Sunday Morning Showdown: Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium Vs. Certina DS Action Diver Titanium 38mm

Welcome back to another Sunday Morning Showdown! Daan and I are both stationed in the Netherlands, where winter is hitting hard. The skies are gray, and a layer of slushy, half-melted snow covers the earth. This has us dreaming of summer holidays in faraway exotic locations. We dream of wearing nothing but swim trunks and hardcore, titanium dive watches. So, for this Sunday Morning Showdown, we decided to pit two of those against each other. Daan will defend the Certina DS Action Diver Titanium 38mm, while I will bring the Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium to the ring. Let’s see how they fare!

Both watches have 300m depth ratings, automatic movements, titanium cases, and typical dive-watch stylings. They rival each other in price, too, with the Certina costing CHF 925 and the Baltic coming in at €883.30. This small price gap is compensated by the fact that the Certina comes on a titanium bracelet while the Baltic comes on a rubber strap. All in all, these watches really do go head-to-head.

Last week’s Sunday Morning Showdown

But before we get into all of that submersible goodness, let’s have a look at last week’s results. Jorg and Daan took two quirky Seikos into the ring. Jorg represented the Seiko 5 “Gene Kranz” SRPL91 / SRPL93. Daan, meanwhile, defended the Seiko “Rotocall” SMGG17 / SMGG19 / SMGG2.

The result was quite clear. The “Gene Kranz” took the win with an ample 65% of votes. The comments section showed a preference for it based on the backstory and its looks. As always, that same space-travel-related backstory also put part of the reader base off. It was mentioned as a reason to vote for the “Rotocall” instead. The latter also scored votes for originality but lost some for being a digital watch, which isn’t universally loved among the Fratelli.

With that out of the way, let’s get into today’s showdown!

Thomas: Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium

Good morning, Fratelli! And good morning, Daan. This might turn out to be a good one since these two watches are so competitive yet very different. I owned a Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium and wore it intensively, so I felt more drawn to this candidate. Still, I liked the Certina every time I handled it, too.

In fact, I think you couldn’t go wrong either way. In this weird sense, today’s showdown is almost futile, as you will probably simply resonate with one over the other based on the vibe. From a technical perspective, I don’t think your ownership experience will be vastly different between the two. The Powermatic 80 versus the Miyota 9039 isn’t a matter of massive quality differences. Similarly, the fit and finish on both watches is good and on point for the price.

Actually, I may have to concede a point to Certina regarding the movements. This version of the Powermatic 80 includes a Nivachron hairspring, providing greater resistance to magnetism than the steel spring in the Miyota. The 80-hour power reserve also scores points, of course. Then again, you may prefer the smoother 28,800vph sweep of the Miyota over the Powermatic’s 21,600. Let me, instead, shift the conversation to the aforementioned vibes, as things get a bit clearer there.

The Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium over the Certina DS Action Diver Titanium

This is subjective, but I think the Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium blows the Certina out of the water when it comes to looks. Baltic, as a brand, comes from a place of deep admiration for vintage watches. Founder Etienne Malec wanted to bring the aesthetic of yesteryear to a more affordable price level, which is the raison d’être of the French brand.

That wouldn’t matter much here if it weren’t so visible in the Aquascaphe Titanium’s design. It takes all the prettiest parts from 1950s and 1960s divers, puts them in a blender, and somehow ends up as a very cohesive and original watch. The details all feel purposeful and put together by aficionados with great respect and admiration for dive-watch heritage. Just look at the hour markers and hands, for instance. They reference the history of the genre but take it into Baltic’s modern design language. They appear balanced, pretty, and supremely legible. The Certina’s layout, especially in that odd pale blue tone, lacks some of that clarity.

Similarly, one look at the case profile of the Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium seals the deal for me. The design feels simple, to the point, clear, and very appealing. Little details, such as the concentrically brushed ceramic bezel insert and the dial textures (I love that glossy, deep blue one), drive it home as a winner. Okay, Daan, now let’s hear why the Certina is actually the one to get!

Daan: Certina DS Action Diver Titanium 38mm

Thanks for setting the scene, Thomas. Indeed, as I write this article, the snow is gently falling, and my kids are hoping to take the sled out again tomorrow. How nice to put our minds into summer mode for a bit and think about which titanium dive watch we’d like to wear. Thanks also, Thomas, for already clarifying that in terms of specs, the Certina DS Action Diver is objectively the superior watch here. That means it ultimately comes down to personal preferences and individual tastes. In this case, I’ll focus on the former as I defend the DS Action Diver, of course.

What’s there to like about the Certina DS Action Diver Titanium 38mm? Well, first of all, its 38mm size is perfect for a do-it-all, stay-out-of-the-way summer diver. I also love how the designers kept the size of the bezel within bounds. Did you know that the 39mm Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium has a 41mm flying-saucer-like bezel? That might be great grip-wise, but for me, it takes away the compact feel of the original Aquascaphe.

The Baltic’s design is great, but…

The brushed ceramic bezel insert on the Baltic is indeed a nice touch. However, I also appreciate how the Certina designers dared to experiment with color and chose a deep brown for this watch’s bezel. It complements both the darker shade of titanium and the light blue used on the hands and applied hour markers. Yes, that’s right. While the Aquascaphe only offers printed hour markers, the DS Action Diver comes with the full shebang on its masterful matte black dial. It gives this affordable diver a more high-end feel.

I do agree with you, Thomas. Baltic generally nails its vintage-inspired designs, and many big-group brands could learn something from their style. However, I think the Certina DS Action Diver Titanium 38mm comes very close in that regard. Sure, it might be a little more contemporary than the Baltic. Its design is very consistent, though, and, as I already mentioned, the use of color is outstanding, especially for a watch from a large group.

Big-group benefits

Sure, design-wise, Baltic may have a slight advantage here. However, as Thomas mentioned, for almost the same price, you do get a bracelet on the Certina DS Action Diver Titanium, while on the Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium, you don’t. For a smaller brand like Baltic, it’s simply not worth investing so much money in developing a titanium bracelet for such small quantities. That’s exactly where Certina benefits from being part of the much larger Swatch Group. The brand can collaborate with others in the group and utilize their production facilities and expertise. That’s also why Certina can offer the DS Action Diver with a superior movement.

In (my) conclusion, the Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium offers great looks, an oversized bezel, and cuts some corners regarding the dial and movement. In comes the Certina DS Action Diver Titanium 38mm, featuring nearly equally great looks, an exceptional use of color, a high-quality Swiss movement, and a matching titanium bracelet. This is certainly a tough matchup between two capable candidates, but my money is on the Certina.

Time to cast your vote

So, there you have it — a battle between two fairly affordable titanium dive watches. Get ready to cast your vote. Does it go to the French-Japanese Baltic Aquascaphe, or will you vote for the Swiss-made Certina DS Action Diver Titanium 38mm? Vote now, and let us know in the comments below why you chose the watch you did. See you next week for another Sunday Morning Showdown!