Some watches are so remarkable, so distinctive, and so pioneering that they earn a place in the horological hall of fame and in the hearts of watch fans the world over. The Citizen Promaster Aqualand is one such beloved icon. Citizen has celebrated the 40th anniversary of this famous diver with a limited edition that lives up to the ana-digi legend.

The Citizen Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition

The very first Aqualand, reference C0023, debuted in 1985 and broke new ground by being the first-ever dive watch to incorporate an electronic, digital depth gauge. This inclusion was a game-changer for divers and an impressive technological feat. While most dive watches limit themselves to a unidirectional rotating bezel and plenty of water resistance, the Citizen Aqualand offered a surprising amount of utility in its wrist-sized package. The precise electronic depth gauge was first and foremost amongst these tools, but add to that a dive timer and even a decompression table printed on the rubber strap. The original Citizen Aqualand was released at a time when dive computers were beginning to see more widespread use, and the Aqualand represents the zenith of dive watch technology and the last dive watch used as a primary tool by actual divers.

The original Citizen Aqualand from 1985.

The legacy of the Aqualand was certainly helped by its unique look. Fundamentally, the dials hewed close to the standards for a conventional dive watch — black, large hands and markers — plenty of lume. However, the top of the dial was cut away to reveal a digital readout for the depth gauge. It was the gauge itself that was the most remarkable feature of the watch — a bulbous protrusion on the left-hand side of the case, this lopsided geometry, accented by a large crown and numerous buttons for the various functions, ensured that the Aqualand would loom large in people’s memories, even when technological advances outstripped its functionality.

Today, the Aqualand is increasingly beloved by collectors who appreciate not just its unique appearance but its historical and technical significance. This faithful core of Aqualand enthusiasts is sure to be impressed by the Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition — it’s certainly an impressive watch.

The Citizen Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition

On paper, the case width of 50.7mm seems gargantuan, but when you factor in that a significant proportion of that is the protruding depth gauge, the scale of the watch, which is 14.8mm thick, becomes much more down to earth. It’s certainly a looker — the case is very faithful to the original in its fundamental design, though this 40th version has been elevated with ample application of gold hardware — from the hands and the index surrounds through to the knurled edge of the bezel and the primary crown at four, as well as the ancillary buttons and water pressure sensor itself. Contrasting all these gold details is the stainless steel, which has been given a sleek dark matte grey finish, giving this prototypical tool watch a surprisingly elegant demeanour.

The polish continues onto the dial, which is a rich black sunburst, and a design that fans of Citizen’s divers will instantly be familiar with. The digital display is still a key feature of the dial, though its placement is a little more harmonious than the original 1980s models. There’s also improved functionality. In addition to the depth meter, the Cal. C520 offers a suite of other handy functions, including a 1/100th of a second chronograph, a 100-minute counter, dive timer tracking and an ascent rate alarm. The caseback is screwed-down, allowing for 200 meters of water resistance, and the back is engraved with a special 40th-anniversary logo.

The Citizen Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition

Finally, we need to mention the strap, which includes a diver’s extension and is made from BENEBiOL, a biomass-based material for polyurethane that is contained in the strap as a raw material to allow for better durability and a lower environmental impact.

The Citizen Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition

It’s wonderful to see Citizen pay such a faithful tribute to the original Aqualand, a watch that is increasingly being recognised as a milestone in the history of dive watches.

The Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition is limited to 5800 pieces worldwide and has a retail price of USD 595.