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Certina DS Action GMT Powermatic 80 41mm Mens Watch
Ref. C0329292605100
Sits in Certina’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Certina watches we list, which start at £400.
Price range £400 to £1,180 across 28 Certina watches in stock.The DS (Double Safety) concept has underpinned Certina's engineering philosophy since 1959, and the Action GMT brings it into GMT territory. This reference — launched in 2024 alongside a black-and-green and a Pepsi-bezel sibling — takes the most distinctive path of the three. The gold PVD case, split brown-and-black 24-hour bezel insert, and brown leather strap land far from the sportswear read of the others, and reviewers reached quickly for "Root Beer" as shorthand. It is a reasonable comparison: the combination reads as the dressy, slightly retro variant of what is otherwise a straightforward sport-GMT trio. The movement earns attention independently. The ETA Powermatic 80.661 is a Flyer-style GMT, meaning the local-time hand sets without stopping the seconds — a practical advantage when crossing time zones in use rather than on a watchbench. The 80-hour power reserve is generous enough to survive a long weekend off the wrist, and the Nivachron balance spring provides magnetic resistance without the need for a separate soft-iron cage. Both the crown and caseback are screw-down, so the 200m rating is not a theoretical figure. The one thing the leather strap changes beyond aesthetics is weight distribution. The stainless siblings carry their mass differently; on brown leather, this sits closer to the wrist and loses some of the tool-watch bluntness. The finishing is mostly brushed across the case, with polishing confined to the crown and the outer bezel rim — restrained, and consistent with the vintage-leaning palette the colour choices already suggest.
- Reference
- C0329292605100
- Brand
- Certina
- Collection
- DS Action
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 13.8mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- Powermatic 80
- Functions
- GMT, Date
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Brown
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Origin
- Swiss made
Learn more about Certina
Adolf Kurth founded a watchmaking business in Grenchen in 1888 with his brother, and the family produced movements and complete watches under several names before settling on Certina — from the Latin certus, meaning sure — in 1938.
The house built its identity on shock protection at a time when a dropped watch usually meant a repair bill. The DS system, introduced in 1959, stood for Double Security: a reinforced case, a strengthened crystal, a screwed caseback with an O-ring seal, and a shock-absorbing mount for the movement. The turtle emblem that marks DS watches became the brand's signature.
The system was tested in public and in earnest. Certina DS watches accompanied the Swiss Dhaulagiri expedition to the Himalayas in 1960 and were worn on subsequent scientific and diving expeditions, including deep-sea work off the Mediterranean coast.
The company was among the founders of the General Watch Co consortium in 1971, which later folded into ASUAG and then the Swatch Group, where Certina sits today.
Its modern position is value-focused Swiss mechanical watchmaking: the DS Action and DS PH200M dive watches, the DS-1 and DS-2 dress and sport lines, and widespread use of the Powermatic 80 movement with its eighty-hour reserve. Certina has timed motorsport and cycling events, including a long association with the Dakar Rally.
- 1888
- The Kurth brothers found the company in Grenchen.
- 1938
- The Certina name is adopted.
- 1959
- The Double Security system and turtle emblem are introduced.
- 1960
- DS watches accompany the Swiss Dhaulagiri expedition.
Also in 7 collections
This watch appears in the Certina DS Action range (19), Stainless Steel Watches (2,833), Automatic Watches (1,417), Leather Strap Watches (904), Sports Watches (667), Dive Watches (486) and GMT Watches (208).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 200m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
- One of Certina's more premium watches
Worth knowing
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Certina DS Action GMT Powermatic alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | C0329292605100 | 799.10.201.32 | HBC007J1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,025 | £1,150 | £1,100 |
| Case size | 41mm | 42mm | 39.5mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | 200m | 200m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Rubber strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | — | 38 hours | 72 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 200m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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