Four New Blacked-Out Certina DS Action Watches: Two 38mm Divers And Two Quartz Chronos
Certina introduces us to four blacked-out DS Action watches. The black-coated steel DS Action Diver 38mm comes in two colorways, with orange or green details. The quartz-powered DS Action Chrono pairs an all-black exterior with either orange or blue accents. Certina found inspiration for the colorways in padel, but all four newcomers still have a 300m water resistance rating. In other words, you can wear these watches on the court and leave them on for a shower or a cold plunge afterward.
I have no idea how many of the Fratelli play padel, but it must be quite a few. Padel has become one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, and Certina began “playing” the fast, strategic game in 2021. That’s when the Swiss brand became the first watchmaker to sponsor it. Now, with this quartet of padel-inspired, blacked-out watches with orange, green, and blue accents, it’s a doubles match — Divers versus Chronos. Who’s going to win?
Introducing four blacked-out Certina DS Action watches: two Divers and two Chronos
All four new Certina DS Action creations share black-coated cases paired with popping colors. The DS Action Diver 38mm (CHF 865 / US$1,000) comes in two color variations, with orange or green details on the seconds hand and the markings on the matte ceramic dive bezel. These watches each feature a domed sapphire crystal with an antireflective coating. Their black dials also have Super-LumiNova on the indexes and hands, a date at 3 o’clock, and a lacquered flange in either orange or teal green.
Both versions feature a 38 × 13.2mm black PVD-coated stainless steel case and a matching black DLC-coated steel bracelet for a stealthy look. They also come with an extra silicone strap in their respective accent colors. Inside, the automatic Powermatic 80 delivers an 80-hour power reserve. The watch, outfitted with a screw-down crown and screw-in case back, is also certified to ISO 6425:2018, confirming that it meets the requirements for a proper dive watch.
DS Action Chrono in black with orange or blue
The DS Action Chrono (CHF 595 / US$690) takes a similar approach, pairing an all-black exterior with either orange or blue accents. The latter is a nod to the padel court’s familiar colors, while orange offers a classic sporty contrast. Both versions feature a 42 × 13.8mm black PVD-coated stainless steel case with a screw-in case back and screw-down crown and pushers. They also have a matching aluminum bezel insert and an orange silicone or black rubber strap. Unlike the automatic divers, these chronographs rely on Certina’s Precidrive technology, which is designed to deliver high quartz accuracy. On the dial’s upper half, you will find 30-minute and 1/10th-second counters, while the small seconds and date window inhabit the lower half.
Like the smaller mechanical dive watches, the DS Action Chrono has a 300m depth rating. As you would expect, there’s plenty of Super-LumiNova on the dial and hands for legibility in low-light conditions. These Certina creations also benefit from the brand’s signature DS Concept Extreme Shock Resistance. This system combines a reinforced dial, a securely fixed movement, and a strengthened sapphire crystal to protect against shocks, vibrations, and impacts. Yes, while these watches look flashy, sporty, and maybe even fashionable, practicality is paramount.
Final thoughts on the new DS Action watches
My “problem” with these four new Certina sports watches is twofold. First, I really don’t like padel. I grew up with tennis. I played, watched, and followed it closely for many years. To me, padel is like beach tennis: it’s super fun to play, but it’s a pastime. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it is a tennis derivative that doesn’t require the level of skill needed to play the game like Federer, McEnroe, or Laver. I’m sure I have offended people by now, but I find padel unwatchable, even at the highest level. Okay, rant over; scorch me in the comments, padel players.
The second “problem” I have, especially with the two new versions of the DS Action Diver 38mm, is the DS Action Diver 38mm Titanium. That grayish, lightweight dive watch with a touch of color is one of my favorite affordable sports watches on the market today. That said, the blacked-out 38mm watch with teal details on a strap in the same fresh green hue is a creation I can see myself wearing next summer in the pool, in the Aegean, or on the tennis court, if I dare pick up a racket again. What do you think of these four new sporty Certina DS Action watches? Let me know in the comments.
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