Hot Take: Two New Certina DS-1 Big Date Watches With Matte Cases
Today, we’ll briefly examine two new Certina DS-1 Big Date Collection variants. While we’ve typically covered some of Certina’s sportier watches here on Fratello, it’s important to remember that models like the DS-1 form the foundation for a brand. Watch nerds aside, pieces like this sell in large numbers.
The DS-1 Big Date was introduced in 2019 for the 60th anniversary of Certina’s DS, or Double Security System. The innovation was unique in 1959 and mounted the movement on a shock absorber-like system. In addition to shock absorption, DS provided security from water and temperature changes. It was used across all types of Certina watches, not only hardcore tool pieces. Today’s DS-1 models fall into the dressier, daily watch category. Yet, there’s still plenty of utility built into these pieces.
The Certina DS-1 Big Date
Like other pieces within the DS-1 Big Date collection, the new releases use 41mm by 48.5mm 316L stainless steel cases. The watches are 12mm thick and include a curved sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating.
As we’ll see, the watches come with either a bracelet or a strap. Returning to the everyday nature of these pieces, each has a depth rating of 100 meters.
A matte gold PVD option
The theme for both new watches is matte case finishing. A gold PVD option is the most formal of the two, but the blasted case lessens the shouty, blingy appearance. Certina adds a dark blue sunray dial with applied gold-plated indices, brand logo, and model name. A twin-rectangle frame houses the big black on white date display on the bottom of the dial. Some may ask why the date wheel contrasts with the dial. The reason is that it provides contrast and legibility.
The matte gold PVD DS-1 Big Date is exclusively available on a 20mm dark blue leather strap with a crocodile skin texture. Certina pairs this with a push-button buckle and tri-folding clasp. The overall combination is elegant and suitable as an office watch or for more casual scenarios. This piece will be available in May and has a retail price of CHF 875.
A bold black PVD DS-1 Big Date
The second DS-1 Big Date takes a sportier approach with a matte black PVD case and matching bracelet. Here, Certina adds polished metal indices, hands, logo, date frame, and model name to the black sunray dial. Again, a contrasting white on black date wheel emerges as a highly visible detail.
The bracelet is interesting because it strays from the matte theme. The central links and sides of the outer links are polished black PVD. This adds some visual separation to what would otherwise be a very homogeneous matte black watch. Again, this version of the DS-1 Big Date uses a push-button buckle with a folding clasp. The retail price is slightly higher due to the bracelet at CHF 895.
The ETA Powermatic 80
The DS-1 Big Date uses the Swatch Group’s ETA Powermatic 80. It’s visible under a snap-in case back with a display crystal. These venerable 25 jewel movements have a frequency of 21,600vph and 80 hours of power reserve. They also feature a Nivachron hairspring to help resist the effects of magnetic fields, shock, and temperature changes. Naturally, the Powermatic 80 offers a hacking function and quick-set date functionality.
Overall thoughts
The latest DS-1 Big Date references show Certina’s continued focus on making solid, attractive daily watches. From my perspective, the brand has come a long way over the past decade when quartz was more prevalent in the catalog. Sure, 41mm isn’t small, but for those with medium to larger-sized wrists who need a good option for everyday wear, these pieces are worth a look.
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