The Certina DS Super PH1000M. The Real Deal?

For some reason, Certina never seems to catch the limelight. I find this incredibly strange as the company have been at the forefront of diving watches for as long as I can remember, and then some. Relatively few people recognise the name Certina, and even fewer associate the name with quality timepieces. Let's not beat around the bush here, Certina are up there with the best. At their price-point they are, without doubt, some of the best value watches on the market today; their quality, finish, presentation and performance is beyond question. While we're on the subject of quality, I'd like to say a big thank you to Liam at James Moore & Co in Kenilworth, also known as First Class Watches who supplied the timepiece. Although I've bought a few watches online from them in the past, it's the first time that I've actually been to the shop. The staff there are friendly, knowledgeable, and above all, professional.

The review of the PH1000M will be in two parts, this first part will cover all the basic stuff like presentation, specifications, first impressions and so on, while the second part will cover how the watch actually performs when out being used. Those that know me will be grinning now because they know what this watch will go through during the next couple of months. By the end of January, we'll see just how well the DS Super PH1000M stood up to it all. This will take into account its timekeeping, appearance, performance, usability and wearability. So! Without further ado, let's progress to the interesting bit.

First Impressions

I own one or two Certina watches, so the impact is less for me. However, for the first time buyer, it will not disappoint. The whole thing exudes quality, after all, they've been doing this since 1888! First up is the box. A relatively normal, black box with Certina written on the top. Inside is a black, 'Peli' type case that really gets things off to a good start. The watch is supplied on one of the best nylon straps that I've ever seen (and I've seen a few!). The polished buckle, with 'Certina' etched neatly across the narrow, polished face nestles almost out of sight when fastened. It sits so flat on the wrist that it looks and feels like a continuous black band; even the keepers are in the same material and almost invisible. Certina have also included a second strap for those that will actually use the watch for its intended purpose. This one is also black and has a 'Velcro' fastening system. This strap will go over a wet suit or a dry suit with ease and the two additional quick-release spring bars make the whole process a breeze. While this may go unnoticed by the many, the Velcro diving strap passes through both spring bars adding an extra layer of security. Another nice touch that's included is a spring bar removal tool, just in case you decide to fit the normal type bars. All this is typical Certina!

The DS Super PH1000M

This model, although new in November 2023, is no newcomer by any means. In 1970, Certina released the DS-2 Super PH1000M; this was used in the Tektite II programme which involved five divers living in an underwater environment for up to four weeks. The DS-2 Super PH500M being used in the previous Tektite I programme. The original DS-2 Super PH1000M featured an in-house, 28 jewel Certina cal. 25-651 automatic movement, beating at 19,800 vph. While this latest addition is powered by a Powermatic 80.611 automatic movement with an anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring and a beat rate of 21,600 vph. As the name implies, it boasts 80 hours of power reserve on a full tank. The new PH1000M also features an automatic gas escape valve at the 9 o'clock position, but it's very well concealed. For those that are wondering what the 'DS' and 'PH' mean on the dial, I'll just cover it quickly. The 'DS' stands for 'Double Security' and relates to the watch's resilience to shock and water ingress. The 'PH' stands for 'Pression Hydrostatique' and refers to the pressure, in this case 100 bar (1000m). We seem to be inundated at the moment with the reintroduction of vintage watches; however, the DS Super PH1000M is one of the very best. Although the watch is very slightly smaller than the original, it's barely noticeable unless they are side-by-side.

The Bezel

To a diver, the bezel is an extremely important feature. In recent years many younger divers tend not to wear a watch at all, relying on their computer entirely. To dive without a watch is like eating a bacon sandwich without brown sauce; the thought of either brings me out in a cold sweat. Joking apart, truly excellent bezels are few and far between. You need to operate them with dry hands, wet hands, with dry dive gloves and with wet dive gloves. Even insulated 'dry' gloves have to be catered for! So what's different about this one? Well, it may look very similar to other dive bezels but, as we know, looks can be deceiving. The insert is calibrated in minutes around the full 360 degrees. The triangle at the 0/60 position is luminescent with the remainder of the markings being in silver. The finish is matt, and while this may seem completely unimportant, in direct light it remains clear and reflection free. The grip on the bezel is quite chunky and is angled, giving the game away to some extent. The bezel, while being a conventional 60-click, uni-directional affair has another nice feature in that it needs to be pressed down in order for it to rotate. On release, it locks solidly into place, eliminating any possibility of it moving should it get knocked or caught on anything. It is an absolute joy to use in any situation, not only diving. Salt, sand and silt often cause problems with a dive bezel's operation, but Certina have this one covered as well. There are four 'flushing' slots on the rear of the case that go directly to the underside of the bezel, making it easy to flush after the dive. The bezel also aligns perfectly with every single mark, but being Certina this is of little surprise. These are only some of the things that set this watch apart from the rest.

Luminescence

A quick word on the luminescence. I've read articles on Certina watches where it's claimed that the luminescence has fallen below expectation. Of course, I can only comment on my own Certina watches and those that I have had the pleasure to review or evaluate, but my experience has always been extremely positive. With all watches, the immediate effect subsides quite quickly when the watch is plunged into darkness; however, once your eyes have adjusted to the lower light conditions (around 20 minutes or so), all coated surfaces are clearly visible. The DS Super PH1000M is no exception and was still easily readable 8 hours after removing the light source.

The Case

The 'turtle' cushion case has a mixture of brushed and polished finishes, it comes as no surprise that, as with all Certina watches, this is executed to absolute perfection. It's strange, but the whole thing transports you back to those early days of diving exploration. The caseback can only be described as a work of art. As one would expect, it is of course, screw-down and features the Certina DS turtle. The crown is also screw-down, no surprise there, and again typical Certina with its buttery-smooth operation and logo in relief. The back of a case is often left relatively unfinished when compared to the rest of the watch, but being Certina, this has received the same attention to detail as everything else.

The Vitals!

Case material: 316L low-carbon, austenitic stainless steel.

Case dimensions: 43,50mm diameter. 14,15mm thick. 20.00mm lug width.

Lug-to-lug: 47,00mm.

Lug width: 20,00mm.

Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating on one side.

Water resistance: 1000m (3281 feet) 100 bar.

Bezel: 316L low-carbon, austenitic stainless steel with aluminium insert.

Caseback: 316L low-carbon, austenitic stainless steel. Screw-down.

Crown: Screw-down with Certina logo in relief.

Date: 3 o'clock position.

Movement: Powermatic 80 (80.611). Self-winding and hacking.

Power reserve: 80 hours.

Luminescence: All Super-LumiNova.

Alignment: Date-100%. Hands-100%. Bezel-100%

The Last Word

Certina have always seemed content with keeping a low profile, but make no mistake, when you buy a Certina diving watch you're not only buying a quality timepiece, you're buying into a legendary diving adventure that is still unfolding. How a company like Certina, started by brothers Adolf and Alfred Kurth in 1888 can remain in the shadows when they've been the pioneers of so many leading projects is absolutely beyond me. To own a Certina timepiece is to be a part of that incredible story, taking you back in time to those very special days. This one will be going diving, climbing, cross-country running, hiking, mountaineering and snorkelling, indeed, this watch is built for adventure. I have little doubt that the DS Super PH1000M will perform in accordance with the wishes of Certina.

The Certina DS Super PH1000M is, without doubt, the star of this show, but the buying experience at James Moore & Co in Kenilworth got the whole thing off to a great start, and one that Certina themselves would certainly endorse.