Citizen's new premium Promaster Air automatic with Super Titanium debuts in the US

Citizen's mechanical Promaster Air has reached the US. The blue NK0040-58L is listed on Citizen's US store at $895, tagged as a new arrival and as a citizenwatch.com exclusive.

We covered this one in Europe five days ago, where it sells for €599. That's about $679 at today's rate, so the US figure is a decent jump. If we take European VAT out of the equation, the gap gets worse, landing somewhere near 60% depending on which rate you use. US prices exclude sales tax, so this isn't a tax artefact. Citizen's site is running a 20% promotion at the moment, but new arrivals are excluded, so the $895 is what you get.

Also, only the blue version made the trip. The black-dial NK0044-57E, which launched alongside it in Europe, doesn't have a US product page yet.

The appeal here is that it's a mechanical Promaster Air, which isn't a combination Citizen offers often. The 40 mm case is Super Titanium, the bezel carries a slide rule for fuel, distance and unit conversions, and the crystal is anti-reflective sapphire. Water resistance is 200 m, which is unusual for a pilot's watch with a rotating calculator bezel on it. The dial is a blue sunray with applied indices and red accents, and the bracelet is Super Titanium with a folding clasp and hidden pushers.

Inside is a three-hand automatic with a date, hacking seconds and a 60-hour power reserve.

There's one discrepancy to be aware of. Citizen's US page names the movement as Caliber 8310. Citizen's European listing called it the 8314. The published specs for both are identical on every figure that matters, including the 60-hour reserve, so this looks like a labeling difference, not two movements. Still, if you're buying on the movement, it's worth asking before you order.