Certina DS Master Quartz Chronometer Watch

At first glance this new watch from Certina is cool and modern, with a sincere nod to futuristic watches born in the late 1970s and early 1980s. But rather than just a fashionable throwback design to that era, the new Certina DS Master has some interesting qualities from a technical perspective. For one thing, it is among the very few watches in the world that comes with a thermo-compensated quartz movement that has been COSC Chronometer certified. This special type of quartz movement is made by ETA (ref. 251.233) in Switzerland, and is much more accurate than standard quartz movements. Plus, the requirements to get a quartz movement Chronometer certified are much harder than for a mechanical movement. As such, the DS Master watch is going to be accurate to within 5-10 seconds a year! That is compared to about 15 seconds a month for standard quartz movements.

The movement also has a chronograph complication, but uses hands placed in the center of the dial that use the main dial for the chronograph minutes and seconds. Subdials are used for the main time seconds and the chronograph hours. There is also a date indicator on a matching black disc. Certina is proud to say that the dial has 7 hands on it. The main hour and minute hands are skeletonized so has not to obscure the info below them.

Certina will offer the DS Master in two styles - an all-black PVD steel version, or a two-tone with polished steel and PVD black coated steel. Oddly, Certina isn't telling us the size of the cool hybrid cushion and round shaped case. The strap is black rubber with nice looking horizontal slits in it. Overall the style of the watch is lovely and masculine. Perfect for watch lovers or people who enjoy nice watches, but don't quite know how to appreciate this piece. Price will be on the higher side for Certina - costing about $1,100 - $1,250 when it comes out soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.