Certina DS Action Diver 40.5 Achieves 10,000G Shock Resistance for Sub-£1,000

Certina has got to be one of the most self-confident brands around. By which I mean they are quietly off in their own corner of the industry, doing their own thing and not really drawing attention to themselves and yet they produce some really solid watches that people love. No one really raves about them, they aren’t incredibly hyped, they simply offer good value and if you own one, you’ll get a friendly nod of approval from any other collector you meet. In fact, in the press release for the new Certina DS Action Diver 40.5, Certina haven’t even drawn attention to one of its greatest attributes.

The Certina DS Action Diver 40.5 has a shock resistance value of 10,000G at a price of £765 – £880 depending on the reference. Specs like that at a value like this are very rare indeed – it wouldn’t just survive a drop onto a hardwood floor, you could put a bit of force into it as well. That level of protection comes from the new DS (Double Security) Concept Extreme Shock Resistance. While the DS system has been around since 1959, this latest development improves on the design.

Building on the traditional elements of the DS system that include a scratch resistant sapphire crystal, reinforced caseback and sophisticated sealing system, the DS Concept Extreme Shock Resistance introduces a new method of screwing the movement into the case by means of a thin, ring-shaped nut to better secure it and protect it from vibrations. Additionally there’s a new metal plate between the dial and the movement, connecting the two and absorbing shocks between them. Lastly, the sapphire crystal has been redesigned to better distribute and diffuse energy thanks to a new, slightly domed shape. Perfect for sports watches and especially dive watches where bumps and scrapes are a daily hazard.

The DS Concept Extreme Shock Resistance isn’t the only new aspect to the DS Action Diver 40.5, the case has also been redesigned with completely new proportions. It measures 40.5mm in diameter, sitting comfortably between the existing 38mm and 43mm options. It makes a lot of sense to offer a mid-range size, more wearable than the large model but without sacrificing the practicality that a large tool watch offers with a wider, more legible display. The thickness sits at 14.1mm, which does make it quite a tall watch but that’s needed to accommodate the additional bulk of the shock resistance system.

As for the display and overall design, it remains comfortably Certina. No pushing the envelope here. There are four options available, three in steel and one in titanium. The steel versions feature two black versions on a choice of NATO strap or steel bracelet with the third being a white interpretation with matching white bezel. The titanium edition is presented on a matching titanium bracelet with a blue dial and bezel. All four of the bezels feature ceramic inserts for superb scratch resistance and colour retention.

Getting into the nitty gritty of the pricing, the steel with NATO strap is £765, the two steel bracelet options are £805 and the titanium is £880. While on the surface this is ‘just another Certina dive watch’, the improved internal structure and DS Concept Extreme Shock Resistance give it some serious bang for your buck. Plus it’s powered by a Powermatic 80 movement with 80-hour power reserve, which is always nice for quality of life.

More details at Certina.