The Best Mid-Size Swiss Dive Watch Under $1,000 - Certina DS Action Diver 38mm

Size is perfect, but style is too submariner/duro for me and wrist band meh

Yes I got MIDO and planning to buy certina tomorrow

So I hesitate between the Certina Ds Action Diver ( the more high end version that look like the seamaster ) and its equivalent in the Mido Ocean star 200c, as you have try both brand , which on you would recommend ? The price are the same , the big difference is the dial

Lovely watch, but too much text and an ugly logo ruins it for me.

I brought a Certina DS Chrono from 2022. Unbelievable value and retro design, curve sapphire crystal and looks amazing on my blue / silver strap

Great article on dive watches in your link, really enjoyed reading through that, thanks.

I have this watch in gold/green combination. One problem is with it when I want to check time. I look at watch and think "what a beautiful watch" and then minute later "wait, what time is it? I didn't register :) ".

You never mention Steinhart. I it just becasue they cut out middle-men like you and sell direct?

I’ve had my grandfathers DS Automatic Turtleback since 1978. He wore it from the 60’s till he passed. Works fine for me. Coming up to retire I may just look harder at one of these new breed. Others are just too pricey for me to consider as I like spending money like grandad. Wisely.

Just took delivery of the Certina DS action in the black flavour, I absolutely love it, top quality, got to size it up today then I’m good to go.

I just scored one on holiday sale for $525. They basically made me buy it!

if Certaina made the 38mm version with a ceramic bezel and the same clasp as this it would be an instant buy. Come on Certina!

Here’s the thing watch manufacturers do not need to make every watch look like a Rolex Submariner - it’s terrible IMO. It hurts their brands individuality and identity. It’s Sad. And it unconsciously places Rolex as being the only “real” diver. Imitation is not always the best form of flattery.

I own two of these Certina DS Action Divers in 38mm (plain black dial variant and bicolored variant with black dial and green bezel) and I love them both so much. Greetings from Germany ✌️

I own this watch, I wear it a couple of times a week and I've been taken it to dives and some other adventures. The price and quality are amazing.

Hello. One thing I noticed is for the black dial model, maybe some of you know the reason. The markers at 3, 6 and 9 are bolder (like in the video above) than the rest, while for the blue and green dials are not. Nevertheless, I found also the black dial model with those markers slimer, like the case for blue and green. Do you know why is this the case? On Certina site the black model has the slimer markers.

Great review as usual Teddy. On the strength of your review I have just ordered the blue version, so I’m really keen to get it in the next week.
You converted me to Hamilton, when I bought a 38mm Murph. So I’m enjoying being able to buy slightly under the radar watches and it helps me decide where I want my collection to go from here. 👍

Hope they will bring out the forest green colour they used in the 43mm ds action on this 38mm as well. I personally think it looks amazing. Anyone have any idea of this wil ever come out?

Very popular over hear in Europe, I have the ds action gmt and it had been an awesome watch, a bargain true gmt

Have mine on now. Very accurate❤

I had DS Action for 7 years. I had it on my wrist every day all day. Unfortunately I've lost it. I was so impressed with look and feel of the watch and a fact that you can wear it for almost any occasion and a quality of the watch for that price that I'll be getting new DS Action in the next few days. Only thing that bothered me at the beginning (since I've moved from Quartz to automatic movement) is that I've needed to correct time once in 2-3 weeks.

I’m wearing my Blue DS — Fantastic watch!

I bought this one in green exactly one year ago today. One of my 3 favourite every day watches, especially in the summertime when I'm in and out of the pool all the time. Other than the clasp, which feels mid-level at best, the rest of the watch feels and looks really good considering it was under 800 euros. Also, it's very accurate, at around +/- 3 s per day, depending on whether I wear it or it's in the winder.

Pin system bracelet? I might return this watch when I receive it. I couldn't even imagine they'd till use pins on a watch at this price point.

So the question is, this Certina DS Action Diver or the Mido Ocean Star?

From Sweden and here they are regular or a common watch brand. I bhought one today and I like it alot atm.
Feels solid and good quality. This is my first automatic watch never had one before. The size is good since
I have smaller wrist like 6.3 or such.

What should I choose?
Ginault OR or this watch?

This or the 43 when you are wearing 40 recently?

I’ve had the black dialed on my wrist since a year and it’s just the perfect no nonsense tool watch: No flashy dial, compact and really well proportioned. Boring? Maybe, but you never have to think twice when you put it on in the morning.

I own the two tone gold and steel blue face, 38mm. 30th bday present, and blown away. Very accurate, around 3 seconds a day. Feels solid, very comfortable. Would recommend to anyone. Only critism as the dive clasp (which i dont use) feels a bit cheap. Thanks for the great vids. Would to see a comparison of this watch vs longines Hydroconquest

My wife gifted me my first certina yesterday for my birthday I really love it thanks wifey❤

I have a 10 years old DS diver 42mm 200 meter. I wear it daily. A great watch. The power reserve I believe is 40 hour. That's the only down side. I contemplating the current DS in 43 mm. Definitely worth the money IMHO

In Poland (Europe), Certina is very well known and respected. I'm surprised that this brand is not known in the US.

I remember when I was a small boy in the 60 th Certina was a top seller in my home town in Luxembourg.

The Certina DS-2 on a milanese strap is just too good to pass. Amazing value for money. Kept me away from the Longines Legend Diver... for now 😅

I've had a Certina DS Action titanium for a few years, it's probably my favorite watch.

I just got this in titanium. Really satisfied with what I'm getting for the money. Titanium version especially has its own style to it with the turqoise markers.

Too bad this watch doesn’t have a ceramic bezel like the 43mm version. Would’ve bought it if it had

Newer one which is 43mm has really good bracelet, with fast diver extension. It's not great, but it's good for price range. Dial is nothing special, but it's doing the job. Ceramic bezel is nice addition too. Check it out!

I have the ds 38 black version as my daily. Love it! I actually Also have a orginal DS from 1969 that my grandfather bought, never serviced and still runs like a champ!

I just bought the black version from your site. This is the watch I have been looking for. A subtle dive watch at 38mm that I can wear with just about anything. Also wanted a watch with a good heritage behind it. Thanks for the review!

Certina is huge in Europe

They do not ship to Mexico

Perfect Daily rocker....

Certina is very underrated for the design and its quality they provide. I owe a DS Nautic since 27 years and i have smashed the bezel back in the days while skateboarding. It scratched hard on a curb and i have had just a small mark at the bezel. Works ever since with no problems. And the 38 mm case is still awesome to wear on my tiny wrist :). If you wanna start into the watch world and your budget is tight but you wanna get great design and great quality i would invest into Certina with no doubt. And in Switzerland where i grew up it is a very well respected brand.

Size, movement and stats are spot on for me, love the power 80 even, though the odd band width and the look dosn't work for me, I love the seiko solar divers and other simplistic looking diverz, the certina seems to be missing sth, looks a little too much like a placeholdet stock image.

Hi! do you also do a review about the new titanium version?

I love certina, i live in Sweden and certina have always been well known here, if you go into a watch store here its a 99% chance that they are selling certina. actually didnt know that people DIDNT know about this brand, that info shocks me. Quality swiss made watches at a very cheap price

Proud DS owner, honestly can’t fault it for the price range, also one of the most visually pleasing dive watches ever made imo.

Hey Teddy, by chance I looked at these today at my local AD. I actually went to look at the 39mm Longines Hydroconquest, s/s in black on a black rubber strap, which I loved. The Certina looks to have similar build and finish quality, the specs are very close and the dial is also strikingly clear. Its just less than half the price of the Longines. There's also a lovely grey-ish titanium version with pale turquoise lume dots etc, which I think will suit my wife, so I may well buy the two instead of the Longines. Great review, btw.