Swatch Group’s Powermatic 80 movement, based on an ETA 2824-2 and used most widely in Tissot’s automatic watches, is being adopted by stablemate Certina in a vintage-style classic three-hander with date.
Certina is best-known for its dive watches, but the DS Powermatic 80 is more of an everyday timepiece, kept accurate for up to 80 hours thanks to its magnetic-field resistant Nivachron balance spring.
It is in the same family as the DS Chronograph Automatic that launched last year, but in a slightly smaller 40mm steel case with the option of rose gold PVD or yellow gold PVD finish.
Prices range from CHF 850 to 890 for a collection with five choices of sunburst dial colors: white, gold, brown, green or blue, incredible value for what is effectively an inhouse movement (to Swatch Group at least) and watches with applied markers and precision manufactured hands.
They are offered on NATO straps in blue-brown stripes, anthracite or in light or dark brown patent leather.
They may not be dive watches, but they are water resistant to 100 meters thanks to the double security case closure system that gives the family its DS moniker.
