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This time I will tell you more about the watch which had my interest as soon as I saw the official photos of it – Certina DS Pilot. As it comes from the name, whole timepiece is finished in style of classic pilot’s timekeeping tool. Moreover, it is a central hand chrono, what keeps the whole styling clean, but gives you a bit more buttons. Pricing is quite reasonable, but there was one more catch which we will discuss today.
By the way, here you can read more about another great watch.
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Dial
To be honest, the dial was the main part that caught me instantly. Just take a look at it yourself. We are talking about blue version which in my opinion looks the best. Yes, there is also another version with green dial, but whole combo is spoiled with gold/bronze case. At least my eye is more pleased with blue-silver combo. Note that color gets darker to the edges, what helps to create the necessary contrast for the outer scale.
All digits are applied and feature chrome edges. Font style is easy to read and looks timeless, somewhat mimicking aircraft dials. There are no other applied elements, what keeps whole structure in a classy look without unnecessary things. All digits also feature luminous layer, but we will talk about it later.
Handset is not as simple as it might look at the first sight. Yes, there are two large parts – hours and minutes hands, and also the smaller seconds hand on the separate subdial. Careful look will also help you find another element – stopwatch seconds hand with small aircraft on its end. All those parts also feature chrome backing, and it is a good combination together with large digits. Very easy to read, and doesn’t look too cluttered.
Another great thing is that Certina kept writings to the reasonable minimum. It could be even better to avoid year and DS series naming here as well, but unfortunately they are here. At least I appreciate that they don’t differ in color from other parts of the dial.
Yes, small subdial is still here, but it is used for slightly different purpose. Small seconds indicator is always moving, and it adds a bit more sophistication to the dial. Date indicator is right in the lower portion of this subdial, and it looks a bit off to be honest. I wish it would be in the same color as the whole dial, but I guess it is too much too ask at this price tag…
Whole dial is covered with sapphire glass which will be handy in everyday use. What is really impressive in person is generous Super-Luminova coating on hands and digits. Here you can see one the shots, and I also included some snaps in the video-review, so be sure to check it too. 🙂 Such a thing is always welcome for dark-time visibility, and even more useful in the watch which is touted as pilot’s tool.
Case
Certina DS Pilot comes in 316L steel case with beautiful matte finish. Weight is not too hefty – 80g, but you still feel it on your wrist. Whole design is classic, so you will get smooth lines without any unusual cues on the timepiece. Clean bezel actually adds to the elegant look, and I appreciate that watch designers stayed away from adding tachymeter. Moreover, smooth profile adds to the ease of use, and you can see on the next shots how sleek is whole design.
Don’t forget that we are dealing with chronograph here. It means that right side is adorned with crown and two pushers. All those three parts are also in matte finish. Crown also features Certina logo engraving. This element is surprisingly easy to handle, I didn’t have any issue with setting the time or activating the stopwatch.
Rear cover is full metal and features traditional Certina turtle logo. Well, at least it comes in the same finish as the whole case, and it should be hard to scratch. On the photo below you can also see the lugs angle, which helps to hide the size of the watch and make it easier to wear.
Strap
I have also to note that strap is a bit more on thick and rigid side. Yes, it will be softer when you will start using it, but that is something I can’t guarantee. Such thing requires time, and for some it might be easier just to order the softer aftermarket option.
As for the aftermarket, I think that Certina DS Pilot has a good chance to become a good combo-piece in your collection. Classic dial will be easy to combine with different strap styles and colors, so be sure to experiment a bit.
Movement
Inside you will find ETA 251.264 quartz movement, and this was my main surprise here. Somehow I am used to expect mechanical movements from Certina watches, and here I was hoping for the same thing inside. Classic quartz can be good for everyday use and precise timekeeping, but as you saw before, there is no chance to appreciate what is inside. Stopwatch functions come as nice bonus, and unusual dial layout will make it easier to check time.
In Use
As usual, I have managed to spend some time with this watch and have few things to note. First of all it is large and at 43mm it is more for average and large-sized wrists. In my opinion it will look strange on thin wrists, but of course you can try yourself. Overall build quality is top-notch, and there is nothing to mention about it.
Dial legibility is also good, and you won’t have problems even in dark surroundings. Classic styling helps with it, and such design will be equally suitable with suit or with tshirt and crocs. I like how Certina approached chronometer function here, and it actually adds a bit more interest to the dial.
I have seen the green version in person and have to say that I am still more inclined to the blue variant. It looks less gaudy and attracts less attention just because it is made in shiny color. Moreover, Certina maintained the same approach throughout the whole watch, so there is no other color or surface finish on this timepiece. Whole combo looks solid, and I don’t know what else could be changed here.
Yes, date indicator is not my favorite thing on the watches, and here it is even more questionable. One of the small problems you might see here is that window will be covered by seconds hand for a short time. Other than that your eye gets used to such placement and it is not a huge problem in real life.
Certina DS Pilot – Price and Availability
New watch should be already available for around 770EUR. Keep in mind that golden version comes for 50EUR more, and I am not sure if it is worth paying more while you can get classic one cheaper. I like the whole idea and approach to design of Certina DS Pilot. It looks classic, but not too gaudy, and keeps the whole styling clean without unnecessary clutter which is typical for chronos.
Nevertheless, quarts chrono for this price is a quite tricky thing which will encounter a lot of interesting options from other brands. Here it is not about the movement inside, but more for the classic styling with some extra features inside. If you are not too focused on this watch not being on mechanical caliber and you like the design here, then definitely go for it. Note that today’s watch is not a limited edition and should be easy to get in Helveti webshop. 🙂
