Certina DS Action Chrono

With its 42.5mm case machined out of 316L low-carbon stainless steel and a Rolex-like unidirectional rotating bezel, this new Certina DS Action Chrono quartz diving watch is a nice piece for those not willing to spend tons of money to buy a ‘real’ Submariner.

Well, maybe that is also their main problem.

I mean, some people may feel really embarrassed if someone not particularly familiar with the watchmaking world, but more or less informed that such models exist, asks them “Is this a Rolex Submariner (or an Omega Seamaster, or Breitling, or an IWC Aquatimer, or Some Other Expensive Automatic Diving Watch) on your wrist?” and they blush and start explaining that no, it is just a Certina (or Seiko, or Invicta, or Some Other Cheap Quartz Diver), but it doesn’t really look like a Rolex.

Because, you know, the hands are different, and the rotating bezel is different, and the date window is in the wrong place, etc. And they don’t really pretend to own an expensive watch; they just like the style and don’t give a wooden nickel about those status things.

Well, it does sound very embarrassing to me.

But if you are not that easily embarrassed, this is a perfect diving watch for you. It is powered by a very accurate and reliable Swiss ETA G10.211 quartz chronograph movement (it also powers the popular Tissot PRC 200, Invicta Subaqua Noma III and the Victorynox Swiss Army Base Camp Chrono quartz wrist watches), which is perfectly sealed from the elements by the DS+ double security system and is water resistant up to 200 meters.

And its scratch-resistant sapphire crystal features anti-glare treatment, which is not such a usual thing in the $500-$600 category of watches.

Like a real diver, the DS Action Chrono also offers a very legible dial with high-contrast polished steel hands and hour markers perfectly visible on the black dial.

The only thing that bothers me here is the amount of luminous substance covering the hour and minute hands, as well as applied indexes. The thin strips of lume may be just not bright enough for you to read the watch in murky waters.

Photos: Certina

Certina DS Action Chrono quartz watch specification

Price range: $550
Movement: Swiss ETA G10.211, quartz
Complications: Chronograph, date
Power reserve: N/A
Case material: Stainless steel
Case dimensions: 42.5 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Silver or black
Water resistance: 200 meters
Strap: Black rubber or three-row satin-finished steel bracelet with a steel folding clasp and diving extension
Crystal: Sapphire, AR-coated