Certina goes deep with the new DS Super PH2000M diver
Russell SheldrakeSome watches are just made for diving, others are made to take on anything you throw at them, and this new Certina DS Super PH2000M is set to handle the harshest conditions imaginable.
Certina has a long history of testing its watches in real-world, extreme conditions, whether they are trekking over the Himalayas, or spending months underwater in a saturation dive, this brand is more than used to dealing with the worst this planet can throw at it. So when they come out and say they have upgraded their toughest timer even more, you know it is going to be worth a look.
For this new update, Certina is bringing every trick it has up its sleeve to ensure this beast of a watch won’t let you down. There is the latest version of their Double Security protection system, a water resistance rating that means it can survive 2000m under water, and a bezel locking system that adds that extra layer of protection you didn’t even know you needed. And if that wasn’t enough protection, there is also a limited edition that will raise funds for the Sea Turtle Conservancy, ensuring those endangered turtles remain protected.
The case
To make a watch capable of withstanding roughly 3000 pounds per square inch of pressure, you need a tough, unapologetic case. Made from grade 2 titanium, the case measures 43mm across and 16mm thick. It is unavoidably large. But if you need a watch that can stand up to anything you care to throw at it, it has to be big.
Some of this height is due to the extra security provided by the push-to-turn bezel locking system that Certina has been using for decades on its deepest divers. This system means the bezel isn’t going anywhere until you fully depress it, allowing it to rotate in just an anti-clockwise direction. That unidirectional turning is another safety feature we are used to seeing on standard dive watches.
The case itself is sharply angled and covered in vertical brushing to enhance the tool-watch aesthetic. Of course, with any watch that is capable of going this deep, you have a helium escape valve, which is built into the side of the case. Turn the watch over, and you have a solid case back that is essential to keeping this piece watertight.
Inside the case, you have Certina’s Double Security system that has been developed and evolved since the 60s and now takes every precaution possible to make sure the movement inside can stand up to 10,000 Gs. To achieve this, the movement has now been screwed into the case with a thin ring-shaped nut, a thin metal plate sits between the dial and the movement to help encase the movement even more. And the thick crystal has now been redesigned and reinforced to better disperse shock waves, should your watch get knocked.
The dial
There are four dial options available for this new release, and all of them have been designed with legibility in mind. If you are going to make a watch that can cope with the toughest conditions, you may as well make it readable in those conditions as well.
All four feature applied markers with buckets of lume spread over all of them, plus the oversized arrow and sword hands. You also get a crosshair and dial text printed on there. We are getting three dials in standard production and one that will be limited. The three standard ones are a bright yellow, a clear white, and a dark contrasting black that has been given orange lume across the markers and hands.
The limited edition version has a turquoise-to-black gradient dial and is limited to just 1,959 pieces. Part of the proceeds of this piece will be donated to the long-time charity partner of Certina, the Sea Turtle Conservancy. The Swiss brand has been connected with this charity for a very long time now, and given that the brand’s logo is a turtle shell, it makes sense that they help ensure these sea creatures don’t go extinct.
The movement
Running this watch is a movement that has proved itself time and time again. The Powermatic 80 is a workhorse for the Swatch group and one that has shown why so many of the group’s brands use it. 80 hours of power reserve, a Nivachron balance spring, all while being fully protected by the Double Security system, so you know that its accuracy won’t be affected by external forces.
Nivachron being used inside this movement makes perfect sense as well, for its rugged concept. The titanium-based alloy has been specifically designed to be more resistant to shocks and magnetic fields. A technology that was co-developed by the Swatch Group and Audemars Piguet back in 2018 is being put to its ideal use right here.
The bracelet
All four of these models come on a full titanium 5-link bracelet with a second strap option as standard. All of the bracelets and most of the second strap options come with a deployant clasp that has an on-the-fly micro-adjust system built in and is activated using two easy push buttons on the side of the clasp. Although if you are rushing, it can be easy to confuse this button with the button to release the clasp. So that can take some getting used to. You get this on the rubber and silicon options, while the fabric strap that comes with the white dial retains a traditional pin buckle.
Of course, these straps and bracelets all have quick-release spring bars, so switching between the teal silicone for the limited edition or the black rubber for the yellow and black dials is a breeze.
The verdict
These watches are not only built to be tough, but they also look it. Unapologetic in their sizing and construction, they speak to Certina’s modus operandi of creating tools that are built to withstand anything life could throw at them. And they stand in a long line of Certina watches that have fulfilled this mission, going all the way back to 1969 when four aquanauts were sent to live at the bottom of the sea for 60 days as part of the Tektite experiments with Certina dive watches to help keep track of the time.
There is a lineage here at Certina that these watches speak to, and they are showing the next step in the evolution of the brand’s technology, but also their willingness to go further. And it’s recent collections like this one that are propelling the brand into the consciousness of watch collectors and shining a light on their past successes.
If I had to pick one of the four to go home with today, it would have to be the limited edition turquoise dial. Not only does it help some rather cute turtles, but the gradient dial gives a design nod to the concept of this watch. A visual representation of light fading as it descends into the ocean depths. Plus, I quite like the pop of orange of the minute hand against the deep dial. Which one do you prefer? Let me know down in the comments.
Certina DS Super PH2000M pricing and availability
The new Certina DS Super PH2000M is available now, with the teal dial being the only limited edition at 1,959 pieces. Price: CHF 1,235/£1,230/US$1,440.
| Brand | Certina |
| Model | DS Super PH2000M |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm (D) x 16mm (T) |
| Case Material | Grade 2 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 2000 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Reinforced sapphire front |
| Dial | White, yellow, black, turquoise gradient |
| Strap | 5-link grade 2 titanium bracelet, deployant clasp, micro-adjust Blue silicon strap, deployant clasp, micro-adjust Black rubber strap, deployant clasp, micro-adjust Blue and white fabric strap, pin buckle |
| Movement | Powermatic 80, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Available now Turquoise dial limited to 1,959 pieces |
| Price | CHF 1,235/£1,230/US$1,440 |