Certina are most at home in the tool watch space with creations like the DS Action Diver achieving 10,000G shock resistance thanks to the recently introduced Double Security Concept Extreme Shock Resistance system. That same system is also used for the Certina DS-X GMT, a brand-new collection from the brand with a fresh design and striking dual bezel system designed for outdoor adventures.
Starting with the case, it measures 41mm in diameter in stainless steel with a reasonable thickness of 12.1mm, putting it right in that expected tool watch sweet spot. The shape is relatively understated with a smooth curve from lug-to-lug that’s emphasised by a vertically brushed finish across the metal and polished edges.
As briefly mentioned, it makes use of the DS Concept Extreme Shock Resistance system to provide extreme shock resistance, which means that the movement is screwed into the case along with additional plates to absorb shocks. In combination with its 200m water resistance, that makes it a versatile adventure watch, whether you’re taking a swim, hiking up a mountain, or perhaps cycling on the cobblestones of the Champs-Élysées in Paris (I have the Tour de France on my brain after Tudor’s recent launch).
However, the same is arguably true for a lot of Certina’s watches and what makes the Certina DS-X GMT stand out is the new dual bezel. It consists of a fixed inner bezel with a 24-hour GMT scale and bi-colour day/night indicator ring and a rotating outer bezel with a compass scale. The 24-hour scale is used in conjunction with the central GMT hand in order to allow the watch to display the time in multiple time zones simultaneously. It’s great for keeping track of local time and home time when you’re travelling. The compass portion makes the watch easier to use as, well, a compass. Although there’s more of a trick to that than just setting the bezel.
It’s a very unusual layout but one that works well. I’m always partial to a fixed GMT bezel, harking back to the Rolex Explorer II, one of the most famous fixed bezel GMT watches of all time. Yet, the added utility of the compass bezel is a fun novelty that you likely won’t use in the day-to-day but could prove useful on a particularly challenging ramble. In terms of colour, the compass portions are all steel but there’s a choice of three GMT designs each paired with a specific dial as well. There’s a blue-orange bezel with a white dial, a black-red coke style bezel with a grey dial and lastly a black-green (really a dark teal) bezel with a grey dial. The GMT hand also mirrors the accent colour.
Powering the Certina DS-X GMT is Swiss-Made quartz movement F06.865 from ETA, the manufacture owned by the Swatch Group, of which Certina is a member. I am a little surprised that it’s quartz because Certina have done automatic GMT watches in the past and I don’t see a particularly good reason why they wouldn’t do the same here. I understand that this is supposed to be the ultimate adventuring tool and the innate reliability of quartz does have advantages over mechanical in that regard, but by the same token, you won’t find any batteries out in the wilderness if it runs out. One definitive upside though is the accessibility, with the three watches priced at £480 on rubber strap or £500 on steel bracelet (grey dial models only).
Price and Specs:
More details at Certina.
Yet another “Candy-Crush” colour watch that seems to be “oh so popular” at the moment (certainly in terms of watch reviews, but not so much on the High Street I observe!), well, not in my neck of the woods anyway. – Maybe on the beaches!
I’m not personally knowledgeable about Certina watches, so can’t comment about longevity etc, but at that cost point, it maybe worth a punt, if Candy-Crush is your thing.