It seems that a day doesn’t go by that the phrase ‘retro nostalgia’ doesn’t jump to the forefront of my brain. It really captures the cultural moment we’re living through, where clothes, styles, cars, films and games are all drawing inspiration from bygone years. Maybe previous generations got it right after all. Today’s dose of retro nostalgia comes courtesy of the new Certina DS-2 Powermatic 80, a seriously cool modern revival of a vintage watch.
Obviously the biggest retro feature is the tonneau case, which dates back to models from around 1968. The flat surface with integrated lugs is not dissimilar to the iconic Turtle design from Seiko, which is an apt comparison because Certina’s logo is a turtle shell and the original DS-2 had a matching shell design engraved on its caseback. Today though that caseback has been replaced by a sapphire exhibition back, which is a feature far more prevalent now than ever before.
In terms of dimensions, the case hits the sweet spot of 40mm by 38mm. It’s virtually the perfect size for a retro-revival watch because (aside from being accurate to the original) the relatively slim width is in keeping with the smaller dimensions of vintage watches while the length makes it feel modern. Plus, the smooth curve of the tonneau shape looks fantastic.
As for the dial, if you look back at vintage DS-2s there were many that Certina could have picked from, including a couple of chronograph variations. They’ve chosen to stick with a time and date layout with classy baton hour markers and hands, all with lume. There are four colours and finishes available: sunray brushed silver, blue or black and a final black-lacquer version.
Inside, the new DS-2 houses the ETA 80.611 automatic calibre, hence the Powermatic 80 portion of the watch’s name. It’s equipped with a Nivachron anti-magnetic balance spring and has a great power reserve of 80-hours, so it’s more than a solid movement. And despite those quality specs, it’s still an accessible watch.
The trio of sunray brushed watches on fabric straps cost just £770, while the lacquer version on a Milanese mesh bracelet costs £825. It’s a no brainer.
Price & Specs:
Model: Certina DS-2 Powermatic 80 Collection
Reference: C024.407.18.031.00 (silver brushed dial with black fabric strap)
C024.407.18.041.00 (blue brushed dial with blue fabric strap)
C024.407.18.081.00 (black brushed dial with black fabric strap)
C024.407.11.051.00 (black lacquered dial with mesh bracelet)
Case/dial: 40mm diameter x 12.65mm height, stainless steel case, silver, blue or black dial)
Water resistance: 200m (20 bar)
Movement: ETA 80.611 calibre, automatic, 23 jewels
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 80h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date at 3 o’clock
Strap: Stainless steel mesh bracelet or fabric strap
Price/availability: £770 for editions on a fabric strap, £825 for edition on a mesh bracelet
More details at Certina.
