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Certina Heritage DS Super PH500M Black Dial 43mm Mens Watch
Ref. C0374071805000
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Stepping up in Certina's range
The PH500M revives a lineage that Certina first established in the 1960s, when the Double Security concept placed an O-ring gasket directly on the crown stem rather than relying solely on the case-back seal — a solution that was genuinely ahead of its time and remains the architecture here. This is also a certified ISO 6425:2018 diver, which imposes stricter demands than a depth rating alone: legibility, bezel function, shock resistance and magnetic resistance are all tested to a standard, not just claimed. At 43mm the watch reads large and purposeful, but 14.95mm is where the story gets interesting — that is a meaningful stack for 500 metres, and it will sit with some presence under a cuff rather than slipping beneath one. The tetradecagonal bezel requires a deliberate press-and-turn to move, which is the right behaviour on a watch rated to this depth. The NATO-style strap is made from recycled ocean-bound plastic textile, and on a watch positioned as working equipment that choice sits naturally rather than as an afterthought. The Powermatic 80.611 runs on a Nivachron hairspring, which resists magnetic fields without requiring a soft-iron inner cage — so the case stays clean and the movement keeps accurate near the kinds of motors and speakers that would disturb a conventional balance spring.
- Reference
- C0374071805000
- Brand
- Certina
- Collection
- Heritage
- Case size
- 43mm
- Case thickness
- 14.95mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- Powermatic 80
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 500m
- Bracelet / strap
- Fabric strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 80 hours
Learn more about Certina
Adolf Kurth founded a watchmaking business in Grenchen in 1888 with his brother, and the family produced movements and complete watches under several names before settling on Certina — from the Latin certus, meaning sure — in 1938.
The house built its identity on shock protection at a time when a dropped watch usually meant a repair bill. The DS system, introduced in 1959, stood for Double Security: a reinforced case, a strengthened crystal, a screwed caseback with an O-ring seal, and a shock-absorbing mount for the movement. The turtle emblem that marks DS watches became the brand's signature.
The system was tested in public and in earnest. Certina DS watches accompanied the Swiss Dhaulagiri expedition to the Himalayas in 1960 and were worn on subsequent scientific and diving expeditions, including deep-sea work off the Mediterranean coast.
The company was among the founders of the General Watch Co consortium in 1971, which later folded into ASUAG and then the Swatch Group, where Certina sits today.
Its modern position is value-focused Swiss mechanical watchmaking: the DS Action and DS PH200M dive watches, the DS-1 and DS-2 dress and sport lines, and widespread use of the Powermatic 80 movement with its eighty-hour reserve. Certina has timed motorsport and cycling events, including a long association with the Dakar Rally.
- 1888
- The Kurth brothers found the company in Grenchen.
- 1938
- The Certina name is adopted.
- 1959
- The Double Security system and turtle emblem are introduced.
- 1960
- DS watches accompany the Swiss Dhaulagiri expedition.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,988), Stainless Steel Watches (2,814), Automatic Watches (1,546), Sports Watches (700) and Dive Watches (494).
Temporarily out of stock
Mappin & Webb is not currently taking orders for this reference. Last listed as available on 24 September 2026. Stock is checked nightly and this page updates when it returns.
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 500m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 80-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 43mm sits at the larger end
- 14.95mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Certina Heritage DS Super PH500M alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | C0374071805000 | T1209071105100 | H82505140 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £895 | £900 | £990 |
| Case size | 43mm | 44mm | 43mm |
| Water resistance | 500m | 600m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Fabric strap | Ceramic bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 80 hours | 80 hours | 80 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 500m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 80 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
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