
Less expensive, more accurate time keeping, made from titanium, AND it has a date function. Dollars-for-Donuts it’s a “better” watch than a Rolex Explorer.
G'day Gary, Citizen deserve far more plaudits, they make some great watches for very reasonable prices. This looks like a good choice for best beater. On the fly adjustment, super titanium, 300m WR, Sapphire and that brilliant knurled crown. Two thumbs up, another great pick mate.
Thanks for the review. I have this watch over 4 years. The bracelet is the weakest part I think. So i never used it on the bracelet. I have to say that this watch is a strap monster. I am wearing mine with natos, tropic straps and vintage leather straps.
This is a fantastic watch, sometimes called the Ray Mears or Promaster Tough. I bought the strap version from H Samuel for £149 a couple of years ago, it is insanely accurate as well as tough. You get used to the looks, it has a rugged beauty, but the date isn't very legible!
Love this! Your parameters for a beater are exactly what I would describe, maybe adding that in its basicness and roughness it has a certain appeal, which this one certainly has in spades in my opinion! Perfect choice.
My time tested beater is a Seiko Railroad Time gifted to me 20 years ago and my only watch for much of that time. That one has been all over the world and is still in rotation and keeping great time.
I have this watch in its original Royal Marines Commando version, ref BN0110-06e. Exactly the same design and spec except with Royal Marines insignia on the face and the caseback. Originally on a black Kevlar canvas strap, but this got very frayed with hard use so I changed it to a black rubber strap which shows no signs of wear. I bought the watch 5 years ago from a branch of H. Samuel that was having a closing-down sale. The price was reduced from £299 to £149. I have several very fancy Swiss watches but I wear this watch most of the time. It is very accurate, very clear, very tough and yet good looking enough for formal wear. It has barely a mark on it after 5 years of hard use so I would agree it’s probably the world’s toughest and best beater.
I have the RMC versions too, but the proper Full Titanium - BN0110-57E - cost around £393 brand new, because it was in Dublin, plus the GMT - BJ9140-52E, which cost me (second hand, and in almost perfect condition) £210 including postage! The pair worth every penny of £603!!
I couldn't agree more with you, ILW. I'm a big Citizen fan and have had this model in my collection for a few years now. Were I going on a world trip this is the one watch I would take. I love the monobloc construction, 300mtr water resistance, clarity of the face and chapter ring, not to mention the diver's extension incorporated into the bracelet. It does everything required of it with ultimate ease. The overall size and monobloc construction mean that it sits ever so exceptionally well on the wrist and, being constructed in supertitanium, is so light and unobtrusive. Why spends thousands when this little beauty does it all at such an affordable price?
The oversized numbers actually make it look less legible to me, the hands can blend into them too much, especially the arrow on the hour hand, and make them hard to tell apart. Like when you have it at 10:10, it could easily be 1:50 at a quick glance. If those big numbers were replaced with dots, I think that would make it much better for reading, and improve the looks too.
I bought the blue dial with strap version of this last year. For a "working on site" beater I use a Sekonda resin case £30 cheapo, but this I use for general everyday wear. No maintenance grab & go, & it does look good. Perfect antidote to an apple watch!
Almost nothing in the mall is worth your money. Not clothing, not watches, most of the movies in the theater are bad, edibles in the food court are low quality. All the best value items are bought thru the internet, or direct to consumer.
I've had a different version of this "Tough" watch (BN0211-50E , the classed-up indices-only one) for a while now, and it's a favorite. But I've been sorely tempted by the "Ray Mears" which is awfully similar to the one in the video. *I* love the scale of the various elements. The whole package seems tweaked to simply scream "clean utility."
I ve got its bigger brother, the promaster tough 42mm (with the blue lume minute hand) and I just stopped wearing anything else. These promasters are just insane value for money!
I have this and the original Ray Mears version. There are some subtle differences such as the bezel height, sapphire shape , water resistance and case finish. The original is at least 20 years old (probably older). Still runs perfectly. It has been worn in some pretty rough conditions and even survived being scraped up against a galvanised mesh fence without issue. It does have some scratches on the case now but it really should look a lot worse. The new version was half price one day... so had to get it (on the kevlar strap rather than the titanium). The lume is naff but they are well recommended.
Bought one of these a few weeks ago - got a bit of a discount paid £320. Great work watch for office, very visible dial for at a glance reading with my knackered eyes and slips nicely under a shirt sleeve unlike my g-shocks
You might want to classify this as a field-watch, and one that the military might want to take a good look at. More robust than an automatic, and almost no way for water or mud to ingress. When I did my military stint decades ago I must say, the norm was to use a leather cover over and under the watch-body with a velcro or pop-stud, in order to read the time, but avoiding giving your position away by inadvertently having some sort of illumination showing at night, and works a treat protecting the watch from knocks and dings. I went for Casio watches then early 1980s (giving my age away), which worked very well.
I bought this gem and I can tell you this is not a watch for those who just want a beater to tick off on the collection. It is a pure tool watch: I had to ask myself the question if I am lost in the wild on the back end of a bender, do I want a pretty Swiss piece or a cheap Lorus to aid my survival? The answer was in the specs of the Citizen: The Mohanad Ali case and strap (It floats like a butterfly on the wrist) lume (that would have Stevie Wonder begging for sunnies) and 300m WR ( leaving Jacques Cousteau questioning why the Doxa!). All this for around AUD 600 in my opinion the Citizen you can't "Beat Her"
I own this exact same watch, but was lucky to get mine on a cruise for £235! The only slight downer on it, is the date window is a little small. But for me, the ultimate perfection is the Citizen PMD56-2952...
I beater watch with these specifications for that price is an amazing bargain. This is a watch you could buy when you're in your 20's and wear it your entire life. Tough materials, bullet proof movement with incredible accuracy and built so well there is almost nothing (abuse) it could not handle. This is an amazing watch.
I absolutely LOVE your clock in the background 🤩👍🏼 It even has the "calibration" step at the top of the minute!!! Oh, and this one's a great one to have in a roster ... every day wear and tear that you can wear with peace of mind. Thanks for sharing.
I worked for the airlines, and flew all over the world, back in the 1990's and early 2000's and I bought a Citizen Eco Drive titanium and rose gold world timer to keep my time zones straight.....that watch was BIG but it was the coolest watch I ever owned. It took some time to get it figured out and to get it all programmed to be correct, but it kept me from losing my mind trying to figure out what time it was in Stuttgart when I was in Honolulu....lol. I still have it, non-working......the capacitors in them died out after 6 or 7 years....and it has to be totally disassembled to replace it....
For those of us getting on a bit legibility is often key and that dial certainly ticks that box. I've had an ecodrive for my work watch now for several years and it's running faultlessly. £300 for a watch built like a tank can't be bad. Nice one Gary
Agree that a "beater" is usually viewed as cheap and replaceable. So, at the price, this may not be the classic beater. But certainly a good choice for an everyday "hard use" watch, maybe in a harsh work environment. I spent a good portion of my life wearing Citizen titanium eco-drive watches, so I do have a soft spot for them....
Ha! This is my latest purchase. Still haven't seen the video. The only problem I have with this watch is the clasp length. I love it nonetheless. Super comfortable, beautiful piece. For me this is a GADA watch. Maybe I'm just too cheap 😛 Btw you can adjust the bracelet while wearing the watch. Pressing those 2 pushers automatically opens up the on the fly adjustment and squeezing the clasp closes it. I honestly don't know how am I going to get used to any other bracelet without a similar system
I have had the one with the 4th hand (GMT) for nearly 20 years. Super impressed by it. The only issue has been the crown for crows-theeased and doesn't always stay in. Needs a lot of patience. Odd really as it was only ever unwound to change the date. Also, Eco-Drives don't last forever. I had to replace my battery/capacitor. Still among my favourite watches though and great to see it on your channel and getting more attention.
I have to agree with you, John, about the capacitor not lasting forever. I have a small collection of watches, mostly citizen and have had a lot of trouble with the capacitors. I suspect the fault lies with the service agents and the retailers and not with the watches themselves. A new capacitor should last in excess of 20 years! I have a titanium (not super titanium) skyhawk which lasted for over 25 years before needing a new capacitor. What annoys me is the sales pitch on the adverts - 'Never needs a battery'. Rubbish! Of course it does! I still think that the best system is radio control married to solar power, because you get unlimited power reserve, quartz accuracy and the convenience of never having to adjust the date etc when you've set it up correctly. My daily wear is a £112 casio wave cepter solar powered, radio controlled, little beauty in titanium. By any standards, a hard to beat watch. It even has an illuminated dial by pressing one of the pushers. Doesn't have a crown because you don't have to set the time or date, which it does automatically. Just one criticism, because the titanium doesn't have a non scratch treatment it has picked up a lot of light scratches, especially on the clasp of the bracelet.
Hi Gary, great watch, I bought this one second hand, deliberately with a couple of scratches, specially as a beater, so that I wouldn’t find myself being to precious about it. I just love mine, which came on a canvas strap, was worn so was swapped out. You’ve now got me listing after a bracelet version. You didn’t mention it but I believe this watch has been issued by the British military, at least to the Royal Marines, maybe also to the navy, so it really is well qualified to be beaten. Nice one, keep them coming. Dave
Proud owner of the discontinued Citizen BN0100-42E 'Excalibur' since a few days. Citizen is IMHO vastly underrated and, for example, has some affordable no-nonsense, built-for purpose divers, that have actual street cred within the diving community, and have become true icons. And, of course, their Eco Drive watches are unmatched.
I have the Mont-Bell version of this watch with a denim blue dial for about four years now. I had worn it when doing gardening as well as when I am out and about in the countryside. So far, the duratec coating has done a great job in protecting the titanium case from any unsightly scratches. This watch should a strong contender on anyone’s beater watch buy list.
@@michaellooney1089 Thanks for the heads-up. The “2952” is indeed a very nice watch. The day-date complication is nicely executed. While the date aperture on my Monte-Bell is very small and, as such, I could hardly tell the date at a glance.
Have 2 older models. A early model and a special edition Royal Marines model. Love that they are so light. On a rubber strap you forget that your wearing them. And the lume is still excellent for being over 10 years old :D
I own the 2 RMC models, with one being a GMT. Both in Full Titanium! The GMT cost me £210 including postage, it was second hand and in almost perfect condition. I've seen some Japanese dealers offering almost £1,000 for these!
Citizen AT6080-53L and PMD56-2951 are even better. Thinner case, slightly less wide case, narrower bezel and better looking dial. Bit less WR at 200m but that’s more than enough.
Agreed. The PMD56 also has a perpetual calendar and though it doesn’t receive signal is the us it has radio reception, this can be done by an app which is also nice.
I've had one of these for years and years. I bought it because of Mr Mears. You couldn't dent it with concrete spears. So go and buy one; have no fears.
Good review, a very nice watch indeed. Can't say the same for the clock on the wall though, the way the second hand syncs with the minute hand and obviously not in the same time zone as the watch !
Gary - great choice! I got the blue and the black. A real sleeper this, as the saying probably all the watch you ever need especially all the features and amazing legibility.
Missed this video somehow. It's a very good watch. Certainly looks tough, but even though it's well priced it's too good to be a beater, maybe it's because I think it's really good looking. For me the best beater is one that still looks exactly the same no matter how much you beat it up, so get a G-Shock Mudmaster, you can let it bounce halfway down a mountain ravine, as I did, and it will look exactly the same and the hands realign themselves automatically if they get knocked out of sync. Or if you really want to spend a lot less money, something like a Casio Royale, $30, 100m water resistance, 10 year battery and almost impossible to kill. If I bought this Citizen I wouldn't be beating it up.
About 7 years I happy with JDM green Promaster Land PMD56-2951. It is pure perfection. And now I`d like to get Super Tough - simple, cleaner, brighter lum, better bracelet extension... and yea - tougher :)))
Nice, but being monoblock how is it possible to change the capacitor in the future ? The movement will endure a lot but eventually you will need to change the capacitor.
That thing on a Zulu Strap would be an absolute beauty to me! Might have to get one, my ProMaster Eco Drive is pretty much on my wrist 24/7 so this would be a nice change in looks.
I just purchased the Citizen BM8560-53E. It doesn't have an on-the-fly adjustable clasp, and it only has 100 meters of water resistance. But, it is an Eco-Drive, titanium watch on a bracelet at a significantly more beater-friendly price of $119 USD. While I think there are plenty of less expensive beater options available, I think it would be difficult to find a titanium beater (on a bracelet!) for less.
I have a similar looking Citizen, 200m WR, 42mm case, came on a riveted fabric strap. Its on my wrist as I write, on a Barton Elite silicone strap, 13 years old and never missed a beat. Good video, recent price hikes on Citizen are a pain!
A contender in the price point that comes to mind is the Victorinox Inox. Although I have not owned one and I am not sure it is as wearable. I understand they drove a tank over it and it still worked.
I've got the Citizen Eco Drive Super Titanium (green dial model with the leather strap), and it's also one hell of a beater watch, probably my favorite daily wear out of everything I own. Price was less than £100 on sale, unbeatable!
I own the newest version and just love this watch. The look has been improved with thicker hands to match the numbers and I vote this to be the ULTIMATE field watch! If you want to beat it….i wins that title too!
I think it's called a Tuff. That the UK version, there's a slightly different one here in the US. Similar in concept, but a lot less bulky is the Citizen Garrison. The Garrison is super light (maybe too light?) But also a little dressier.
Super review Gary - I've got the Mont Bell variation (slightly bigger diameter, busier dial with small text, though less numerals/indices) of this watch and it's a joy - titanium is the way to go on bigger dial watches.
Nice. That model is not available in North America. Commonly referred to as "The Ray Mears". I love mine. Don't recall who in England sent mine over the pond to America
Tugela 3.0 $399 The Tugela is Draken’s take on one of the most popular watch genres - the dive watch. With its distinct hour indices inspired by the shapes found in Zulu beadwork, and it’s tapering case mirroring the shape of the Protea flower, there is no other dive watch like it.
I like it! In fact I like it so much I just ordered one from the UK. Maybe a little more than I probably should have spent for a watch, but I have been meaning to thin the herd anyway. Thanks for posting this!
Try the citizen promaster tough. Similar but you can find them for about $200. Monoblock case, sapphire crystal, screw down crown, 200m water resistant , stainless steel.
@@jaysterling26 Yes the pro master tough is bigger I believe it’s 42 mm. I love the size of the Ray Mears because it looks like a big watch in a small watch platform, not sure how to explain it.
Looks like my birthday prezzie is sorted, ive been wearing a Limit Fleiger for work (builder) on a sail cloth strap which is doing well for the last 12 months but the cement is eating away the monkey metal case, great review thanks Gary
Good looking field watch- looks similar to a Rolex explorer or Tudor ranger. Like the eco drive symbol also looks like the original military broad arrow on vintage divers
Just picked one up with a blue dial today from John Lewis, Bluewater for £199 The black dial was still £399 and the blue dial on rubber strap was £350.
A beater is according to one's budget, may be a $50 watch or a $50k. The only good thing with citizen is their hardened titanium which is better from most brands at that price range, even at 50% higher. Can't compare it with high end titanium watches, no way. Who claims otherwise is not even near reality.....this watch though is tough but the toughness is mostly because it's an eco drive, a quartz, would like to see how durable they will claim it is with a miyota 9 series. Still, I would grab one if there was a mechanical model. Thanks for the review Gary, very well presented as always.
I bought the automatic Pro Master a couple of noths ago. My beater however is an Apekz 200 m professional. Seiko quartz movement, rugged, reliable and waterproof £99 from Mikes Dive Store. This watch is to nice as a beater.
An old version of this watch is, 7878-H16714. Its 35mm case is perfect for those with smaller wrists. It became sought after. Some say it is the real Ray Mears one. I have an example with a burgundy dial and cannot think any other watch for a beater job.
Be a perfect field watch,sports watch, any adventure watch so yep don't normally go with eco drive but I understand this movement is so better than any auto , and I'd consider this watch for a beater
Love the legibility with my aging eyes. I have the JDM MontBell version that updates each night in the U.S. I sold the bracelet as I didn't like the clasp, when worn, it's raised too much and not the flush with the bracelet. Version I have keeps the seconds ticking when changing time zones so I don't lose exact time which I find helpful. With the evening time synch the date adjusts automatically at the end/beginning of each month depending on how many days in each month. Adjusts for Daylight Savings and Standard time automatically when auto synched as well.
@@michaellooney1089 Thanks. Nice watch, but the 39.5mm case is smaller than the 42mm of the MontBell. I prefer the latter for legibility and it also has a 22mm lug width over the 20mm. To each their own though.
Nothing beats the SWC ARK. Please do a comparison against the Citizen. The specs puts it in its own league. At $200 USD at a more than 1/3 of a discount.
5 Chances To Win Grand Seiko or Seiko Watches Worth £3,500
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Sorry, but this is stupid choice. lt's a nice, rugged watch, but hardly a "beater" in the sense that it's okay to abuse it because you won't care if it gets beat up and scratched. For most of us, a "beater" is something that's rugged and reliable and equally important cheap, as in $50 or less, or the UK equivalent. This watch isn't cheap and anyone who wears, abuses it and doesn't care if it's scratched up can easily afford any of the numerous alternatives in the same price range. A more appropriate would beater would be any of the numerous Casio tough solar, or solar gShocks, available for substantially less money.
I have worn mine every day for nearly a year now. That's while at work, while doing manual cobblers like DIY and chopping wood fer me fire, while hiking, while mountain biking and while going out at night. It's had several shades of shizzel kicked out of it. And it hasn't missed a beat and still looks like new. Incredible watch.
I've had one of these for 25yrs! Never stopped, never been serviced! Worn every day, still looks mint. Had a few straps though. Thoroughly recommend this watch!
After years of different watches, I have (very wisely I think) standardized on Citizen or Citizen owned companies. I have also gone for Eco-Drive. It is difficult to fault Citizen, excellent quality and unbelievable accuracy at a fair price. My favorites being a Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Marine and a Frederique Constant Moon phase.
@@happydogg312 I agree, having only one watch manufacturer would be very boring. What I should have said is, that I find Citizen bomb proof, they are reliable and the quality control is excellent.
Citizen doesn't get enough exposure on UA-cam. Although they don't have many standout designs, they definitely are better value for money than Seiko.
Because they make mostly quartz watches.
@@mgolabek89 They make the best quartz watches. Their Chronomaster line is accurate to 5 seconds/year and their Calibre 0100 movement is good for 1 second/year.
I agree. I love my moon phase rectangular face. I only saw one other in. Jewelry shop for several hundred more than I paid and I was looking for a simple perpetual calendar watch.
I picked one up an eco drive with perpetual, day time date not a bunch of other items not wanted.
I couldn’t find anything similar to what I have. Is the perpetual calendar only in the more gadgety versions?
I've picked up the new promaster dive range. Pretty decent, couldn't pick up a Seiko with sapphire for that price.
I agree bc recent Seikos are ripoff
Gary, I'm surprised you didn't know about this watch. It is a grail watch for me that I was finally able to purchase here in the states.
I've recently purchase quite a few Citizens. It's strange how I've resisted buying Citizens till I was in my 60s, but I'm now quite a fan of them. This titanium eco drive seems to be built like a tank and I love its no-nonsense look.
I have this one and it quickly became my favorite watch in the collection. Super recommended piece!
I am a great fan of Citizen Eco Drive Titanium watches. I am a watchmaker although have been working in the computer field for years. They are the ultimate watch. Very accurate and no expensive maintenance.
These “Ray Mears” Citizens are meant to last forever…. Absolutely worth the money!
Glad they still make them (regardless of the exclusivity). I do prefer them on the Kevlar strap though.
I have the blue dial version and added the titanium bracelet from this version. I love the watch. It's really comfortable. It hugs the wrist with the monocoque caseback. Tough, light, easy to read and very accurate. The proportions are aesthetically pleasing in person.
Couple of additional points about this model that are cool-
1. In some circles it is referred to as the Citizen Ray Mears ( the survivalist/bushcraft expert). He wore one for a very long time and it's in many of his TV shows. So proof it is a beater.
2. It is a UK only model. It used to be sold internationally but now it's a UK exclusive. Which is cool! There is a JDM equivalent that has atomic syncing and a true citizen tough movement (it locks the movement down when it detects impact and then re-adjusts itself - it's not clear if the UK has this movement, I've read people saying yes and no)
Got the model number for the JDM model with atomic sync?
Wore mine today. I've had it for a couple of years. I've never really tested the lume in the field. Got a discount , although the strap version was cheaper & tbh it looks better on a good nato/ zulu .
I'd advise research on the JDM model as I had reservations (ressons?) ( & I own an Oceanus anyway & the Citizen is too brutalist for a GADA).
@@DouglasRosser PMD56-2952 I believe is the 'standard' one. There is also a green one... And some other colour variants. I believe the depth rating might be lower and also double check what the deal is with the atomic sync - some JDM models only sync to the Japanese atomic clock (but you can get phone apps that mimic it if you want)
There’s a similar model called the “Mont bell” those are pretty much the same but I believe they may be JDM only.
The JDM model you are refering to (I assume PMD56) is a completely separate item. It doesn't share anything with the watch we are looking at today. It has different - nicer in my opinion - proportions and is not a monocoque design. The crown guard wrapped around the crown is particularily cool. The only reason I don't own one is that the radio sync functionality only works with the two Japanese transmitters.
Love it I've got the Royal Marines Commando version on a nato strap,wonderful watch easily my favourite,brilliant review 👍
I've had a citizen eco drive for 22 years. Their customer service is excellent. I recently bought a Q&Q,citizen discount brand,stainless eco drive for $32 us fob Japan.
Casio illuminator! Under 20$ and indestructible! Lights up at night!!! Perfect beater watch! Highly accurate quartz movement.
Great suggestion but more a case of 'disposable' than indestructible. With the low cost buy two, so you have a replacement to hand, when you find out how fragile they are. No doubt a more economic choice but more prone to breakage and needs bateries.
And then there's the 'look'. No one needs a watch (we all have perfect time on our phones) to tell the time, we wear them as jewelery. They say something about our personality.
If you want everyone to know you are skint, (or careful with money), wear an obviously cheap looking watch.
I bought one of these, exactly the same spec, 3 years ago and absolutely love it, and it's nice to see it getting some attention. I consider it to be a competitor for the Rolex Explorer, as it ticks all the same boxes as the Explorer, only at a fraction of the price. Never mind it being the greatest beater, I think it is the most under-rated watch out there!
Less expensive, more accurate time keeping, made from titanium, AND it has a date function. Dollars-for-Donuts it’s a “better” watch than a Rolex Explorer.
G'day Gary, Citizen deserve far more plaudits, they make some great watches for very reasonable prices. This looks like a good choice for best beater. On the fly adjustment, super titanium, 300m WR, Sapphire and that brilliant knurled crown. Two thumbs up, another great pick mate.
It is a cool looking watch and not cheap but it’s built for the long run so the price isn’t a massive downer. I like this one.
Thanks for the review. I have this watch over 4 years. The bracelet is the weakest part I think. So i never used it on the bracelet. I have to say that this watch is a strap monster. I am wearing mine with natos, tropic straps and vintage leather straps.
I've had the blue dial Mont Bell limited edition version of this watch for years now. Great watch that I don't wear enough.
This is a fantastic watch, sometimes called the Ray Mears or Promaster Tough. I bought the strap version from H Samuel for £149 a couple of years ago, it is insanely accurate as well as tough. You get used to the looks, it has a rugged beauty, but the date isn't very legible!
Gasp, best 150 ever…paid twice as much and still happy lol
Love this! Your parameters for a beater are exactly what I would describe, maybe adding that in its basicness and roughness it has a certain appeal, which this one certainly has in spades in my opinion! Perfect choice.
My time tested beater is a Seiko Railroad Time gifted to me 20 years ago and my only watch for much of that time. That one has been all over the world and is still in rotation and keeping great time.
I have this watch in its original Royal Marines Commando version, ref BN0110-06e. Exactly the same design and spec except with Royal Marines insignia on the face and the caseback. Originally on a black Kevlar canvas strap, but this got very frayed with hard use so I changed it to a black rubber strap which shows no signs of wear. I bought the watch 5 years ago from a branch of H. Samuel that was having a closing-down sale. The price was reduced from £299 to £149. I have several very fancy Swiss watches but I wear this watch most of the time. It is very accurate, very clear, very tough and yet good looking enough for formal wear. It has barely a mark on it after 5 years of hard use so I would agree it’s probably the world’s toughest and best beater.
I have the RMC versions too, but the proper Full Titanium - BN0110-57E - cost around £393 brand new, because it was in Dublin, plus the GMT - BJ9140-52E, which cost me (second hand, and in almost perfect condition) £210 including postage! The pair worth every penny of £603!!
I couldn't agree more with you, ILW. I'm a big Citizen fan and have had this model in my collection for a few years now. Were I going on a world trip this is the one watch I would take. I love the monobloc construction, 300mtr water resistance, clarity of the face and chapter ring, not to mention the diver's extension incorporated into the bracelet. It does everything required of it with ultimate ease. The overall size and monobloc construction mean that it sits ever so exceptionally well on the wrist and, being constructed in supertitanium, is so light and unobtrusive. Why spends thousands when this little beauty does it all at such an affordable price?
The oversized numbers actually make it look less legible to me, the hands can blend into them too much, especially the arrow on the hour hand, and make them hard to tell apart. Like when you have it at 10:10, it could easily be 1:50 at a quick glance. If those big numbers were replaced with dots, I think that would make it much better for reading, and improve the looks too.
Rubbish.
No. Just keep as is. Plenty of other watches for you.
This is a great watch. Before this one, the (now discontinued) Citizen Promaster Tough - the non-chronograph one - was the best beater watch around.
Old post
Great beater, had this for few years, wear it when I start gardening in the spring, never tire of it. 30% off too.
I bought the blue dial with strap version of this last year. For a "working on site" beater I use a Sekonda resin case £30 cheapo, but this I use for general everyday wear. No maintenance grab & go, & it does look good. Perfect antidote to an apple watch!
Citizen makes so many shopping mall models that it's a chore finding the gems from the poops. This one is great. Thanks for finding it Gary!
Trick is to stay in the Promaster selection.
So does Seiko, depending on where you shop I guess, much better value for Citizen though.
Almost nothing in the mall is worth your money. Not clothing, not watches, most of the movies in the theater are bad, edibles in the food court are low quality.
All the best value items are bought thru the internet, or direct to consumer.
I've had a different version of this "Tough" watch (BN0211-50E , the classed-up indices-only one) for a while now, and it's a favorite. But I've been sorely tempted by the "Ray Mears" which is awfully similar to the one in the video. *I* love the scale of the various elements. The whole package seems tweaked to simply scream "clean utility."
I ve got its bigger brother, the promaster tough 42mm (with the blue lume minute hand) and I just stopped wearing anything else. These promasters are just insane value for money!
Have you seen the PMD56-2952??
Great looking watch imo with perfect dimensions
I have this and the original Ray Mears version. There are some subtle differences such as the bezel height, sapphire shape , water resistance and case finish. The original is at least 20 years old (probably older). Still runs perfectly. It has been worn in some pretty rough conditions and even survived being scraped up against a galvanised mesh fence without issue. It does have some scratches on the case now but it really should look a lot worse. The new version was half price one day... so had to get it (on the kevlar strap rather than the titanium).
The lume is naff but they are well recommended.
Bought one of these a few weeks ago - got a bit of a discount paid £320. Great work watch for office, very visible dial for at a glance reading with my knackered eyes and slips nicely under a shirt sleeve unlike my g-shocks
You might want to classify this as a field-watch, and one that the military might want to take a good look at. More robust than an automatic, and almost no way for water or mud to ingress. When I did my military stint decades ago I must say, the norm was to use a leather cover over and under the watch-body with a velcro or pop-stud, in order to read the time, but avoiding giving your position away by inadvertently having some sort of illumination showing at night, and works a treat protecting the watch from knocks and dings. I went for Casio watches then early 1980s (giving my age away), which worked very well.
I have just ordered the blue dial version and think its hard to beat for the price, a very under the radar watch and an absolute belter.
Awesome!
I bought this gem and I can tell you this is not a watch for those who just want a beater to tick off on the collection. It is a pure tool watch: I had to ask myself the question if I am lost in the wild on the back end of a bender, do I want a pretty Swiss piece or a cheap Lorus to aid my survival? The answer was in the specs of the Citizen:
The Mohanad Ali case and strap (It floats like a butterfly on the wrist) lume (that would have Stevie Wonder begging for sunnies) and 300m WR ( leaving Jacques Cousteau questioning why the Doxa!). All this for around AUD 600 in my opinion the Citizen you can't "Beat Her"
I own this exact same watch, but was lucky to get mine on a cruise for £235! The only slight downer on it, is the date window is a little small. But for me, the ultimate perfection is the Citizen PMD56-2952...
I beater watch with these specifications for that price is an amazing bargain. This is a watch you could buy when you're in your 20's and wear it your entire life. Tough materials, bullet proof movement with incredible accuracy and built so well there is almost nothing (abuse) it could not handle. This is an amazing watch.
I did buy one back in 2000 I think. It is still going strong.
I absolutely LOVE your clock in the background 🤩👍🏼
It even has the "calibration" step at the top of the minute!!!
Oh, and this one's a great one to have in a roster ... every day wear and tear that you can wear with peace of mind.
Thanks for sharing.
Good looking watch that Citizen. My beater is a San Martin SN0034C, I love everything about it, even the lack of a date.
I worked for the airlines, and flew all over the world, back in the 1990's and early 2000's and I bought a Citizen Eco Drive titanium and rose gold world timer to keep my time zones straight.....that watch was BIG but it was the coolest watch I ever owned. It took some time to get it figured out and to get it all programmed to be correct, but it kept me from losing my mind trying to figure out what time it was in Stuttgart when I was in Honolulu....lol. I still have it, non-working......the capacitors in them died out after 6 or 7 years....and it has to be totally disassembled to replace it....
For those of us getting on a bit legibility is often key and that dial certainly ticks that box. I've had an ecodrive for my work watch now for several years and it's running faultlessly. £300 for a watch built like a tank can't be bad. Nice one Gary
Date window could be bigger for us old’ns!😂
Agree that a "beater" is usually viewed as cheap and replaceable. So, at the price, this may not be the classic beater. But certainly a good choice for an everyday "hard use" watch, maybe in a harsh work environment. I spent a good portion of my life wearing Citizen titanium eco-drive watches, so I do have a soft spot for them....
Ha! This is my latest purchase. Still haven't seen the video. The only problem I have with this watch is the clasp length. I love it nonetheless. Super comfortable, beautiful piece. For me this is a GADA watch. Maybe I'm just too cheap 😛
Btw you can adjust the bracelet while wearing the watch. Pressing those 2 pushers automatically opens up the on the fly adjustment and squeezing the clasp closes it. I honestly don't know how am I going to get used to any other bracelet without a similar system
Had one since 1999, great watch, wear it every day
I have had the one with the 4th hand (GMT) for nearly 20 years. Super impressed by it. The only issue has been the crown for crows-theeased and doesn't always stay in. Needs a lot of patience. Odd really as it was only ever unwound to change the date. Also, Eco-Drives don't last forever. I had to replace my battery/capacitor. Still among my favourite watches though and great to see it on your channel and getting more attention.
What's the model? Easy to find a secondhand?
I have to agree with you, John, about the capacitor not lasting forever.
I have a small collection of watches, mostly citizen and have had a lot of trouble with the capacitors. I suspect the fault lies with the service agents and the retailers and not with the watches themselves.
A new capacitor should last in excess of 20 years!
I have a titanium (not super titanium) skyhawk which lasted for over 25 years before needing a new capacitor.
What annoys me is the sales pitch on the adverts - 'Never needs a battery'. Rubbish! Of course it does!
I still think that the best system is radio control married to solar power,
because you get unlimited power reserve, quartz accuracy and the convenience of never having to adjust the date etc when you've set it up correctly.
My daily wear is a £112 casio wave cepter solar powered, radio controlled, little beauty in titanium.
By any standards, a hard to beat watch. It even has an illuminated dial by pressing one of the pushers.
Doesn't have a crown because you don't have to set the time or date, which it does automatically.
Just one criticism, because the titanium doesn't have a non scratch treatment it has picked up a lot of light scratches, especially on the clasp of the bracelet.
Hi Gary, great watch, I bought this one second hand, deliberately with a couple of scratches, specially as a beater, so that I wouldn’t find myself being to precious about it. I just love mine, which came on a canvas strap, was worn so was swapped out. You’ve now got me listing after a bracelet version.
You didn’t mention it but I believe this watch has been issued by the British military, at least to the Royal Marines, maybe also to the navy, so it really is well qualified to be beaten.
Nice one, keep them coming.
Dave
I got mine on a cruise - new for £235 !
Proud owner of the discontinued Citizen BN0100-42E 'Excalibur' since a few days. Citizen is IMHO vastly underrated and, for example, has some affordable no-nonsense, built-for purpose divers, that have actual street cred within the diving community, and have become true icons. And, of course, their Eco Drive watches are unmatched.
I just picked up one very similar but stainless with kevlar strap for about $110. I absolutely love it and not afraid to wear it.
I have the original Ray Mears from 1996, love it. After 17 years it stopped just today I have replaced the capacitor and it is up and running again.
It looks so cool! I mean it's not the prettiest watch out there but damn! I love that 300m on the dial😏🔥
The best watch I've ever owned. Wearing it for about 6 months and I'm impressed with it. It is a beater watch, ask Ray Mears!
I have the Mont-Bell version of this watch with a denim blue dial for about four years now. I had worn it when doing gardening as well as when I am out and about in the countryside. So far, the duratec coating has done a great job in protecting the titanium case from any unsightly scratches. This watch should a strong contender on anyone’s beater watch buy list.
If you think that's good, have a look at a PMD56-2952...
@@michaellooney1089 Thanks for the heads-up. The “2952” is indeed a very nice watch. The day-date complication is nicely executed. While the date aperture on my Monte-Bell is very small and, as such, I could hardly tell the date at a glance.
The best review l've seen so far of this model . Thank you
Have 2 older models. A early model and a special edition Royal Marines model. Love that they are so light. On a rubber strap you forget that your wearing them. And the lume is still excellent for being over 10 years old :D
I own the 2 RMC models, with one being a GMT. Both in Full Titanium! The GMT cost me £210 including postage, it was second hand and in almost perfect condition. I've seen some Japanese dealers offering almost £1,000 for these!
@@michaellooney1089 Cool!
Citizen AT6080-53L and PMD56-2951 are even better. Thinner case, slightly less wide case, narrower bezel and better looking dial. Bit less WR at 200m but that’s more than enough.
wow, the AT6080-53L looks really cool
I own a PMD56-2952 - SUPERB!! Got it from a dealer in Lancashire.
Agreed. The PMD56 also has a perpetual calendar and though it doesn’t receive signal is the us it has radio reception, this can be done by an app which is also nice.
I've had one of these for years and years. I bought it because of Mr Mears. You couldn't dent it with concrete spears. So go and buy one; have no fears.
Good review, a very nice watch indeed. Can't say the same for the clock on the wall though, the way the second hand syncs with the minute hand and obviously not in the same time zone as the watch !
Gary - great choice! I got the blue and the black. A real sleeper this, as the saying probably all the watch you ever need especially all the features and amazing legibility.
Missed this video somehow. It's a very good watch. Certainly looks tough, but even though it's well priced it's too good to be a beater, maybe it's because I think it's really good looking. For me the best beater is one that still looks exactly the same no matter how much you beat it up, so get a G-Shock Mudmaster, you can let it bounce halfway down a mountain ravine, as I did, and it will look exactly the same and the hands realign themselves automatically if they get knocked out of sync. Or if you really want to spend a lot less money, something like a Casio Royale, $30, 100m water resistance, 10 year battery and almost impossible to kill. If I bought this Citizen I wouldn't be beating it up.
About 7 years I happy with JDM green Promaster Land PMD56-2951. It is pure perfection. And now I`d like to get Super Tough - simple, cleaner, brighter lum, better bracelet extension... and yea - tougher :)))
Nice, but being monoblock how is it possible to change the capacitor in the future ? The movement will endure a lot but eventually you will need to change the capacitor.
That thing on a Zulu Strap would be an absolute beauty to me!
Might have to get one, my ProMaster Eco Drive is pretty much on my wrist 24/7 so this would be a nice change in looks.
I just purchased the Citizen BM8560-53E. It doesn't have an on-the-fly adjustable clasp, and it only has 100 meters of water resistance. But, it is an Eco-Drive, titanium watch on a bracelet at a significantly more beater-friendly price of $119 USD. While I think there are plenty of less expensive beater options available, I think it would be difficult to find a titanium beater (on a bracelet!) for less.
Same as my royal marine commando. Just without the badge on the face. Great watch and accurate too.
Love this watch. Bought it in black (with bracelet) and blue (with strap).
Great watch, I have the blue kevlar strap version, brilliant for summertime adventures.
I have a similar looking Citizen, 200m WR, 42mm case, came on a riveted fabric strap. Its on my wrist as I write, on a Barton Elite silicone strap, 13 years old and never missed a beat. Good video, recent price hikes on Citizen are a pain!
If you think that's good, take a look at the PMD56-2952...
A contender in the price point that comes to mind is the Victorinox Inox. Although I have not owned one and I am not sure it is as wearable. I understand they drove a tank over it and it still worked.
I have that watch and love it. NATO strap. It was pricy but felt it’s worth it.
I've got the Citizen Eco Drive Super Titanium (green dial model with the leather strap), and it's also one hell of a beater watch, probably my favorite daily wear out of everything I own. Price was less than £100 on sale, unbeatable!
What's the model?
If you want a great version in green, have a look at a PMD56-2951...
Awesome little watch when you see it for real
I own the newest version and just love this watch. The look has been improved with thicker hands to match the numbers and I vote this to be the ULTIMATE field watch! If you want to beat it….i wins that title too!
I think it's called a Tuff. That the UK version, there's a slightly different one here in the US. Similar in concept, but a lot less bulky is the Citizen Garrison. The Garrison is super light (maybe too light?) But also a little dressier.
This was my first watch on my watch collecting journey.
Super review Gary - I've got the Mont Bell variation (slightly bigger diameter, busier dial with small text, though less numerals/indices) of this watch and it's a joy - titanium is the way to go on bigger dial watches.
Try the PMD56-2952...
Awesome watch. Definitely worthy of overlooking that its quartz.
Nice. That model is not available in North America. Commonly referred to as "The Ray Mears". I love mine. Don't recall who in England sent mine over the pond to America
Tugela 3.0
$399
The Tugela is Draken’s take on one of the most popular watch genres - the dive watch. With its distinct hour indices inspired by the shapes found in Zulu beadwork, and it’s tapering case mirroring the shape of the Protea flower, there is no other dive watch like it.
bought this watch a year ago and it is the watch I wear most of the time. grab and go. is classy tough a description? I think it is.
I like it! In fact I like it so much I just ordered one from the UK. Maybe a little more than I probably should have spent for a watch, but I have been meaning to thin the herd anyway. Thanks for posting this!
Try the citizen promaster tough. Similar but you can find them for about $200. Monoblock case, sapphire crystal, screw down crown, 200m water resistant , stainless steel.
Isn't that slighter bigger ( reason I didn't go for it ; weighs more? ) ? I do prefer that design.
@@jaysterling26
Yes the pro master tough is bigger I believe it’s 42 mm.
I love the size of the Ray Mears because it looks like a big watch in a small watch platform, not sure how to explain it.
Looks like my birthday prezzie is sorted, ive been wearing a Limit Fleiger for work (builder) on a sail cloth strap which is doing well for the last 12 months but the cement is eating away the monkey metal case, great review thanks Gary
Definitely picking up this piece. I love that dial! And it’s a monobloc?! Say less Citizen, say less. Just take my money! 🤣
I love this watch I just got it. 👍🏼
Excellent review, enjoyed that and yep I’m gonna pull the trigger now, cheers mate 👍🏻
Good looking field watch- looks similar to a Rolex explorer or Tudor ranger. Like the eco drive symbol also looks like the original military broad arrow on vintage divers
Best watch I've ever owned, can only wear one at a time, will be selling all my divers, including my titanium Helm Khuraburi, because this is better!
Best ever. Full stop
Just picked one up with a blue dial today from John Lewis, Bluewater for £199 The black dial was still £399 and the blue dial on rubber strap was £350.
A beater is according to one's budget, may be a $50 watch or a $50k. The only good thing with citizen is their hardened titanium which is better from most brands at that price range, even at 50% higher. Can't compare it with high end titanium watches, no way. Who claims otherwise is not even near reality.....this watch though is tough but the toughness is mostly because it's an eco drive, a quartz, would like to see how durable they will claim it is with a miyota 9 series. Still, I would grab one if there was a mechanical model. Thanks for the review Gary, very well presented as always.
I bought the automatic Pro Master a couple of noths ago. My beater however is an Apekz 200 m professional. Seiko quartz movement, rugged, reliable and waterproof £99 from Mikes Dive Store. This watch is to nice as a beater.
New to the channel. Glad to be here. I also like watches. lol
An old version of this watch is, 7878-H16714. Its 35mm case is perfect for those with smaller wrists. It became sought after. Some say it is the real Ray Mears one. I have an example with a burgundy dial and cannot think any other watch for a beater job.
By the way, thanks again for sharing your insight and ideas about these kind of watches. Will wait for more vintage ones.
@I Like Watches ⊕①②⓪②⑨⑥⓪②③④⑥ Sorry, i don't understand.
Be a perfect field watch,sports watch, any adventure watch so yep don't normally go with eco drive but I understand this movement is so better than any auto , and I'd consider this watch for a beater
Love the legibility with my aging eyes. I have the JDM MontBell version that updates each night in the U.S. I sold the bracelet as I didn't like the clasp, when worn, it's raised too much and not the flush with the bracelet. Version I have keeps the seconds ticking when changing time zones so I don't lose exact time which I find helpful. With the evening time synch the date adjusts automatically at the end/beginning of each month depending on how many days in each month. Adjusts for Daylight Savings and Standard time automatically when auto synched as well.
If you think that's good, you want to see the PMD56-2952, and it has a micro adjust on the clasp!
@@michaellooney1089 Thanks. Nice watch, but the 39.5mm case is smaller than the 42mm of the MontBell. I prefer the latter for legibility and it also has a 22mm lug width over the 20mm. To each their own though.
My JDM Citizen atomic eco drive does not receive a signal from US radio clocks. It only gets a signal from Japanese radio clocks.
RRP is $A615 in 🇦🇺 but a quick search finds it for $A330. I agree the numbers are a little large. The earlier versions had numbers for each index
Nothing beats the SWC ARK. Please do a comparison against the Citizen. The specs puts it in its own league. At $200 USD at a more than 1/3 of a discount.