I am very fond of turtles. I think it might have something to do with my childhood desire to become a ninja, but whatever the root of my fondness, I am compelled to treat Certina kindly because of their logo. The release of the Certina DS Action Diver watches gives me a good opportunity to dispense some credit where credit’s due: As one of the Swatch Group’s more forgotten brands, Certina watches often pass me by without any conscious recognition. I’ve found that I quite like their products when someone puts one in my hands and I get the chance to play around with it for a while, but I’m not sure I could tell you what to expect from the brand, or even what they generally look like if I was asked in isolation. Normally, this kind of anonymity is bad news, but somehow, Certina plough on, churning out watches that benefit from the massive financial backing of the Swatch Group and years of experience in what sells, even if it isn’t what blows your mind. And in the case of the Certina DS Action Diver watches, I think they’ve done a pretty good job.

One thing that always surprises me about Certina’s output is the tangible quality of the cases. Obviously, this goes back to the Swatch group’s ability to supply their entry-level brands with components of a much higher quality than a price-point competitor with less industry clout could muster. What we’ve got here is a watch that smacks of the Omega Seamaster in terms of silhouette, with a little added detailing to the edge of the uni-drectional bezel, and a simplification of the lug decoration. The dial, which is of superb quality and excellent legibility, looks very Omega-esque, which I think is a good thing. The crown and its protector on the three-handed model are fine, but it is on the chronograph that I see something that really excites me.

The winding crown of the Certina DS Action Diver Chronograph appears to have chunkier grips than its three-handed counterpart, but what really gives it some masculine presence is the fact it is flanked by two bi-colour, spin-lock pushers that are joined by a spin-lock helium valve on the opposite side of the case. This added case convolution, with colour-coded DLC-coating, gives the Certine DS Action Diver Chronograph a personality of its own, separating it from the Omega Seamaster family in a way the three-handed version doesn’t quite manage.

Both watches have a date window at half past four, but the chronograph uses a black-on-white date disc, while the three-hander uses a white-on-black. It’s a bit annoying that the chronograph doesn’t have the same color date disc as the three-hander, but it’s simply a matter of taste. I think having the date window in between luminous markers is a smart idea on a dive watch, as it doesn’t impede its function in the dark. I find it a little irksome when dive watches have the date window at 3 o’clock, and thus are forced to cut the luminous marker in half to make it fit.

The chronograph features a running seconds subdial at 9 o’clock, and a minute-counting subdial at 3. The luminous markers for 9 and 3 o’clock are removed entirely to retain symmetry in low light conditions. The rotating bezel features a very generous marker at 12 o’clock, and the hands, which are pleasingly bulky and nicely shaped (the hour is a stout arrow and the minute hand is a long finger) are thoroughly lumed. With a water resistance of 200m, these watches are designed to be used as their styling suggests. The Certina DS Action Diver is powered by a reliable ETA 2824-2 movement, while the Certina DS Action Diver Chronograph features an ETA 7753. Both watches meet the stringent ISO 6425 criteria to be classed as dive watches.

There will also be two titanium versions of the Certina DS Action Diver, one of which comes on a rubber strap and the other on a titanium bracelet. Both titanium models will feature a sun-ray dial, an anthracite bezel ring, and a fold-over clasp with a diver’s extension piece. The Certina DS Action Diver Chronograph will also be available on a two-tone rubber strap featuring the Certina logo.

For a brand that always escapes my memory, Certina has impressed with a product that is current and classic in style, and eminently more affordable than its peers. If you’re looking for an alternative to an Omega, but want to stay Swiss, this watch is worth considering. The Certina DS Action Diver watch in steel will have a price of CHF795, while the steel with rubber strap will be CHF770. The titanium version with the titanium bracelet will be CHF930 and the rubber-strapped variant CHF895. The Certina DS Action Diver Chronograph on steel bracelet will retail at CHF2,180, and the rubber strap version will have a price tag of CHF2,150. I imagine these watches will sell well, if quietly, for many years to come. certina.com