Citizen’s new pilot watches have Swiss features under $1K

These new Citizen Pilot watches pack Swiss features at half the price

By Triston Brewer Published August 5, 2025 3:01 PM

The Promaster Skyhawk U830 with blue dial — Citizen Watch

Citizen has recently released three striking new additions to its Promaster Skyhawk line, each powered by the innovative U830 ana-digi movement that merges analog elegance with the latest in digital functionality. The new models – JV2000-51L (blue dial), JV2005-58E (black dial), and JV2006-55H (gray dial) – all come with robust 43mm stainless steel cases with slide rule bezels and water resistance of up to 200 meters, making them as reliable in the cockpit as they are stylish on land.

Cutting-edge aviation technology meets timeless design

The U830 movement represents a significant advancement for aviation watches, boasting a perpetual calendar, 1/100-second chronograph, 24-hour chrono memory, 99-minute countdown timer, and alarm functions across its sleek profile. The watches incorporate Citizen’s Memory In Pixel (MIP) digital display – the exact technology utilized in their acclaimed U822 caliber – guaranteeing exceptional readability whether checking intricate flight calculations or local time. Aviation workers will particularly be drawn to the world time function covering 43 cities and the universal coordinated time (UTC) display, while the Eco-Drive technology means battery changes are a thing of the past.

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The three variations in the dials account for a wider range of tastes: the sunburst blue JV2000-51L is classic aviation appeal, the stark all-black JV2005-58E speaks to modernists, while the elegant gray JV2006-55H lives between worlds. All models feature luminous hands and markers plus stainless steel bracelets with secure push-button clasps.

Citizen’s Skyhawk U830 series boasts impressive features at affordable prices

These new Skyhawk editions carry the professional-level aviation functionality typically seen in watches at double the price. They’re now available via Citizen’s authorized dealers or the official brand website, offering pilots and jetsetters a compelling alternative to traditional Swiss timepieces.

Triston Brewer is a journalist, creative director, fashionisto, and jetsetting digital bon vivant. Brace yourself!

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Watches

Fashion & Style

Bremont’s legendary orange pilot watch returns in titanium

British aviation watchmaker refines classic pilot's watch with titanium construction and iconic color

Bremont Altitude MB Meteor Orange Barrel

Bremont has reintroduced its most recognizable design element with the launch of the Altitude MB Meteor Orange Barrel, marking a refined return to the brand's aviation heritage while incorporating modern materials and improved ergonomics.
Founded in 2002, Bremont built its reputation creating robust aviation watches developed in collaboration with Martin-Baker, the British manufacturer of ejector seats. The original MB series, launched with the MBII, was tested to survive actual ejection forces and featured the distinctive orange barrel that became a hallmark of the collection.
Following recent ownership changes and the appointment of Davide Cerrato as CEO, Bremont has refocused on its core strengths with the 2025 Altitude collection. The MB Meteor represents this renewed commitment, combining the brand's signature design elements with contemporary materials and refined proportions.
The watch utilizes Bremont's original Trip-Tick case construction, now crafted from Grade 2 titanium for significantly reduced weight while maintaining strength. The orange barrel receives a Cerakote ceramic coating for enhanced scratch resistance and thermal protection, featuring a softened knurled pattern that retains the signature aesthetic while improving durability.
Refined dimensions make the watch more wearable than previous MB models: 42mm diameter, 12.23mm thickness, and 49.3mm lug-to-lug measurement create a slimmer profile with curved lines optimized for comfort. The design weighs just 53.29 grams for the watch head, demonstrating the benefits of titanium construction.
The iconic twin crown system remains, with one crown at 2 o'clock for time setting and another at 4 o'clock operating the bi-directional Roto-Click inner bezel. Both crowns feature updated knurled patterns and slightly larger dimensions for improved functionality, while the bezel system has been re-engineered for smoother, more precise operation.
The dial, available in brushed galvanic silver or black, features applied Arabic numerals in stenciled style outlined and filled with Super-LumiNova. The signature lollipop seconds hand retains its striped pullcord tail referencing the ejector seat handle, maintaining the collection's aviation DNA.
Powering the watch is Bremont's calibre BB14-AH, based on the La Joux-Perret G100, operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 68-hour power reserve. The movement is protected by a soft iron ring and rubberized mount system providing anti-magnetic and anti-shock protection based on Faraday Cage principles.
The titanium caseback features sapphire display revealing a gunmetal-finished rotor with Geneva stripes, while maintaining 100-meter water resistance suitable for aviation and everyday wear. Available on a brushed Grade 2 titanium bracelet with concealed clasp and quick-release system for EUR 5,950, or on black rubber, leather, or NATO straps by French manufacturer Julien Faure for EUR 5,500.
See more here.

Fashion & Style

Timex’s new Kermit and Smurf watches are made for Rolex nerds

French artist seconde/seconde/ creates playful Rolex tributes with American watchmaker

Timex smurfs roblex watch

Timex has released the fourth installment of its cult IYKYK series with French horological artist seconde/seconde/, introducing limited edition homages to two beloved discontinued Rolex Submariner models that have achieved legendary status among collectors.
The collaboration features playful interpretations of the "Kermit" (reference 16610LV) and "Smurf" (reference 116619LB), two iconic Submariners known by their colorful nicknames derived from popular culture. These affordable alternatives capture the essence of watches that now command premium prices on the secondary market.
French artist Romaric André, known professionally as seconde/seconde/, has built a reputation for irreverent dial treatments that transform ordinary timepieces into sought-after pieces. His IYKYK series with Timex specifically targets watch enthusiasts familiar with Rolex's nickname culture, where models earn monikers like Batman, Pepsi, and Hulk based on their color schemes.
The "Kermit" homage features a cartoonish frog footprint as its seconds hand, referencing the original's distinctive black dial and green bezel combination produced from 2003 to 2010. The "Smurf" variant showcases a red and white mushroom seconds hand, nodding to both the animated characters' homes and the original white gold Submariner's bright blue dial and bezel from 2008 to 2020.
Built on Timex's reliable Q platform, both watches feature 38mm cases with friction-fit rotating 12-hour bezels, quartz movements with accessible battery hatches, faux-integrated steel bracelets, and generously domed acrylic crystals. The familiar Q Timex DNA ensures dependable performance while keeping costs accessible.
Limited production adds collectibility, with the Kermit restricted to 1,145 pieces and the Smurf to 1,075 pieces, each individually numbered on the caseback. Despite seemingly large production numbers, previous IYKYK releases have sold quickly due to their cult following among watch enthusiasts.
The series succeeds because it operates on multiple levels. Casual observers see colorful watches with whimsical cartoon elements, while informed collectors recognize clever references to some of horology's most coveted timepieces. This dual appeal has made seconde/seconde/ collaborations highly sought after in the affordable watch segment.
At $249 each, both models are available through Timex and Huckberry, offering an accessible entry point into the world of Rolex-inspired design. For Rolex enthusiasts priced out of the genuine articles or those seeking conversation starters that celebrate watch culture, these limited editions provide perfect alternatives that wear their inspiration proudly while offering genuine Timex reliability and charm.

Find out more information here.

Fashion & Style

Why the future of luxury watches is quietly high-tech

Luxury watches now feature discreet smart tech—activity tracking, notifications & more—without sacrificing elegance. The future is here.

Tag Heuer Connected smartwatch

Avid watch collectors are currently witnessing an evolution in the horology world as luxury brands seamlessly integrate hybrid smart technology into their timepieces without sacrificing their appeal. Of course, there are some companies that have released their own timepieces that are progressive and modern, but a few stand out. Iconic labels like TAG Heuer and Breitling continue to maintain precision craftsmanship while subtly incorporating modern functionalities like notifications, fitness tracking, and connectivity.

This shift underscores the delicate balance between maintaining tradition while simultaneously spearheading innovation. Instead of producing collections heavy on tech components, these brands are offering masterpieces with discreet, high-performance smart features. The final products are timepieces that cater to tech lovers and traditionalists alike.