Introducing: The Certina DS Action Diver Chrono
The Certina DS Action Diver Chrono is here just in time for the summer holidays. It’s a refreshing modern watch that follows the same design path as the DS Action Diver. It also takes a sharp detour from the trend of smaller diameters and thinner cases. This is a big, bold watch!
I’m happy to go on record and state that Certina is currently handing it to Seiko when it comes to affordable dive watches. The Swiss brand offers fantastic points of entry for its retro-themed and modern divers. Swatch Group’s Powermatic movement is found in many models and boasts better accuracy and power reserve than many watches in the competitive set. Plus, there’s typically a size available that suits every wrist. Today’s DS Action Diver Chrono won’t be a universal choice due to the dimensions, but perhaps we will see a smaller version soon.
The Certina DS Action Diver Chrono
The newest Certina is a stainless steel chronograph with an “Expendables-like” 44.5mm diameter and 52.6mm length. It completes the tall, wide, and handsome picture with a 16.2mm thickness. A screw-down crown and screw-in case back support the 300m depth rating. I realize that these measurements will take the watch out of the running for many of our readers. However, many everyday consumers enjoy a large, dive-themed watch (cue the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chrono) as an everyday piece. For those considering this watch as an actual tool, it meets the ISO 6425:2018 specification.
The watch comes in three “flavors” with dial-matching rings on the chronograph pusher tubes. An eye-catching option contains a sand-colored dial, a black ceramic bezel insert with gold-toned numerals, and gold-hued hands and index surrounds. This piece comes exclusively on a #tide two-piece nylon strap with quick-release spring bars and a pin buckle. Blue and black variants come with corresponding ceramic bezel inserts and polished steel detailing. These pieces are available exclusively on three-row stainless steel bracelets with quick-release spring bars and a clasp with push buttons for closure and micro-adjustment.
A Valjoux 7753-based movement inside
The DS Action Diver Chrono uses the ETA A05.231 caliber. Based on the tried-and-true Valjoux 7753, this automatic movement includes a silicon balance spring, a sub-dial for running seconds, a 30-minute counter, and a quick-set date. In addition, it runs at 28,800vph and has a useful power reserve of 68 hours. 
Certina has equipped these divers with a flat sapphire crystal and an antireflective coating. Note the use of screws on the links, which is a nice alternative to the pin-and-collar system found in more affordable alternatives. Also, the bezel is unidirectional with a luminous pip. The bezel and dial contain generous amounts of Super-LumiNova.
Thoughts and pricing
It’s hard to argue with the design of the DS Action Diver Chrono. These are well-laid-out and clean-looking watches. The three-hand DS Action Diver is one of my favorite “entry-level” divers because of its looks, and I was concerned that a chronograph version would look too busy. That’s not a concern with these watches at all. The size is polarizing, but it will look great for those who can pull off a watch like this. Potential buyers should find these watches attractively priced as well. The version on a strap is on sale for CHF 1,750, and the bracelet-equipped models retail for CHF 1,795. That sounds like good value, and let’s hope that similarly priced editions arrive in a smaller size.
For more information on the DS Action Diver Chrono lineup, visit the official Certina website.
