No 130 - Citizen Aqualand AL0004-03E

So this is the Aqualand I got together with the Tissot Seastar in that package deal. Instead of a digital display for the depth meter, like on the classic Aqualand, this one has an analog hand showing the depth. Bought it just for fun, two tones are always nice, but I never had any intentions to use it. I just wanted to check it out. I’ve seen the same model in PVD with gold details and also one with a full lume dial. It still seems to be a pretty popular model among all the different Aqualand’s. It definitely is a beater and most of the used ones you see for sale are usually pretty banged up. If I had to choose between this one and the classic Aqualand I’d go for the two toned JP2004-07E which in my opinion is a cooler watch.

#130 - The Citizen Aqualand AL0004-03E.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 118, 190 & 293 - Citizen Aqualand CO23 & JP2004-07E

The two tone classic Aqualand; my favorite in the Aqualand series of the ones I’ve had. My first one was the CO23 which was a wreck and showed obvious signs of having taken in water sometime during its lifetime. Got it really cheap and I only wanted it because it still had its original two tone bracelet which you don’t see every day. I think the analog part was working but the digital module was dead. Sold it for parts together with the second CO22 I had. The modern JP2004-07E is the one I really like. There aren’t many beaters that I would prefer to be two tone but this one really looks great with its gold details. But one thing that really surprised me when looking back on the pictures I took of it is that it didn’t have a serial number on the case back which I find really mysterious. This was nothing I noticed during the time I had it. I remember owning the JP2000-08E at the same time as my JP2004-07E and they worked identical and there was no difference in the lume (I would have remembered that!) which otherwise would have been a good tell if the JP2004-07E would have been a fake. But I really do find it strange that it didn’t have a serial number.

#118 - The Citizen Aqualand CO23 on the original bracelet. In pretty poor condition.

#190 - The Citizen Aqualand JP2004-07E.

Case back without serial number.

It’s a shame that none of my Aqualands ever got to feel the touch of water. The only Aqualand right now that I might be interested in trying would be the so-called “Enzo”; the PVD version. Quite cool and the fact the Jean Reno wore one in the movie Le Grand Bleu, which might be one of the best movies of all time, makes it an icon. This would probably be my favorite if I had had one. I just wish there'd been a modern version of it because I really hate the design of the old case back.

UPDATE - May 1st 2016.

Last month I received another JP2004-07E as a part trade in a deal. I figured an Aqualand would always come in handy and had no problem accepting it when it was offered to me. Luckily they are always easy to sell. No wonder since they are great allround beaters. I was glad to see it had a serial number and then discovered that it is almost invisible i certain angles so my second Aqualand, which I thought was without a serial number, most likley had one but it just wasn't visible in the pictures.

#293 - Received it head only.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 48, 114 & 119 – Citizen Aqualand CO22 & JP2000-08E

The classic Citizen Aqualand. A diver’s watch rated to 200m with an analog and a digital display that also is fitted with a depth gauge and an alarm. An ugly shaped beast that gets cooler the more you look at it. A true icon, no doubt about that. I got my first one in July 2010. This was the original version with the case back that was held down by six tiny screws. I received it on a red silicon rubber strap which I had to cut away with a knife because the spring bars were impossible to access. Instead I put it on a 24mm black nato. One chill summer morning when I took my bike to work the glass fogged up on the inside. Had to order a set of those specially shaped O-rings before I wanted to wear it again.

#48 – The Citizen Aqualand CO22 on the red rubber before it arrived to me. (picture taken by previous owner)

Got my second CO22 in January 2012. It was pretty banged up but looked really cool and came on its original rubber strap which was so soft and super comfy. Sold it together with a CO23 (the two tone version) as a package deal. The Aqualand sure is a great beater but I do feel a little uncomfortable with vintage watches and decided to get the latest version of it.

#114 – My second CO22.

It took me until September 2013 to pick up the new JP2000-08E. And why I picked it up was just because I got a really good price on a used one and couldn’t let it get away. The thing was that the day before I was offered the used JP2000-08E I had actually gone and bought a brand new JP2004-07E (the new ref of the two tone version). I actually do find the two tone a little cooler. I know it’s not a tooly look with the gold details but I think it looks great. Anyhow, the JP2000-08E was quickly flipped for the same dough. I just wanted to own it.

#191 – The JP2000-08E, the modern Aqualand.

The round screw down case back instead of the case-shaped case back.

The vintage CO22 is cool but I prefer the new JP2000-08E. It’s a solid beater that actually has got some really cool features. It can be found new for as low as $250 if you know where to look. The classic Aqualand, along with the Omega Bond Seamaster, is probably the two watches that I feel like I spot most frequently while inspecting random people’s wrists.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.