Fingers-On With The New Certina DS-2 Chronograph Computerized

There’s nothing like a superb story to spice up a watch’s attraction. The most recent DS-2 Chronograph Computerized is a descendant of a well-known Certina Chronolympic mannequin that reached the summit and descended Mt Everest in 1970 on the wrist of Japanese daredevil Yuichiro Miura as he skied down the slopes at breakneck velocity. Selecting up on retro Seventies design cues, the brand new DS-2 Chronograph flaunts a cool tonneau-shaped case, a bicompax chronograph structure and an upgraded Valjoux-based computerized motion with a silicon hairspring and an elevated energy reserve.

Following the DS-1 of 1959 with its sturdy Double Safety (DS) shock, mud and 200m water resistant case, the Certina DS-2 of 1968 mixed resilience with varied problems, together with chronographs, and captured the design temper of the day with its tonneau-shaped metal case. The DS-2 Chronolympic was a line of chronographs launched within the late Sixties with high-grade handbook actions.

In 1970, Certina outfitted a Japanese expedition to the very best peak on this planet with 5 fashions of its DS-2 Chronolympic. Simply shy of 8,000m, Yuichiro Miura strapped on his skis and raced 2,000 metres down the mountain, reaching speeds of as much as 160 km/h, slowed solely through the use of a parachute. His daring downhill run was documented within the Oscar-winning documentary The Man Who Skied Down Everest and consolidated the popularity of Certina’s DS line as a dependable and resilient companion for excessive sports activities.

The brand new DS-2 Chronograph is an evolution of Certina’s retro-inspired DS-2 Powermatic 80 assortment, launched in 2022. Flaunting a period-correct tonneau case in chrome steel or chrome steel with a yellow gold PVD coating, the burly 200m water resistant case measures 43.3mm throughout and has a thickness of 15.25mm. The crown screws down, and the screw-in caseback has a sapphire crystal for a view of the motion. Whereas the flat bezel and case center show a sporty brushed end, the perimeters, pushers and crown are polished, attracting gentle to the case.

The structure of the darkish matte blue or inexperienced dials we photographed is trustworthy to the bicompax show of the DS-2 Chronolympic ref. 8601 800 (1970-1974). With contrasting silver-coloured small seconds at 9 and the 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, the white-framed date window at 6 o’clock and the white tachymetre scale had been additionally options of the unique.

There are color scheme variations on the 2 dials; the blue mannequin makes use of utilized silver-coloured indices with yellow suggestions and a yellow central chronograph seconds hand, whereas the inexperienced mannequin depends on golden-coloured indices and a white central seconds hand; the blue dial makes use of pink to focus on three areas of the 30-minutes counter, the inexperienced makes use of gold. To help legibility in the dead of night, the flat hour and minute palms and indices are handled with Tremendous-LumiNova.

The yellow gold PVD mannequin is fitted with a brown leather-based strap with an embossed crocodile print, whereas the sportier metal mannequin comes on a blue material strap with yellow stitching, each with a quick-change system.

The reverse facet gives a view of the ETA A05.231 computerized chronograph motion, a recent replace of the well-known Valjoux 7750 of the early Seventies. Additionally utilized by sister-brand Tissot, this cam-and-lever operated chronograph has an extended energy reserve of 68 hours and is fitted with an anti-magnetic silicon hairspring.

Availability & Worth

Obtainable in any respect authorised Certina sellers worldwide and on the model’s web site, the metal with gold PVD and inexperienced dial of the DS-2 Chronograph Computerized retails for CHF 1,995; the metal and blue dial for CHF 1,980. For extra data, please seek the advice of www.certina.com.