Certina DS-7 Collection Takes on Classic Integrated Sports Watch Design

I don’t know how many times I’ve written the words “2023 has seen a resurgence in integrated bracelet sports watches” but the statement has continued to be true all the way from spring to autumn. There’s been the Tissot PRX 35mm, the Christopher Ward The Twelve, the Citizen Tsuyosa and now Certina are getting in on the action too. They’ve just launched the brand-new DS-7 collection featuring 10 references split across two models, the DS-7 Powermatic 80 and DS-7 Chronograph.

Certina DS-7 Powermatic 80

In terms of shape, the DS-7 Powermatic 80 clearly riffs on iconic designs from the 1970s and early 1980s. It has a round dial circled by a flat, brushed bezel and the case flows seamlessly into a new integrated bracelet. The tapering of the case towards the bracelet gives it that signature tonneau profile that integrated sports watches are known for. It measures 39mm in diameter and has a 100m water resistance rating. Worth noting as well that while the majority of the collection is steel, there’s two with gold PVD coatings and one titanium reference.

As for the dial, it’s very understated in its display. There’s a peripheral minute track accented by classy bar index hour markers, the hands are straight with a lumed strip down the centre and there’s a date window at 3 o’clock. It makes for a classy display that suits a wide variety of colours and styles, which is fortunate because there are six variants.

To list them you have: gradient green dial with black rimmed bezel, black dial with black rimmed bezel, turquoise in full steel, blue in full titanium, silver dial with PVD bi-colour case, gold dial with full gold PVD case. I predict a lot of people will like the turquoise but I feel like I’ve been oversaturated with the colour recently and actually I prefer the rich gradient green.

Powering all six versions regardless of colourway or case material is the ETA Powermatic 80.611. This is a fantastic movement on specs alone. It’s automatic with a whopping 80-hour power reserve and is equipped with a Nivachron anti-magnetic hairspring. But what makes it truly great is that it’s very accessible, the DS-7 Powermatic only costs £720 for the plain steel version, £780 for those with a hint of PVD, £815 for the full PVD edition and £835 for the titanium.

Certina DS-7 Chronograph

In addition to the DS-7 Powermatic 80 we have the DS-7 Chronograph. Now, these are quartz chronos so we won’t dwell on them quite so long as their mechanical cousins. Structurally they’re notably larger than the automatics at a size of 41mm in diameter but have the same overall shape with round displays that taper in towards the integrated bracelet.

There are four references here, again with a mixture of dial colours and case finishing/materials. The standard version is the black dial piece with black PVD embellishment on its steel case. There’s then a silver bi-colour version which is almost an exact counterpart to the 39mm one. A gradient blue dial one in titanium and lastly a full black PVD edition that comes not on a bracelet but a fabric style strap.

As a chronograph, it’s equipped with hours, minutes, chronograph seconds, 12-hour timer, 30-minute timer, small seconds and date complications. The three subdials are clustered around the central handstack at 10, 2 and 6 o’clock. It’s nice that a Chrono version is available for those who want it, but I definitely rate the Powermatic 80 much higher. And that’s despite the DS-7 Chronograph being more accessible at £575 in full black PVD, £620 in steel with PVD and £725 in titanium.

​Oracle Time 

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