Chazman1946

Certina DS Date Date.

The stainless-steel case on the DS Action Day-Date measures 41mm in diameter which is a nice size for a modern wristwatch. On top of the case is a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on one side and there is also an exhibition glass on the back which can be used to view the powerhouse behind this watch. The case is water resistant to 200 meters which is achieved with the help of a threaded crown at 3. Powering this watch is the Powermatic 80 movement which as the name suggests offers an impressive power reserve of 80 hours. The movement operates at a frequency of 3 Hz and features a customized black rotor with Certina branding.

Suggested MSRP $780 on bracelet, $734 on strap.




https://wristreview.com/certina-ds-a...atic-80-watch/

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Own or have Owned the following: 1996 Sub, 3. Sinns 1. Omega vintage dress watch 3 Citizen Signature automatics, 4 Eco Drives, 2 Tag Heuers, 2 Accutrons, 2 Orients, 5 Seikos, 2 Invictas, 1 Pulsar 2 Tissots 1 Skagen and 1 Victorinox Swiss Army, Longines Legend Diver, Steinhart Smurf. and an Eterna Kon Tiki date. Oris 65 Oris Arctix, Borealis Estoril, Wenger Arctic Light, Breitling Colt Chrono, Certina DS Action Chronometer, Monta Triumph.

Reflex

At the risk of sounding negative, I don't see much value in what appears to be a rather average watch

Voyager

Sometimes I like an average watch. That one looks nice. The ‘Certina DS First’ auto diver is a real bargain.

AtomicTom

You know what is interesting Chaz?! Didn't even realize how similar
looking these were to the Aqua Terra to tell the truth. But you are right,
the way the markers are done, the hand design, and even case are very
similar it looks like. The markers are even more bold it seems like. Then
it all seems to backed up by some great specs !

Not that it's a ton of bang for the buck like Steve said, but wow definitely
would be an option for someone looking for the Aqua Terra style !

Very nice Chaz ! ..Thanks very much !!!

forzaferrari

Ditto... And at $780, that's not a poor man's anything...

Chazman1946

This Chronometer Quartz model is only $300 which is affordable, I have one, outside of the second hand not hitting exactly on the markers, it’s outstanding. The dial is about as clear and legible as any watch made, 200m WR, Sapphire Crystal, the accuracy +- 10 SPY, case and bracelet comparable to $2K watches I have owned.








https://www.jomashop.com/certina-wat...22-037-00.html
https://www.jomashop.com/certina-watch

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Own or have Owned the following: 1996 Sub, 3. Sinns 1. Omega vintage dress watch 3 Citizen Signature automatics, 4 Eco Drives, 2 Tag Heuers, 2 Accutrons, 2 Orients, 5 Seikos, 2 Invictas, 1 Pulsar 2 Tissots 1 Skagen and 1 Victorinox Swiss Army, Longines Legend Diver, Steinhart Smurf. and an Eterna Kon Tiki date. Oris 65 Oris Arctix, Borealis Estoril, Wenger Arctic Light, Breitling Colt Chrono, Certina DS Action Chronometer, Monta Triumph.

Voyager

Yeah... nice watch. Looks great. Bonus points for the green on the second hand.

WatchMedic

while i like the look, im not sure i could stomach $800 for a watch with a stripped down, low beat ETA that is the ETA C07.111 movement.

i feel at that price range you should be getting a legit 2824-2, or at the very least a sellita sw200.

Chazman1946

The Powermatic 80 movement is a modified 2824-2 with a free-sprung balance wheel, it's not a stripped-down model at all, and even all of the New Omega Seamaster with the 8800 movements have lower beat rates to accommodate more power reserve.

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Own or have Owned the following: 1996 Sub, 3. Sinns 1. Omega vintage dress watch 3 Citizen Signature automatics, 4 Eco Drives, 2 Tag Heuers, 2 Accutrons, 2 Orients, 5 Seikos, 2 Invictas, 1 Pulsar 2 Tissots 1 Skagen and 1 Victorinox Swiss Army, Longines Legend Diver, Steinhart Smurf. and an Eterna Kon Tiki date. Oris 65 Oris Arctix, Borealis Estoril, Wenger Arctic Light, Breitling Colt Chrono, Certina DS Action Chronometer, Monta Triumph.

WatchMedic

I prefer a higher beat rate to a longer reserve. At $800 i would simply expect a 4hz movement. Might just be me though.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

WatchMedic

they had to make some changes to make the PM80 cheaper..

i believe a few things are a thinner mainspring, Plastic lever and escape wheel, removal of 2 ruby pallet stones, replacing a regulator with balance screws (making it harder to adjust)

if your watch staying running long after you take it off is a real concern, buy a watch winder.
again, NOT saying its a "bad movement", but.... its cheaper and they had to save money SOMEWHERE.
its an entry level movement, and i would expect to find it in entry level $300-$500 watches along with NH35's...not an $800 watch
for that kind of money i would rather have a 2824-2 or a sellita.
the sellita in my steinhart is running at +1 a day and my wifes steinhart with sellita is running +3 a day.
of course, they COULD have gone with something like Hamiltons H-10 movement and kept the classic 2824 escapement (hence the 25 jewel count) instead of a synthetic one.


i can see picking one up on the used market at the less-than-$500 bracket, but not at retail.

Chazman1946

I have four watches using the Seiko 4R36 or NH35 movements. Not one of them is running less than COSC accuracy. In fact, my $85 Invicta Pro Diver is currently running at +2. So the price is really irrelevant when it comes to movements, considering the advancements in the CNC machining of the movements.

My New Jade Monster has the Seiko 6R15d movement in it, it's running +2 as well. Three of my older Seikos had the previous model 6R15 movements and none ran anywhere close ot COSC.

__________________
Own or have Owned the following: 1996 Sub, 3. Sinns 1. Omega vintage dress watch 3 Citizen Signature automatics, 4 Eco Drives, 2 Tag Heuers, 2 Accutrons, 2 Orients, 5 Seikos, 2 Invictas, 1 Pulsar 2 Tissots 1 Skagen and 1 Victorinox Swiss Army, Longines Legend Diver, Steinhart Smurf. and an Eterna Kon Tiki date. Oris 65 Oris Arctix, Borealis Estoril, Wenger Arctic Light, Breitling Colt Chrono, Certina DS Action Chronometer, Monta Triumph.

Reflex

Most likely needed to be regulated. I have Seiko divers from the 60's and 70's tht run within COSC specs

WatchMedic

Im certainly not knocking the 4r36 movement. I own a number of watches with the nh35 and they are great.....but I didn't pay $800 for them.

Its not just about accuracy. The finish makes a difference too. The seiko and miyota movements are not nearly as nice to look at as my sellita or 2824 movements behind a display caseback.

My steinhart ocean one runs at +1 second per day but i would not pay $800 for it either.

Like i said before, its just a personal preference.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

AtomicTom

Holy cow, had no idea you actually had one of these Chaz !

Just had thought you were posting about it, and how it looked like the
Aqua Terra, and maybe were thinking of picking one up. But did not
realize you had one, or that they were so affordable like this !

Can't get enough of the gray, almost charcoal dial, and how that looks
with the markers, and everything. The green second hand, along with
case-back alone are phenomenal !

For some reason thought Certina's watches were way more expensive.
Thanks so much for the insight Chaz, and also great info on all of those
movements too guys !

Chazman1946

The watch is outstanding looking in real life like I said the only drawback is the second's hand not hitting dead on the markers.

The dial gives off almost no reflections at all, despite not being flat black. The dial is black indoors, but give off a charcoal gray sunburst effect in daylight.

The watch looks like it should cost north of $1K, and coupled with a Chronometer certified HAQ movement, how could you go wrong.

The only improvements this watch needs to be perfect fix the second hands and perhaps put an "Hour Jump Hand" so you didn't have to hack the watch when changing time zones.

__________________
Own or have Owned the following: 1996 Sub, 3. Sinns 1. Omega vintage dress watch 3 Citizen Signature automatics, 4 Eco Drives, 2 Tag Heuers, 2 Accutrons, 2 Orients, 5 Seikos, 2 Invictas, 1 Pulsar 2 Tissots 1 Skagen and 1 Victorinox Swiss Army, Longines Legend Diver, Steinhart Smurf. and an Eterna Kon Tiki date. Oris 65 Oris Arctix, Borealis Estoril, Wenger Arctic Light, Breitling Colt Chrono, Certina DS Action Chronometer, Monta Triumph.

AtomicTom

It really is impressive Chaz, and like you said it definitely looks like a
watch that should be well north of $1000. I mean you got the looks as
you said of a the Aqua Terra, but also the ovearall quality of Certina right
there backing it all up.

P.S. I wonder if there are any Omega's, or similar high end watches
that might ever have had the second's hand not hitting perfectly too !
They can't all be perfect I bet.

Wotan

Remember that $800 sticker is full-shot retail. That watch will run around $400 - $500 or so from the gray boys. If you want one you can Certina-ly find a deal.

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FunkDaLicious

Super nice watch. Regarding look, price, and movement I think there are good points throughout. The only issue I take with any of this is saying it's a "poor man's Aqua Terra." That "issue" has nothing to do with the fact that it's $800 either. I just think Certina can stand on it's own as a brand and company that doesn't have to be compared to others. We buy what we like and what we can afford. I'd rock one of these if I had the coin.
Nice looking watch, Chaz, congrats on the acquisition.

Chazman1946

I could care less how decorated the movement in my watches is, especially those in closed cases. I value reliability and accuracy above that. That's why Patek Phillipe's beautiful movements are a joke to me, most of them don't even hack!

__________________
Own or have Owned the following: 1996 Sub, 3. Sinns 1. Omega vintage dress watch 3 Citizen Signature automatics, 4 Eco Drives, 2 Tag Heuers, 2 Accutrons, 2 Orients, 5 Seikos, 2 Invictas, 1 Pulsar 2 Tissots 1 Skagen and 1 Victorinox Swiss Army, Longines Legend Diver, Steinhart Smurf. and an Eterna Kon Tiki date. Oris 65 Oris Arctix, Borealis Estoril, Wenger Arctic Light, Breitling Colt Chrono, Certina DS Action Chronometer, Monta Triumph.