Unlike G-Shock, however, these watches are fitted with a Swiss-made Powermatic 80.611 automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve, giving them a horological edge over the Japanese brand’s digital quartz movements.
Furthermore, these Certina watches are far more refined in their overall appearance, more in line with typical dive watches than the bulky resin offerings from G-Shock. If it weren’t for their similar focus on shock resistance and relative affordability, there really wouldn’t be any reason to compare the two brands.
A certain similarity
If I had to compare the Certina DS Action Diver watch series to existing models, I’d probably place it somewhere between Seiko’s Prospex Divers and Tudor’s Black Bay. While that’s a risky tightrope to walk, considering the ferocious fandom surrounding them, I’m willing to stand by it.
It’s a fitting spot for these 40.5-millimeter Swiss divers, as their features, materials and styling all fall somewhere between Seiko and Tudor. The series has four watches, three of which are crafted from 316L stainless steel (one with a NATO-style nylon strap and two with stainless steel and ceramic link bracelets) and a fourth with a titanium case.
