Borna Bosniaks
If you’re reading about a new diver’s watch these days, it’s probably a sub-40mm, slightly retro-inspired design. And as someone whose collection mostly consists of smaller vintage or vintage-inspired watches, I like this trend. However, this isn’t for everyone. Certina is trying to shift away from small and slim to big and solid. The new DS Action Diver Chrono has a golden hour beach look with specs to match its watersports intent. The DS Action collection isn’t clearly defined by a single design, ranging from small, two-tone dressy everyday watches to GMT and blacked-out diver watches, but the new DS Action Chrono follows a similar recipe to previous models, but with noticeable improvements across the board.
Dial
While there are no immediately noticeable changes to the look or layout of the dial, there have been a number of subtle tweaks made in the name of symmetry. The dial maintains its two-register (not bicompax) layout, but the date window has been moved from the unsightly 4:30 to the 6 o’clock position. The subdials are also symmetrical, the seconds hand now has numerals, and both hands have been changed to an arrow-shaped one. Certina has also done a great job with the overall color scheme, keeping the dial from being stark white, which could contrast too much with the gold applique, while still maintaining legibility.
Legibility and practicality usually go hand in hand. The lettering on the dial is a little too large for my taste, but it does hint at the DS Action Diver Chrono’s ISO diver certification, which ensures that this is a good diver’s watch, but also means good lume. Certina has this lume on board. The marker layout is in classic diver style, with a circle and an inverted triangle at 12 o’clock. The hands, including the central chrono hand and the seconds hand, are naturally lume-filled, but curiously, the 30-minute chronograph totalizer is not.
Incident
We’ve already mentioned that the new DS Action Diver Chrono is a large watch, and that’s true. At 44.5mm in diameter, it looks like a 300m diver, but it’s actually smaller in size than its predecessor, which was 45.2mm wide. The steel case has a very simple brushed finish, which is appropriate for a watch that Certina positions as a tool watch, but we would have liked a few more flourishes, such as polished bevels. The black ceramic bezel insert does add a bit of shine, however, which is a nice touch.
Viewed from the side, the DS Action Diver Chrono is not only larger in diameter, but is to be expected given its water resistance and Valjoux-derived movement construction (more on that later). The lugs are fairly short to reduce lug-to-lug contact, but the caseback protrudes beyond the ends of the lugs, allowing the Certina to sit proudly on the wrist. We also see the screw-down crown and chronograph pushers, the latter of which is screwed down and hides a small golden sparkle when unscrewed, presumably to alert the wearer to potential water ingress points.
strap
The striped fabric strap is a great style choice for a watch that Certina positions as the perfect summer companion. At first glance, it looks like a one-piece NATO strap, but it’s actually in two pieces with a quick-release spring bar. It’s a smart choice for Certina, as a NATO strap would add extra bulk to an already thick watch. Certina also alludes to sustainability as the strap is made from recycled ocean material, #tide, something brands like Ulysse Nardin and Maurice Lacroix have attempted in the past.
motion
As we all know, Certina loves turtles, which is why all of the brand’s casebacks feature turtles in relief. In the case of the DS Action Diver Chrono, it hides an ETA A05.231 automatic chronograph movement. This is Swatch Group’s own caliber based on the ETA 7753, which was developed from the cult-favorite Valjoux 7750. It’s operated by a cam and horizontal clutch, which is typical for chronograph movements at the lower end of the scale. However, in the usual style of Swatch Group-branded ETAs, the power reserve is a respectable 68 hours. Because this is Certina, it also has a double security system to protect the movement, with an elastic movement ring providing shock protection in addition to the usual NivaShock.
Verdict
While my wrist is 6.3 inches (16 cm), so I may not be the target user for this watch, it’s easy to look at the DS Action Diver Chrono from an objective perspective. The colors are beautiful, and the improvements over the previous model are, in my opinion, real quality of life improvements. This is truly a Swatch Group product, with solid specs at a price that can’t be ignored. There are a few nitpicks that a watch nerd like me will nitpick about, but I don’t think they’re really killer.
Certina DS Action Diver Chrono Pricing and Availability
The Certina DS Action Diver Chrono is now available. Price: 1,750 Swiss Francs (approximately 2,000 USD)
Brand Certina Model DS Action Diver Chrono Reference C032.827.18.271.00 Case Size 44.5mm (D) Case Material Stainless steel Water Resistance 300 meters, screw-down crown, ISO 6425 certified Crystal Sapphire front Dial Sand beige Strap #tide fabric stripe two-piece, steel pin buckle Movement ETA A05.231, ETA 7753 based, automatic Power Reserve 68 hours Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph Availability Current Price CHF 1,750 (~US$2,000)
