What a compelling watch. The titanium looks great too. I wonder if they'll be available in the US. I suppose I could always move. Great video! Thank you for reviewing it. I have been waiting for the updated version.
I've been looking for a while now to upgrade my current 3-hand/date black dial diver. (A San Martin sub homage I bought at the start of my watch collection), and I have been looking at everything from Hamilton, Seiko, Oris, Longines, Tag Heuer, Yema, Doxa, and even Omega and Tudor, and out of all these piles of pretty watches, my torch now points towards Certina. Also, my very first "proper" watch. And what got me into horology was a Certina Bristol 235, which I inherited after my grandfather. So I have always been aware of the brand, and to a certain point, also its history. I think my next watch (depending on what scoop I can do on the second hand marked, will either be a black dial DS Action, or the new 43,5mm Bulova Lunar Pilot. I do like the idea of a precision quartz Chronograph, and the David Scott/Apollo 15 connection almost puts it in a grail category for me, and it is very affordable too, which means I can wear it often. The design of both of these two watches I mentioned I find very interesting and exciting, I could say the same for a Rolex Sub and a Speedmaster, but these more affordable alternatives are something different, yet just as relevant as what they are and offer for the money. And I think, for my collection that holds mainly watches between $500 and $1500, I have managed to hunt down good and interesting watches, many which seems to fly a bit under the radar of many collectors. And, that can, without any shame, be mentioned or placed with much more expensive pieces. Thanks for a nice review and nice pictures.
Went through the same process, looked a lot of brands and in the end everything pointed to Certina DS action 43mm. All colours are spot on, but I chose black. Cheers 🍻
@@VladimirPrsic Me too. I have a Sub homage, but I never wear it out of the house as I now prefer to wear something with its own identity. I have 2 Seiko SKXs - one on bracelet and one with silver bezel on a rubber strap. And I have a Citizen NY-0040 on a rubber strap. Both of those are great but I was looking for something a little more elegant than the low-rent finish of SKX on bracelet. I also have a Seiko 5 GMT batman with bule dial which has a dive aesthetic, but again looking for a nice black 3-hand elegant diver. I am considering Tissot, Mido, Certina, Hamilton as watches in the sub $1000 category. To me the Tissot has some advantages like the exhibition case, but I just don't think Tissot has any real dive history or heritage and it just looks 'desk diver-ish'. The old Hamilton Navy Scuba is a 'desk diver' at only 100m WR and even though I won't dive with it, I kind of want my diver to be a diver. It also has kind of a military look with the 24 hour markers, but I still like it. The Frogman is too big too much of a tool watch. The Mido is really nice looking, but again does it have a dive heritage and it annoys me that it doesn't indicate the depth rating on the dial. I already have a Tag Carrera, so not really wanting the Aquaracer and its more expensive as is the Longines. So the Certina DS to me is the best. It has the true ISO dive rating, its attractive, its Swiss made and has a good diving history. The only thing I don't love is the 'Powermatic 80' on the dial as that movement has a lower frequency (and I don't care about the power reserve) and used everywhere and I don't need to be reminded of that. I also wish it was 41mm or 42mm as the 38mm is too small and the 43mm is just pushing it a little.
Great video, love the design , but the watch is big and heavy and I have a small wrist. 38 mm is too small for me, but hope somehow the new 43mm titanium vintage look with nato strap will take a few mm of the lug to lug / bracelet design. Or I have to wait for 2022 or other brand 😁
Certina made the 43mm years before the 38mm so it’s not a new size. As for the ds concept a big rubber ring hold the movement to avoid any chock and the o ring on the crown to avoid water damage. Lug to lug on bracelet 53-54mm as the center link hang out. Lug to lug wacht only 51mm
Certina should make a GMT-edition, with slightly domed sapphire crystal. Also they should make editions with tungsten bezel. Also some more sunburst dial options..
до 38 мм были 43 мм. только там был алюминиевый безель с неудобным хватом и механизм с другой спиралью. Ну и ширина ремешка была 21 мм. Эти часы должны быть большими! Это - дайвер а не часы для костюма.
Do you have a measurement for the lug-to-lug? I could not find it on the Certina product sheet. I definitely would love it if they came out with the same exact style/feature watch in a 40.5mm size, right in between. Take a cue from Oris, and offer several sizes. I could likely pull off the 43 (depending on the lug-to-lug), but I'm not sure I really want to now a days. A watch like the Seiko SPB143 sits in that sweet spot range for a diver, in my opinion. Overally, the watch seems like a very good value. I just want one more size option.
Actually, it's the opposite. The DS action diver had shrunk. The 43mm version has been around for several years already. The 38mm version just came out last year. The only difference I can see on the new version visually is the coin edge bezel and the ceramic, plus the powermatic 80.
The 38mm with a ceramic bezel insert + this clasp would be a near perfect watch imo. I am debating getting the full green, but it is sad knowing the bigger versions have the upgrades and the 38 doesn't
Yes 43mm is the original size, I had a DS Action Diver with ETA 2824-2 around 8-9 years ago, same size. I sold it last year, never had any issue, these are serious diver watches 🐢👍
And don’t forget it also has a great ratchet style clasp with eight micro adjustments. I am constantly using it depending on how hot it is or if I’m exercising.
As I’m seriously considering buying this watch - but would it make sense to hold out for the titanium version, I’m wondering - does titanium look just as good as steel? Or better? Or worse? What are the general considerations reg titanium?
Hi Anders Here's my feedback regarding the titanium version of DS Action Diver Automatic. The titanium finish is a class of its own! Less weight, nearly scratch free surfaces even after extensive use and this elegant greyish look made it the first choice for me. This watch represents in my opinion the very best value possible in this category.
@@gyorgyrabenschwartz9610 yeah it's real nice. The only issue I have with the titanium one is the bezel feels even worse than the steel model. That's the only negative to these watches. So if that's not an issue then they're the best value divers rn.
I have this watch, there's NO watch in the market for this price that can offer you this quality, visual presence and ISO certified by this money, of course, swiss made.
No, they service them like any other movement. Some youtube channels are spouting nonsense about the powermatic movement. It can be easily serviced by any watchmaker.
The watch looks good and ceramic is just in time for a modern diver. But for my taste, the watch is to big and heavy. 41mm and a thinner bracelet and it would be perfect. The new green is cool…, so please Certina we need a between size.
The thing is the 38 wears like a 39/40 and the 43 wears like many 42mm watches. It's very similar to the smp300 in fact. So idk if it would be necessary but I'd like to see the upgraded clasp on the smaller models.
So long as the reflective coating is only on the inside of the crystal that's a good thing! Outside coating scratches and looks like shite when it does.