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Interview: Marc Aellen on Certina’s Recent Developments and Future Models

Certina CEO Marc Aellen discussed the DS Action Diver, the brand’s collection strategy, online sales and its effort to make Swiss watches accessible to younger buyers.
Estimate3–4 min Catalogued SpecialistWatchRanker Team

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In a March 2025 interview, Certina CEO Marc Aellen described the DS Action as the brand’s main collection and previewed a more resistant automatic diver. Certina announced the DS Action Diver 40.5mm two months later, with 300m water resistance and ISO 6425:2018 certification. Aellen also discussed Certina’s place in Swatch Group, its mix of mechanical and quartz watches, market priorities, and environmental efforts.

What did Aellen say Certina is trying to be?

“Certina is the Swatch Group sports brand at the entry level,” Aellen said in the interview published by Monochrome Watches on 14 March 2025. He framed the brand around accessible Swiss watches, with a particular emphasis on sports models and Certina’s dive-watch heritage.

That positioning includes both mechanical and quartz watches. Aellen said demand persists for watches below CHF 500 and linked the need for quartz options partly to the strong Swiss franc and resulting local-currency price increases in some markets. As an example of the brand’s mechanical dive-watch offer, he cited an ISO 6425-certified watch with a ceramic bezel and Powermatic 80 movement at about CHF 800. Those were interview-era examples, not current prices or universal price points for Certina watches.

What new watches did he discuss?

DS Action Diver: preview followed by a 2025 launch

Aellen said the DS Action was Certina’s main collection and previewed a more resistant automatic DS Action Diver for May or June 2025. Certina’s 23 May 2025 announcement subsequently introduced the DS Action Diver 40.5mm. The announcement specifies 300m water resistance, ISO 6425:2018 certification and the New DS Concept Extreme Shock Resistance.

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#1 Best Overall
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40, mm, Steel, Quartz, Precidrive, Watch, Black, Steel, C0484101105100
  • Case size: 40.00 mm: Band Width: 20.00 mm: Case Thickness: 11.20 mm
  • Quartz , Precidrive
  • Band Type: Steel: Band Length: 179.05 mm
  • Water-resistant up to 300 m / 990 ft: suitable for diving and/or snorkeling.
  • 2 Year International Warranty

The official product page for reference C048.407.18.051.01 identifies a steel Powermatic 80 automatic model with an 80-hour power reserve. Certina’s announcement also confirms steel and titanium versions. The interview preview and subsequent product information are separate: the specifications above are documented by Certina’s later announcement and product page.

DS-1 Big Date

Aellen described DS-1 as Certina’s classic automatic collection and said new functions or complications were planned for 2025. The brand’s 24 April 2025 announcement documented two DS-1 Big Date variants. Certina specified a 41mm steel case, Powermatic 80.651 movement, 80-hour power reserve and Nivachron balance spring.

Rank #2
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40.5, mm, Titanium, Automatic, Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date, Watch, Blue, Titanium, C0484074404100
  • Case size: 40.50 mm: Band Width: 20.00 mm: Case Thickness: 14.10 mm
  • Automatic , Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date
  • Band Type: Titanium: Band Length: 179.64 mm
  • Water-resistant up to 300 m / 990 ft: suitable for diving and/or snorkeling.
  • 2 Year International Warranty

How did he describe Certina’s collections?

  • DS Action: Aellen called it the main collection and highlighted the continuing development of the dive-watch offer.
  • DS-7: A sports line based on a 1970s design, positioned outside the marine-dive environment.
  • PH family: PH100, PH200, PH500 and PH1000 dive watches inspired by historic Certina models.
  • DS-1: The classic automatic collection, with the Big Date announcement providing a concrete example of a 2025 addition.

Which markets and sales channels were priorities?

Aellen said Certina had made significant progress in the United States, where e-commerce and local partners were a focus. He pointed to promising results in France and described Asia as a growth opportunity.

He estimated that online sales accounted for “About 30%, split between our e-commerce and partners.” That was Aellen’s estimate in the 14 March 2025 interview, not an audited sales figure. It combines Certina’s own e-commerce with partner sales.

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Rank #3
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40.5, mm, Steel, Automatic, Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date, Watch, Black, Steel, C0484071105101
  • Case size: 40.50 mm: Band Width: 20.00 mm: Case Thickness: 14.10 mm
  • Automatic , Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date
  • Band Type: Steel: Band Length: 179.64 mm
  • Water-resistant up to 300 m / 990 ft: suitable for diving and/or snorkeling.
  • 2 Year International Warranty

What did he say about sponsorship and the environment?

Aellen mentioned padel and cross-country skiing as areas of sponsorship or brand visibility. He also connected Certina’s association with the Sea Turtle Conservancy to the brand’s dive-watch history and turtle-shell symbol, which he dated to 1959. He described continuing support for the organization and efforts to use Tide recycled straps and recycled materials where possible, while acknowledging that Certina was not perfect.

The interview does not quantify the environmental effect of those efforts or describe a donation mechanism linked to watch purchases.

Rank #4
Certina, Mens, DS Action Day-Date Powermatic 80, Stainless Steel, Swiss Automatic, Watch, Blue, Plastic, 20, (C0324301804101)
  • Case Size: 11.96 mm, Band Width: 41.00 mm, Case Thickness: 41.00 mm
  • Swiss Automatic movement, Stainless steel case, DAY/DATE, Blue band
  • Band Type : Synthetic, Band Length: 190mm
  • Water Resistant: Up to a pressure of 20 bar (200m)
  • 2 Year International Warranty
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What challenge does Aellen see for the watch industry?

Aellen identified making Swiss mechanical watches interesting and attractive to younger consumers as a key challenge for Certina and the wider industry. His stated direction connects that challenge to offering accessible mechanical watches while retaining lower-priced quartz options.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40, mm, Steel, Quartz, Precidrive, Watch, Black, Steel, C0484101105100
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40, mm, Steel, Quartz, Precidrive, Watch, Black, Steel, C0484101105100
Case size: 40.00 mm: Band Width: 20.00 mm: Case Thickness: 11.20 mm; Quartz , Precidrive; Band Type: Steel: Band Length: 179.05 mm
$500.00
Bestseller No. 2
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40.5, mm, Titanium, Automatic, Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date, Watch, Blue, Titanium, C0484074404100
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40.5, mm, Titanium, Automatic, Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date, Watch, Blue, Titanium, C0484074404100
Case size: 40.50 mm: Band Width: 20.00 mm: Case Thickness: 14.10 mm; Automatic , Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date
$1,060.00
Bestseller No. 3
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40.5, mm, Steel, Automatic, Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date, Watch, Black, Steel, C0484071105101
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40.5, mm, Steel, Automatic, Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date, Watch, Black, Steel, C0484071105101
Case size: 40.50 mm: Band Width: 20.00 mm: Case Thickness: 14.10 mm; Automatic , Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date
$970.00
Bestseller No. 4
Certina, Mens, DS Action Day-Date Powermatic 80, Stainless Steel, Swiss Automatic, Watch, Blue, Plastic, 20, (C0324301804101)
Certina, Mens, DS Action Day-Date Powermatic 80, Stainless Steel, Swiss Automatic, Watch, Blue, Plastic, 20, (C0324301804101)
Case Size: 11.96 mm, Band Width: 41.00 mm, Case Thickness: 41.00 mm; Swiss Automatic movement, Stainless steel case, DAY/DATE, Blue band
$810.00
Bestseller No. 5
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40, mm, Steel, Quartz, Precidrive, Watch, Green, Steel, C0484101109100
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40, mm, Steel, Quartz, Precidrive, Watch, Green, Steel, C0484101109100
Case size: 40.00 mm: Band Width: 20.00 mm: Case Thickness: 11.20 mm; Quartz , Precidrive; Band Type: Steel: Band Length: 179.05 mm
$500.00
Best Value
Certina, Mens, DS Action Gent, 40, mm, Steel, Quartz, Precidrive, Watch, Green, Steel, C0484101109100
  • Case size: 40.00 mm: Band Width: 20.00 mm: Case Thickness: 11.20 mm
  • Quartz , Precidrive
  • Band Type: Steel: Band Length: 179.05 mm
  • Water-resistant up to 300 m / 990 ft: suitable for diving and/or snorkeling.
  • 2 Year International Warranty

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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