The modern Certina DS Super PH500M is a 500 m, ISO 6425-certified automatic diver that reworks the late-1960s DS-2 Super PH500M rather than reproducing it exactly. The orange VDST collaboration pairs its oversized case and press-to-unlock bezel with a vivid contemporary dial; a black-dial version offers a quieter alternative. Here’s what the reported specifications, history and on-the-water account tell you—and what they don’t.
What is the Certina DS Super PH500M?
The DS Super PH500M is a modern mechanical dive watch rooted in Certina’s late-1960s DS-2 Super PH500M, a top-line diver rated to 500 m and fitted with a locking bezel. The current model carries forward the large case, bold dial, sword-shaped hands and bezel security concept, but it is a reinterpretation, not an exact vintage re-creation. The historic watch had a black dial; the modern orange dial is a new design choice. Fratello’s 2020 overview and Monochrome’s 2021 black-dial feature provide details on the two modern variants.
The orange model was developed with the Verband Deutscher Sporttaucher (VDST), a German sports-diving association. The black-dial version keeps the same broad tool-watch character while changing the dial and supplied strap.
How large is it, and what are the specifications?
For the orange reference C037.407.17.280.10, Fratello reports a 43 mm 316L stainless-steel case, 48.1 mm lug-to-lug and 15 mm thickness. Those dimensions make it a substantial watch; the lug-to-lug measurement is useful to consider alongside wrist circumference, while thickness affects how it sits under a cuff or over a wetsuit sleeve.
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#1 Best Overall
- Case Size: 43.00 mm, Band Width: 20, Case Thickness: 14.95 mm
- Automatic movement, Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Index dial type, Date, Special Edition STC, Special watch box
- Black synthetic bracelet, Tide, Nato, Tang Buckle
- Water-resistant up to 500 m / 1650 ft: suitable for diving and/or snorkeling.
- 2 Year International Warranty
| Configuration | Reference and supplied strap | Reported specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Orange / VDST collaboration | C037.407.17.280.10; orange dial, black rubber strap with dive extension | 43 mm 316L steel case; 48.1 mm lug-to-lug; 15 mm thick; anti-reflective sapphire; 500 m water resistance; ISO 6425 certification; screw-down crown and case back; 60-click unidirectional bezel with press-to-unlock security; ETA Powermatic 80.611 automatic movement, Nivachron balance spring, up to 80 hours of power reserve, and date at 3 o’clock. Source: Fratello, 2020. |
| Black dial | C037.407.18.050.00; black dial, black-and-gray NATO-style strap made from #tide ocean material | 43 mm polished steel case, about 15 mm thick; sapphire with anti-reflective coating; 500 m water resistance; ISO 6425 certification; screw-down crown and case back; unidirectional aluminum-insert bezel with locking mechanism; ETA Powermatic 80.611 automatic movement, 3 Hz, 80-hour reserve, Nivachron balance spring, and date. Source: Monochrome, 2021. |
These are configurations described in the cited articles, not a guarantee that every current market listing has the same bundle or specification sheet. Check the current product information for the exact reference before buying.
How does the bezel lock work?
The bezel is unidirectional, so it is designed to rotate in the direction that reduces the indicated remaining dive time if it is knocked. On the orange model, Fratello describes a 60-click bezel that must be pressed to unlock. This adds a deliberate action before rotation, helping guard against accidental movement. The black model is also described as having a locking unidirectional bezel, though Monochrome does not specify the same click count in its report.
Rank #2
- Case Size: 43.00 mm, Band Width: 20, Case Thickness: 14.95 mm
- Automatic movement, Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Index dial type, Date, Special Edition VDST, Special watch box
- Black Rubber bracelet with Diver extension, Tang Buckle
- Water-resistant up to 500 m / 1650 ft: suitable for diving and/or snorkeling.
- 2 Year International Warranty
The press-to-unlock feature is a distinctive security detail, but it is worth trying the action yourself if possible: a diver needs to be able to operate the bezel deliberately, including with gloves, and the cited specifications do not quantify grip or ease of use in those conditions.
What movement is inside?
Both published variant descriptions identify the ETA Powermatic 80.611 automatic movement, with a Nivachron balance spring and an 80-hour power reserve. The black-dial report specifies a 3 Hz beat rate. Both descriptions include a date display at 3 o’clock. An 80-hour reserve means the watch can continue running for up to that stated interval off the wrist when fully wound; actual running time depends on use and winding state.
Rank #3
- Case Size: 43.00 mm, Band Width: 20, Case Thickness: 14.95 mm
- Automatic movement, Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Index dial type, Date
- Black synthetic bracelet, Tide, Nato, Tang Buckle
- Water-resistant up to 500 m / 1650 ft: suitable for diving and/or snorkeling.
- 2 Year International Warranty
What does 500 m and ISO 6425 mean here?
The cited descriptions list 500 m water resistance and ISO 6425 certification for both versions. These are published product specifications, not a claim that a wearer should dive to 500 m. Water-resistance ratings describe a watch’s tested pressure resistance under specified conditions; real-world use also depends on seals, condition, correct crown operation and servicing. The ISO certification identifies the watch as meeting the cited dive-watch standard, but the articles do not provide a test report or individual depth-test results for these specific watches.
What is the difference between the orange and black versions?
- Dial: The VDST collaboration uses orange; the alternative has a black dial, closer in color to the historic watch’s reported black dials.
- Strap: The orange reference is reported with a black rubber strap and dive extension. The black reference comes with a black-and-gray NATO-style strap made from #tide ocean material.
- Bezel details: Fratello reports 60 clicks for the orange model; Monochrome describes the black model as having a locking aluminum-insert bezel without giving a click count.
- Case profile: Both are reported at 43 mm and about 15 mm thick, but the 48.1 mm lug-to-lug figure is specifically reported for the orange reference.
Do not assume a replacement strap will fit based only on the watch’s appearance. Confirm the lug width and any reference-specific hardware before ordering.
Rank #4
- Case size: 34.50 mm: Band Width: 17.00 mm: Case Thickness: 10.30 mm
- Quartz , Precidrive
- Band Type: Steel: Band Length: 169.2 mm
- Water-resistant up to 300 m / 990 ft: suitable for diving and/or snorkeling.
- 2 Year International Warranty
What does the hands-on account show?
In a 2021 first-person feature, Hodinkee writer Cole Pennington described wearing the modern watch for ten days while exploring Hawaii’s reef systems and forests, followed by a blackwater dive above deep water. That is useful context for the watch’s use in an aquatic setting, but it is not a controlled 500 m depth test. During the pre-dive briefing, divemaster Jeff Milisen said: “If you’re not a little nervous, then there might be something wrong with you.” Hodinkee’s account, published February 19, 2021, also connects the vintage model to the Tektite I and II underwater habitat experiments. It reports that aquanauts spent 58 straight days conducting marine scientific studies in the habitat and that the historic Certina was among watches supplied to participants.
The orange dial is visually distinctive, but a universal claim that orange is the most visible color underwater is not established by the cited coverage: Fratello refers to visibility evidence without identifying a study, while Hodinkee notes that the claim is contested.
Best Value
- Case size: 40.50 mm: Band Width: 20.00 mm: Case Thickness: 14.10 mm
- Automatic , Powermatic 80, Nivachron, Date
- Band Type: Synthetic: Band Length: 260 mm
- Water-resistant up to 300 m / 990 ft: suitable for diving and/or snorkeling.
- 2 Year International Warranty
How much does the Certina DS Super PH500M cost?
Certina’s official Swiss catalog lists a 43.0 mm automatic DS Super PH500M at CHF 935 as accessed October 8, 2026. That is a Swiss regional catalog price, not a universal price or confirmation that a particular reference is available from a retailer. The catalog directs shoppers to a store finder: Certina’s official Swiss catalog.
Earlier published figures are historical launch prices, not current offers: Fratello reported €872, £795 and CHF 895 for the orange variant in 2020; Monochrome reported CHF 860 for the black-dial version in 2021. Availability, reference, bundle and local pricing can differ by market, so check the current listing for the precise model you want.
Who is the DS Super PH500M for?
It suits someone looking for a large, high-rated mechanical diver with a recognizable vintage lineage, a substantial 43 mm steel case and a bezel with an added unlocking action. The orange reference is the more expressive choice and has the clearest VDST connection; the black version is more restrained and arrives on a different type of strap.
Before deciding, compare the 43 mm diameter and reported 15 mm thickness with watches you already wear, and assess the lug-to-lug fit where available. If you are comparing it with another diver, useful criteria include dimensions, water-resistance rating and certification, bezel operation, movement and reserve, dial and strap configuration, and current price in your market. The figures above support evaluating the PH500M on those points, but do not establish a head-to-head winner against another specific watch.
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