Other versions are available, including a particularly sporty model with a black dial and silver chrono counters, and a three-row (polished central row) steel strap. The model comes with a white-stitched black leather strap held by a twin push-button butterfly buckle. The DS Podium Chronograph – Automatic is equipped with the famous Certina DS Concept – as its name suggests, to ensure water resistance up to a pressure of 10 bar (100m). The 42mm brushed/polished 316L stainless-steel case is equipped with a tachymeter-scale bezel, a sapphire crystal treated with anti-reflective coating, and a see-through case back that allows watch connoisseurs to admire the movement and rotor, decorated with the traditional Certina turtle logo, perennial symbol of reliability and durability. Arabic numerals are used only at 3 and 9 o’clock, in a strong design touch which reserves the vertical axis for the two black chrono counters (with red indicator hands) and a date window at 6 o’clock. The Swiss Made ETA automatic movement provides 6h, 30min, 60sec chronograph functions, activated by black PVD-tipped push-buttons next to a protected crown inscribed with the letters “DS”. C038.462.16.037.00) Retail is approximately $1,950.The DS Podium’s classy sunray-finished silver dial immediately sets the tone, with its bright surface crisply outlined by a black outer rim and broad, black nickelled HM hands, both trimmed with Superluminova to ensure great legibility in all lighting conditions.
The Certina DS Chronograph Automatic is paired with a black leather strap with quick release spring bars and a steel butterfly clasp. Finishing is all done by machine and other than “Certina” being printed on the rotor there’s no embellishment, but as mentioned above, it’s hidden behind a solid caseback anyways, and within this price range you typically do not get a highly elaborated Swiss-made movement.
The date has been removed and it features a silicon balance spring, cam and lever chronograph actuation, and a 60-hour power reserve. The movement is a 4Hz automatic with stop seconds. The movement is an advanced version of the Valjoux 7753 that Certina refers to as ETA caliber A05.H31. This timepiece is a faithful reissue of a model from the 1940s and Certina has done a stellar job of recreating it 80-years later with a modern case, dial, and movement, all at a price that is incredibly attractive for what you get.Ī solid steel screw-in caseback protects the rear and a highly domed vintage-style sapphire crystal covers the dial side.
Presented in a 42 mm x 13.9 mm retro-style stepped stainless steel case, a curved silver dial that comes off more like cream or white, with a polished fixed bezel, brushed flanks, polished flat pill-shaped chronograph pushpieces, silver faceted dagger-shaped applied indices that are omitted at 3 and 9 and replaced with Arabic numerals at 12 and 6, surrounded by telemeter and tachymeter scales that are printed in black on the peripheral of the dial, and contrasted by curved blued baton-shaped hands. And now, Certina has released yet another banger in the DS Chronograph Automatic. We showed you two awesome Certina DS Phantom Dive watches in May, which significantly drove reader interest. However, with competitiveness at an all-time high within the watch industry, and within the watch groups, we think it’s inevitable that Certina will arrive on American shores sooner or later. The presumable reason has always been because Certina price points overlap with established brands such as Tissot, Hamilton, and Mido - which are all owned by the Swatch Group. Seeing Certina on Swiss trips over the years always made me wonder why they were not sold in the United States. Certina is not sold in the US currently although considering the attractive design and price of their products - it seems the watchmaker will find a reason to establish distribution here.