Meet the Certina Diver, a watch HODINKEE calls "endlessly charming"
If you haven't heard of Certina before, you're not alone. In 2021, the brand re-entered the U.S. market for the first time in decades.
Needless to say, the brand is under the radar, which can be considered a feature in these days of endless hype, copycat collectors...and theft.
And while there are no physical stores in the U.S. (yet), it part of the SWATCH group conglomerate. For those unfamiliar with the SWATCH group, there are basically three tiers:
TOP TIER: Breguet, Blancpain, Glashutte Original
LUXURY: Omega
ENTRY LEVEL: Tissot, Hamilton, and...Certina
So what is the Certina story? Well, it begins with a sleek diver, which channels its much more expensive relative, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.
Its dimensions are standard fare--about 43mm in diameter, and under 12mm in thickness. The water resistance is also par for the course (200m).
Things get more interesting with the movement, though. The Certina uses the Powermatic 80, the same workhorse movement behind Tissot's success with the PRX.
Arguably the Certina's greatest asset is its looks. As mentioned, it channels the Fifty Fathoms looks (most definitely a good thing) and nails the vintage diver aesthetic. It also avoids some of the pitfalls of other blue divers, such as awkward hour hand on the Breitling Superocean Heritage, or the Submariner's cyclops.
Call me crazy, but it even looks better than the vintage-styled Omega Seamaster, pictured at right, which costs around 10 times the price.
Which brings us to another strength: Affordability.
This watch retails for under $1k, and can be had for around $700 on the grey market.
In conclusion, the Certina is a seriously good looking diver, with a solid movement, at a great price. What's not to like?
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