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Certina DS Action Diver 38mm Powermatic 80
Ref. C0488071109100
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Stepping up in Certina's range
The DS Action line carries Certina's Double Security concept, a shock and pressure resistance architecture the brand has been refining since the 1960s. This 38mm version adds ISO 6425:2018 certification — the current benchmark for a proper diver — and pairs it with the Powermatic 80.611, an ETA movement notable for an 80-hour power reserve and a Nivachron balance spring that shrugs off magnetic fields without requiring a soft-iron cage. That combination of genuine depth rating and considered movement choice is the reason the DS Action exists in the form it does. On the wrist, 38mm with a 45mm lug-to-lug span sits closer to a dressy diver than a tool watch in feel, though the 13.22mm thickness means it is not quite as flat as you might hope under a cuff. The sunray green dial shifts between deep forest and bright emerald depending on the angle, and the matching ceramic bezel insert keeps the two surfaces visually coherent. Geometric indices with Super-LumiNova charge quickly and hold well into the night. The deployant clasp includes both a quick-release system and an integrated wetsuit extension — features you would normally expect on a watch sitting a good deal higher in the market.
- Reference
- C0488071109100
- Brand
- Certina
- Collection
- DS Action
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 13.22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Green
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- Powermatic 80
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 300m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 45.01mm
- Power reserve
- 80 hours
- Weight
- 153g
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), Back in Stock (3,460), Stainless Steel Watches (2,531), Automatic Watches (1,573), Sports Watches (696), Dive Watches (499) and Green Dial Watches (339).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 300m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- 38mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 80-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Certina DS Action Diver alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | C0488071109100 | YA136353 | T1208072205101 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £790 | £819 | £750 |
| Case size | 38mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 300m | 300m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 80 hours | 38 hours | — |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 300m 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 comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 80 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 45.01mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
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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