Certina DS-1 - References, Prices and Owners' Reviews

For a few years now, my passion for watches has been growing. No more buying Festina, Lotus or Rodania ... to change it after 2 years max. For 2 years I have loved automatic watches even if I am not against quartz. I find it fascinating to measure something abstract by a concrete "tool" made by man. The complexity of a mechanical movement is really exciting. My real first automatic watch is a Seiko SRPD that I find really well finished. The watch is powered by the famous Powermatic 80 with as the name says 80 hours of power reserve, I can leave it on the dresser on Friday evening and pick it up again on Monday morning and it still works. It is a watch that can be worn in all circumstances, with leather it is a dress Watch and just by changing the bracelet for a steel or rubber one it becomes a chic sport.

Classically designed, this three-hand watch with date is ideal for starting a collection. Mainly intended for the northern European market, the Certina brand, belonging to the Swatch Group, is more confidential in France than Hamilton or Tissot for watches in this category. I discovered the DS1 model (and the Certina brand) in I don't know which annual watch magazine from the 2010s and I was seduced by its design (at the time I only swore by black dial watches in a dress style... I have since broadened my spectrum). I chose it with a leather strap with a folding clasp. What I really like about this watch is the proportions of the case with a fairly thin bezel that gives a nice presence to the matte black dial. I also like the design of the dial without numbers, just with the raised indexes. The finishes are very correct, we are on classic Swiss Made: Sapphire glass, open back on the movement with a nice treatment of the oscillating weight in black PVD which recalls the color of the dial. In the end a very endearing little watch to use the words of Maxime who had presented it during a Dual Time on the channel.