The crown and its protector on the three-handed model are fine, but it is on the chronograph that I see something that really excites me. The dial, which is of superb quality and excellent legibility, looks very Omega-esque, which I think is a good thing. What we’ve got here is a watch that smacks of the Omega Seamaster in terms of silhouette, with a little added detailing to the edge of the uni-drectional bezel, and a simplification of the lug decoration. Obviously, this goes back to the Swatch group’s ability to supply their entry-level brands with components of a much higher quality than a price-point competitor with less industry clout could muster.
One thing that always surprises me about Certina’s output is the tangible quality of the cases. And in the case of the Certina DS Action Diver watches, I think they’ve done a pretty good job. Normally, this kind of anonymity is bad news, but somehow, Certina plough on, churning out watches that benefit from the massive financial backing of the Swatch Group and years of experience in what sells, even if it isn’t what blows your mind. I’ve found that I quite like their products when someone puts one in my hands and I get the chance to play around with it for a while, but I’m not sure I could tell you what to expect from the brand, or even what they generally look like if I was asked in isolation. The release of the Certina DS Action Diver watches gives me a good opportunity to dispense some credit where credit’s due: As one of the Swatch Group’s more forgotten brands, Certina watches often pass me by without any conscious recognition. I think it might have something to do with my childhood desire to become a ninja, but whatever the root of my fondness, I am compelled to treat Certina kindly because of their logo. The right side of the case is flanked by two rectangular pushers and a nice grippy crown, and there is also a healthy 100 meters of water resistance on offer.I am very fond of turtles. Sitting atop the case is a fixed bezel and a beautiful box-shaped sapphire crystal to provide enhanced protection from scratches. As the dimensions suggest this watch is slightly larger as compared to its 36mm vintage sibling but is well-sized for a modern chronograph. It has been crafted from stainless steel and measures 42mm in diameter and has a thickness of around 13.9mm. The case, like the dial, has been designed to look historically accurate, albeit with a few modern touches.
Furthermore, to aid legibility, the tip of the minute hand has also been curved. While the layout looks familiar, what makes this piece special, in my opinion, is the way the dial has been domed towards the edges like the historic reference, creating some intriguing distortions when looked at from certain angles. A black minute track surrounds the hour markers, which is followed by a Telemeter scale and a tachymeter scale in blue. Presented in a subdued shade of silver, the dial, like the original reference, features a balanced twin-register layout, visually captivating thermally blued hands, and applied hour markings that are a combination of faceted triangles and numerals at 12 and 6. The Heritage game is about re-creating the magic of the past and Certina seems to have nailed it with the new Certina DS Automatic Chronograph by making a watch that sticks to the original recipe and looks virtually identical to its vintage inspiration. And now, the brand has expanded its Heritage catalog with a stunning recreation of an elegant chronograph from the 1940s. During Baselworld 2017, Certina revealed the modern avatar of its popular 1967 dive watch, the DS PH200M. With a rich 130-year history, Certina, like many other popular brands, has gradually started making its presence felt in the rapidly growing vintage re-issue segment.
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