Certina is one of the most underrated brands under the swatch conglomerate. I recently purchased the DS Podium GMT and have found it to be a truly one and done GADA watch. Great review as always!!!
Great review. When this updated version of the 43mm Certina DS Action Diver came out, I bought it in both black and in blue. These two watches are now my daily wearers, but due to the weight, I wear both on colour-matched 21mm FKM rubber straps. The bracelet is indeed fantastic (and I also prefer extension to R Glidelock system) but it just makes the piece too heavy for daily wear. On rubber, it’s perfectly balanced and very wearable. I’ve owned many Subs, Seamasters and Black Bays, but this watch wins hands-down in terms of value for money spent. I imagine the smaller version is also a great watch but is just a tad too small for me. And the titanium 43mm version is always another option, but personally I’m not a fan of titanium. Plenty of options though. A really fantastic and quality dive watch.
Hello, a very detailed and in-depth test that summarizes all the essential facts, bravo. My wife owns the 38mm version in Bi-color, I have the 43mm 2022 version. A wonderful watch that you don't even notice its weight because it just fits perfectly and is precisely adjustable. I can't say much about the movement yet. Unlike other automatic watches, you don't hear anything about moving parts inside.
Certina are a fantastic brand! I have the 38mm diver with green and gold colour scheme and I love it! So comfortable and the finishing is brilliant for the price! Beautiful pieces!
Everything about this brand, watch and design speaks to me. The fact I cannot pull off 43mm really pains me! I know there's a 38mm but it's too small for me... Fantastic review, you're helping all of us watch nerds out here. Keep them coming!
I bought one yesterday and the second one this morning before seeing your review. Now that I have seen your review, I will buy a third one tomorrow. The watch looks good even on the rubber strap .... and it will make an ideal Christmas present for junior members of my extended family. I must confess to being a bit of a snob. I have somewhere around 35 watches. Most are Omega, Breitling, JLC, GP and Rolex ... but the quality of finishes and spec. on this watch, for the money (I get a decent discount) did impress me.
Just bought the green dial and LOVE the watch! It is a large and fairly heavy watch but very comfortable. I have a 7.5 inch wrist… It is the best adjustable bracelet I’ve ever owned!
Great review. Certina are amazing. I don't know why they aren't as popular in the UK. The movement is great with its nivachron balance. Reducing magnetism and temp variables. Not to say priced very well Ordered mine just waiting on delivery. Its the 38mm tho.
Thanks for your review. I believe that the inclusion of "DIVER'S WATCH 300m" shows that the watch is a certified diver's watch according to the appropriate standard. In this case it is a diver's watch according to ISO 6425. There are many diver's (or dive-type) watches that are not certified.
Agreed, as per the SKX007 with "DIVER'S 200m" as its also ISO 6425 certified. Personally I prefer the cleaner look of a dial with minimal text; however I appreciate its a selling point for Certina, hence also engraving "ISO 6425" on the case back. Regards, #WR4K
It's probably better described as just as capable as any submariner. In terms of "better" if your referring to build quality/materials than of course not for the price, albeit only marginally. But I'll just add that I own a 16610 although it's not ceramic dial but I also own the 38 and 43mm certins in black dials and I wear them much more. I actually rather enjoy the anonymity of the brand along with their omega like ceramic look enamel gloss dials.
The thoroughness of your review on this watch is outstanding. I guess the only "negative" on this watch really is when it comes time to service one must return it to Certina. Otherwise, I'm strongly considering this to be my new diver to wear daily, wow!
I bought this Watch after watching your review. It is such an unbelievable value for what you get and I absolutely love it. It is a tad heavy, but I’m a big guy so doesn’t bother me at all. Thanks for the great review, I now own another luxury watch that rivals by Rolex submariner for a fraction of the price and has an anti-reflective crystal!
Great review, helped me a lot! Just wanted to say, I bought a blue version yesterday, have no words for this watch, a masterpiece! Actually, the watch has no competition up to the price of 1500 euros. The finish, the bracelet, generally how the watch looks and feels on the wrist, perfect! I almost gave up on the watch due to the specifications given about the size, actually the watch wears a little smaller. For the comparison, my wrist is 5,6 cm in diameter and fits perfect, although, the volume of my wrist is a little less than 7 inches, so it's definitely best to try the watch.
Every dive watch feels smaller, because bezel is, usually, wide and dial with indicators are smaller compared to normal watch without bezel. Large, arabic numerals also tend to make watch feel bigger.
Saw the blue dial version in the shop today. Was very tempted to buy it, but the two-tone Gold coloured version wasn't in stock, and that's the one I really want. It is a beautiful watch that feels far more expensive than the price. Tag Heuer seems overpriced in comparison.
Such a nice piece! Crown is maybe a bit large, long. It’s really thin for a 300 m Diver, looks almost too thin if that makes sense. One assumes some heft for a 300 m diver… This large clasp is great, but I think they should add 1 hole of microadjust, I’ve seen similar clasp on Citizens who have it. Sure, one can find the fit needed with the ratcheting mechanism but that doesn’t look as pleasing. But, with half links one should get a decent fit either way! Another benefit of the clasp is that it balances the larger head of the piece. In regards to the Index besides the date, I believe with the newest version of the ISO 6425 norm, a piece needs it to get certified. Female endlinks would be rather nice to have, I agree. And how great would this look with a fully lumed bezel, but that might just be me. This uses pushpins, right? I’d think this is basically all the watch one could need… but if we all only had one watch, where would be the fun in that? This fits your wrist quite perfectly I must say, but 2 black divers is maybe a bit redundant. Thanks for the review! Will be interesting how this holds up to the LHC.
Not quite in the same category as far as movements are concerned. Specially when it comes to Omega co-axial movements antimagnetic properties. That said ... Certina is a good brand ... and back in 1960s and 70s, there would be a very little price difference between Omega, Rolex, Certina and Longines. The current prices differ largely due to brand positioning within large luxury groups, like Swatch, Richemont, LVMH and Kering
@@rickj8859 This certina piece does have Nivacron anti magnetic spring, being the powermatic 80.611 movement. It is absolutely up to the Seamaster and Submariner feature wise.
Thanks for the review. I just saw one very cheap but I'm put off by it not being 4hz. It is less than a 1/3 of the new price though.. It's also a bit large. I'll have to do some thinking....
I can't comment on the movement question but with regards to the size, I think that this would depend on both the size of your wrist and the shape of it/your forearm. My wrist is 18cm/7 inches but I have a slim, long forearm and the watch sits very flat on my wrist (I'm 6' 3"/192cm tall). I think that it looks just right for me. If you have a shorter arm/rounder wrist, this may be different for you. Also, if your wrist is smaller than 18cm, then I would say that this really isn't the watch for you, as it is a bit of a (handsome) beast! I hope if it isn't too late that this is of some help.
I only have two pieces now Adam, my Black Bay 58 and SN004-G Milsubmariner. I have been too busy doing reviews to do an updated SOTC review. I am currently uploading my sixth watch review done this week. I will try and do it next week if I have time available. Regards, #WR4K
If anything, I would like a cleaner dial. Get rid of 1888, and instead of the first to lines at six, one with " DS Automatic". ( I am not a fan of the "powermatic 80") I dont mind the "Diver´s watch", becourse only certified watches can have that printet. All in all I like it, and this or the PH500 will find its way to my wrist next week. THX for the great content on your channel. Keep the style....it is gooooood👍
Good day, everyone! You know I’ve got the same type of Certina divers just in blue colour. But my one has one mm playback in any position you turn the bezel and when I make a slight push on it, the bezel also has a small backlash. After I discovered that, I came to the shop, and tried other certinas they all have the same thing. I’d like to know is that ok or not?
Equal quality overall Juan. For reference see my Hydroconquest review below. Regards, #WR4K ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Qmc2-tHRtKc.html
Every 3 - 4 years, that period is to short. Have waterproof checked every 1,5 y at a good dealer and revision when the watch does not run good anymore or all ca. 10 years.
I can tell you that you cannot go wrong if you choose Certina, Hamilton, Tissot, and Mido. These are the "Fab Four" of the Swatch Group. And I think these are the best bargains.
Hello and thanks for the review. I am about to buy my first automatic watch and plan to wear it as an everyday watch for at least the next 5 years 😅 so please help. I can’t decide between this and the smaller version (38mm). What would be better for everyday watch and will the ceramic bezel will be that tougher than the aluminium one on the smaller version? Thank you in advance!
To answer your question I need to know your wrist size. The 38mm version suits a 6-7" wrist better. The 43mm version suits a 7-8" wrist better. Yes, the ceramic bezel is harder than aluminium and more scratch reistant; so for a daily wear piece its best to buy the ceramic version. Regards, #WR4K
Hello go to a shop and try both. In my opinion buy the 43mm. the 38 mm looks better when it is gold and silver tone, as the bracelet in comparison with the watch head looks thiker. Also consider if you want alumium bezel or ceramic, both are OK in my taste. If you have muscle in the forearm the 43 will look good. If your forearm is muscleless, not so much. In case you are wearing a shirt to work, if the sleeve are longer nearly touching your hand, then the 38, if the sleeves are a couple of centimeter shorter the 43 or 38 (depending style). If your shirt is long and too tight in the pulse, the 38. For wearing it with streetwear/urban the 43mm and if you are strong looking.
I have seen videos where the screws are adjusted in the balance wheel, however I don't recommend this as it risks damaging the balance staff if too much pressure is applied to the screws. Adjusting the movement using a laser rather than timegrapher is a better method. Regards, #WR4K
Actually, it is not incredibly accurate, as you would find if you cared to use timegrapher in your review. +/- 15 seconds per day in 5 or 6 positions is the norm .... with the Beat Error up to 3.0 (not 0.3?) milli-seconds. As well, you might also find that Amplitude is extremely low. I bought 3 of those watches for junior members (under 12) of my extended family .... and all 3 performed appallingly (the watches I mean). But the worst is yet to come. Watches are covered by 2 years warranty, so I thought sending them to a local Swatch Service centre for adjustment (service not needed) would do the trick. Not a chance. Watches came back with the comment ... "we have replaced the movement." The new movements come from Certina factory unregulated ..... and the Service staff is not trained to adjust these movements. Contrary to your comments ... these movements can be adjusted by the watchmaker, although it is a fiddly and time-consuming job. One crossbar on the escapement wheel has 2 slots with 2 set screws ... that can be moved closer to pivot. But you need to use a special tool provided for that purpose. If you don't use that tool (screws have to be the same distance from the pivot) .... you will end up with a ridiculous Beat Error. The Certina, as indeed Omega in some cases, don't bother to adjust their watches prior to distribution. I have 3 manual Speedmasters (1863 movement) that went to dealerships, with an accuracy of +10 to --15, and when I querried those figures with a local Omega rep. I was told, "What do you expect, they are not COSC certified."
"Actually, it is not incredibly accurate, as you would find if you cared to use timegrapher in your review." I checked the accuracy of every watch I reviewed using my WeiShi 1000 timegrapher. Regards, #WR4K
@watchreviews4k Great, my watches were new, purchased in London before Christmas and checked in dealership on Elma III and double checked at home on Weishi 1900 ... and 2 out of 3 were downright bad and the 3rd one was utterly ridiculous.
Valuable information. My watch is due to arrive any day now. If there are indeed significant errors in the operation of the mechanism, it will be returned in accordance with the law. I'll let you know when it's all over. Be patient.
@andrzejz.8248 They are beautifully made watches as far as dials, cases and bracelets are concerned .... but whilst the top quality ETA 2824-2 movement is reasonably good and could be set to COSC chronometer accuracy? Certina used the cheapest possible version of ETA 2824 movement ... detuned it (slowed it down), swapped a few metal bits and pieces for plastic, stuck in Nivachron hair spring and changed the way that watch is regulated. Keep the watch and send it back to Switzerland to be set up correctly if you have any problem with your local service centre (which you will, I am certain). Otherwise, Certina is a well known brand and before they were taken over by Swatch, they did make good watches. Swatch has to many brands in their stable and they have chosen some brands to cater for the lower end of the market. Certina became one of those brands. Still .... if correctly set up, at less than $1,000 there are not that many watches, that can compete with Certina. I bought their DS-1 Himalaya limited edition 2 days ago and today, or tomorrow I am going to buy a different limited edition Certina They all have the same crap Powermatic 80 movement inside. When I have a bit of time, I will fly to Zurich or Geneve .... walk into a first independent watchmaker's workshop and ask them to swap the movements for standard 2824-2 movements running at 28800 beats, or for 2892-A2 movement. I don't need 80 hour power reserve on automatic watch, 48 hrs is more than you need. Unless you are traffic policeman, directing traffic in a middle of busy 4 way junction .... you will need to wind your automatic watch by at least 10 crown turns every day, to keep your watch accurate. As the main spring unwinds, your watch slows down anyway ... so the accuracy figure you see in reviews and specs are for fully wound watches in optimal temperatures. That said "the beat error and the low amplitude" on fully wound watch, is a worry.
A wolf in the sheep's clothing. It looks good on outside ..... but inside, it has one of the most idiotic movements you can imagine, virtually impossible to adjust. Certina, in their infinite wisdom, test the watch only in 3 positions. Which means that in all other positions .... you will end up with 3.0 (not 0.3) ms beat error. The UK excuse for Certina service, has no competent staff to adjust the watch to acceptable standard .... and they refuse to adjust watches in any other position than the ones tested in factory. That said .... great first watch for 10 year old kid. Just don't let the kid anywhere near the timegrapher.
