“Are we paying the price for our hubris of science? Witness the primeval might that is Godzila.”
What We Know
Can you believe that Godzilla is turning 70 this year? But instead of retiring to a duplex in Boca Raton, the Kaiju is still out there striking fear in the hearts of anyone that lives near a coastline or needs a terrifying allegory for the longterm effects of nuclear warfare. Oh, and Godzilla is still rocking those sweet brand deals, like this new collaboration with Citizen for a real “Ecozilla” that goes beyond just a nickname.
Turns out it’s the 35th Anniversary of Promaster as well and since their beloved and massive Professional Diver 300m has already been given the “Zilla” nickname, it makes sense to go all the way. That’s why Citizen is making two limited-edition watches featuring a camouflage pattern inspired by Godzilla’s scaly skin and tiny Godzillas hidden within the pattern. One dial is classic black and white Godzilla, while the other is dark red with Godzilla “roaring in rage” (I mean, January is a tough month, I get it). The watches have a biomass-derived Polyurethane and the case is stainless steel with grey plating. Oh, and apparently Godzilla has stepped on the caseback (with teeny-tiny feet).
The watches have an Eco-Drive light-powered Cal. B873 movement that will run for six months on a full charge (in power save mode) and have an accuracy of ±15 seconds per month. If you want to fight kaiju while saturation diving, the watch has 300m of water resistance, luminous hands, a unidirectional bezel, and a screw-down crown. They also still measure the (belovedly) massive 48.2mm by 18.5mm thick.
In keeping with Japanese style, this “limited edition” isn’t exactly hyper-limited. The black dial will be made in 2,500 pieces, and the red dial is a bit more – 3,000 pieces. Both are awakened from the deep – er, online on Citizen’s website – now for $900.
What We Think
“A beast has been awakened, it approaches with fearsome steps. Boom. Boom. Boom.”
Okay, now that I got the 30 Rock quote out of the way, let’s get back to the watch. I’ve found the Ecozilla fascinating if just for the fact that I didn’t quite get why so many people loved it. I don’t love massive watches, so why gravitate toward a watch that big that does more than you need when you could just have something smaller and more refined that still does more than what you could put it through? The Promaster Dive 300m is just massive, bold, and anachronistic, and that’s why people like it. For me, it verged on “cool,” but just like the Orca, I understood that maybe this was just a watch for the folks of the “forum days.” And then Citizen has to go and make something like this and push me over the edge.
Blacked-out watches are kind of my jam. The same goes for camouflage (which I love but still can’t spell on the first three tries). The red dial, in particular, is loud, aggressive, and just plain cool. It’s exactly what you want if you’re going to take a big watch and go full-tilt and lean into it. Plus, a watch that makes me mentally say “Gojira” in my head every time I look at it? You got me, Citizen. Sold.
The Basics
Brand: Citizen
Model: Eco-Drive Diver Professional Diver 300m (Saturation Diving) Godzilla Collaboration Model
Reference Number: BJ8056-01E (Black) and BJ8059-03Z (Red)
Diameter: 48.2mm
Thickness: 18.5mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Black or red
Indexes: Large indices at five-minute intervals
Lume: Yes, hands and dial indices
Water Resistance: 300m
Strap/Bracelet: Polyurethane
The Movement
Caliber: Cal.B873
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power Reserve: 6 months in power save mode
Winding: Charged by light
Additional Details: Accuracy within +/- 15 seconds per month
Pricing & Availability
Price: $900
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: Yes, 2,500 in black and 3,000 in red