@Daniel Gilligan. I agree with you completely that the 2020 version of the black Nighthawk Pilot's watch would have been so much better and much more appealing if Citizen had made it with a black, ion-plated stainless steel, metal links band instead of the green or black leather bands. But the obvious reason that Citizen didn't do that is probably because in their view to do so would have meant that they would have been putting on the watch market a perfect black ion-plated, Eco-Drive watch which would have been enormously popular and therefore might have not only adversely affected sales of their other model watches across their product line, but also would have meant that fans of black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band watches would have purchased 2 or 3 of that model watch and never purchased another Citizen watch again which would be bad for business. So they obviously don't want their watch customers to be 100% satisfied with a watch purchase which is why they, as well as the other top watch manufacturers like Seiko and Casio , never manufacture a perfect solar-powered watch with only desirable features and no undesirable features. So if hypothetically there are say 10 desirable features that fans of black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band , solar-powered watches want in a watch, Citizen (and Seiko and Casio) will manufacture a watch with 7 or 8 or 9 of those desirable features but not with all 10 of those features. That way they can maximize sales of watches by enticing watch fans into purchasing a watch that has most of those 10 features but not all of those features. It is very frustrating for fans of black, ion-plated, stainless steel , metal links band watches, but that is unfortunately how they do business. Also, since it is more expensive to manufacture a black ion-plated , stainless steel watch than a natural silver-color stainless steel watch, that is why they put a number of desirable features on a silver stainless steel version of a watch (such as the name "Nighthawk" and full-length lume on the watch markers of the silver 'Nighthawk" Pilot's watch) but leave those same features off of a black ion-plated version of that watch. Also, Citizen makes their watch bands non-interchangeable which is very annoying and frustrating because then you can't improve a Citizen watch by ,for example, replacing a Citizen leather or metal mesh band with a Citizen metal links band because they vary the pin placement on the watch lugs of their various model watches. Also, notice that Citizen did not put the name "Nighthawk" on the watch dial of the 2020 version of the ''Nighthawk" Pilot's watch.
The neoNH bezel is rifled for congruence with the crown knurling texture. I wouldn't term the dial unclear. Flieger type A style has nothing to offer but at a glance legibility. It also maintains a connection to aviators. But like you, I enjoy the original recipe. Visual depth certainly pleases.
The gen.1 is a classic. I personally would not upgrade either. I would have, if they had added a sapphire crystal, and maybe radio time sync. But they didn't.
Thanks for a great review! I just recently saw the newer version, and liked the look. But with the downgrades you have pointed out I am once again considering the older model.
I got the Gen-1 , Black/Red NH about 7-8 mos. ago. I read the NH is very popular with actual Pilots. So that's nice . And the Eco Drive movement is awesome. I think these will be collectible in time. I do not care much for the Gen 2.
All they had to do was move the crown from 8 o'clock to 2 o'clock so you didn't have to take the watch off your wrist to use the rotating inner bezel. That's it.
As a pilot it's important for me to operate the slide rule easily, and being right handed, it's much more easier with the crown located at the 2 o'clock position (point for the new one). Also like the triangle at the 12 o'clock position and the arabic numbers, giving the watch a much more 'flieger' style and a much more 'tool watch' look. But it's just me...
@@the1010watchclub not at all, my pleasure 👍 BTW, I din't mention that I've owned the previous one (same than yours), and that I haven't seen the new one personally yet...
It reminds me when Seiko discontinued the SARB065, the original cocktail time. They soon relaunch a complete line Presage with the name cocktail time in each model... but they used the 4R35 instead of the 6R15 movement and increased the prices... It's sucks, but it seems Citizen would start doing the same. Thank you for the video.
As an owner of the original Blue Angle model, I'm going to have to give the original one the nod for the win although the new one does look good, and may pick one up! I've noticed too on your model the lume is amount is tiny compared to my one which has lume on the whole indexes, not just the tip!
@@NathanChisholm041 Hi Nathan, did you have the original mineral crystal replaced by sapphire you bought on a "regular watch repair shop" in you area or does it have to be a licensed Citizen Service center to do it? I would like to buy the old school Nighthawk as Christmas gift for myself and love the idea of upgrading the crystal into sapphire like you did, but I don't know how to do it myself and I am worried of just having local watch repair shops do it. What's your take on it? Thanks.
I like the new dial and pilot style 12 o'clock markings. I don't like that they removed the times (hrs:min) from slide rule, and I much prefer the old bezel and steel band over the new one. Everything else is a wash in my book. I probably won't be upgrading unless they update it somehow. I've always wanted them to add a lume pip to the outer slide rule bezel somewhere so it could be used to easily mark the time. If they did that to the original watch, with the new dial numbers and put one of their nicer 9000 series miyota automatic movements in there (I'm just dreaming now) I'd pay a LOT of money to get one.
I love my original Citizen Nighthawk Pilot's watch with its' black ion-plated , stainless steel, metal links band and the feature which allows you to adjust the hour hand independent of the minute hand which is great because then you don't have to reset the minute hand when adjusting the time on the watch when daylight saving time switches to standard time and vice-versa like on most watches. However, Citizen should have given the black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band original version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch full-length lume on the watch markers and not just luminescent dots above the markers. In addition, Citizen should have made the lume on the 12 and 6 o'clock numerals vividly bright lume (like on the hour and minute hands) instead of the inexcusable subdued lume! And equally annoying about the black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch is that, unlike other versions of that original Nighthawk Pilot's watch, it lacks the name "Nighthawk" on the watch dial which is totally inexcusable! For example, the metal mesh band version of the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch has both full-length lume on the watch markers and the name "Nighthawk" on the watch dial.The version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch introduced in 2020 is nicer than the original version in three ways: (1) the 10,11,1,2,4,5, 7 and 8 o'clock numerals are nicer than the rectangular-shaped markers on the original version, (2) the watch dial on the new version looks less cluttered than the original watch dial and (3) the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch has equally vividly bright, full-length lume on the numerals and markers as on the hour and minute hands on that watch. The new version has the major drawback of that it is not available with a black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band. The black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band radio-control Nighthawk watch (Citizen AT 4117-56H watch-- which does not look like the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch because it has different configuration hour and minute hands and lacks the unique-looking design 24-hour semicircular indicator of the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch) like the new 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch has a knurled (corrugated) surface on the outside of the watch bezel which, as the narrator of this video review of the new 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch states, serves only a decorative purpose but serves no functional purpose because the watch bezel does not rotate on the black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band, radio-control version of the Promaster Nighthawk watch just as it doesn't on the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch. The black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band, Eco-Drive, radio-control Nighthawk watch has a knurled (corrugated) button on the outside of the watch bezel on the lower left side of the watch which when turned, rotates a numerically-marked ring below the watch crystal between the dial and the bezel. But the knurled outer surface of the bezel does not rotate. One other thing I should mention is that the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch although the configuration of the hour and minute hands is very nice, it is not quite as appealing (at least not in my humble opinion) as the original configuration hour and minute hands on the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch.
@@the1010watchclub Thanks for the compliment about my comment about the original Citizen Nighthawk Pilot's watch compared to the 2020 version of the watch. I forgot to mention in that comment one additional point ,and that is that although a number of years ago, Citizen did manufacture a radio-control version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch which has just about the same exact look on the watch dial as the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch, it unfortunately and ridiculously was (1) only marketed and made available by Citizen to either their Asian watch market or possibly just their China watch market (2) was only manufactured with a silver band and not with a black ion-plated band and (3) does not, I believe, receive the USA time signal from Ft. Collins, Colorado. I wish that Citizen would do what I have no doubt that most fans of black ion-plated, stainless steel , metal links band, Eco-Drive watches would love, and that is to manufacture an Eco-Drive, radio- control, Promaster Nighthawk Pilot's watch with black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band that can receive the USA time signal from Ft.Collins, Colorado.
@@the1010watchclub . I had to correct part of my original comment (by editing and revising my original comment) in which I compared the original black ion-plated , stainless steel, metal links band version of the Citizen Nighthawk Pilot's watch to the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch. The 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch does have equally vividly bright lume on the numerals and markers as on the hour and minute hands on that watch, whereas the original black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch has only luminescent dots above the markers. Another thing I have noticed about the 2020 version of the Citizen Nighthawk Pilot's watch (from another video of that watch on RUclips) is that the lume on the hour and minute hands when glowing in the dark is rectangular-shaped which, although alright, is not as appealing as the wider, more angular configuration of the lume on the hour and minute hands on the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch. Also one of the nicest things about the original stainless steel, metal links band version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch is that the band beautifully hugs my wrist so that the watch doesn't slide up and down my wrist like (what I refer to as) the "basket weave" style type of metal links band that Citizen puts on their CB0025-56E and CB0028-58E radio-control watches. The metal links band on my CB0025-56E watches is nice but doesn't hug my wrist firmly which means that it tends to slide up and down my wrist even though the watchband is sized correctly (since I can slide my index finger between the band and my wrist). Not to be picky but, for clarity purposes, in this excellent video review comparing the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch with the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch, you should have referred to the silver-color , stainless steel version of the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch as "silver stainless steel" or "silver-color stainless steel" rather than just referring to it as "stainless steel" because the watch casing and metal links band of the original black ion-plated version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch is also made of stainless steel.
Always liked the at8020-03l MUCH better, less busy, especially against the old version of the Nighthawk and the at8020 is just a better watch. I'll pass on both Nighthawks. Thanks for the video, if I had to pick between the old and new it would be the new one!
Good review between the two generations and I agree that the Gen-2s are nowhere near as refined as any of the Gen-1s (Asian, North American or European). The Gen-2s appear to have a Hollywood militaristic (Sci-Fi) look to them like you pointed out in their aggressive angular cases and gear toothed non-functioning bezel and worm-gear crowns. The Gen-2s seem to share a common look with the rest of the ProMaster series. Your PVD version looks like the nicer Asian Gen-1 version with the laser cutout back and the better lume than the US Gen-1 version. I would love to find one of the Asian versions but they are getting harder to find. But the The BJ7000-52E (SS North American Gen-1) is a great looking one and one that I just ordered off of Joma while you can still find them brand new under $225. But the real Grail of these Gen-1s seem to be the BJ7010-16F (not sure if it was ever offered in N.America) but it had the chapter ring on black face and its cousin BJ7010-59L with its blue face and white chapter (the face is blue with red markings which is different than the Blue Angel version) (both circa 2005). I think the Nighthawk's large crystal and minimal outer bezel coupled with the white chapter ring and black or blue face took strong stylistic cues from the Breitling Navitimer, which maybe why Citizen never marketed those particular version to the US since Americans are fickle and 15-20 years ago seemed to poo-poo watches with too strong of an homage. Not sure where we are now but I can say in my brief research of those two grails over the last 5 years they pulled in a lot more than what they originally paid. It would be interesting what either of those two watches with the laser etched case back, OEM bracelet and its OEM leather strap with a sapphire crystal would go for today! l
Thanks for the additional info, there are so many variations of this watch that I'm learning about. I got mine back in 2009 and I believe you're right that it is an Asian gen-1
Took an eBay risk on mine, won an auction for $50 with without the guarantee from the owner that it worked. After a little time of my watch getting sun light I realized my gamble paid off. My particular watch doesn't have the second hand hit every single indece but that's not a huge deal to me. Who knows if I'd be owning a Nighthawk if the original owner had known more about the workings of the eco drive system.
Thank you for the video. Will you please tell us if the crown (that turns the bezel) can be used under water? In other words, will water seep into the watch if the crown gets turned when the watch is wet? Thanks.
@@the1010watchclub Thank you for your reply. I ask because I just wanted to know if the watch will get damaged by water intrusion if I accidentally turned the crown when the water may be wet or submerged under water. I just don’t want to damage a cool looking watch that to me cost me a good amount of money. Hope you can help out. Thank you much.
@@louisnguyen2865 Of course. You should be safe with it in the water as it has 200m of water resistance, but to be extra careful maybe don't rotate the bezel underwater a lot on purpose
Anyone know if there is a sapphire crystal for the old one. Love the watch. Hate having to change the crystal every few years. Time accuracy is GREAT! :)
Thank you for the heads up! Citizen has the new one listed at 200m WR so I assumed it had to be screw down. But you know what happens when you assume...
How often have you actually used the slide rule, apart from trying it out in the beginning? If you don't really need it, look into the BJ7094 instead. Way more legible, way better legible 24h hand in full circle, it's for the Japanese market so try creationwatches web site for finding it (they ship as fast as a bullet and also do add the import tax for you).
Don't like the new ones or the blue Angels or the black pvd . Have the stainless one & would rather hunt down the blue non-Angels or the red Dial version . They took away all the intricate details on the newer ones . Ba Humbug ! ⛄Lol
From watch news blogs as well as Citizen's website. The black and silver color ways are no longer available from their official site (just the Blue Angels edition), but they have the "new" versions front and center
The knurling on the bezel might be to give the left hand some grip when operating the slide rule crown with the right hand. That would only be in two-hand operation and when it is on the wrist, it is certainly not functional. Consider how a majority of people are right-handed and wear their watch on the left wrist and more often than not, we were already taking the Nighthawk off our wrist to use the slide rule bezel.
Picked up the old version last week for 190 new. Awesome piece
I bought the old stainless version on Amazon for 211. It is a new watch. I liked the style of the older version better. I agree with your review!
I like the old one better but would consider the new only if it came on the same bracelet as the old one.
@Daniel Gilligan. I agree with you completely that the 2020 version of the black Nighthawk Pilot's watch would have been so much better and much more appealing if Citizen had made it with a black, ion-plated stainless steel, metal links band instead of the green or black leather bands. But the obvious reason that Citizen didn't do that is probably because in their view to do so would have meant that they would have been putting on the watch market a perfect black ion-plated, Eco-Drive watch which would have been enormously popular and therefore might have not only adversely affected sales of their other model watches across their product line, but also would have meant that fans of black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band watches would have purchased 2 or 3 of that model watch and never purchased another Citizen watch again which would be bad for business. So they obviously don't want their watch customers to be 100% satisfied with a watch purchase which is why they, as well as the other top watch manufacturers like Seiko and Casio , never manufacture a perfect solar-powered watch with only desirable features and no undesirable features. So if hypothetically there are say 10 desirable features that fans of black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band , solar-powered watches want in a watch, Citizen (and Seiko and Casio) will manufacture a watch with 7 or 8 or 9 of those desirable features but not with all 10 of those features. That way they can maximize sales of watches by enticing watch fans into purchasing a watch that has most of those 10 features but not all of those features. It is very frustrating for fans of black, ion-plated, stainless steel , metal links band watches, but that is unfortunately how they do business. Also, since it is more expensive to manufacture a black ion-plated , stainless steel watch than a natural silver-color stainless steel watch, that is why they put a number of desirable features on a silver stainless steel version of a watch (such as the name "Nighthawk" and full-length lume on the watch markers of the silver 'Nighthawk" Pilot's watch) but leave those same features off of a black ion-plated version of that watch. Also, Citizen makes their watch bands non-interchangeable which is very annoying and frustrating because then you can't improve a Citizen watch by ,for example, replacing a Citizen leather or metal mesh band with a Citizen metal links band because they vary the pin placement on the watch lugs of their various model watches. Also, notice that Citizen did not put the name "Nighthawk" on the watch dial of the 2020 version of the ''Nighthawk" Pilot's watch.
The neoNH bezel is rifled for congruence with the crown knurling texture.
I wouldn't term the dial unclear. Flieger type A style has nothing to offer but at a glance legibility. It also maintains a connection to aviators.
But like you, I enjoy the original recipe. Visual depth certainly pleases.
The gen.1 is a classic. I personally would not upgrade either. I would have, if they had added a sapphire crystal, and maybe radio time sync. But they didn't.
They just change the apearance 😅 but they didnt upgrade any lol
Thanks for a great review! I just recently saw the newer version, and liked the look. But with the downgrades you have pointed out I am once again considering the older model.
Glad it was helpful. The original model in my opinion is the best watch Citizen has ever made
Great video! You should do the late news 👍I have the old ss thats prolly 2001 when I got new. I won't let this one go cause I'm too attached to it
I got the Gen-1 , Black/Red NH about 7-8 mos. ago. I read the NH is very popular with actual Pilots. So that's nice . And the Eco Drive movement is awesome. I think these will be collectible in time. I do not care much for the Gen 2.
I really love the gen 1s. Doing this video reminded me why I’ve kept mine and worn it for so many years
Great review and I agree with your comments. I also like the old version better.
Thank you Felo!
A well thought out informative review you make the case for the older model very well.
Thank you! Appreciate the support
All they had to do was move the crown from 8 o'clock to 2 o'clock so you didn't have to take the watch off your wrist to use the rotating inner bezel. That's it.
As a pilot it's important for me to operate the slide rule easily, and being right handed, it's much more easier with the crown located at the 2 o'clock position (point for the new one). Also like the triangle at the 12 o'clock position and the arabic numbers, giving the watch a much more 'flieger' style and a much more 'tool watch' look. But it's just me...
Awesome, thank you for the insight!
@@the1010watchclub not at all, my pleasure 👍 BTW, I din't mention that I've owned the previous one (same than yours), and that I haven't seen the new one personally yet...
I bought one several months ago, older model all black.
It reminds me when Seiko discontinued the SARB065, the original cocktail time. They soon relaunch a complete line Presage with the name cocktail time in each model... but they used the 4R35 instead of the 6R15 movement and increased the prices... It's sucks, but it seems Citizen would start doing the same.
Thank you for the video.
Exactly. Thanks for the support!
As an owner of the original Blue Angle model, I'm going to have to give the original one the nod for the win although the new one does look good, and may pick one up! I've noticed too on your model the lume is amount is tiny compared to my one which has lume on the whole indexes, not just the tip!
I think it has to do with the market, Asia vs US vs Europe etc. I definitely prefer the fully lumed indices on yours
@@the1010watchclub I just bought a sapphire crystal for my Nighthawk from yobokies! The domed sapphire looks awesome on it.
@@NathanChisholm041 Hi Nathan, did you have the original mineral crystal replaced by sapphire you bought on a "regular watch repair shop" in you area or does it have to be a licensed Citizen Service center to do it? I would like to buy the old school Nighthawk as Christmas gift for myself and love the idea of upgrading the crystal into sapphire like you did, but I don't know how to do it myself and I am worried of just having local watch repair shops do it. What's your take on it? Thanks.
@@NathanChisholm041 for the original or the new version (not certain the glass size did not change, but they are probably the same)?
You got it right ✅
love the original 👍
The slide rule on the new one doesn't have the timing scale anymore.
I like the new dial and pilot style 12 o'clock markings. I don't like that they removed the times (hrs:min) from slide rule, and I much prefer the old bezel and steel band over the new one. Everything else is a wash in my book. I probably won't be upgrading unless they update it somehow.
I've always wanted them to add a lume pip to the outer slide rule bezel somewhere so it could be used to easily mark the time. If they did that to the original watch, with the new dial numbers and put one of their nicer 9000 series miyota automatic movements in there (I'm just dreaming now) I'd pay a LOT of money to get one.
Is it good for UK because we don’t have sun alot here and what if I keep it In wardrobes for a while?
I love my original Citizen Nighthawk Pilot's watch with its' black ion-plated , stainless steel, metal links band and the feature which allows you to adjust the hour hand independent of the minute hand which is great because then you don't have to reset the minute hand when adjusting the time on the watch when daylight saving time switches to standard time and vice-versa like on most watches. However, Citizen should have given the black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band original version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch full-length lume on the watch markers and not just luminescent dots above the markers. In addition, Citizen should have made the lume on the 12 and 6 o'clock numerals vividly bright lume (like on the hour and minute hands) instead of the inexcusable subdued lume! And equally annoying about the black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch is that, unlike other versions of that original Nighthawk Pilot's watch, it lacks the name "Nighthawk" on the watch dial which is totally inexcusable! For example, the metal mesh band version of the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch has both full-length lume on the watch markers and the name "Nighthawk" on the watch dial.The version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch introduced in 2020 is nicer than the original version in three ways: (1) the 10,11,1,2,4,5, 7 and 8 o'clock numerals are nicer than the rectangular-shaped markers on the original version, (2) the watch dial on the new version looks less cluttered than the original watch dial and (3) the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch has equally vividly bright, full-length lume on the numerals and markers as on the hour and minute hands on that watch. The new version has the major drawback of that it is not available with a black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band. The black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band radio-control Nighthawk watch (Citizen AT 4117-56H watch-- which does not look like the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch because it has different configuration hour and minute hands and lacks the unique-looking design 24-hour semicircular indicator of the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch) like the new 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch has a knurled (corrugated) surface on the outside of the watch bezel which, as the narrator of this video review of the new 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch states, serves only a decorative purpose but serves no functional purpose because the watch bezel does not rotate on the black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band, radio-control version of the Promaster Nighthawk watch just as it doesn't on the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch. The black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band, Eco-Drive, radio-control Nighthawk watch has a knurled (corrugated) button on the outside of the watch bezel on the lower left side of the watch which when turned, rotates a numerically-marked ring below the watch crystal between the dial and the bezel. But the knurled outer surface of the bezel does not rotate. One other thing I should mention is that the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch although the configuration of the hour and minute hands is very nice, it is not quite as appealing (at least not in my humble opinion) as the original configuration hour and minute hands on the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch.
Great points, thank you for sharing.
@@the1010watchclub Thanks for the compliment about my comment about the original Citizen Nighthawk Pilot's watch compared to the 2020 version of the watch. I forgot to mention in that comment one additional point ,and that is that although a number of years ago, Citizen did manufacture a radio-control version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch which has just about the same exact look on the watch dial as the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch, it unfortunately and ridiculously was (1) only marketed and made available by Citizen to either their Asian watch market or possibly just their China watch market (2) was only manufactured with a silver band and not with a black ion-plated band and (3) does not, I believe, receive the USA time signal from Ft. Collins, Colorado. I wish that Citizen would do what I have no doubt that most fans of black ion-plated, stainless steel , metal links band, Eco-Drive watches would love, and that is to manufacture an Eco-Drive, radio- control, Promaster Nighthawk Pilot's watch with black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band that can receive the USA time signal from Ft.Collins, Colorado.
@@the1010watchclub . I had to correct part of my original comment (by editing and revising my original comment) in which I compared the original black ion-plated , stainless steel, metal links band version of the Citizen Nighthawk Pilot's watch to the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch. The 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch does have equally vividly bright lume on the numerals and markers as on the hour and minute hands on that watch, whereas the original black ion-plated, stainless steel, metal links band version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch has only luminescent dots above the markers. Another thing I have noticed about the 2020 version of the Citizen Nighthawk Pilot's watch (from another video of that watch on RUclips) is that the lume on the hour and minute hands when glowing in the dark is rectangular-shaped which, although alright, is not as appealing as the wider, more angular configuration of the lume on the hour and minute hands on the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch. Also one of the nicest things about the original stainless steel, metal links band version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch is that the band beautifully hugs my wrist so that the watch doesn't slide up and down my wrist like (what I refer to as) the "basket weave" style type of metal links band that Citizen puts on their CB0025-56E and CB0028-58E radio-control watches. The metal links band on my CB0025-56E watches is nice but doesn't hug my wrist firmly which means that it tends to slide up and down my wrist even though the watchband is sized correctly (since I can slide my index finger between the band and my wrist). Not to be picky but, for clarity purposes, in this excellent video review comparing the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch with the 2020 version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch, you should have referred to the silver-color , stainless steel version of the original Nighthawk Pilot's watch as "silver stainless steel" or "silver-color stainless steel" rather than just referring to it as "stainless steel" because the watch casing and metal links band of the original black ion-plated version of the Nighthawk Pilot's watch is also made of stainless steel.
Great review. Could you confirm that neither of these iterations are perpetual calendar?
Correct. Not a perpetual calendar but THIS one is: ruclips.net/video/SVMqTyiMNbE/видео.html
It's hard to better a classic.
Where did u get the bkack nighthawk from..nowhere available
I got it as a gift about 15 years ago
Always liked the at8020-03l MUCH better, less busy, especially against the old version of the Nighthawk and the at8020 is just a better watch. I'll pass on both Nighthawks.
Thanks for the video, if I had to pick between the old and new it would be the new one!
The AT8020 is a great model too
Can anyone give me the crystal dimension on the older nighthawk. I'm trying to get a sapphire crystal for it.
Good review between the two generations and I agree that the Gen-2s are nowhere near as refined as any of the Gen-1s (Asian, North American or European). The Gen-2s appear to have a Hollywood militaristic (Sci-Fi) look to them like you pointed out in their aggressive angular cases and gear toothed non-functioning bezel and worm-gear crowns. The Gen-2s seem to share a common look with the rest of the ProMaster series. Your PVD version looks like the nicer Asian Gen-1 version with the laser cutout back and the better lume than the US Gen-1 version. I would love to find one of the Asian versions but they are getting harder to find. But the The BJ7000-52E (SS North American Gen-1) is a great looking one and one that I just ordered off of Joma while you can still find them brand new under $225. But the real Grail of these Gen-1s seem to be the BJ7010-16F (not sure if it was ever offered in N.America) but it had the chapter ring on black face and its cousin BJ7010-59L with its blue face and white chapter (the face is blue with red markings which is different than the Blue Angel version) (both circa 2005). I think the Nighthawk's large crystal and minimal outer bezel coupled with the white chapter ring and black or blue face took strong stylistic cues from the Breitling Navitimer, which maybe why Citizen never marketed those particular version to the US since Americans are fickle and 15-20 years ago seemed to poo-poo watches with too strong of an homage. Not sure where we are now but I can say in my brief research of those two grails over the last 5 years they pulled in a lot more than what they originally paid. It would be interesting what either of those two watches with the laser etched case back, OEM bracelet and its OEM leather strap with a sapphire crystal would go for today! l
Thanks for the additional info, there are so many variations of this watch that I'm learning about. I got mine back in 2009 and I believe you're right that it is an Asian gen-1
@@the1010watchclub Man I'm late to the party I just bought the Blue Angel version and I should have got it long ago as it's awesome!
Nice info mate!
Glad you like it! They’re awesome
@@the1010watchclub Just bought a sapphire crystal for it and it looks awesome with a dome distorting the watch face! Thanks buddy
Took an eBay risk on mine, won an auction for $50 with without the guarantee from the owner that it worked. After a little time of my watch getting sun light I realized my gamble paid off. My particular watch doesn't have the second hand hit every single indece but that's not a huge deal to me. Who knows if I'd be owning a Nighthawk if the original owner had known more about the workings of the eco drive system.
That’s awesome! $50 for that watch is seriously a great find
@@the1010watchclub yea, I got so lucky. I'll never take this watch for granted.
Thank you for the video. Will you please tell us if the crown (that turns the bezel) can be used under water? In other words, will water seep into the watch if the crown gets turned when the watch is wet? Thanks.
I'll find that information if you tell me why you want to do flight calculations underwater! 😂
@@the1010watchclub Thank you for your reply. I ask because I just wanted to know if the watch will get damaged by water intrusion if I accidentally turned the crown when the water may be wet or submerged under water. I just don’t want to damage a cool looking watch that to me cost me a good amount of money. Hope you can help out. Thank you much.
@@louisnguyen2865 Of course. You should be safe with it in the water as it has 200m of water resistance, but to be extra careful maybe don't rotate the bezel underwater a lot on purpose
Anyone know if there is a sapphire crystal for the old one. Love the watch. Hate having to change the crystal every few years. Time accuracy is GREAT! :)
I bought 2 :)
@@happydogg312
Another review with the new Nighthawk in hand says the watch crown is NOT screwdown.
Thank you for the heads up! Citizen has the new one listed at 200m WR so I assumed it had to be screw down. But you know what happens when you assume...
How often have you actually used the slide rule, apart from trying it out in the beginning?
If you don't really need it, look into the BJ7094 instead. Way more legible, way better legible 24h hand in full circle, it's for the Japanese market so try creationwatches web site for finding it (they ship as fast as a bullet and also do add the import tax for you).
I can safely say zero times 😂. Thanks for the suggestion, I hadn't heard of the BJ7094, it's a great looking watch
Don't like the new ones or the blue Angels or the black pvd . Have the stainless one & would rather hunt down the blue non-Angels or the red Dial version . They took away all the intricate details on the newer ones . Ba Humbug ! ⛄Lol
And the details were what made it so special. I didn’t know they had those other color ways, I’ll have to check them out!
Where did you hear the Nighthawk is discontinued?, it'd be a shame to lose such an iconic and distinctive designs.
From watch news blogs as well as Citizen's website. The black and silver color ways are no longer available from their official site (just the Blue Angels edition), but they have the "new" versions front and center
New version sucks
The knurling on the bezel might be to give the left hand some grip when operating the slide rule crown with the right hand. That would only be in two-hand operation and when it is on the wrist, it is certainly not functional. Consider how a majority of people are right-handed and wear their watch on the left wrist and more often than not, we were already taking the Nighthawk off our wrist to use the slide rule bezel.