The Citizen "Altichron"

(Click on any image for a much larger view)

In the 1980's, Citizen released a trio of very special watches, all designed for the rugged, adventurous outdoorsy type of male who was really into diving into the depths of the Marianas Trench, climbing Mount Everest or leaping out of high-flying aircraft and hoping that your parachute opened.

This group of watches was termed the "Promaster" series and each had something special about it.

The Aqualand differed from traditional diving watches in that, as well as providing elapsed time info, it also had a depth sensor.

The Aqualand came on a rubber strap.

The Aerochron also sported elapsed-time capability but it came with a sensor that gave altitude readout. Good for knowing the minimum height at which to pull the ripcoard.

This model was fitted with a stainless-steel bracelet.

The Altichron - the Promaster model which I obtained - is similar to the Aerochron in that it also gives a barometric readout and elevation data (in metres, as compared to the altitude readout in feet of its sibling).

The Altichron was sold with a leather strap, almost the watch equivalent of a holster.

This is not a small watch.

It is 48mm across the widest point - from the extremity of the sensor on the left to the curve of the case on the right - and is 41mm from top to bottom of the case, yet the actual clear dial diameter is only 29mm.

The overall thickness of the watch itself is 11mm and then it is backed by 2mm of the leather strap.

The Althichron is a reasonably heavy piece of kit, too. Not uncomfortably so, but it's no lightweight titanium item, either.

 

The face is very easy to read.

Where the 11, 12 and 1 numerals would be located is a window in which the day/date and barometric information is displayed in digital format (LCD).

Large, easy-to-read numerals are provided at the remainder of the hour locations.

There is a sweep second hand with arrow-head pointer which, like the hour and minute hands, is "lumed" and, in daylight, easily seen against the black face of the dial.

An adjustable compass bezel surrounds the dial externally and is clickable into 5-degree positions.

There is a conventional crown located at the 4 o'clock position with which the time is adjsted.

All other functions are handled by the three pushers at the 2, 8 and 10 o'clock positions.

The barometric sensor sits within the housing which protrudes from the left of the watch.

The case-back is a flat plate, held in place by four screws.

The leather watch strap is a work of art in itself and is made in three pieces - the buckle section, the tongue section  and a separate piece on which the watch sits. All three sections are laminated, the front and rear sandwiching a fibre material.

I bought this watch for its rarity and the technology that it features.

I've never worn it (too cumbersome to be worn to work and I don't climb mountains) but I have used it......to check rising/falling barometer. I have also determined the altitude of my home. It works perfectly in that respect and also keeps excellent time.

When the battery dies I'll undo the back and see what is inside but until then the Altichron sits on a shelf and occasionally tells me what the weather is going to be like.

UPDATE April 2011
This watch has been sold to a chap in the USA who bought one new in 1991 when he was serving in the first Gulf War. That watch was stolen in 1992 in Turkey and he had been on the lookout for another ever since, to no avail. I was glad to help him find a replacement.
A happy ending to the story. :)