Even though Certina DS1 “Double Security” (ref. C006.407.16.088.00) offers a pretty generic design, it is a nice entry-level model for those high-school graduates still dreaming about their first dress watch with the legendary “Swiss Made” inscription on the dial, which is said to be adding at least +10 to mating abilities and +25 to personal charisma.
The DS1 “Double Security” will possibly play in the same sandbox as the DS Caimano model but will be a little bigger.
According to official specs, the time-measuring device will be issued in a mid-sized case crafted from polished stainless steel.
Being only 39 millimeters in diameter, the watch may be a good choice for those looking for a dress timekeeper, but lacking the adequate funds to get themselves a Patek Philippe Calatrava or even an Omega DeVille.
Although some may argue that the watch looks too simple, it by no means looks rustic, like a great number of other entry-level Swiss-made watches do.
Its dial sports a nice barleycorn guilloche-like pattern in the center and the Roman numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours look absolutely proportionate to the stick-shaped hour markers and the sword-shaped hour and minute hands.
It was also a great pleasure to notice that both hands have thin and long patches of luminous substance on them (probably, white Superluminova,) which is a rare thing when it comes to dressy watches.
Perhaps, my only complaint here is the way the date aperture, which is located between 4 and 5 hours, cuts through the visual line that separates the central part of the dial from the outer side.
From where I sit, the date window makes the watch look cheaper than it actually is, showing everyone that the Swiss watchmaker decided to cut costs here and thereby, for example, not modifying the base ETA 2824-2 blank caliber in order to make the default calendar window match the increased size of the dial.
Besides this minor annoyance, I don’t see any reason that would have stopped me from buying this watch if I was on the market for an affordable dressy timekeeper.
Well, frankly speaking, we still have no idea how much the Swiss brand plans to charge for this watch, but if the past is of any indication, the DS1 Automatic will probably cost around €600, which will make it a good bargain for those craving for their first “Swiss made” dress watch.
See also: Ebel Classic 100 Limited Edition (ref. 9120R41/6430136)
Photos: Certina
Certina DS1 “Double Security” (ref. C006.407.16.088.00) specification
Price: €625 (MSRP)
Movement: Caliber ETA 2824-2, automatic, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 25
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Movement decoration: Branded oscillating weight
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power reserve: 40 hours
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 39.00 mm
Case height: 9.00 mm
Lug width: 20 mm
Dial: Black or Silvered
Numerals: Roman
Hour markers: Applied
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Brown leather strap on steel butterfly clasp
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Transparent