Today we Review a real looker: the Certina DS action diver in Titanium. But just how do you tell a watch is well made? Continue the discussion on WatchCrunch.com
To me the male endlinks are great and actually help these kind of watches. I like small watches but without the male endlinks they feel too small for my wrist and taste. I own this watch, but the green stainless steel version, and I love it on the bracelet. I've tried it on straps and no chance, it looks way too small. The same happens with my Citizen NB1050. I have owned a Khaki Field Auto on a bracelet with female endlinks and ended up selling - not only because of the bracelet, but it also helped. I also feel that male endlinks just create a better look for watches, making all the middle links at about the same size. I guess they can't make us all happy.
One thing is clear, this is a REAL tool watch, unlike the more expensive peacock watches out there. Certina, takes advice from professional divers not from desk jockeys, so this is built for purpose, not decorating a wrist.
I recently bought Certina DS-2, loving it. Mine runs + 3 s/d, 200m, increased magnetism resistance, increased shock absorption, good package for 1k. I appreciate the brand a lot. They seem to be making good durable watches for good price. I heard that their vintage watches usually are in great shape. Too bad they are almost not talked about on youtube.
Your channel is outstanding. I really enjoy it and the quality of your presenting and the finsihed product of the content is slick and professional. Well done... I am on a journey from having been only able to enjoy mid tier 'luxury' such as Tudor BB, Omega Speedmaster etc. I am now diversifying into "value" as you said with these other brands that deserve our attention. I am amazed by how modern social media culture and marketing shape our perspectives and I am working to break away and find more meaning in watches. Great work.
That’s why I love my Zelos Aurora Titatinum Field watch. With the Sellita Moonphase movement and aventurine dial, it’s such a deal for the $699 USD price I paid.
Oh yes, the watch testing. I always need to see a watch up close and personal. I just did this with all AP Royal Oak homages of note and it was very interesting.
This Certina has pretty much the same case and bracelet as my Grayton that I am wearing in the #1wc on Watch Crunch. Mine is made of stainless steel and has the Seiko NH35 automatic movement though. Still a solid feeling watch. Awesome video Max!
After watching this video I brought out my JeanRichard titanium Diverscope with vanilla scented rubber strap and have worn it this weekend. Great watch!
Great video. I felt the same on my watch journey. Went in to purchase my first luxury piece a Tag Heur, and I picked up the Tudor just to feel the difference in quality. I walked out with the black bay and a few grand lighter. But I think the quality will out last me!
Totally agree on your comment about sizing.... i bought the 2 tone green at a good price on the back of owning an Explorer and i really like the smaller footprint compared to the 40mm divers i own. It's basic in terms of case but is a great beater with a good movement for not a huge amount more than the price of a Seiko. I don't like the bracelet, nor the lug to lug on the bracelet but will wear it on natos etc. But for the money if you can get it on a deal it's a great little watch....
Love your vids, would love if you could review the new king seikos in the 39mm. Especially that linen dial seems stunning. I know it's only a 6r movment which ok not great, but the finishing and dial work is incredible abd genuinly feels a step above other competition. Drop in a 6L and this watch would easily start at over 3K or 4k $.
Saturday morning with a cup of coffee and Max to educate me on the finer points of watches! Great video on how to be a bit more discerning on buying a watch.
I’m not actually a fan of titanium, and I will not own one that doesn’t have a scratch resistant coating of some type on it(as I find it scratches extremely easily). I’ve owned no less than 6 over the years and the only one still in my collection is Citizen pro diver that has a scratch resistant coating and it is held up well. I also find that they often times feel too light on the wrist for my taste, and even a little cheap. Thanks for the great review as always.
You are so right....as usual. I recently purchased the Certina DS action diver in stainless steel. I too have a 165 cm wrist and at 38mm the watch is ALMOST perfect. The stamped clasp cheapens the experience....the dive extension, even cheaper. Two micro-adjust points??? Who thought of that?? How much money do u really save by not creating another hole? Yeah, I get it, re-tooling blah, blah, blah. But somebody had to come up the the tool/die for a two position clasp in the first place. What was that person thinking? The male end links are another puzzlement on a smaller watch. But the "feel" of the watch is what gives it away as a "budget diver". If you just roll it around in your hand you realize that there are all kinds of rough/sharp transition points on the bracelet and the case. These matters raise a few questions; In a giant organization with economies of scale how much would it actually cost per unit to include a milled clasp, a smoother bezel or slightly more refined finishing? If you asked your consumers to pay an extra $ 50 or so for a more perfect product, do u think they would actually say no? Or are they just confident that nobody but a few watch nerds will notice the difference? Your description of the evaluation of a patient with liver failure is pretty good too........except if you are an ED doc in which you case you just get a CT scan and call someone else.
You're always putting out great content, Max. Thank you. Personally, I don't care too much about clasps. I wear Breitlings and Longines with very basic ones and don't mind. Those endlinks, on the other hand, are a terrible idea on any watch. There are many much more expensive brands very guilty of this.
The one gripe i have with Certina is the friggin' L2L being to long, and big case diameters. FINALLY they release a 38mm with short L2L, but somehow they manage to mess it up even then, with the bracelet making the effective L2L 51 MM!! incredible Certina!! just incredible
I agree, you gotta get your hands on the watch to see if it’s for you. Never thought I’d like the BB58…didn’t like the hype. Then actually held one and immediately wanted it and got one. Can’t base all opinions based on pictures or videos 👍🏻
I have the earlier 2015ish version of this watch and I'm really happy compared to the new one. It doesn't have that blue gloom constant, the second hand is red and gives off just a little speck of color. Overall, I'm really happy with the watch and wear it very often. Titanium has one big advantage that you didn't talk about: It doesn't feel as cold as steel due to the lower heat conductivity. And for a full titanium divers watch, the price is really competitive IMO, especially combined with the Powermatic 80 movement.
Great video. Weight isn't necessarily reflective of high(er) quality.. It just has to feel solid with well-calculated tolerances and certain level of finishing refinements. On an interactive tactile level, it's about the 2-4 most interactive components, where applicable. 1) Rotating bezel. I would say there are no one specific feeling bezel action. Sometimes I like a smooth, easy gliding, soft, but, crisp gliding action. Sometimes I like a more deliberate clickier action that just notches right into place with little to no play. And, the audible quality of the bezel action should match accordingly. It's very hard to define and totally subjective. But, one will know and feel what is a quality bezel action to them. 2) Crown action. Smooth screw and unscrew action. Solid when pulled out with no wobble is in my opinion preferable. Smooth wind and hand setting to the touch. A lot of a watch's perceived high(er) quality comes through the crown engagement. 3) Bracelet clasp. Ok, let's be honest, a watch's case can contain very high quality components and design and feel. But, maybe too often the Bracelet that a brand chooses to mate with it seems like the appl fell out of another tree. Even the bracelet itself can be a worthy match to the watch head. But, the very last part of it which is the clasp can often be a serious "meh" point. Cases in point, my Sinn U50 is great all around on bracelet. But, the competent clasp is lack luster and maybe dated compared to the rest of it. Why do some Grand Seiko's on bracelet lack microadjustments in a basic clasp system? 4) Chronograph pushers. I think this is most simple to identify with a mechanical chronograph movement. Just have nice crisp pusher buttons action with equal crisp chronograph activation on the press. Nothing mushy or delayed.
Hi Max, Didn't know you were a physician. How in the world do you find time to perform watch reviews on youtube? Will say, your intellect shows and explains a lot. I always found you to be unusually articulate for a watch reviewer and with unique perspective. Yes, many analogies in nature to design as you note and where designers get many of their cues from and of course these attributes resonate with our evolution. Call it a synthesis or harmony of what we like...from airplanes to birds to the shape of a woman found in automobiles. As to this watch, credit Certina. Size, Ti and related coloration, classic dive watch aesthetic...only downside, lug attachment to bracelet you noted. Nice offering at what appears to be a fair value aka cost/benefit. I am a big fan of Titanium for dive watches because amount of metal to protect the movement at depth, comes with a heavy weight premium forgive the pun. Cheers.
I get the ‘light is cheap and nasty’ feeling when I’ve handled titanium watches. But once I get over that they are some of the most comfortable light watches with a lovely blue/grey hue to the metal that stays scratch free for far longer. This is a brilliant watch for the price. But I’m gonna keep saving for a titanium Grand Seiko evo 9
Thanks for your honest thoughts and also to make clear the differences within the so called "Powermatics" (Tissots and Certinas branding of the C07. movement line). And yes their are differences at luxury brands and entry level. So we should give up the expectation to get a first class processed watch for entry level price. But even Certina did cut some corners and the fitting might be not perfect, I do ask for myself if it's worth to pay for times the price for a Tudor which is actually by my opinion not 4 times better than the Certina and still without a ceramic bezel. I think Certina created a great watch with a great look for a reasonable price. I would anytime recommend to at least try it on if someone is looking for a diver in such a design. Another topic: But if we stay within the Swatch Group one of my favorite hidden gems is Rado. Although their movements are also mostly C07.611 (great reliable and accurate workehorse but nothing to write home about) but everything else is one a very exquisit level. With their Captain Cook line and the (less attention given) True Square line they really get into a sphere where you came near to become the best of all both worlds. First class materials, own designs but reasonable prices (compare to others) and affordable and easy service (thanks to the C07 movements). I resently bought the True Square in Plasma High Tech Ceramic and just the look and feel of the material just blowed my mind.
If you treat it like a low end luxury watch then it will fall short. This is a tool watch and its packing lots of value for 1000. Mine runs at -1 sec/ day. I love my certina.
Thanks, the tactile experience is a useful aspect to stay aware of - especially since we likely feel our watch more than actually staring at it. And that's a great point for the material being a very personal decision; if Titanium feels cheap to you, why pay the premium?
For me this watch has born to be used with a nato strap. If you change with a version with nato strap you don’t have a cheap bracelet and the wearability became great.
Thanks for the info on the Powermatic 80. As soon as you mentioned it, I was wondering if it was the “good one” or not. Then you confirmed that it was not the same one as the PRX, a few seconds later.
Thanks for explaining the differences in Powermatic 80s. When I heard the movement had plastic parts, it turned me off. Glad Certina is using the better version. They really know what they're doing.
I just bought the black s/s version of this watch. I tried the titanium one and loved the lower weight, the warm smooth feel and finish of the metal, the size and the overall comfort. It was only the strange blue colour of the lume which stopped me. Come on, Certina, the black one in titanium would be a killer watch!
I totally concur with the male end links, being the deal breaker. Another example of an excellent watch being let down by the extended male end links - the Longines Spirit Automatic in bracelet. All the proportions are perfect, excellent finishing, until you notice the male end links 😫
Maybe I'm being harsh but seems like design and commercial idiocy to make male end links. Not sure what function it serves vs female end links but surely it makes mlre sense to allow for a greater range of wrist sizes to be able to wear (and hence BUY) the watch, especially of you are a listed profit focused company like Swatch.
Thanks for reviewing this watch Max I've been eyeing it for a while and now personally don't think it's worth that premium. I love Titanium, own several and my daily beater is an awesome $250 Paulson Pearl Diver.
Something being heavier in the watch world as a preferred product or associated with modern quality is such a quirky anomaly (and I guess associated with $$$ or sportiness) when seemingly every other product out there is trying to be thinner and lighter.
Don’t you think it has to do with the transition of watches from pressed clasps and hollow links to milled clasps and solid links? Also, think about pressed on case backs compared with screwed on…
That's why as I search for 7 months to find a budget friendly watch with high quality for the price, I landed on Aragon. $189 Sapphire crystal Ceramic bezel insert with full lume 3D Lume applied indexes NH35 Custom blue rotor 316L SS Solid female end links Milled two button deployment clasp with security retainer And they are a 30 year old American watch brand. For a small company in Miami that's heritage 🤣
If the watch (head) is great but the bracelet not so, then an obvious solution is to put the watch on a nice aftermarket leather or rubber strap. I do that with steel divers to manage the weight of the watch (not an issue with titanium), and I must say they often look great
Standards change, but good taste remains. I do exactly the same. Unfortunately, only Rolex 36mm on a steel bracelet gives me comfort. Maybe I can wear a titanium Certina on a bracelet too. The rest I put on leather or rubber straps, sometimes nato.
All brushed finish is what does it for me besides titanium and turquoise markers. If I had the money I would've gone for the BB 58 925 which is also all brushed. But for the time being I chose this watch and I have no regrets.
Got this watch around a month ago and have been enjoying it a lot. The bracelet is definitely the weakest point like you said. It's pretty rattly and the male end links and lack of micro adjustment are a bit of a bummer. Certina also has a quick adjust bracelet on the larger models but didn't include it in the 38mm version for some weird reason. The polished caseback is also a massive scratch magnet -- kind of wish they did a brushed finish on it like the rest of the watch but I guess it's not visible so it's not a big deal. That being said the watch looks great and just disappears on the wrist due to how light it is. Mine's been running between -0.5s - +0.5s / day. Looking forward to order the OEM nato also since it felt like a good quality strap when I saw it at the watch store. The watch doesn't smell like much either so we good! :D
I think for me its between the Certina DS diver and Longines Conquest that offer crazy value for the money, Sure the automatic Conquest is upwards of a $1000 but they do a quartz that is $200 cheaper and have one of the best bracelets and finishing at that entry luxury level with 300M W/R. Both are doing awesome imo
I bought a second hand Longines conquest automatic a couple of years ago for 600€, the guy bought it 2-3 month earlier, and he asked me if I wanted to buy his certina DS too that was also 2 month old. Not sure what he was asking for it but I passed.
I bought the Mido ocean star 200c over the longines or the cortina and I have to say the dial on those watches is amazing and more enticing imo than the more basic certina and longines dial. Bracelet is also very well made and case finishing is pretty decent.
Another great video, Max. Hearing about this Certina and its movement, I wonder how you’d compare it with an SPB level Seiko diver overall, such as the SPB143. Price point is similar and perhaps a tradeoff between a movement with less positional variance and a (to me at least) much more appealing design aesthetic.
I have the last generation 43mm Certina diver and the SPB143. My SPB143 has the classic issues with the movement in that its not very consistent (anywhere from -1 to +15). The Certina runs between -2 and 0 on the dot everyday when worn. But... it's had its issues. I had to take it in for a warranty repair after 4 months because of a common Powermatic 80 fault where the rotor spins when hand winding. Then the bezel locked up a month ago and now does so every now and then. I love both though for the contrasting design aesthetics (modern diver vs vintage reinterpretation) and are the two watches I wear the most. Overall build quality is very comparable.
Man getting into watch collecting really has made me realize how broke I am. I see a cool watch review, look up the watch to buy it, and then I see it’s way out of my price range. Great review though man.
Note that Grade 2 titanium has (slightly) better corrosion resistance vs grade 5, but both materials are superior to stainless steel when it comes to general corrosion resistance. The grade 5 version of Ti is stronger and has better fracture toughness. Grade 2 Ti is commonly found in piping applications where strength is perhaps not a key design driver, but corrosion resistance is paramount. I believe Grade 2 Ti is a bit easier to machine vs Grade 5, and this may be one reason it is utilized to make watch cases.
and grade 2 is plenty strong enough for a watch….People don’t worry about Rolex using 904L, which is higher corrosion resistance than 316, but isn’t as strong as 316…
The full titanium I got a few years ago is the Steinhart ocean 1 GMT titanium. 500M wr, swiss made, ETA 2893, incredible blue lume, double sapphire, batman ceramic bezel, a very distinct dial and hands.. for 720€ new.. and they don t make it anymore
Very good review. I am currently thinking of the DS Action myself, but just a black and steel one. The thing is, a 38 is just a tad small for my 7 1/4 inch wrist. Don't get me wrong, I don't exactly drive a BMW, and I have lots of smaller watches, even down to 34mm. Which will make another small watch a bit redundant. I want something big and hefty, which leaves me with the 43mm DS Action. I need to try it out before I potentially buy one.
I just got the blue 38mm ; with 17cm wrist it doesn't wear small to me (IMHO). I did buy blind & haven't put the bracelet on it - finding 19mm straps is not as easy as i thought(!). Crown & Buckle and Strap Habit in the U.S. look good for higher quality. In Europe-Espirit or I use the many U.K. ones ( more basic than U.S.). P.S. obvious (?) but some U.K. sites have sales on this model ( & the titanium one- just checked ).
@@jaysterling26 Wow, thanks for lots of good inputs. As I said, I have a 38mm diver and I agree that it is absolutely a nice size for my wrist. But, as I said, I want something big and hefty in the tool/dive category. What I might do, is get the 38mm Certina, and just start save up to a Seamaster. The thing is, I really like the DS Action series. And I am not buying it as an alternative to something more expensive (although, the price is definitely attractive considering the specs and look), but I genuinely like the design, and Certina is a brand I like a lot.
I did think about this option but got the DS38 in stainlees steel . Apart from the appoeal looks , brand & movement of this model , instead I'm looking to add the RZE Endeavour ( when they offer the teal in with 1st gen. dial texture- oneis so fussy) to my titanium section.
Love your reviews…I’ve seen many but never subscribed until today. I thought about buying Certina on a couple occasions but can never pull the trigger on this brand. Decent watches but they don’t speak to me I suppose.
Man now I wonder how the watch would look on my wrist. I have a 6.5in circumference but my wrist measures out at 51mm across. It being that long with the endlinks makes it seem like it’ll be just too big
I almost bought a brand new Certina titanium from an official seller, but it was full of scratches. It had no scratch-resistant surface, and it got scratched only from showing around to customers.
The touchpoints of the older Explorer 14270 feel so cheap. But I absolutely love it. Such is the irrationality of this hobby. We can be so hard on a good Certina, and fawn over the crown. I guess I fail the Buffet test!
#perfect review ❤ try a Citizen Series 8 next... it's #crazy finished and thought, a Grand #Seiko competition 😳 but... unpopular (probably because of the size 😂 40mm feels like 43mm) Subscribed 🎉
I purchased this watch from a Swiss retailer almost immediately after it released, and while I like it, I found many of the same issues with the quality of its construction. The clasp, in particular, feels cheap and loose, and is the biggest reason that I don’t grab it as often as I otherwise might. This watch was my personal lesson on not buying the cheaper version of the watch that you really want. I’m still (now more patiently) waiting for that Pelagos 39 in blue.
Of course, you cannot compare a 4000€ watch with a 1000€ one... you will not have the same finishings, but this doesn't mean Certina is a bad watch. This watch is not an alternative for a Tudor, this watch is just an option for who wants the best quality for the money.
Understated. It’s good it doesn’t have polished chamfers as it’s a “tool watch”. I’ve no doubt early Rolex had this basic aesthetic, before they became gaudy fashion Jewellery!
I’m on the lookout for a titanium watch. I like the style of the Certina but especially with 19mm lug width the bracelet has to be spot on. A good bracelet to me must have half links, toolless microadjust and a clasp that doesn’t shave my arm hairs. I’d really love to find a high quality titanium bracelet
I have 3 titanium watches - Citizen ' Ray Mears', Oceanus & a Lorus ( so cheap). All have issues with their bracelets , er the Lorys is on a strap, which seems ' honest' compared to the others' issues. I would now except to pay more than a £€$1000 for a nin- issue bracelet on a titanium watch. I hope you find & challenge my expectations.
The 43mm version does have all of the above, it has 6 half links, a quick adjustment with like (6?) "Teeth" and a nice clasp. I have the green stainless one that runs -0.5 sec/day Only really bad thing i found is the size really, 43mm 51 Lug to lug and about 54mm with male endlinks
great stuff, WatchCrunch. for many watches, i'm thinking how do i replace the bracelet, so oft times, problems with the bracelet are a secondary issue.
Continue the chat at WatchCrunch: www.watchcrunch.com/Max/posts/how-to-tell-a-watch-is-high-quality-36933
This watch is so underrated -
Certina watches are price / value monsters
Love your approach. Thoughtful, concise and informative. Keep it going!
To me the male endlinks are great and actually help these kind of watches. I like small watches but without the male endlinks they feel too small for my wrist and taste. I own this watch, but the green stainless steel version, and I love it on the bracelet. I've tried it on straps and no chance, it looks way too small. The same happens with my Citizen NB1050. I have owned a Khaki Field Auto on a bracelet with female endlinks and ended up selling - not only because of the bracelet, but it also helped. I also feel that male endlinks just create a better look for watches, making all the middle links at about the same size. I guess they can't make us all happy.
One thing is clear, this is a REAL tool watch, unlike the more expensive peacock watches out there. Certina, takes advice from professional divers not from desk jockeys, so this is built for purpose, not decorating a wrist.
Wait really? I’d love to see the source for divers advising on development for this watch.
Haha, right,..
I recently bought Certina DS-2, loving it. Mine runs + 3 s/d, 200m, increased magnetism resistance, increased shock absorption, good package for 1k. I appreciate the brand a lot. They seem to be making good durable watches for good price. I heard that their vintage watches usually are in great shape. Too bad they are almost not talked about on youtube.
Because they are very good at this price. Certina is highly popular in the EU.
Great video! Thank you for being so honest and informative. I’m your newest subscriber
Just wanna say that I appreciate the (among other things of course) look of your shots/overall videos. Looks beautiful.
Cheers 🍻
Your channel is outstanding. I really enjoy it and the quality of your presenting and the finsihed product of the content is slick and professional. Well done... I am on a journey from having been only able to enjoy mid tier 'luxury' such as Tudor BB, Omega Speedmaster etc. I am now diversifying into "value" as you said with these other brands that deserve our attention. I am amazed by how modern social media culture and marketing shape our perspectives and I am working to break away and find more meaning in watches. Great work.
That’s why I love my Zelos Aurora Titatinum Field watch. With the Sellita Moonphase movement and aventurine dial, it’s such a deal for the $699 USD price I paid.
I have the non moonphase aventurine aurora and it's such good value
Great video. Thanks. Just subscribed. Look forward to learning more.
Oh yes, the watch testing. I always need to see a watch up close and personal. I just did this with all AP Royal Oak homages of note and it was very interesting.
This Certina has pretty much the same case and bracelet as my Grayton that I am wearing in the #1wc on Watch Crunch. Mine is made of stainless steel and has the Seiko NH35 automatic movement though. Still a solid feeling watch. Awesome video Max!
After watching this video I brought out my JeanRichard titanium Diverscope with vanilla scented rubber strap and have worn it this weekend. Great watch!
That is a beautiful Certina! I like the color way of the dial with the bezel. I love the lume.
Great video. I felt the same on my watch journey. Went in to purchase my first luxury piece a Tag Heur, and I picked up the Tudor just to feel the difference in quality. I walked out with the black bay and a few grand lighter. But I think the quality will out last me!
Totally agree on your comment about sizing.... i bought the 2 tone green at a good price on the back of owning an Explorer and i really like the smaller footprint compared to the 40mm divers i own. It's basic in terms of case but is a great beater with a good movement for not a huge amount more than the price of a Seiko. I don't like the bracelet, nor the lug to lug on the bracelet but will wear it on natos etc. But for the money if you can get it on a deal it's a great little watch....
Love your vids, would love if you could review the new king seikos in the 39mm. Especially that linen dial seems stunning. I know it's only a 6r movment which ok not great, but the finishing and dial work is incredible abd genuinly feels a step above other competition. Drop in a 6L and this watch would easily start at over 3K or 4k $.
Saturday morning with a cup of coffee and Max to educate me on the finer points of watches! Great video on how to be a bit more discerning on buying a watch.
Cheers my friend ☕
I’m not actually a fan of titanium, and I will not own one that doesn’t have a scratch resistant coating of some type on it(as I find it scratches extremely easily). I’ve owned no less than 6 over the years and the only one still in my collection is Citizen pro diver that has a scratch resistant coating and it is held up well. I also find that they often times feel too light on the wrist for my taste, and even a little cheap. Thanks for the great review as always.
You are so right....as usual. I recently purchased the Certina DS action diver in stainless steel. I too have a 165 cm wrist and at 38mm the watch is ALMOST perfect. The stamped clasp cheapens the experience....the dive extension, even cheaper. Two micro-adjust points??? Who thought of that?? How much money do u really save by not creating another hole? Yeah, I get it, re-tooling blah, blah, blah. But somebody had to come up the the tool/die for a two position clasp in the first place. What was that person thinking?
The male end links are another puzzlement on a smaller watch.
But the "feel" of the watch is what gives it away as a "budget diver". If you just roll it around in your hand you realize that there are all kinds of rough/sharp transition points on the bracelet and the case.
These matters raise a few questions; In a giant organization with economies of scale how much would it actually cost per unit to include a milled clasp, a smoother bezel or slightly more refined finishing? If you asked your consumers to pay an extra $ 50 or so for a more perfect product, do u think they would actually say no? Or are they just confident that nobody but a few watch nerds will notice the difference?
Your description of the evaluation of a patient with liver failure is pretty good too........except if you are an ED doc in which you case you just get a CT scan and call someone else.
Yeah honestly Certina can learn a thing or 2 from microbrands!
You're always putting out great content, Max. Thank you.
Personally, I don't care too much about clasps. I wear Breitlings and Longines with very basic ones and don't mind. Those endlinks, on the other hand, are a terrible idea on any watch. There are many much more expensive brands very guilty of this.
Agree on clasps. I just want a good fit and comfort.
The one gripe i have with Certina is the friggin' L2L being to long, and big case diameters. FINALLY they release a 38mm with short L2L, but somehow they manage to mess it up even then, with the bracelet making the effective L2L 51 MM!! incredible Certina!! just incredible
Got this a month ago....it's just perfect and actually the lume is more like the Oris cotton candy....and I love it!
😊👍
You’re on point about tactility of watches. This one looks pretty decent - I’m tempted!
I agree, you gotta get your hands on the watch to see if it’s for you. Never thought I’d like the BB58…didn’t like the hype. Then actually held one and immediately wanted it and got one. Can’t base all opinions based on pictures or videos 👍🏻
I have the earlier 2015ish version of this watch and I'm really happy compared to the new one. It doesn't have that blue gloom constant, the second hand is red and gives off just a little speck of color.
Overall, I'm really happy with the watch and wear it very often. Titanium has one big advantage that you didn't talk about: It doesn't feel as cold as steel due to the lower heat conductivity. And for a full titanium divers watch, the price is really competitive IMO, especially combined with the Powermatic 80 movement.
Great video as always! I think Swatch should steal the look of this watch and leverage on a higher end build.
Grate video and very helpful. Thank you very much.
Wearing my full size while watching your great review. Mine is 10 years old, still looking like new
Thanks for the differentiation on the powermatic movements! I was waiting to hear about that. #RightOnTime
You got it!
Great video. Weight isn't necessarily reflective of high(er) quality.. It just has to feel solid with well-calculated tolerances and certain level of finishing refinements.
On an interactive tactile level, it's about the 2-4 most interactive components, where applicable.
1) Rotating bezel. I would say there are no one specific feeling bezel action. Sometimes I like a smooth, easy gliding, soft, but, crisp gliding action. Sometimes I like a more deliberate clickier action that just notches right into place with little to no play. And, the audible quality of the bezel action should match accordingly. It's very hard to define and totally subjective. But, one will know and feel what is a quality bezel action to them.
2) Crown action. Smooth screw and unscrew action. Solid when pulled out with no wobble is in my opinion preferable. Smooth wind and hand setting to the touch. A lot of a watch's perceived high(er) quality comes through the crown engagement.
3) Bracelet clasp. Ok, let's be honest, a watch's case can contain very high quality components and design and feel. But, maybe too often the Bracelet that a brand chooses to mate with it seems like the appl fell out of another tree. Even the bracelet itself can be a worthy match to the watch head. But, the very last part of it which is the clasp can often be a serious "meh" point. Cases in point, my Sinn U50 is great all around on bracelet. But, the competent clasp is lack luster and maybe dated compared to the rest of it. Why do some Grand Seiko's on bracelet lack microadjustments in a basic clasp system?
4) Chronograph pushers. I think this is most simple to identify with a mechanical chronograph movement. Just have nice crisp pusher buttons action with equal crisp chronograph activation on the press. Nothing mushy or delayed.
Great points , 👍
Hi Max,
Didn't know you were a physician. How in the world do you find time to perform watch reviews on youtube?
Will say, your intellect shows and explains a lot. I always found you to be unusually articulate for a watch reviewer and with unique perspective.
Yes, many analogies in nature to design as you note and where designers get many of their cues from and of course these attributes resonate with our evolution. Call it a synthesis or harmony of what we like...from airplanes to birds to the shape of a woman found in automobiles.
As to this watch, credit Certina. Size, Ti and related coloration, classic dive watch aesthetic...only downside, lug attachment to bracelet you noted.
Nice offering at what appears to be a fair value aka cost/benefit.
I am a big fan of Titanium for dive watches because amount of metal to protect the movement at depth, comes with a heavy weight premium forgive the pun.
Cheers.
Great video. Thank you.
I get the ‘light is cheap and nasty’ feeling when I’ve handled titanium watches.
But once I get over that they are some of the most comfortable light watches with a lovely blue/grey hue to the metal that stays scratch free for far longer.
This is a brilliant watch for the price.
But I’m gonna keep saving for a titanium Grand Seiko evo 9
Thanks for your honest thoughts and also to make clear the differences within the so called "Powermatics" (Tissots and Certinas branding of the C07. movement line). And yes their are differences at luxury brands and entry level. So we should give up the expectation to get a first class processed watch for entry level price.
But even Certina did cut some corners and the fitting might be not perfect, I do ask for myself if it's worth to pay for times the price for a Tudor which is actually by my opinion not 4 times better than the Certina and still without a ceramic bezel.
I think Certina created a great watch with a great look for a reasonable price. I would anytime recommend to at least try it on if someone is looking for a diver in such a design.
Another topic:
But if we stay within the Swatch Group one of my favorite hidden gems is Rado. Although their movements are also mostly C07.611 (great reliable and accurate workehorse but nothing to write home about) but everything else is one a very exquisit level.
With their Captain Cook line and the (less attention given) True Square line they really get into a sphere where you came near to become the best of all both worlds. First class materials, own designs but reasonable prices (compare to others) and affordable and easy service (thanks to the C07 movements).
I resently bought the True Square in Plasma High Tech Ceramic and just the look and feel of the material just blowed my mind.
Excellent video, thank you!
You're welcome 😊
If you treat it like a low end luxury watch then it will fall short. This is a tool watch and its packing lots of value for 1000. Mine runs at -1 sec/ day. I love my certina.
Bravo as usual max!!!
Thanks, the tactile experience is a useful aspect to stay aware of - especially since we likely feel our watch more than actually staring at it. And that's a great point for the material being a very personal decision; if Titanium feels cheap to you, why pay the premium?
Yes exactly 💯
I have a white faced Certina DS on a canvas nato strap for my sports needs. Very useful
For me this watch has born to be used with a nato strap. If you change with a version with nato strap you don’t have a cheap bracelet and the wearability became great.
Thanks for the info on the Powermatic 80. As soon as you mentioned it, I was wondering if it was the “good one” or not. Then you confirmed that it was not the same one as the PRX, a few seconds later.
Exactly 💯
Thanks for explaining the differences in Powermatic 80s. When I heard the movement had plastic parts, it turned me off. Glad Certina is using the better version. They really know what they're doing.
"self inflicted wound", on a watch feel...good one. Nice review.
I just bought the black s/s version of this watch. I tried the titanium one and loved the lower weight, the warm smooth feel and finish of the metal, the size and the overall comfort. It was only the strange blue colour of the lume which stopped me. Come on, Certina, the black one in titanium would be a killer watch!
Nice to hear a review of Certina watch. I like the brand.
I totally concur with the male end links, being the deal breaker. Another example of an excellent watch being let down by the extended male end links - the Longines Spirit Automatic in bracelet. All the proportions are perfect, excellent finishing, until you notice the male end links 😫
Why do they do this to us 😠
And the 19mm lug width
Maybe I'm being harsh but seems like design and commercial idiocy to make male end links. Not sure what function it serves vs female end links but surely it makes mlre sense to allow for a greater range of wrist sizes to be able to wear (and hence BUY) the watch, especially of you are a listed profit focused company like Swatch.
They don’t bother me on my Grand Seiko SBGN003 but, they certainly bother me on my Damasko DS30
I tried on the Longines Spirit timer and found the whole bracelet to be a bit flimsy!! I was really disappointed with it. Is it just me?
Great video, just ordered this very underrated brand
Thanks for reviewing this watch Max I've been eyeing it for a while and now personally don't think it's worth that premium. I love Titanium, own several and my daily beater is an awesome $250 Paulson Pearl Diver.
I own an steel 300 diver version. 43mm powermatic 80. HUGE VALUE FOR MONEY.
A real education, thanks man
You got it!
That lime color is the BEST thing about the design!!! Everyone has their own taste but I can’t believe it was called out.
How long will that aluminum bezel keep a nice look???
Something being heavier in the watch world as a preferred product or associated with modern quality is such a quirky anomaly (and I guess associated with $$$ or sportiness) when seemingly every other product out there is trying to be thinner and lighter.
Don’t you think it has to do with the transition of watches from pressed clasps and hollow links to milled clasps and solid links? Also, think about pressed on case backs compared with screwed on…
That's why as I search for 7 months to find a budget friendly watch with high quality for the price, I landed on Aragon.
$189
Sapphire crystal
Ceramic bezel insert with full lume
3D Lume applied indexes
NH35
Custom blue rotor
316L SS
Solid female end links
Milled two button deployment clasp with security retainer
And they are a 30 year old American watch brand. For a small company in Miami that's heritage 🤣
I didn't kow you were a physician. Props!
If the watch (head) is great but the bracelet not so, then an obvious solution is to put the watch on a nice aftermarket leather or rubber strap. I do that with steel divers to manage the weight of the watch (not an issue with titanium), and I must say they often look great
Standards change, but good taste remains. I do exactly the same. Unfortunately, only Rolex 36mm on a steel bracelet gives me comfort. Maybe I can wear a titanium Certina on a bracelet too. The rest I put on leather or rubber straps, sometimes nato.
All brushed finish is what does it for me besides titanium and turquoise markers. If I had the money I would've gone for the BB 58 925 which is also all brushed. But for the time being I chose this watch and I have no regrets.
Got this watch around a month ago and have been enjoying it a lot. The bracelet is definitely the weakest point like you said. It's pretty rattly and the male end links and lack of micro adjustment are a bit of a bummer. Certina also has a quick adjust bracelet on the larger models but didn't include it in the 38mm version for some weird reason. The polished caseback is also a massive scratch magnet -- kind of wish they did a brushed finish on it like the rest of the watch but I guess it's not visible so it's not a big deal.
That being said the watch looks great and just disappears on the wrist due to how light it is. Mine's been running between -0.5s - +0.5s / day. Looking forward to order the OEM nato also since it felt like a good quality strap when I saw it at the watch store. The watch doesn't smell like much either so we good! :D
Yeah the watch met expectations, just didn't exceed them for me
Absolutely SPOT ON 👍👍👍
👍
I think for me its between the Certina DS diver and Longines Conquest that offer crazy value for the money, Sure the automatic Conquest is upwards of a $1000 but they do a quartz that is $200 cheaper and have one of the best bracelets and finishing at that entry luxury level with 300M W/R. Both are doing awesome imo
I bought the green dial automatic Hydroconquest last year, and the bracelet is not that good. On a NATO, it is great though!
I bought a second hand Longines conquest automatic a couple of years ago for 600€, the guy bought it 2-3 month earlier, and he asked me if I wanted to buy his certina DS too that was also 2 month old. Not sure what he was asking for it but I passed.
I bought the Mido ocean star 200c over the longines or the cortina and I have to say the dial on those watches is amazing and more enticing imo than the more basic certina and longines dial. Bracelet is also very well made and case finishing is pretty decent.
@@augustinf Wise move by you!
Another great video, Max. Hearing about this Certina and its movement, I wonder how you’d compare it with an SPB level Seiko diver overall, such as the SPB143. Price point is similar and perhaps a tradeoff between a movement with less positional variance and a (to me at least) much more appealing design aesthetic.
I have the last generation 43mm Certina diver and the SPB143. My SPB143 has the classic issues with the movement in that its not very consistent (anywhere from -1 to +15). The Certina runs between -2 and 0 on the dot everyday when worn. But... it's had its issues. I had to take it in for a warranty repair after 4 months because of a common Powermatic 80 fault where the rotor spins when hand winding. Then the bezel locked up a month ago and now does so every now and then.
I love both though for the contrasting design aesthetics (modern diver vs vintage reinterpretation) and are the two watches I wear the most. Overall build quality is very comparable.
This watch is perfect design and good size with good quality‼️👍👍👍
Can someone compare it with the tudor black bay 58
Should i save for a tudor or get the black titanium certina ?
Good vid....I happen to be wearing a titanium Hamilton!
This is probably my favourite-looking Certina in years! Great review.
That intro made me hyperventilate. 😂
Haha, gotcha 😂
speaking about dive watches, what do you think about Squale?
Not supposed to be Omega quality. I think is a homerun for the price. great work
Can you review the Casio MR-G line of watches?
I have the stainless steel model of this and I love it!
Nice 👍
Man getting into watch collecting really has made me realize how broke I am. I see a cool watch review, look up the watch to buy it, and then I see it’s way out of my price range. Great review though man.
I like to see if the seconds hand hits the markers on the dial. Kind of like how most Seikos do not usually do this!
How's the lume compared to the 2021 Certina DS? I jabe the two tone and the watch is weak. I'm wondering if this titanium DS offers a better lume
Note that Grade 2 titanium has (slightly) better corrosion resistance vs grade 5, but both materials are superior to stainless steel when it comes to general corrosion resistance. The grade 5 version of Ti is stronger and has better fracture toughness. Grade 2 Ti is commonly found in piping applications where strength is perhaps not a key design driver, but corrosion resistance is paramount. I believe Grade 2 Ti is a bit easier to machine vs Grade 5, and this may be one reason it is utilized to make watch cases.
and grade 2 is plenty strong enough for a watch….People don’t worry about Rolex using 904L, which is higher corrosion resistance than 316, but isn’t as strong as 316…
The full titanium I got a few years ago is the Steinhart ocean 1 GMT titanium. 500M wr, swiss made, ETA 2893, incredible blue lume, double sapphire, batman ceramic bezel, a very distinct dial and hands.. for 720€ new.. and they don t make it anymore
Excellent. Thank You.
Certina is the real deal.
I just saw the new Maurice Lacroix orange Pontos S Diver and I’ve gotta say it’s really eye-catching…
Very good review. I am currently thinking of the DS Action myself, but just a black and steel one. The thing is, a 38 is just a tad small for my 7 1/4 inch wrist. Don't get me wrong, I don't exactly drive a BMW, and I have lots of smaller watches, even down to 34mm. Which will make another small watch a bit redundant. I want something big and hefty, which leaves me with the 43mm DS Action. I need to try it out before I potentially buy one.
I just got the blue 38mm ; with 17cm wrist it doesn't wear small to me (IMHO). I did buy blind & haven't put the bracelet on it - finding 19mm straps is not as easy as i thought(!). Crown & Buckle and Strap Habit in the U.S. look good for higher quality. In Europe-Espirit or I use the many U.K. ones ( more basic than U.S.).
P.S. obvious (?) but some U.K. sites have sales on this model ( & the titanium one- just checked ).
@@jaysterling26 Wow, thanks for lots of good inputs. As I said, I have a 38mm diver and I agree that it is absolutely a nice size for my wrist. But, as I said, I want something big and hefty in the tool/dive category. What I might do, is get the 38mm Certina, and just start save up to a Seamaster.
The thing is, I really like the DS Action series. And I am not buying it as an alternative to something more expensive (although, the price is definitely attractive considering the specs and look), but I genuinely like the design, and Certina is a brand I like a lot.
Seems that Certina listened... I just picked up the new version with new clasp and ceramic bezel. Love it!!
But then it was the 43mm version, right?
@@l.sauvage4437 What is there a new 38mm version ???
I did think about this option but got the DS38 in stainlees steel .
Apart from the appoeal looks , brand & movement of this model , instead I'm looking to add the RZE Endeavour ( when they offer the teal in with 1st gen. dial texture- oneis so fussy) to my titanium section.
Yep, I'd also look at micros at this price
Love your reviews…I’ve seen many but never subscribed until today. I thought about buying Certina on a couple occasions but can never pull the trigger on this brand. Decent watches but they don’t speak to me I suppose.
Man now I wonder how the watch would look on my wrist. I have a 6.5in circumference but my wrist measures out at 51mm across. It being that long with the endlinks makes it seem like it’ll be just too big
Really good looking watch Max. Quick question: is that an Omega sailing bracelet you have there?
Not omega but yes 😊
I almost bought a brand new Certina titanium from an official seller, but it was full of scratches. It had no scratch-resistant surface, and it got scratched only from showing around to customers.
The touchpoints of the older Explorer 14270 feel so cheap. But I absolutely love it. Such is the irrationality of this hobby. We can be so hard on a good Certina, and fawn over the crown. I guess I fail the Buffet test!
I actually love the lume color.
Damn, that 50mm lug-to-lug is a deal breaker for people with small wrists
Yeah it's a shame...
I own the 38mm titanium on strap (not bracelet). The lug to lug is 45mm
@@davidstorm2563 He is talking about the effective L2L, which is 51 mm (including end links)
I have a 16.5 cm wrist, and it actually surprisingly fit well, even with the effective L2L of 51 mm
@@khole15 i can assure you the L2L is 45mm on a strap I do not have the bracelet which may be different?
#perfect review ❤ try a Citizen Series 8 next... it's #crazy finished and thought, a Grand #Seiko competition 😳 but... unpopular (probably because of the size 😂 40mm feels like 43mm)
Subscribed 🎉
I purchased this watch from a Swiss retailer almost immediately after it released, and while I like it, I found many of the same issues with the quality of its construction. The clasp, in particular, feels cheap and loose, and is the biggest reason that I don’t grab it as often as I otherwise might. This watch was my personal lesson on not buying the cheaper version of the watch that you really want. I’m still (now more patiently) waiting for that Pelagos 39 in blue.
Ahhh that's me as well waiting for a bb58 with the burgundy heritage bezel!
Of course, you cannot compare a 4000€ watch with a 1000€ one... you will not have the same finishings, but this doesn't mean Certina is a bad watch. This watch is not an alternative for a Tudor, this watch is just an option for who wants the best quality for the money.
How does this compare against the stainless steel version?
Really nice watch.
They really should switch to female end links for the bracelet.
I agree. Titanium is so light it feels like a cheap swatch or plastic watch.
Understated. It’s good it doesn’t have polished chamfers as it’s a “tool watch”. I’ve no doubt early Rolex had this basic aesthetic, before they became gaudy fashion Jewellery!
I’m on the lookout for a titanium watch. I like the style of the Certina but especially with 19mm lug width the bracelet has to be spot on. A good bracelet to me must have half links, toolless microadjust and a clasp that doesn’t shave my arm hairs. I’d really love to find a high quality titanium bracelet
Great point!
I have 3 titanium watches - Citizen ' Ray Mears', Oceanus & a Lorus ( so cheap). All have issues with their bracelets , er the Lorys is on a strap, which seems ' honest' compared to the others' issues.
I would now except to pay more than a £€$1000 for a nin- issue bracelet on a titanium watch. I hope you find & challenge my expectations.
Maybe I’ll wait for a seaweed Pelagos 39 😅
Take a look on zelos. They have some Watches with these features.
The 43mm version does have all of the above, it has 6 half links, a quick adjustment with like (6?) "Teeth" and a nice clasp. I have the green stainless one that runs -0.5 sec/day
Only really bad thing i found is the size really, 43mm 51 Lug to lug and about 54mm with male endlinks
great stuff, WatchCrunch. for many watches, i'm thinking how do i replace the bracelet, so oft times, problems with the bracelet are a secondary issue.
Man I always love your videos, we have very similar design taste. So damn you! Lol, but really this watch is nice. Shame about those end links though.
Yeah I'd look at microbrands dude
Glycine combat sub is a solid value swiss diver!!!
Off topic, what camera do you use for your watch photography?
Sony full frame
@@WatchCrunchOfficial thanks, Max
I love this just a little more than the Oris Diver 65 Glow. The colors are exactly the same