Not so long ago I invested in a replacement for my old Navitimer (which I sold on in a fit of insanity!) with a Sky Hawk JYooo5-50E, and I have to say I’m really pleased with it.  But as these things do, the latest incarnation (Japanese Domestic market) is the new Citizen Promaster PMV65-2272

and for me at least the jury is out as to whether this is an improvement or not.

This is the latest one and you can spot the difference immediately.  The outer slide-rule bezel has disappeared to materialize inside the watch and adjusted by the use of a turn screw crown on the outside of the case.  The case is Titanium, which I do like, but the rest of the dial set up is more or less the same as it’s always been – and for that I am truly happy – why change a design classic?
The functions are more or less the same I understand, Chronograph, Radio Control, Eco-Drive etc etc.  The lighting is as was, so is about as good as it gets and that appears to be it.

Slide rule inside not outside.  So it looks slightly different and funnily enough I’m the kind of guy that’s never been overly fond of multi-data bezels, so I should like it.

But NOT SO – as in the case of the older Citizen Navitimer and Sky Hawk models – these bezels have always just been SO good and so much part of the design concept – I love them.

So unfortunately the outside to inside bezel change just doesn’t do it for me – and is it me or has the new version suddenly become a little lumpier exterior wise?  And not nearly as sleek with that extra and rather large crown on the right side and the latest versions ones to me look larger and more aggressive.

As to that the Slide-rule element again – As one who used to actually use a slide rule, the older model was still just that – two detailed graduated metal elements, closely mated to each other, that you slid along physically with your fingers, seemed to me to be more authentic. Perhaps having to turn the crown which in turn moves or slides the figures along each other, doesn’t seem the same – they are on different planes after all – but Hey! maybe that’s just the old purist in me.

So, my take on it is that I really can’t see a valid reason for this so called upgrade, as my older model is still available and at a much cheaper price and looks better in my opinion. It also has a solid dependable look – well to me it does. And of course I’ve had it for donkey’s years now and it is utterly rock solid in every way.

What can I say?