Citizen Promaster Dive vs G-Shock Full Metal: two solar watches, two jobs

Buy the Citizen Promaster Dive BN0150-28E if you want a light analog dive watch that runs on light: 44 mm, 93.55 g, 200 m, $450 [1][2]. Buy the G-Shock GMW-B5000D-1 if you want a digital watch that sets itself by radio or Bluetooth, in full steel at 167 g, with a reported $600 MSRP [3][4]. Both are solar [1][3]. It's 44 mm, weighs 93.55 g on its strap and is rated to 200 m, with a one-way dive bezel and a screw-down crown [1][2]. It sets itself by radio or Bluetooth, has world time, alarms and a stopwatch, and wears a full steel case and bracelet at 167 g [3][4]. Casio's reported MSRP is $600 [4]. Both are solar and both are rated to 200 m. The choice is analog dive watch versus digital tool watch.

Analog or digital. This is the real choice. The Citizen is a three-hand watch with a date and a one-way rotating elapsed-time bezel [1][2]. You time things by turning the bezel. The G-Shock is a digital square descended from the 1983 DW-5000C, with world time, alarms, a stopwatch and an LED backlight [3]. If you want to read the time at a glance from across a room, the Citizen's big lume is easier. If you want functions, the G-Shock does far more.

Accuracy. The G-Shock syncs itself by radio signal or through your phone over Bluetooth, and picks up time zone and daylight saving changes [3]. Between syncs, specs list about ±15 seconds a month [3]. Citizen doesn't publish an accuracy figure for the E168 on its US page [1]. It's quartz, so expect good accuracy, but you'll set it by hand twice a year for daylight saving.

Weight and fit. The Citizen weighs 93.55 g on its rubber-like strap [2]. A new owner says it wears much smaller than its 44 mm suggests [6]. The G-Shock's steel case and bracelet bring it to 167 g [3]. One commenter says a full-metal square is too heavy for mountain biking [7].

Toughness. Casio builds the full-metal case with a resin cushion between the steel bezel and case to keep G-Shock's shock resistance [3]. A daily wearer calls it very tough, but not mud-rated [7]. The Citizen is a dive watch built to ISO dive standards, per Citizen Canada [2]. Owners use it for work, the woodshop and years of diving [6][8].

Scratches. The G-Shock's polished steel shows wear. A four-year work-watch owner says it's covered in scratches but still sturdy [9]. Both watches use mineral crystals, not sapphire [1][3].

Price. The Citizen is $450 at Citizen US [1]. Casio's reported MSRP for the G-Shock is $600 [4], and dealer prices vary.

• You swim, snorkel or dive [1].
• You want a lighter watch, 93.55 g versus 167 g [2][3].
• You prefer analog hands and a dive bezel [1].
• You want a published 5-year warranty [1].

• You want time that sets itself [3].
• You want alarms, world time, a stopwatch and a backlight [3].
• You like a steel bracelet and a watch that can take hits [3][7].

If you'd rather have a mechanical watch, the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm is $675 and hand-wound [12]. Our solar vs mechanical watch guide weighs the two types. For a budget digital, see the Casio W-221H.

Both charge easily under strong desert sun [1][5]. The Citizen's strap is easy to rinse, and one owner says a hose rinse cleans it [8]. A steel bracelet like the G-Shock's gets hot in midday sun and holds grit in its links, so rinse it after dusty days. The G-Shock's radio sync needs a time-signal station in range, which remote desert camps may not have. Its Bluetooth sync works whenever your phone is near [3]. For night reading in camp, the G-Shock's LED backlight is a button press away [3], and owners praise the Citizen's strong lume [6].

Citizen BN0150-28E

• Still a daily watch after two years of knocks, with no issues [10].
• Bezel easy with gloves; handles work and the woodshop [8].
• Wears smaller than 44 mm and has strong lume [6].

G-Shock GMW-B5000D-1

• A button press syncs the time in seconds, but the alarm is too quiet to rely on [11].
• Very tough, but too heavy for mountain biking, per one commenter [7].
• Heavy scratching on polished steel after four years [9].