Promaster JP2000-08E: the re-release of the watch worn by Jean Reno in The Big Blue
Some dive watches transcend their primary function to become part of popular culture. The Citizen Aqualand undoubtedly belongs to this category. Revolutionary upon its launch in 1985, it became inextricably linked to French cinema a few years later when it appeared on Jean Reno’s wrist in *The Big Blue* (*Le Grand Bleu*). Nearly forty years after the release of Luc Besson’s film, its allure remains undiminished. In 2025, Citizen celebrates the Aqualand’s 40th anniversary with a new limited edition that retains the original watch’s distinctive design. It is available starting at €470.
The Big Blue : a french phenomenon that achieved international cult status
Released in 1988, “The Big Blue“ offers a fictionalized take on the world of freediving, centering on the rivalry between Jacques Mayol (played by Jean-Marc Barr) and Enzo Molinari (played by Jean Reno). Although initial critical reception was mixed, French audiences quickly turned Luc Besson’s film into a massive phenomenon, drawing over 9.2 million viewers. Its visual style, underwater cinematography, Éric Serra’s score, and the character of Enzo Molinari left a lasting mark on an entire generation. Over time, The Big Blue transcended the boundaries of French cinema. While its initial commercial success abroad did not match its performance in France, the film gradually attained cult status among diving enthusiasts and cinephiles alike. And, as is often the case with great films, certain objects became characters in their own right—most notably the Citizen Aqualand watch worn by Jean Reno.
Citizen Aqualand: a watch that revolutionized diving
When Citizen introduced the Aqualand in 1985, the Japanese brand was not merely developing a new water-resistant watch; it was unveiling the world's first dive watch equipped with an electronic depth gauge—a genuine innovation for the time. Its silhouette is instantly recognizable thanks to the imposing depth sensor positioned at the 9 o'clock mark. The display combines traditional hands with a digital screen, giving the Aqualand a technical look that sets it apart from classic dive watches. This design was driven primarily by functionality: providing the diver with information that could be used directly underwater. When the watch appeared three years later on the wrist of Enzo Molinari in *The Big Blue* (*Le Grand Bleu*), the pairing of the object and the character felt almost natural. Rugged, imposing, and strikingly unconventional, the Aqualand was a perfect fit for the world of the diver played by Jean Reno.
2025: Citizen revives the *Big Blue* Aqualand
To celebrate the Aqualand’s 40th anniversary, Citizen is launching the Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Limited Edition (JP2008-06E) in 2025. Rather than completely reinventing its icon, Citizen has chosen to preserve the elements that defined its identity. It retains the famous depth sensor at the 9 o'clock position, the screw-down crown at 4 o'clock, the three pushers, the analog-digital display, and the unidirectional rotating bezel. The steel case features a matte gray finish paired with gold accents that directly evoke the Aqualand's historic aesthetic. The result intentionally preserves the highly functional, "instrument-like" look that gives the watch its unique charm.
A true dive watch, not just a heritage reissue
Beneath its neo-retro aesthetic, this Citizen Promaster Aqualand remains, first and foremost, a genuine diving instrument. It is powered by the C520 quartz caliber and features an analog-digital display for accessing key data. The watch offers functions such as depth and dive time measurement, maximum depth memory, a chronograph, an alarm, and an ascent rate warning. It is water-resistant to 200 meters and meets ISO standards for dive watches. Citizen thus upholds the Aqualand’s original philosophy: offering a watch that is instantly recognizable, yet whose design is primarily dictated by its function.
A limited edition of 5,800 Pieces
This anniversary Aqualand is not joining the permanent collection; Citizen is limiting the JP2008-06E to a worldwide production run of 5,800 pieces. According to launch details, only 250 units were allocated to the French market for 2025—a particularly symbolic choice given the strong bond between this watch and the French public, forged by the film The Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu). The strap also keeps pace with the times. Citizen uses BENEBiOL™, a bio-based polyurethane touted for its superior hydrolysis resistance. An extension strap is also included, allowing the watch to be worn over a wetsuit. Finally, the case back features a special marking celebrating four decades of the Aqualand.
The return of a dive watch icon
The 2025 reissue of the Citizen Aqualand boasts something not every watch reissue can claim: a genuine history. Before becoming a watch associated with cinema, the Aqualand was already an innovative instrument that had shaped the evolution of professional dive watches. Its appearance on Jean Reno’s wrist in *The Big Blue* (*Le Grand Bleu*) subsequently added a new dimension to its legacy. For French enthusiasts, it instantly evokes Enzo Molinari, the depths of the Mediterranean, and the unique world of Luc Besson’s film. For international collectors, it remains, above all, one of the most distinctive Japanese dive watches of the 1980s. With the Aqualand 40th Anniversary JP2008-06E, Citizen is not seeking to modernize its historic model at any cost. Instead, the brand is simply bringing one of its most iconic watches back into the water—complete with its signature depth gauge, hybrid display, and unmistakable silhouette. Forty years after its debut, the Aqualand is ready to dive again.
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Editor: Éric Barse
Journalist, entrepreneur, and founder of the websites www.cafe-racer-only.com and www.scooter-3-roues.com, Eric Barse divides his time between his passions: motorcycles, travel, and watches. A graduate of the Saint-Cyr military academy and the 2nd RPIMA (Parachute Regiment) before pursuing a career in communications and digital media, he has a true passion for authentic watches that have accompanied his two-wheeled adventures for many years, from the Indian Ocean to Africa and Latin America!
