Citizen NB60 is a reference code that identifies Citizen's automatic Promaster dive watches — a line built specifically for underwater use, powered by Citizen's own mechanical movement rather than a battery or solar cell. Priced broadly between £750 and £1,200, these are serious tool watches aimed at divers and enthusiasts who want a self-winding mechanical calibre in a purpose-built case.
What the NB60 reference means in practice
The 'NB' prefix in Citizen's naming system denotes an automatic (self-winding) movement. That matters because Promaster dive watches are also produced in Eco-Drive solar variants; the NB60 series is the mechanical branch of the family, running on a rotor-wound mainspring rather than a light-harvesting cell. For a dive watch, this means the watch keeps running as long as it is worn regularly — no light source required — though it will need periodic servicing, typically every three to five years, to maintain accuracy and water-resistance integrity.
Water resistance on purpose-built dive watches in this class is rated to at least 200 metres, which covers recreational scuba and free-diving well beyond sport-diver depths. The cases are typically stainless steel with a screw-down crown and a unidirectional rotating bezel — the bezel turns only counter-clockwise so that, if knocked accidentally, it overstates elapsed time rather than understating it, a critical safety feature underwater. Lume application on the dial and hands is substantial, designed to remain legible at depth where ambient light drops sharply.
Choosing within the Citizen NB60 selection
The main variables across Citizen NB60 references are dial colour, bezel material (stainless steel or ceramic insert), and bracelet or strap configuration. Ceramic bezels resist scratching better than steel inserts over long-term use, which matters on a watch worn in salt water and sand. Bracelet options typically include oyster-style stainless steel links and rubber or silicone straps — rubber is lighter and more comfortable for actual diving, while a steel bracelet reads more formally on land. Case diameter in this series runs around 44–45 mm, which suits a medium-to-large wrist and is consistent with dive-watch convention. If you prefer a smaller automatic Citizen, the Citizen Tsuyosa offers an automatic movement in a more compact dress-watch format.
Citizen NB60 watches in our selection
Our Citizen NB60 selection sits within the broader Citizen Promaster Marine family and covers a focused set of references across different dial and bezel combinations. For context on the full range of what Citizen produces, the Citizen brand page covers the wider assortment including Eco-Drive, dress, and sport models. If you are comparing automatic options across brands, the watches section allows filtering by movement type.
Is Citizen a good brand for a dive watch?
Citizen has manufactured its own movements since 1924 and produces every component of its calibres in-house — an uncommon level of vertical integration outside of Swiss manufacture. The Promaster line has been Citizen's dedicated professional instrument category since 1989, with ISO 6425 dive-watch certification on many references, meaning the watches are tested to standards set specifically for diving instruments rather than general water resistance. At the NB60 price point, the combination of an in-house automatic movement and a certified dive case represents strong value relative to comparable Swiss alternatives — for those, see our Swiss Made watches section for comparison.
