It’s summer and that means it’s time to bring out the colourful divers. But while you might feel a pressing need to rock your go-to lime-coloured Zodiac or Caribbean blue Doxa, Certina might have a more low-key alternative. More importantly however, the new Certina DS Action Diver 38mm Titanium trio is exactly what I’ve been waiting for from Certina.
Certina’s reputation has quite rightly been built on solid, accessible divers. Their Double Security (DS) system has given them market-leading shock proofing and the new version in the DS Concept amps that ruggedness up even further. On a practical, specs-led level, there’s a lot to love. I own a retro Certina myself and it’s a great watch.
The problem is that if you already have a dive watch, there’s nothing about Certina that really stands out. Their designs are safe, practical, tool watch standards, allergic to trends. The new DS Action 38mm pieces however are a different beast – mainly because they embrace colour.
Ok so ‘embrace’ might be a bit hyperbolic. The three new models come in black with pink indexes; grey with light blue indexes and blue with orange. The formula is a relatively unobtrusive dial with big pops of colour. Given my regular go-to daily wearer is my Christopher Ward x OT Dune Shoreline, it’s an idea I’m obviously a fan of and Certina really make it work.
In fact, of the three I thought I’d gravitate towards the grey and light blue version. But the grey is a bit darker than I’d like. Instead, I absolutely love the black and pink. It’s a proper hot pink, the kind of Miami Vice, synth-wave pop that is fantastic in moderation. I love it and, given the intense contrast here, it’s also very practical for a 300m capable dive watch.
The outlier colour-wise is the blue and orange. I want to like it, and I think given some more time with it, I might even come to love it. But with my limited time on the wrist, I couldn’t get over the fact that I expected it to be yellow every time I looked. There’s also the slight issue that because of the way the light hits the curved, polished ceramic bezels, they don’t quite match the dials from the front, something that’s more noticeable in the blue version than the black and grey.
On the wrist, all three wear perfectly. Some 38mm divers can feel a bit too crowded, but these still feel like streamlined tool watches. That’s largely due to the small, round indexes with much larger trapezoid cardinal markers. Their 13.2mm height isn’t ultra-slim by any stretch but is in line with a proper dive watch. With the slim, engraved diving bezel, Certina have nailed the smaller diving proportions.
Then there’s the fact that the case is in titanium. This is the part that clinches this as Certina’s best release in years. Titanium is arguably the perfect metal for a tool watch. Not only is it strong and light weight, but its darker colour also gives it a more serious edge. This isn’t the first time Certina has used titanium of course, but it’s the element (No. 22 to be specific) that completes the package with these new watches.
It is worth noting that these are Grade 2 titanium rather than the more durable, high-performance Grade 5. On a field watch that would be disappointing, but on a diver, the higher corrosion resistance of marine-centric Grade 2 makes sense – though it’s more likely down to price than slightly better saltwater resistance.
Inside all three is the Powermatic 80 movement, which remains one of the best stock movements around. Its frequency has been intentionally kept down to 3Hz rather than the ever-more-common 4Hz, but in return for an impressive 80-hour power reserve that makes it more than weekend proof. If the average ETA movement is a workhorse, the Powermatic 80 is a Shire. It’s also protected by Certina’s aforementioned DS Concept, meaning shock protection up to 10,000g, far more than anything but the most intense, tank-proof timepieces.
The new watches come on a full titanium bracelet in a standard three-link configuration. It feels good on the wrist but isn’t anything to write home about. It sits well, is super light and can be adjusted at home. What more could you ask for? Well, a better clasp. It’s potentially an aftereffect of the lightweight titanium, but the fastener that secures the clasp doesn’t feel as solid as I’d like. Honestly though, at this price point I can forgive a lot worse than a flappy fastener.
That price point for the Certina DS Action Diver 38mm Titanium is £925. The sub-£1,000 dive category is packed full of competitively priced, ISO-standard pieces but honestly, few are quite as convincing a value proposition as Certina. They just needed a way to go beyond the bare specs – and colour is it. Granted, these are a first hint at where Certina could take this versatile collection – and I would definitely like to see them take things further – but if you’re after your next summer dive watch, these are serious contenders. With a few refinements they could be even more.
Price and Specs:
More details at Certina.
