The Certina DS Action Diver takes a trip to the darkside
Fergus Nash- The Certina DS Action Diver is now available in a stealthy black finish.
- The 43mm case is tamed by the black PVD and a 13.1mm thickness.
- It’s powered by the Powermatic 80, with an 80-hour power reserve.
The growth of Certina’s catalogue in the last couple of years has been especially fun to watch as they embrace some of their more experimental ideas. From drool-worthy vintage reissues to a modular and customisable watch system, the Swiss brand have been challenging our expectations in a great and affordable way. In a slight change of pace, their latest release embraces the look and tactical nous of a modern diver with stealthy aspirations. With a murdered-out case and bezel, the new Certina DS Action Diver in black is a tough contender.
The case of the Certina DS Action Diver epitomises the strength of modern wrist presence, however it’s surprisingly slender at 13.1mm. Its 43mm diameter and 51mm lug-to-lug length would make you think it could only suit large wrists, but the black-coated case does have the power to shrink the visual bulk. The coating is a matte PVD, which matches the matte black ceramic insert within the coin-edge bezel. There’s still a bright white lume pip at 12 for orientation and use when diving, otherwise everything including the NATO is made from #tide recycled plastic is blacked out. Should you want to play around with straps, the 21mm lug width may make it a little bit trickier than an even number, but still possible. Further backing up the professional diver credentials is the 300m water resistance.
The Certina DS Action Diver’s dial is oriented mostly around pure legibility, with crisp white markers absolutely filled to the edges with luminous paint. The triangles at the quarters and the arrowhead hour hand do help to lend an extra sense of aggression to the dial too, going along with the pseudo-military tactics theme. The Certina logo proudly bares its 1888 birth year, and the date window has been cut out at 3 o’clock to balance out the 9 o’clock marker. As a subsidiary of the Swatch Group, the Certina DS Action Diver has been given the much-praised Powermatic 80 movement which has seen mass use over the last few years. Its reliability and 80-hour power reserve have made it a crowd favourite, although its 3Hz beat rate is not as smooth as some would like. The screw-down caseback has a cute depiction of a turtle, however it will be covered up when using the stock NATO strap.
The Certina DS Action Diver in black pricing and availability:
The Certina DS Action Diver in black is now available from all Certina authorised retailers. Price: CHF895
| Brand | Cerina |
| Model | DS Action Diver |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm x 13.1mm x 51mm |
| Case Material | PVD-coated stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 300m |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Black |
| Lug Width | 21mm |
| Strap | NATO strap made from #tide recycled ocean plastic |
| Movement | Powermatic 80 |
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | CHF895 |