The Citizen Promaster Tsuno Racer 50th Anniversary
Fergus Nash- The Citizen Promaster Tsuno Racer celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1973 bullhead chronograph.
- Instead of reissuing the model, Citizen have blended it with their modern Eco-Drive technology.
- Citizen achieved the look by rotating an Eco-Drive movement 90 degrees.
Thinking of the 1970s resurgence in watchmaking, the mind turns to the likes of Gérald Genta and integrated-bracelet sports watches. It’s a look that has now permeated pretty much every brand large and small, but there is a smaller segment of ‘70s design which has been steadily regaining traction. The bullhead chronograph had a big boom a few years ago upon the release of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, where Brad Pitt’s character wore a blazing gold-plated Citizen Tsuno Chrono. The retro style has been adopted by microbrands and also gained popularity in the vintage market, but now the originators have made a bold statement with the Citizen Promaster Tsuno Chrono Racer.
To get things straight, this is absolutely not a vintage reissue. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bullhead Tsuno Chrono from 1973, Citizen have deftly interwoven the kitschiest parts of ‘70s funk with the technical powerhouse that is an Eco-Drive chronograph. The case is definitely an element from the past, with a bulbous cushion shape culminating in an integrated brown leather strap. The gold PVD coating gives off the perfect amount of gaudy bravado, toned down slightly by the black bezel and pushers. It’s a bit of a behemoth on the wrist too, with a 45mm diameter and 15.3mm thickness that certainly won’t be hidden under any shirt cuff known to man. If you want to wear this watch, the world is going to know about it.
The dial of the Citizen Promaster Tsuno Racer is where things get really interesting, as the gold-toned vintage flavour is permeated by dark, brownish-grey panels of utility. The 12 o’clock subdial hosts a 60-minute counter for the flyback chronograph, 3 o’clock displays the running seconds, 6 shows a 12-hour counter for the chronograph also, and 9 is a power reserve indicator for the quartz Eco-Drive movement (8 months on a full solar charge). Other features include an alarm indicator down near the 5 o’clock crown which sets the alarm, as well as a date display at 1:30. These odd posiitonings are a symptom of the movement being rotated 90 degrees to achieve the bullhead orientation, but it’s surprisingly not too jarring.
The Citizen Promaster Tsuno Racer pricing and availability:
The Citizen Promaster Tsuno Racer is limited to 3,000 pieces, and comes in a bright gold PVD display box. Price: US$1,195
| Brand | Citzen |
| Model | Promaster Tsuno Racer |
| Case Dimensions | 45mm x 15.3mm |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200m |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Gold |
| Strap | Brown leather |
| Movement | Calibre E210 Eco-Drive |
| Power Reserve | 8 months, solar rechargable |
| Availability | Limited to 3,000 pieces |
| Price | US$1,195 |