Certina DS-3

This is one of my more recent purchases from eBay. It’s an early 1970s Certina DS-3. From what I’ve been able to find out so far, it’s quite rare — Certina made some very chunky dive watches with a similar case, including the DS-3 Super PH, of which some were issued to the Royal Australian Navy. But I haven’t seen many other dress watches using this big cushion case.

Unsurprisingly it’s heavy, even more so on the Watchadoo ‘lumpy’ bracelet. But it is comfortable, with the case curved on the sides so it sits snugly on the wrist.

It has a slightly sparkly metallic blue face with silver baton markers, and slight traces of lume left. The movement is a Certina house automatic, c. 919 (which I think might be based on an A. Schild movement). It runs very well on the wrist, but doesn’t have a lot of life when unworn, so it may need a service soon.

It is also completely silent — the Certina ‘double-shock’ insulation is so effective in isolating the movement from the case that you can’t hear it tick even when it’s right against your ear (either that or I’m going deaf!).

And all this for under A$200!