Citizen Fugu Promaster 3-Month Review - NY0158-09L

Citizen Fugu Promaster 3-Month Review - NY0158-09L

I’ve owned the Citizen Fugu Promaster Automatic for approximately 3 months now, and I want to share my thoughts after wearing it almost every day for the last 90 days. Overall, it has been a great watch. I wouldn’t change much about it.. You can frequently find the Citizen Fugu series on sale for between $300-400. In such a competitive price bracket, is the Citizen worth it or should you look to another brand?

This will not be a super technical or thorough review. These are my first-hand observations after owning this watch for several months.

*Disclaimer (or lack-thereof): I purchased this watch with my own money. This is NOT a sponsored review.

Tech Specs for Citizen Fugu NY0158-09L

Case Size: 44mm

Lug Width: 20mm

Case Material: Stainless Steal

Case Color: Black with silver case back

Dial Color: Blue to Dark Blue

Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire crystal

Band/Bracelet: Black Polyurethane Strap

Movement: Automatic

Calibre: 8204

Water Resistance: 200mm

Size

After wearing a 40mm watch for years, I was concerned the 44mm case size on the Citizen Fugu Automatic was going to be too big, but I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it on for the first time. The tapered bezel helps it from looking overly large.

After wearing the 44mm Fugu for 3 months, I might even be willing to try out a 46mm for daily wear (but let’s not get crazy).

Build Quality and Long-Term Durability

I’m not a professional watch reviewer. I haven’t worn all the competitor’s offerings in this space, but what I can tell you is that from a common man’s perspective, the Citizen Fugu Automatic feels very well built. This is a noticeable step (or 2) up from the $100-150 department store watch.

The watch has the recognizable weight of being made with quality materials, tolerances are tight on the bezel, the crown screws in smoothly, the second hand sweeps across the dial with precision.

I’m not particularly gentle with my watches. I wear them as every day timepieces and they endure everyday abuse. This one has endured a few significant scuffs against concrete walls and was submerged in dirty toilet water during some plumbing work, yet it is functioning perfectly and has not sustained any noticeable scratches. The Fugu took the paint off the corner of the concrete wall, but to my surprise, the wall didn’t leave any lasting mark on the Fugu.

The sapphire crystal is working as advertised… no scratches after 3 months.

10/10 for the Fugu

Band or Bracelet Comments

I’ve always like the look and feel of silicone watch straps, but unfortunately my skin reacts to it. If I wear a silicone band for 2 or 3 days, the skin below the band becomes red and starts to peel. I suppose this is the result of some kind of allergy.

When I ordered this watch with its polyurethane strap, I just assumed my skin would react the same way and I would have to swap it for a leather band. But to my surprise, I haven’t had any reaction. I’ve worn this watch consistently for weeks without issue. So, if you have a sensitivity to silicone, Citizen’s polyurethane bands might be worth a look.

I’ve had no desire to change the strap since I received the watch. The flexibility and comfort of the black strap have exceeded my expectations. I’ll definitely be considering similar options in the future.

Automatic Watch Experience

I’ve been a big fan of Citizen’s Eco-Drive watches for years. I’ve owned several solar-powered and battery-powered watches, but the Citizen Fugu Promaster is my first automatic.

I love the idea of having a purely mechanical movement that can last a lifetime, and I love watching the second hand sweeping smoothly across the indices.

That said, in my opinion, the Eco-Drive options are superior if you’re looking for a set-it-and-forget-it daily option. The battery reserve on the Eco-Drive watches is insane. I once left my watch in box for 2 months and found it keeping perfect time when I finally retrieved it.

If you leave the Citizen Fugu alone for more than 2 days you’ll have to reset the time. I believe the power reserve is around 42 hours.

An automatic watch is a bit more hands on, but I guess that is part of connecting with your timepiece.

Color

The combination of black and dark blue is unique. Traditionally these colors don’t pair well together, but it was the unique color combination that attracted me to this watch. After wearing the watch for an extended period, and seeing it in a variety of lighting conditions, I can confidently say I really love the colors.

It should be stated that in dim lighting, the dark blue dial almost looks black. The blue is not super prominent except when light is shining directly on the dial. The face of the watch isn’t normally as blue as the product photos on Citizen’s website, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The photos above and below show the watch in lighting that make it almost appear all black.

I wear the watch as if it were all black. The blue is dark enough that I don’t worry about it clashing with other colors in my wardrobe. It’s like an all black watch with a little spice of color.

Face of the watch looks almost black without direct lighting.

Face of the watch appears much more blue in direct light.

Wear-ability

For me, this is a perfect every day watch, so long as my shoes and belt aren’t brown. The watch is sharp and subtle enough for casual business wear while not being over the top for a more casual outfit.

The dive watch aesthetic is timeless and respected. The 44mm case and color palette are bold and sophisticated, but in no way gaudy.

This could never be my only watch, as I need something to pair with other colors. I also prefer a more classy watch for those rare occasion when I find myself in a suit and tie.

Wear-ability ranks at 7/10

Conclusion and Recommendations:

Having the Citizen Fugu Promaster Automatic on my left wrist for the last 3 months has been a very enjoyable experience. It has been a great introduction to the world of automatic watches. The watch feel very high quality, it looks great, and it has shown impressive resistance to sustaining damage. I’m looking forward to wearing my Fugu for years to come and I can highly recommend it to watch buyers looking to purchase in the $300-400 range. It’s a great option whether you’re buying your first watch or your tenth.

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