The Certina DS Action Diver Powermatic 80 ‘Sea Turtle Conservancy’ Special Edition

The Certina DS Action Diver Powermatic 80 ‘Sea Turtle Conservancy’ Special Edition was presented in 2018 in the frame of the brand partnership with the eponymous organization, as a portion of proceeds from the sale of the watch goes to support the conservancy and its efforts to protect the turtles. A good cause, and after all, a turtle shell has been a Certina emblem for decades… The special edition watch stands out from the regular DS Action Diver with blue accents inspired by the Conservancy logo. Let’s take a closer look.

The Certina DS (Double Security) Action Diver is the brand’s classic, all-purpose dive watch. Inspired by the brand’s archetypal 1950s instruments, this no-nonsense tool watch is designed to do a job – and it does it well (as a proof, the watch meets with the ISO 6425 standards, as indicated on the caseback).

The overall execution of its 43mm stainless steel case feels robust and precise. The screw-down crown is flanked by a pair of well-integrated crown-guards. The large unidirectional bezel operates precisely and the deep knurling ensures a very good grip. It is fitted with a black aluminium insert and a luminescent pearl. The screw-down case back is emblazoned with Sea Turtle Conservancy official logo rather than the usual Certina turtle shell design. The water resistance is rated 30 ATM / 300m. Overall, the Certina DS Action Diver Powermatic 80 is modernly-designed, very robust and has an impressive sensation of quality, which can be immediately felt when handling the watch. 

The sapphire crystal features a double-sided anti-reflective coating to increase contrast and legibility. The luminous hands and indexes allow for easy and accurate timekeeping in all conditions. This is further enhanced by a combination of round and triangular indexes. A date window is positioned at 3 o’clock. A nod to the Sea Turtle Conservancy logo, the second hand and ‘Diver’s Watch 300 m’ inscription are executed in vivid blue and add a cool touch.

The Certina DS Action Diver is powered by the automatic Powermatic 80, displaying the hours, minutes, seconds and the date. This precise and reliable movement is a modernized version of the tried-and-tested ETA 2824, with several improvements, notably a beefed-up 80-hour power reserve (most movements at this price point come with less than 2 days of power reserve). This was achieved thanks to a frequency reduced to 21,600 vibrations per hour and a modified kinetic chain. Used by Swatch Group brands, the Powermatic 80 does offer a substantial competitive advantage in the accessible mechanical Swiss-made watches. For more information, you can read our dedicated review of this movement here.

The DS Action Diver is fitted with a robust three-link stainless steel bracelet, featuring a safety folding buckle and a fold-out extension. The first pair of pushers is used to release the buckle while the second makes it possible to extend the buckle by one or more millimetres – which is practical if you need a little more room around the wrist or to wear the watch over a wetsuit. A rubber strap version of the watch is also available.

The Certina DS Action Diver Powermatic 80 Special Edition is a functional, classic-design dive watch that exudes quality – especially in this price range. This pragmatic tool watch offers everything you need in an underwater timepiece. Its 80-hour power reserve movement scores highly for reliability and price. Price is set at just CHF 795 or EUR 795. If you are after an affordable no-nonsense dive watch, this is well worth considering. For more information, please visit www.certina.com and www.conserveturtles.org.