New and Reviewed: Citizen Promaster Land U822 Eco-Drive Ref. JV1005-02W

We got a preview of the new Citizen Promaster Land U822 Eco-Drive Ref. JV1005-02W, which is part of Citizen celebrations for the 35th Anniversary of their popular line, the Promaster. Here are our hands-on thoughts of the watch.

New and Reviewed: Citizen Promaster Land U822 Eco-Drive Ref. JV1005-02W

The Citizen Promaster JV1005-02W has a retail price of USD 750. Two other models are part of the same 35th Anniversary release, the JV1007-07E is set at the same price, and the bracelet model, JV1006-51L will retail at USD 800.

The Citizen Promaster was first released in 1989 as the maison’s answer to the demands of professionals active in challenging environments. Namely the land, sea and sky. This is not a new concept to watchmakers, and most sporty watch companies offer products in all three genres. For 2024, Citizen is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and released three models with the new Cal. U822 movement in each of these genre spaces. This review focuses on the Land model, and our review sample is the JV1005-02W in a stainless steel case which is plated in grey and a green dial with Codura fabric strap.

The case, dial and hands

The case is rather large at 43.9mm in diameter, and wears rather large on the wrist. Citizen does not describe how the grey plating is applied to the steel case. The bezel features a “Clous de Paris” style hashed pattern. The crown and screw down locks for the pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock feature machined knurled finishing. This ensures a good grip while in use in the field. The crown at 8 o’clock has a turbine like engraving, which also provides good grip, but is able to look different. This crown is used to manipulate the compass on the rehaut. A red ring just below the knurled crown provides visual interest.

The dial is in a rather beautiful matte green, with a textured finish. With tough military vibes. The markers for the hours are very large. These are punctuated by huge 3/6/9 arabic numerals. The hands are equally big. As a result, all indications are clearly marked, and the highly legible.

The dial features a cut out to show a digital display using a new technology known as Memory-in-Pixel display. This tech offers higher resolution, and enables more information to be displayed. Readability is also improved over the more standard segment LCD. As can be seen, the MIP can be easily read on our photographs. LCD screens pose a challenge in photographs taken with studio strobes, which can often over power LCD displays. But the MIP display is clear and legible.

All the markers and hands are generously coated with lume, and the dial is easy to read in the dark as it is in good lighting, with the major time telling markers in the characteristic blue/green SuperLuminova, and the minor markers like the compass, power reserve and function selector dial as well as the brand logo and model identification in green lume.

The movement: Cal.U822

The movement is the new Cal. U822, a multi function eco-drive quartz system which is highly developed. On the dial side, it features the Memory-in-Pixel which we already described in the dial section. The power reserve is 7 days and the indicator on the dial is able to show the power generation status clearly.

As with the Eco-Drive movements, the accuracy is excellent and the watch is rated to +/- 15s a month without time signal reception. The Eco-Drive system enables that the watch can run under power save mode (stopped display, but the movement keeps time) for 3.5 years. The movement also features an alarm, chronograph, perpetual calendar and world time features.

Concluding thoughts

This is a rather good looking tough tool watch. The Promaster Land U882’s grey steel case with the distinctive look of the machined crowns look rather menacing. Especially as it measures nearly 44mm and 14mm thick. It wears larger than a regular 44mm, and even on my 7.5″ flat wrists, tend to stick out a bit. Though, I must say it is never uncomfortable.

During the weeks it was with us, we threw almost all the usual daily tool watch chores at it. We took it cycling, hiking, working in the photography studio. We took it to lunch, dinner and evening shenanigans. And of course, the watch survived, nay did exceedingly well, in all that we could muster. For a reasonably priced tool watch, the Promaster Land U822 fits the bill. And comes highly recommended by us.

Citizen Promaster Land U822 Eco-Drive Ref. JV1005-02W Specifications