Baselworld 2013: Certina
Marcus Hanke
Certina at Baselworld 2013
presented by Marcus Hanke
presented by Marcus Hanke
When you read my tasting notes with the critical remarks on the continuously rising watch prices, you will understand why I include Certina on a prominent place in my list of Basel reports: Within the Swatch Group, Certina is located in a segment offering watches at lower prices, sometimes also called „entrance level brand“. I want to show that low prices does not necessarily mean low quality, and that watch enthusiasts can find many really interesting timepieces that fully satisfy all demands for well-built and well-designed watches.
This year, Certina is celebrating its 125th anniversary. Since 1888, the company is active in building watches. Today, Certina is best known for sportive timepieces, also a result of decades of marketing, when celebrities like Muhammad Ali wore them. Already in 1959, Certina introduced its „double security“ concept, which until today is part of the nomenclature of most Certina watches, abbreviated „DS“. Fifty years ago, the double security standard meant to protect the movement against all kinds of shocks, by means of the common Incabloc shock protection for the balance, but also by a unique rubber ring holding the movement in the case, thus protecting it from the effects of severe bumps.
Already the first DS watches were tested to a tightness rate of 20 atmospheres, which is an excellent rate even today. Over the following years, further methods to secure the movement against water, dust, magnetism etc, were added, so today, a Certina fulfills far more security standards than the original „double security“; the DS abbreviation remained, however.
I knew many of the Certina watches, but very rarely handled one of them. So I was curious about their design and quality, especially when compared with the „big“ and much more expensive brand products. When arriving at the Certina booth, I was served water in a plastic cup, instead of a Riedel glass; everything other than plasticky, though, were the watches I was shown then. Apparently, and this is something I highly appreciate, the luxury is in the product, rather than its presentation; a true purist approach.
For its anniversary year, the brand, which is part of the Swatch Group already since 1983 (back then still named SMH), presents several new models. Some of them are equipped with mechanical movements, others with quartz technology. What is interesting, though, is that Certina also benefits from Swatch Group’s new platform strategy: Common base movements are upgraded with special mechanisms or technologies, which are then used by only one or two of the group’s subsidiaries, and are unobtainable for companies outside the group.
Starting with quartz watches, there are several chronographs with ETA quartz movements, some of them with a second time zone indication.
Brand new is the DS-2 chronograph, equipped with an excellent ETA „Thermoline“ movement, that is also used by Breitling, dubbed there as „Superquartz“. These movements have a special temperature compensation which results in high accuracy of +- 10 seconds per year. Unlike many other quartz chronographs, the DS-2 has subcounters for 30 minutes and 12 hours.
The limited Anniversary model is a COSC certified chronometer, and looks very nice!
The unlimited model is a bit less classic, with its black dial and yellow chronograph hands.
The DS-Podium GMT chronograph has a second time zone, and a design distantly similar to the DS-2 model. I like the latter much better, though.
A more massive presence is the DS-Eagle chronograph, with the same movement as the DS-Podium just shown. However, it has a diameter of 46mm and an excellently finished case, carbon fiber insets on the screwed-on bezel, and a unique attachment of its rubber strap.
Take this DS-Eagle, put a Valjoux 7750 into it and charge ten times the price, then you are well represented among the current sports chronograph crazies. Especially the all-black variant with PVD coated case looks striking.
Very nice are two DS-Podium chronographs for ladies, with three diamonds on the dial, serving as the 12 marker.
A variant with diamonds on the bezel is also available.
Also destined for ladies is the rectangular DS-Podium series, with 38mm diameter and quartz movements. However, the designs are very classy, maybe even a bit too conservative instead of feminine. A bit larger, and with mechanical movements, and they would be very nice and elegant gents’ watches.
Mechanical highlights for Certina are without doubts the DS timepieces with the brand new Powermatic 80 movement. This automatic movement, designated ETA C07.111, is based on the well-known ETA 2824, but was completely rebuilt with a long power reserve of 80 hours in mind. To achieve not only this long reserve, but also a steady accuracy rate over this time, ETA reduced the oscillation frequency of the balance to 3 Hertz (21,600 A/h), and developed a new index-less escapement regulation. Besides Certina, also Tissot is using the new Powermatic 80 movement.
The new Certina DS Powermatic 80 is available in a very classic design with black dial and rhodium-plated markers and hands, and with a steel bracelet. Watch diameter is 40mm.
A limited edition with gold-plated hands and markers and special print on the dial is also shown. I like this one a lot.
The DS-Action Diver line got a very nice variant with titanium case with metallic grey dial (my next ruffwear watch) ...
... and a striking metallic blue dial version:
Both are powered by the ETA 2824.
This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2013-05-20 21:20:18 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2013-05-24 10:16:25
Comments:
amanico May 19th, 2013-23:15
Thanks for this report, Marcus. The first Chrono you posted doesn't look bad at all.
Goldenlutin May 20th, 2013-13:23
and it is probably the only one And it is probably the only one to say the least :) Seriously, the best about (modern-days) Certinas is that nobody is obliged to buy them. Always see the bright side of life...
Marcus Hanke May 22nd, 2013-05:02
May I ask what your opinion is based upon? I admit having been positively surprised by both design and the finish of the Certina pieces, and consider them good value for people who start being interested in watches, but want a little bit "more" than getting offered by the ubiquitous "case-fillers"...
KIH May 20th, 2013-21:18
DS-Eagle looks pretty nice... .. looks very cool watch! Thanks for the report, Marcus! Ken
MTF May 21st, 2013-03:20
I did not know that Certina is part of the SWATCH Group. The current Mrs MTF and I try to get only mechanical movement watches; its a personal choice. But we did buy a Breitling Aerospace with SuperQuartz movement for her father; so we inherently like the concept of a super quartz move...
Marcus Hanke May 22nd, 2013-05:08
The Action Diver line ... ... is maybe not the best example for "unique" Certina watches. They follow common design rules of diving watches, and there are tons of private label dive watches with very similar appearance. What is a bit special, though, is the good finish of the dial...
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