It used to be that you'd work 20 or 30 years at a place, and on the way out the door of your retirement party, you'd be handed a watch. Well, you don't need us to tell you that those days are long gone, and with it, the presentation-boxed wristwatch. But the fact that any smartphone displays time to the second will never replace the classic elegance of a wristwatch for men. In 2023, it's time to modify the age-old tradition by gifting any men in your life with a wristwatch. While many brands attempt to blend affordability with luxury, no one does it better than Citizen. We've found our favorites for every type of man, so all you've got to do is select the one that best fits your friend, father, brother, or whomever else you want to spoil with a great gift.
For The Man of Means: Citizen Promaster Aqualand
Once upon a time, dive watches were for, well, diving. But over the years, their robust builds and precision movements migrated from the water onto land, and guys like Tom Selleck in Magnum, P.I. up to the current President of the United States, Joe Biden, all wore them far from the beach. And so, for the refined gentleman in your life, there are few better gifts than the Citizen Promaster Aqualand dive watch.
In addition to taking him down as far as 200 meters, its steel case and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protect a chronograph movement, depth display to 50 meters, auto start dive mode, and maximum depth memory. It's lashed to his wrist via a wet-or-dry polyurethane. Oh, and one other thing: Since it runs on light — literally any light — he'll never need to replace its battery. That's as brilliant an idea as its illuminated hands.
For The Man of Speed: Citizen Promaster MX
When it comes to that guy whose foot can't keep off the gas, his watch is of the classic racing variety. While many watches include a chronograph function, few execute this classic style better than the Citizen Promaster MX. Designers began with the look of a racing glove, sourcing a perforated leather folded over and double-stitched for its band to give it a feeling of the race track.
The tachymeter scale around its bezel is both cool-looking and accurate to the archetype, assisting its chronograph function, which measures 99.9 records for sprints and up to 59 minutes for endurance events. To the naked eye, this may look like a faithful execution of a classic, but Citizen snuck in a few modern features your dad may enjoy, including a dual time function and an alarm. You can almost smell the burning rubber from this one.
For The Everyman: Citizen PCAT
Some dive, and others race, but for most, we look for a dependable, everyday accompaniment to ensure we're in the right place at the right time. That's the Citizen PCAT. An update on a classic design and all-new for 2022 incorporates features from the above two archetypes while maintaining the original's classic good looks and reliable performance.
It starts with the perpetual energy design of its Eco-Drive, which harnesses any and all light to keep on ticking. It's also synchronized to the Atomic Time Clock and automatically adjusts to 24 different time zones based on its location. The tachymeter bezel and chronograph from the racing watch? They are there, as is the 200-meter water resistance and hardened sapphire crystal of the company's diving line.
But, if anything, it's understated, with a smaller footprint at 43 millimeters and just enough gold to dress it up or down. This is a great companion for the everyman or any man.
The man in your life may not be getting a great watch from their employer, but he could get a better one from you. Citizen is one of the best in the game, and they will always find a way to up their game. Pick up one of these three options, and you will surely make any man feel special.
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