What is a heritage dive watch?
When watch brands release a heritage line, it is usually to commemorate the anniversary of an historic model from their back catalog. The DS Super PH500M is the quintessence of a heritage watch.
In 1969, the original iteration of this watch was Certina’s top dive watch offering. Like the current model, it was also water resistant to a whopping 500 m. Back then, it even retailed for more than a Rolex Submariner, which today costs at least seven times as much as the Certina—if you can get your hands on the Rolex in the first place.
In 1969 and 1970, the US Navy and General Electric ran the Tektite I and II experiments, which pushed the limits of saturation diving. For Tektite I, the aquanauts were supplied with the Certina, plus a Rolex Submariner and Sea Dweller.
During the 58 days, aquanauts conducted marine scientific studies while living in an underwater habitat. Many of the aquanauts preferred the Certina over the Rolexes and wore the Certina for the duration of the Tektite II experiments too.
Some might argue that this Certina is to deep-sea diving what Omega’s Speedmaster (aka the “Moonwatch”) is to space exploration. Celebrating 50 years since the Tektite experiments, in 2020, the new and shiny DS Super PH500M was unveiled, retaining many of the original design elements and features while also modernizing the watch to be as capable and versatile as its contemporary competitors from the likes of Mido, Tissot, and Longines.
By Divers, For Divers
When Certina brought back this iconic model, they collaborated with the German diving association, the VDST, in the design. In fact, if you are a member of the VDST and purchase the orange dial variant of the DS Super PH500M, you will be gifted two additional NATO straps for free.
This watch was built, much like the original, to serve primarily as a diving tool. The fact that it would look equally great at the beach, hiking in the mountains, or in a boardroom meeting is only a bonus.
The bezel design is somewhat unique, insofar as its operation requires the user to push it down before turning it counterclockwise. This makes it nearly impossible to knock the bezel out of its position by mistake.
Furthermore, the “DS” part of the watch’s name refers to the “Double Security” concept that made Certina a brand to be reckoned with in the mid-twentieth century. Namely, all DS Certinas were fitted with a shock-absorbing ring around the movement, preventing disturbances to the watch’s mechanism in case of impact.
The DS on the dial is synonymous with tough build quality. Certina still takes itself to be a very technical brand, as all their watches, including dress watches, are at least 100 m water resistant.
Price/Quality Ratio
With the DS Super PH500M you are getting exceptional value for money. For around $1,000 USD this is what some might call a “spec monster”—a watch with an unbelievable list of features.
Just to highlight a few that aren’t even mentioned in the spec list: the watch is hackable, meaning you can stop the second hand); you can hand wind it if you’ve left it in your drawer and it stops ticking); the crown is guarded for extra security; and there is a 14-sided screw that keeps the bezel and crystal firmly in place.
And that’s without talking about the highly accurate movement with an 80-hour power reserve. It tends to deviate by only a couple of seconds a day, which is excellent tolerance for an automatic watch at this price point.
Certina has not been as widely marketed as similar Swiss brands Tissot, Longines, and Mido. But perhaps by spending less on marketing, Certina has been able to offer a dive watch that outperforms its competitors in terms of precision and build quality.
If you add the brand history to the mix—and the fact that the DS Super PH500M is the reincarnation of a legendary 1960s diver that outperformed the gold-standard Rolex Submariner—this watch ends up looking like an excellent value proposition.
Do we recommend the Certina DS Super PH500M?
It really depends on your thoughts about heritage dive watches. The history that this model has with the aquanauts of the Tektite underwater research missions is fascinating, and this modern interpretation of a classic has retained many of the original design features, structurally as well as stylistically.
The result of being true to the original is a rather heavy and thick watch. If you don’t find a bit of a heft on your wrist a problem, then the DS Super PH500M is the perfect contemporary yet retro truly capable Swiss dive watch. Note that while all offerings of this model are 43 mm, the Certina DS Action Diver is 200 m water-resistant and comes in both a 43 mm and 38 mm case.
As for the Certina DS Super PH500M, you don’t have to baby it and you know it can take a beating. All the while, every time you look down at it underwater, you can feel as though you are looking back at a piece of diving history.
Specs & Features
| Case diameter | 43 mm |
|---|---|
| Case thickness | 15 mm |
| Lug-to-lug distance | 48 mm |
| Lug/strap width | 20 mm |
| Movement | Automatic Swiss Powermatic 80 |
| Case material | 316L stainless steel |
| Strap/bracelet material | Synthetic NATO strap |
| Crystal | Sapphire with anti-reflective treatment |
| Bezel | Stainless steel with aluminum insert, 60 click; push and turn; unidirectional |
| Water resistance | ISO diver’s 500 m |
