Hands-On With The Colorful New Certina DS-X GMT

Well, well, well… It appears that Certina isn’t standing still and allowing microbrands to have all the fun with color. The new DS-X GMT collection consists of five new models. One visited us at Fratello HQ, and it marks a real departure for Certina and the Swatch Group in general. Gear up for fun, affordable, and holiday-ready!

Admittedly, I really miss seeing the Swatch Group and its bevy of brands at a large show like Watches and Wonders. While these shows aren’t the be-all and end-all of watch publicity, I’d love to see brands like Certina get more collective coverage. These shows help in that regard, but for now, we’ll have to remain thankful that we’ve had the chance to get our mitts on watches like the new DS-X GMT.

The Certina DS-X GMT

Before we get to the hands-on portion of the article, it makes sense to provide an overview of the new DS-X GMT collection. All watches in the lineup are made from 316L stainless steel and have a 41mm diameter, 48.2mm lug-to-lug, and 12.15mm thickness. Goodies like a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and a 200m depth rating are part of the package.

The GMT also includes the brand’s highly respected DS system. It provides water, shock, and scratch resistance. Overall, there are five references, but to be fair, four are choices between a strap or bracelet. A gray-dial model with a black and green bezel is available with a green rubber strap or a three-row bracelet. Similarly, there are gray-dial models with black and red bezels on a black strap or bracelet. The standout piece for summer, however, is the white-dial model with a bright blue rubber strap.

Summer-ready with a white dial

When I first set eyes on the latest Certina, I thought I was looking at a watch from Christopher Ward. The vibrancy, the fun, and the color palette didn’t feel typical of a large Swiss brand. But guess what: it works well, and watches like this are long overdue. The DS-X GMT brings together two of my favorite colors. Lighter blue and orange look cool and casual.

The watch has a bidirectional aluminum blue and orange 24-hour bezel. On the outer edge, there’s a friction-fitting bi-directional rotating compass bezel, a relatively arcane detail that keeps the watch from looking like a Rolex clone. Functionally, the bezel setup is interesting. The outer compass bezel can be turned independently. Pushing it down reveals the knurling for the 24-hour bezel, which clicks when turning in either direction. Cosmetically, an angled blue 60-minute rehaut steps down to the white dial, which has applied indexes with polished frames and Super-LumiNova. The simple, legible hour and minute hands are also filled with lume.

The seconds hand has a round pip, and the orange 24-hour hand has an arrow-shaped tip. All the printed verbiage on the dial is blue or orange, which looks great. The way the words float on the dial gives off an appearance of porcelain, a great characteristic.

Guess what: it’s quartz!

I wasn’t expecting a quartz movement in these watches, but I’m excited that Certina opted for this for several reasons. First, as we’ll see in a bit, it keeps the cost to a minimum. Second, it keeps the watch relatively thin. Finally, and most importantly for many folks, the ETA F06.865 caliber is a flyer, not a caller GMT. The watch is equipped with a screw-down crown.

The second position, or the furthest out, is used to advance the 24-hour hand simultaneously with the 12-hour and minute hands. Pushing it into the first position jumps the hour hand in one-hour increments, which is also a semi-quick-set for the date function. It’s simple to use and functional. Finally, the movement contains HeavyDrive, a self-correcting shock-protection system.

A vacation for the wrist

The new DS-X GMT is great on the wrist. The comfortable rubber strap is compliant and high-quality. Plus, the signed pin buckle makes adjustments a breeze as the mercury rises. Because of the stainless steel case, the watch feels substantial, but it’s not overly heavy. Would we like to see a titanium option? Sure, and it would be very “on-brand.” Still, many buyers like the feeling of steel, and it also helps keep pricing in check. From a design perspective, we never got tired of the color scheme during the hot and sunny weather we’ve been enjoying. However, we’re not sure this watch would work as well during autumn or in a more formal business environment. Perhaps the gray models would be more suitable. Does that mean that the white-dial model is an impractical example of conspicuous consumption?

Certina made the DS-X GMT affordable

Buying a watch like the white-dial DS-X GMT may seem like a very seasonal purchase. Yet, when Certina makes it available for just €570 / CHF 495 / £480 (the bracelet models cost €595 / CHF 520 / £500), it feels like a fun, worry-free summer watch. For certain, there are competitors, such as the Seiko 5 GMT, which is mechanical and slightly less expensive. However, it lacks a screw-in crown and offers only half the water resistance. Citizen also plays in this market with its Eco-Drive offerings. Still, I think there’s more than enough room for an attractively designed watch from Certina at this fair price. The color scheme is a welcome change from the normal, serious, and dark-colored pieces we’re used to seeing. Let us know your thoughts on this watch and the collection in general.

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