What distinguishes Certina watches?

Certina was founded in Grenchen in 1888 and today belongs to the Swatch Group, from whose pool of movements the brand sources its calibres. The defining feature is the DS concept from 1959, which stands for reinforced seals and a robust construction and appears in the name of all nine models. Six of the nine Certina watches use a Powermatic 80 movement with an 80-hour power reserve, and the guide prices range from €530 to €2,195.

What does the DS concept stand for at Certina?

DS stands for Double Security, a construction principle that Certina introduced in 1959 and which aims at reinforced seals, a resistant crystal and a shock-protected movement mounting. In our catalogue, all nine models carry this abbreviation in the name, from the DS-1 Powermatic 80 to the DS Super PH500M. The principle can be read from the water resistance values, which begin at 100 metres and end at 500 metres.

Which Certina watch is suitable for getting started?

The cheapest entry point is the DS Podium GMT at a guide price of €530, with the ETA F06.421 PreciDrive quartz movement, a diameter of 41 millimetres and 100 metres of water resistance. If you want an automatic straight away, start with the DS Action Diver at a guide price of €700, 300 metres and the Powermatic 80.611. Both have a stainless steel case with sapphire crystal and cover everyday and office without compromise.

What is the Powermatic 80 and how long does it run?

The Powermatic 80 is the automatic movement that powers six of the nine Certina watches in our catalogue, in the variants 80.611, 80.111 and as a plain Powermatic 80. All six state an 80-hour power reserve, so the watch bridges a full weekend without being worn. It is found in the DS Action Diver, DS Action Diver 38, DS Super PH500M, DS Action Lady 34.5mm, DS-1 Powermatic 80 and DS PH200M.

Which Certina watch is the most robust?

The most robust is the DS Super PH500M with 500 metres of water resistance, a diameter of 43 millimetres, a thickness of 15 millimetres and the Nivachron hairspring noted in the data sheet. Directly behind come the DS Action Diver, DS Action Diver 38 and DS Action Lady 34.5mm with 300 metres each. The DS PH200M reaches 200 metres, but is the only model with acrylic instead of sapphire crystal.

The best Certina watches 2026: all 9 models compared

What makes Certina watches special

Certina was founded in 1888 in Grenchen in the canton of Solothurn and has belonged to the Swatch Group for decades. This defines the brand's position: it draws on the same movement base as its sister brands within the group, yet remains the entry point to the mechanical Swiss watch in terms of price. Anyone wanting to place Certina should read it as a robust tool watch, not a status object.

The second defining point is the DS concept of 1959. DS stands for Double Security and refers to a construction with reinforced seals, resistant crystal and shock-protected movement mounting. In the catalogue all nine models carry this abbreviation in their name, and water resistance accordingly starts only at 100 metres.

Technically, the catalogue data show clear constants. Six of the nine models run on a Powermatic 80 movement and each state 80 hours of power reserve, seven are automatic watches, and two work with quartz. All nine have a stainless steel case, eight of them with sapphire crystal, and only the DS PH200M uses acrylic glass. Basic terms for movements and crystals are explained in our watch knowledge section.

The best Certina watches at a glance

The following table lists all 9 Certina watches from our catalogue, sorted by guide price. The prices are based on the manufacturer's recommended retail price and are not daily retail prices. Each model name leads to the detail page with the full technical dossier, and you can put two favourites side by side in the direct comparison.

Model	Movement / drive	Size	Water resistance	Guide price
DS Podium GMT	ETA F06.421 PreciDrive, quartz	41 mm	100 m	approx. €530
DS-6 Lady Chronometer 35mm	ETA F05.412 Precidrive, quartz	35 mm	100 m	approx. €695
DS Action Diver	Powermatic 80.611, automatic	43 mm	300 m	approx. €700
DS Super PH500M	Powermatic 80.611, automatic	43 mm	500 m	approx. €860
DS Action Diver 38	Powermatic 80.611, automatic	38 mm	300 m	approx. €890
DS Action Lady 34.5mm Powermatic 80	Powermatic 80, automatic	34.5 mm	300 m	approx. €895
DS-1 Powermatic 80	Powermatic 80.611, automatic	40 mm	100 m	approx. €915
DS PH200M	Powermatic 80.111, automatic	42.8 mm	200 m	approx. €940
DS Chronograph Automatic	Valjoux A05.H31, automatic	42 mm	100 m	approx. €2,195

Cross-brand alternatives in the same price range are collected in the guide to the best watches under €500.

What matters when buying

The Powermatic 80 and the 80-hour power reserve

The brand's strongest technical argument lies in the Powermatic 80. Six models use it, four as the 80.611 variant in the DS Action Diver, DS Super PH500M, DS Action Diver 38 and DS-1, plus the 80.111 in the DS PH200M and the Powermatic 80 in the DS Action Lady. All six state 80 hours of power reserve: you take the watch off on Friday evening and find it still running on Monday morning. More on the drive can be found in the guide to the best automatic watches.

Automatic or quartz

Two of the nine models run on quartz: the DS Podium GMT with the ETA F06.421 PreciDrive and the DS-6 Lady Chronometer 35mm with the ETA F05.412 Precidrive. Both are marked with a COSC feature in our catalogue data, so these are not budget solutions but precision quartz. The other seven are automatic. Which type suits which usage pattern is clarified in our guide Automatic vs. quartz.

Diameter and height

The range runs from 34.5 millimetres for the DS Action Lady up to 43 millimetres for the DS Action Diver and DS Super PH500M. In between are 35 millimetres for the DS-6 Lady, 38 millimetres for the DS Action Diver 38 and 40 to 42.8 millimetres for the remaining men's models. Height is just as important: 7.55 millimetres for the DS-6 Lady, 15 millimetres for the DS Super PH500M. Measure your wrist before buying by following the instructions in the watch size guide.

Water resistance and the DS concept

This is where the brand shows its strongest side, as no model in the catalogue is rated below 100 metres. Four watches state exactly this value, namely the DS Podium GMT, DS-6 Lady, DS-1 Powermatic 80 and DS Chronograph Automatic. Three models reach 300 metres, the DS PH200M manages 200 metres, and at the top sits the DS Super PH500M with 500 metres. The DS Action Diver and DS Super PH500M are also listed with ISO 6425, more on this in the guide to the best dive watches.

Sapphire crystal or acrylic crystal

Eight of the nine models have a sapphire crystal, which is practically scratch-proof in everyday use. The exception is the DS PH200M, which as a retro model deliberately uses acrylic crystal because the historical original was equipped with it too. Acrylic can be polished out when scratched, but it is more delicate than sapphire.

Our recommendations in detail

Dive watches: Action Diver, Super PH500M and PH200M

The DS Super PH500M is our editorial pick of the range and the only model with this badge: 43 millimetres, 15 millimetres thick, 500 metres, sapphire crystal, textile strap and the Powermatic 80.611 with an 80-hour power reserve, reference C037.407.18.050.00. The data sheet also notes ISO 6425 and a Nivachron hairspring, which is less sensitive to magnetic fields. At a guide price of €860, it offers the highest technical density of the field.

At a guide price of €700, the DS Action Diver is the cheapest way to a mechanical Certina with dive-watch credentials: 43 millimetres, 300 metres, sapphire crystal, rubber strap, Powermatic 80.611. If you want the same watch in a smaller size, take the DS Action Diver 38 with 38 millimetres, a stainless steel bracelet and the same 300 metres for €890. The DS PH200M takes a different path: 42.8 millimetres, 200 metres, Milanese strap and acrylic crystal, reference C036.407.11.050.01, guide price €940.

Everyday and office: the DS-1 Powermatic 80

The DS-1 Powermatic 80 is the obvious recommendation for anyone looking for a single watch for everyday and office: 40 millimetres, 100 metres, sapphire crystal, stainless steel bracelet and the Powermatic 80.611 with an 80-hour power reserve, reference C029.807.11.041.02. In the catalogue we list it as a dress watch for everyday and office, and the Everyday classic feature stands for exactly that. At a guide price of €915, it combines everyday practicality with a understated look. Comparable models are shown in the selection of the best dress watches.

Certina ladies' watches compared

The catalogue explicitly lists two models as ladies' watches, and they could hardly be more different. The DS Action Lady 34.5mm Powermatic 80 is a full-fledged sports watch: 34.5 millimetres, 11.9 millimetres thick, 300 metres, ceramic bezel, stainless steel bracelet and the Powermatic 80 with an 80-hour power reserve, reference C032.007.11.041.00, guide price €895. The DS-6 Lady Chronometer 35mm focuses on elegance: 35 millimetres, only 7.55 millimetres thick, stainless steel with yellow-gold-coloured PVD coating, ceramic links and a COSC quartz movement, reference C039.251.33.017.00, guide price €695.

You are choosing between a mechanical sports watch and flat quartz elegance, not between expensive and cheap, because the two are only €200 apart. If you swim a lot, take the DS Action Lady. For the office and slim wrists, the DS-6 Lady is the more convincing choice. Further alternatives are collected in our Ladies' watches category.

Chronograph and GMT

The DS Chronograph Automatic is the flagship of the selection and, at a guide price of €2,195, also the most expensive: 42 millimetres, 13.9 millimetres thick, 100 metres, sapphire crystal, leather strap and the Valjoux A05.H31 with a 60-hour power reserve, reference C038.462.16.037.00. It is the only model of the brand without a Powermatic movement and is listed in the data sheet as a heritage design. Context is provided by the guide to the best chronographs.

At the other end stands the DS Podium GMT at a guide price of €530: 41 millimetres, 100 metres, sapphire crystal, stainless steel bracelet and the ETA F06.421 PreciDrive quartz movement with a second time zone and the COSC feature. For frequent travellers, it is the cheapest entry point and the only Certina in our catalogue with a GMT function. Mechanical alternatives are shown in the guide to the best GMT watches, and further models in our Men's watches category.

Price guide: What Certina watches cost

All 9 models lie between €530 and €2,195 guide price, but the range is deceptive: eight of them fall between €530 and €940, and only the DS Chronograph Automatic goes beyond that. The two quartz models stay under €700, and from €700 the automatic range begins with the DS Action Diver. Anyone saving on a Certina saves on the movement or the strap, not on the case material.

Within the Swatch Group, Certina shares its movement base with its sister brands but sits at the lower end of this group in price. You will find comparable watch types in the guides to the best Tissot watches and the best Hamilton watches, which mostly start higher. One step above, Longines positions itself with the best Longines watches.

It remains important to read the figures correctly: our details are guide prices based on the recommended retail price, not a snapshot of the retail market. What a reference costs on a given day is decided by the retailer. Use the guide prices to place the models in relation to each other, not as a receipt.

Typical mistakes when buying a Certina

Overlooking the acrylic crystal: The DS PH200M is the only model without a sapphire crystal. If you expect a scratch-resistant crystal, choose the DS Action Diver 38.
Underestimating 43 millimetres: The DS Action Diver and DS Super PH500M measure 43 millimetres, and the latter is also 15 millimetres thick. On slim wrists, the DS Action Diver 38 sits better.
Dismissing quartz as a budget version: The DS Podium GMT and DS-6 Lady carry a precision quartz movement from ETA with the COSC feature. For a flat case height and a GMT function, it is the more suitable solution, not the cheaper one.
Wasting the power reserve: The 80 hours of the Powermatic models only help if you know about them. The DS Chronograph Automatic states less, at 60 hours.
Ignoring the strap: Rubber on the DS Action Diver, textile on the DS Super PH500M, leather on the chronograph, Milanese on the DS PH200M. The strap changes the wearing feel more than any dial colour.

All in all, Certina forgives few wrong choices, because the ranges are cleanly separated: movement, diameter, crystal and water resistance form a clear grid. If you are active, stay with the Action and PH models; if you want to cover office and suit, stay with the DS-1 and DS-6 Lady. You can filter all further models under all watches, and sporty alternatives are collected in the guide to the best sports watches.

Conclusion: The best Certina watch for you

For getting started, the DS Podium GMT at a guide price of €530 is the most sensible recommendation, and for the first mechanical step the DS Action Diver at €700. If you want maximum robustness, take the DS Super PH500M with 500 metres; if you want a watch for everyday and office, the DS-1 Powermatic 80. For the ladies' models, the intended use decides: DS Action Lady for sport and water, DS-6 Lady for flat elegance.

If several models make the shortlist, the Watch finder helps: it asks about type, occasion, size, movement and budget, and justifies each recommendation with the catalogue data. For the final choice, put two favourites side by side in the Watch comparison. You will find further brand overviews in the Guide hub.