by Brent Robillard
Reason not the need
Last week I was listening to an episode of The Grey NATO where James Stacey was describing his experience sailing with SailGP in Halifax. As someone who has never set foot on a racing yacht—and who is exceedingly unlikely to own one anytime soon—it made me smile when the new Citizen Promaster WaveTracker landed on my desk a few days later.
Because here’s the funny thing about purpose-built tool watches: you don’t necessarily need to use them for their intended purpose to appreciate them.
I’ve never taken my dive watches further than 20 metres below the surface, but I wouldn’t snub my nose at 1000m saturation diver.
The WaveTracker falls into that same category. Yes, it was designed with yacht racing in mind, but after spending time with it on the wrist, I think its appeal stretches well beyond the marina.
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Check out the Citizen Eco-Drive Tsuki-yomi
Key Features of the Citizen Promaster WaveTracker
All my favourite colours
Citizen has released the WaveTracker in four colourways, but the blue model we were sent strikes me as the most versatile. The 42 mm stainless steel case wears with reassuring heft at around 180 grams on the bracelet, yet it never felt cumbersome on my 6¾-inch wrist. There’s certainly plenty going on across the dial, but that’s the nature of a watch like this. Every display, marker, and indicator serves a purpose, and despite the amount of information presented, legibility remains surprisingly good.
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Dial
Much of that comes down to the high-definition MIP LCD display integrated into the sunray blue dial. It blends naturally into the overall design, I think, and it gives the WaveTracker an interesting identity that sits somewhere between a traditional analogue watch and a full digital instrument. It reminds me a little of Citizen’s Tsuki-yomi that I reviewed recently. Both watches pack an astonishing amount of functionality into something that still looks like a conventional wristwatch.
Eco-Drive
Inside is Citizen’s Eco-Drive calibre U812, and there really is something liberating about knowing the watch simply keeps itself running as long as it sees light. Yacht racing timer? Check. Global tide data? Absolutely. Moonphase, perpetual calendar, alarm, impact detection, power-saving mode, and 200 metres of water resistance? It’s all here.
Then there’s the part I appreciate most.
I wear a Breitling Aerospace fairly regularly, and one of the things I love about it is that it’s always ready to go. Accurate, lightweight, packed with useful functions, and the sort of watch you can grab without thinking too much.
The WaveTracker scratches a very similar itch.
The difference, of course, is that Eco-Drive eliminates one of the few headaches that comes with owning an ana-digi watch. I am almost ashamed to admit what Breitling charged me to replace the battery in my Aerospace last year. Let’s just say the Citizen won’t be asking for that kind of financial commitment.
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Case and bezel
The case design leans into its mission without becoming overstyled. Between the toothy bezel, the technical dial, and the abundance of information on display, there’s no mistaking that this is a serious tool watch. Even so, it doesn’t feel out of place wearing jeans and a T-shirt on a Saturday afternoon (or with shorts and a plaid shirt, lol).
The 360-degree bezel is another feature that extends beyond sailing. While it’s obviously useful on the water, it could just as easily be employed for basic compass navigation during a hike or camping trip. That’s one of the things I enjoy about dedicated tool watches. The original purpose may be specific, but owners inevitably find their own ways of putting them to work.
Bracelet (and straps)
Citizen pairs the blue model with a stainless steel bracelet that is perfectly competent. It feels solid, operates smoothly, and closes with a fold-over push-button clasp. There’s nothing particularly memorable about it, but there’s also very little to complain about. It simply gets on with the job.
That said, I have to admit I was eyeing the orange model’s rubber strap with a little envy.
Fortunately, the WaveTracker uses standard 22 mm lugs, opening the door to an endless supply of OEM rubber straps and NATOs. I suspect plenty of owners will enjoy experimenting. This strikes me as one of those watches that could completely change personality depending on what it’s paired with.
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Specs
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 42.4mm Diameter 22mm Lug Width Screw Down Case Back 200m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal Sunray Dial /w MIP LCD Display Applied Markers Sword Handset Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | U812 Eco-Drive Alarm Moonphase Indicator Overcharging Prevention Function Perpetual Calendar Yacht Racing Timer Impact Detection Function Power Save |
| Strap | Stainless Steel Bracelet /w Fold-over Clasp and Push Button Release |
Citizen Promaster WaveTracker
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Final Thoughts & Pricing
For all its functionality, the WaveTracker never feels intimidating. Downsizing the case might make it easier to slip under a cuff, but I suspect it would also compromise the readability that makes this watch so successful. Citizen seems to have landed on a sensible balance. It wears well while leaving plenty of room for that information-rich display.
Retailing for $1,195 CAD, the Promaster WaveTracker occupies an interesting space in Citizen’s catalogue. It’s more specialized than a typical sports watch, yet flexible enough that most owners will probably never touch half of its functions and still thoroughly enjoy wearing it.
That’s probably the highest compliment I can pay it.
I won’t be timing the start of a yacht race anytime soon. But as an accurate, practical, grab-and-go sports watch that never asks for a battery change, the WaveTracker makes a compelling case for itself. Like several of Citizen’s releases this year, it’s thoughtfully designed and genuinely useful. Isn’t that exactly what you want from a tool watch?
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About the Author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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