Certina DS Super PH1000M Dive Watch
Starting from 1.035 €The Certina DS Super PH1000M is an extreme dive watch reviving a Swiss super-diver that first appeared in 1970. True to the DS concept, it combines 1000 metres of water resistance, a helium escape valve and a unidirectional rotating bezel with a locking system, in a 43.50mm barrel-shaped case in 316L stainless steel. Its black dial with orange accents, broad Super-LumiNova® hour markers and date window at 3 o’clock recall the heritage of the Tektite II underwater programme. Powered by the automatic Powermatic 80.611 calibre with a Nivachron™ hairspring, it claims an 80-hour power reserve. Offered in three versions since its return, it is aimed at divers and collectors seeking a rugged instrument at a measured price.
Certina DS Super PH1000M dive watch
Certina built its Swiss reputation on a simple idea: protect the movement. In 1959, the brand introduced the DS concept, for Double Security, a set of sealing and reinforcement features that would become its signature. Multiple O-rings, a reinforced caseback, sapphire crystal: this architecture allowed Certina to accompany explorers, divers and scientific expeditions for decades, championing an approach to tool watches founded on endurance rather than ostentation.
The DS PH family embodies this expertise underwater. Its most spectacular chapter was written in 1970 with a super-diver rated to 1000 metres, a predecessor of which accompanied the aquanauts of the Tektite II programme: five scientists lived for several weeks in a base set on the seabed, a mission that explains the presence of a date window on a diving instrument.
The contemporary reissue faithfully reprises this design, with its slightly curved barrel-shaped case, raised fluted bezel and oversized luminous hour markers. It sits within a coherent range alongside the DS PH200M, DS Super PH500M and DS Super PH2000M, confirming the brand’s vocation for offering accessible Swiss divers. The STC edition extends this commitment by supporting the Sea Turtle Conservancy, a Florida-based organisation founded in 1959, the very year of the DS concept, with which Certina has been a partner since 2017.
Technical specifications Certina DS Super PH1000M
- Brand: Certina
- Model: DS Super PH1000M
- Reference: Depending on version
- Indicative price: 1,035 €
- Movement: Automatic
- Power reserve: 80h
- Calibre: ETA Powermatic 80.611
- Diameter: 43.50 mm
- Thickness: 14.15 mm
- Water resistance: 1000 m / 100 bar
- Materials: 316L stainless steel
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Dial: Black or blue
- Strap: Black textile or rubber
- Warranty: 2 years
- Box contents: Watch in a presentation box
The Certina DS Super PH1000M dive watch
The DS Super PH1000M takes the silhouette of an early-1970s super-diver and transposes it into a contemporary construction. Its barrel-shaped case in 316L stainless steel measures 43.50 mm in diameter for 14.15 mm of thickness, with a slightly curved middle case that hugs the wrist rather than overhanging it. The lug-to-lug length of 47.98 mm stays modest given the stated volume, which makes daily wear easier for an instrument nonetheless built for great depths. Legibility follows the brief of a true diver’s watch.
The black dial with orange accents sets broad hour markers against hands generously filled with Super-LumiNova®, while the single-sided anti-reflective sapphire crystal limits unwanted glare both underwater and on the surface. The date window at 3 o’clock, a direct legacy of underwater habitat missions where time was counted in days, rounds out the display without cluttering the reading of dive minutes. The DS concept, for Double Security, structures the whole case by multiplying the sealing points around the stem, crown and caseback. This architecture, born in 1959, explains the resistance claimed by the model and Certina’s consistency in the field of affordable Swiss tool watches.
Three versions and 1000 metres of water resistance
Since its return to the catalogue, the DS Super PH1000M comes in three versions. The black dial with orange accents, a non-limited version, is delivered on a #tide ocean material® textile strap woven from plastic recovered from the sea. The special STC edition features a sea-blue dial and bezel in the colours of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, a caseback engraved with a dedicated logo and FKM rubber with orange stitching. A third version, with an orange dial and limited to 1,000 pieces, kicked things off in 2023 before being announced as sold out by the brand. All three share the same movement and the same capability for deep diving.
The water resistance of 1000 m / 100 bar relies on a screw-down crown and a helium escape valve positioned at 9 o’clock, designed for ascents after saturation diving. The fluted unidirectional rotating bezel, fitted with an anodised aluminium disc, includes a locking system: it must be pressed down to turn, which rules out any accidental disruption of immersion time. The Powermatic 80.611 calibre and its claimed 80-hour autonomy allow a three-day pause without resetting the time, which simplifies life when travelling. With a retail price of €1,035, the package stands as one of the most compelling propositions in the Swiss diver segment.
Certina DS Super PH1000M dive watch: extreme water resistance
The Certina DS Super PH1000M is a Swiss diver rated to 1000 metres, fitted with a helium escape valve at 9 o’clock and a screw-down crown. Its barrel-shaped case in 316L stainless steel measures 43.50 mm for 14.15 mm of thickness, with a 20 mm lug width. The fluted unidirectional rotating bezel carries an anodised aluminium disc and a push-to-turn locking system. The dial, protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, is filled with Super-LumiNova® and features a date window at 3 o’clock. The automatic ETA Powermatic 80.611 calibre with Nivachron™ hairspring offers 80 hours of power reserve. With a two-year warranty, the watch is delivered in a special premium box.
Movement
At the heart of this diver is the automatic ETA Powermatic 80.611 calibre, which displays hours, minutes, seconds and the date. Its 80-hour power reserve allows the watch to rest over a whole weekend without needing to be reset. The balance oscillates at 21,600 vibrations per hour and is paired with a Nivachron™ hairspring, a titanium-based alloy resistant to magnetic fields, shocks and temperature variations. A package geared towards everyday reliability rather than showmanship.
Diameter and materials
The barrel-shaped case in 316L stainless steel measures 43.50 mm wide for 14.15 mm in height and 47.98 mm lug to lug. The fluted 316L steel bezel carries an anodised aluminium disc, a lightweight material that resists corrosion. The black dial with orange accents, or sea blue on the STC edition, is protected by a single-sided anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Hour markers and hands are generously filled with Super-LumiNova® to ensure immediate readability in darkness.
Water resistance
With water resistance of 1000 m / 100 bar, the DS Super PH1000M ranks among the most resistant divers in its price category. Its architecture follows the DS concept: an O-ring on the stem, two seals in the crown, a dedicated gasket and reinforced caseback, all locked by a screw-down crown. A helium escape valve positioned at 9 o’clock releases accumulated gas after saturation dives. The unidirectional rotating bezel must be pressed down to turn, securing the elapsed immersion time.
Accessories
The black dial version is delivered on a #tide ocean material® textile strap, woven from plastic recovered from the sea, while a rubber strap is also offered in the catalogue. The STC edition receives FKM rubber with orange stitching. All versions use a 20 mm width and a 316L steel pin buckle, with a quick-release system that makes swapping straps easier. The watch is presented in a special premium box, designed to protect it and highlight its character.
Warranty
Certina backs the DS Super PH1000M with a 2-year warranty covering manufacturing defects, excluding normal wear and damage from misuse. Registering the timepiece with the brand makes tracking and any after-sales servicing easier. Like any mechanical diver actually used underwater, it requires periodic checks of the seals and water resistance to preserve the resistance claimed by the manufacturer over time.
Certina DS Super PH1000M The pros
and cons
- Water resistance of 1000 metres
- Helium escape valve at 9 o’clock
- 80-hour power reserve
- Unidirectional bezel with locking system
- Textile strap from recycled ocean plastic
- Thickness of 14.15 mm
- Imposing 43.50 mm case
- Limited availability by version
- Weight of 107 grams
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Prices and technical specifications are subject to change. Content and photos are not contractual.
