Citizen's New Dive Chronograph: Omega Looks, Low Price, and a 50th Anniversary Celebration
Citizen is marking 50 years of its Eco-Drive technology with a new, sporty aquatic chronograph. The Endeavor Chrono is a solar-powered quartz movement that combines accuracy, reliability, and affordability, making it a strong contender in the sub-$1,000 market.
Despite the recent focus on affordable automatic movements, Citizen's Eco-Drive technology remains the brand's cornerstone. The technology has its limitations, but its performance and cost-effectiveness compared to mechanical alternatives are hard to ignore.
The Endeavor Chrono is a nod to Omega's iconic Diver 300M, but it's far from a copycat. The dial is distinct, with only the wavy texture of the translucent metal dial plate resembling the Diver 300M. However, two of the three maiden references come with a rubber dive strap that closely mimics Omega's flagship diver.
The primary connection between the two watches is the bezel. The Endeavor Chrono features a prominent, scalloped bezel with a 60-minute dive track on a ceramic insert, similar to the Diver 300M. While the bezel grip and track look very similar, Omega's fully graduated minutes track and lume pip give it an edge over Citizen's 20-minute increments.
Citizen's 3D texture on the Endeavor Chrono's metal dial serves a functional purpose, unlike the purely decorative wavy grooves on the Diver 300M. The watch comes in three color schemes, all measuring 43mm wide with a 22mm lug width.
The first color scheme features a steel case with a black rubber strap, bezel, and dial, accented with yellow on the chronograph track and seconds hand. The second color scheme has a blue dial, bezel insert, and rubber strap, with a rose gold-toned case, crown, pushers, applied indices, and hands. The third color scheme, my personal favorite, is a panda version with a black bezel and subdials, paired with a silvery dial plate. This reference comes with a brushed steel case and a steel Y-link bracelet with a folding clasp.
The Endeavor Chrono is powered by the Caliber B620, an interesting iteration that functions like an alternative to a mechaquartz. It has a jumping seconds hand on the small seconds dial at 6:00, but the chronograph seconds hand has a mechanical-like sweep, ticking five times each second. Citizen barely advertises this feature, as everyone prefers a smooth sweeping hand. The watch only counts up to an hour and one minute, with a 60-minute totalizer at 9:00, but it's a useful complication for most people.
My only complaint is the presence of a synced 24-hour subdial at 3:00, which I believe is unnecessary and detracts from the watch's overall design. I'd prefer a bicompax chronograph without this complication.
The Endeavor Chrono is available now from Citizen, with prices ranging from $595 to $650, depending on the color scheme and strap type. It boasts 100m water resistance, a sapphire crystal, and Citizen's first ceramic unidirectional bezel, making it a capable and affordable dive watch.
Brad Lanphear, an associate editor at Gear Patrol, is an expert in watches and style. He previously wrote for Heddels and Men's Health and is on a quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.
