Certina DS Super PH500M VDST Special Edition
Starting from 1.055 €The Certina DS Super PH500M is a Swiss automatic dive watch that reinterprets a historic model from the brand while grounding it in contemporary diving practice. Developed in partnership with the VDST, Germany’s sport diving federation, it is instantly recognisable by its orange dial, chosen by experienced divers for its contrast underwater. Its 43 mm steel case houses the Powermatic 80.611 calibre and resists depths of 500 metres, in line with ISO 6425:2018. A unidirectional rotating bezel with safety lock, sapphire crystal and the house DS concept complete a tool watch built for real immersion. It appeals to divers and enthusiasts of technical watches alike, at a measured price point.
Certina DS Super PH500M dive watch
Certina belongs to the Swatch Group and claims an entirely Swiss made production. Its identity is summed up in two letters: DS, for Double Security, a concept introduced in 1959 that brings together a set of features designed to protect the movement. An O-ring on the stem, two gaskets in the crown, a dedicated seal on the caseback, a reinforced caseback and a sapphire crystal: each element serves the same purpose, keeping the calibre alive against water, shocks and pressure.
The DS Super PH500M draws directly on this history. The original model launched in 1968 under reference 5801 123, with a black dial, 500 metres of water resistance, a date window at 3 o’clock and a dive bezel with a safety lock. In 1969, four scientists on the Tektite I underwater experiment spent two months in submerged habitats wearing the DS-2 Super PH500M, and rated it top marks at the end of their stay.
The reinterpretation launched in 2020 extends this lineage by anchoring it in today’s diving. Certina developed it with the VDST, Germany’s sport diving federation founded in 1954, which brings together tens of thousands of members, around a hundred diving schools and centres, and seventeen regional associations. The federation’s logo is engraved on the caseback, and the dial colour was dictated by divers themselves. A watch designed by and for those who go underwater.
Technical specifications Certina DS Super PH500M VDST Special Edition
- Brand: Certina
- Model: DS Super PH500M
- Reference: C037.407.17.280.10
- Indicative price: 1.055 €
- Movement: Automatic, Swiss made
- Calibre: ETA Powermatic 80.611, Nivachron™ hairspring
- Power reserve: 80 h
- Diameter: 43 mm
- Thickness: 14.95 mm
- Water resistance: 500 m, compliant with ISO 6425:2018
- Materials: Stainless steel 316L
- Crystal: Sapphire, single-sided anti-reflective treatment
- Dial: Orange
- Strap: Black rubber
- Warranty: 2 years
- Box contents: Watch on strap + diving extension
A tool watch built for immersion
The Certina DS Super PH500M lives up to its measurements as a genuine instrument. The 43 mm 316L stainless steel case comes with a thickness of 14.95 mm and a lug-to-lug length of 48.20 mm, proportions that reveal a construction designed first and foremost for pressure. The 113 g recorded on the scale confirm this density of material. Legibility, meanwhile, has been calibrated to the millimetre. The orange dial, requested by experienced divers for its contrast, forms the backdrop for hour markers and hands filled with Super-LumiNova® BG W9, whose blue glow takes over as soon as the light fades.
The single-sided anti-reflective sapphire crystal limits unwanted glare and resists scratches very well. A date window completes the display of hours, minutes and seconds, without overloading the surface. Above it, the unidirectional rotating bezel only turns after slight pressure: this safety lock prevents any accidental shift of the dive time, a critical gesture underwater. Its anodised aluminium insert lightens the whole while resisting corrosion. Finally, the house DS concept, with its reinforced caseback and multiple gaskets, protects the calibre from end to end. The stated water resistance is therefore no catalogue figure: it rests on a complete architecture.
A special edition born with VDST divers
This reference is not a simple colour variant. Certina developed it in cooperation with the VDST, Germany’s sport diving federation, and the partnership can be read on the watch itself: the VDST logo engraved on the caseback signs its origin, while the orange tone of the dial answers an explicit request from seasoned divers keen to read the time at a glance in murky water. The mechanical heart follows the same logic of reliability. The automatic ETA Powermatic 80.611 calibre offers an 80-hour power reserve, more than three days without wearing the watch before it needs resetting.
Its Nivachron™ hairspring, a titanium-based alloy developed within the Swatch Group, strengthens resistance to magnetic fields, shocks and temperature swings, three very real factors in a diver’s life. As for wear, the watch arrives on a black rubber strap with a wave pattern, closed by a 316L stainless steel pin buckle, and comes with a separate diving extension. VDST members, for their part, can claim two additional black NATO straps, including an extra-long version able to fit over the sleeve of a dry suit. The 20 mm lug width in any case leaves plenty of room for strap changes.
Certina DS Super PH500M dive watch: 500 metres and DS heritage
The Certina DS Super PH500M brings together everything expected of a serious mechanical diver: a 43 mm 316L stainless steel case, 500 metres of water resistance compliant with ISO 6425:2018, a unidirectional rotating bezel with safety lock and an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The automatic ETA Powermatic 80.611 calibre, fitted with a Nivachron™ hairspring, delivers 80 hours of power reserve and strong resistance to magnetism. The orange dial, lit by Super-LumiNova® BG W9, remains perfectly legible at depth. Supplied on black rubber with a diving extension, it comes with a two-year warranty.
Movement
The DS Super PH500M is powered by the automatic ETA Powermatic 80.611 calibre, a Swiss made movement that displays hours, minutes, seconds and the date. Its 80-hour power reserve is its main asset: a watch set down on Friday evening is still running on Monday morning, with no need to reset the time. Its Nivachron™ hairspring, a titanium-based alloy, markedly improves resistance to magnetic fields, shocks and temperature variations. A robust package, well suited to everyday wear as much as diving.
Diameter and materials
The case measures 43 mm in diameter with a thickness of 14.95 mm and a lug-to-lug length of 48.20 mm, dimensions that call for a medium to large wrist. 316L stainless steel makes up the case, bezel and buckle: resistant to wear and corrosion, it limits the risk of allergic reaction. The bezel insert uses anodised aluminium, light and stable, while the orange dial is protected by a single-sided anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Stated net weight: 113 g.
Water resistance
With 500 metres of water resistance, the DS Super PH500M far exceeds the needs of recreational diving. It meets ISO 6425:2018, the standard that governs the dive watch designation and imposes a series of demanding tests. This is achieved through the screw-down crown and the reinforced caseback of the DS concept, supplemented by multiple gaskets on the stem and in the crown. The unidirectional rotating bezel only turns after slight pressure, which secures the timing of the dive.
Accessories
The watch is supplied on a black rubber strap with a wave pattern, closed by a 316L stainless steel pin buckle, and comes with a separate diving extension that allows it to be worn over a wetsuit. VDST members can also claim two black NATO straps, including an extra-long version designed to fit over the sleeve of a dry suit. The 20 mm lug width also opens the door to other straps, from nylon to rubber, depending on the occasion.
Warranty
Certina covers the DS Super PH500M with an international 2-year warranty from the date of purchase. It covers manufacturing defects found and does not extend to normal wear or damage resulting from improper use. On a dive watch, maintenance remains crucial: regular checks of water resistance, rinsing in fresh water after each sea dive and gasket replacement during servicing. Registering the timepiece with the brand makes it easier to track after-sales service.
Certina DS Super PH500M The pros
and cons
- 500 metres of water resistance
- 80-hour power reserve
- Orange dial, highly legible underwater
- Unidirectional bezel with safety lock
- Diving extension included
- Thickness of 14.95 mm is substantial
- Demanding 43 mm diameter
- Bold orange dial, strong statement
- Pin buckle lacks micro-adjustment
Prices and technical specifications are subject to change. Content and photos are not contractual.
