The first diver’s models came on the market around 1960, shortly after the introduction of the DS product line (1959). When the successor to the DS (the DS-2) was launched in 1968, two versions were available: one was waterproof down to 200m (reference 5801 303), the other waterproof down to 500m (reference 5801 123). The DS-2 Super PH 500M was successfully used in the TEKTITE I & II experiments in 1969 and 1970. Furthermore, there is evidence that Certina had already provided watches for the earlier US Navy experiment called Sealab II.
Unfortunately, erroneous information was spread by some sources that the 1000M version (Reference 5801 302) was used in the Tektite I experiment. The article on the right, from Certina’s own magazine “Certina Echo” (spring edition 1970) is proof against this rumour. Furthermore, the Super PH 1000M was introduced as the successor of the 500M model in the same article.
In the picture below taken from a Life magazine article on the Tektite I experiment, the Super PH 500M can be recognized on the diver’s wrist. The 500M model can be found in other pictures as well.
Tektite I was a federal underwater experiment that took place from February 15 to April 15, 1969 in the Lameshur Bay of St. John, close to the Virgin Islands. In this experiment performed by the U.S. Navy, NASA and the American Department of the Interior in collaboration with the General Electric Company, four aquanauts spent 60 days in an underwater habitat 15 meters below sea level. In addition to exploring the bottom of the sea, the main objective of the experiment was to study the behaviour of the scientists under these unusual conditions. The Super PH 500M was evaluated according to 13 criteria, receiving the rating “excellent” six times, the rating “good” five times, and “satisfying” twice.
The Tektite I project was considered a great success and the two diving cylinders, each five metres high and four metres in diameter and connected by a tunnel, were submerged a second time in the Great Lameshur Bay. In the Tektite II project, run in 1970, five aquanauts shared the underwater base for periods of two weeks (on average), returning to this habitat between their dives for scientific exploration. Based on a story published in “Certina Echo”, the Super PH 1000M was provided by Certina for the project. It is possible that a few scientists who had participated in Tektite I decided to wear their Super PH 500M again. In the sixth out of a total of ten missions, for the first time, an exclusively women’s diving team, led by marine biologist Dr. Silvia Earle, was on duty.
What is less well-known: the Super PH 500M was in action not only in water but also in the endless expanse of the universe … at least in theory. In the cult television science fiction series “UFO” which began broadcasting in September 1969, Ed Bishop, aka Commander Ed Straker, wore a 500 on his spacesuit during his extra-vehicular activity as you can see in the photo on the right. (By the way: when he was at home in his space station, he wore a Certina Argonaut Chrono). You see, a diver’s watch cuts a fine figure in space as well!
Derived from the DS-2 Super PH 500M, the DS-2 Super PH 1000M (Reference 5801 302) was introduced in 1970 in Basel. By then, all models had the 25-651 movement. In 1974, the reference numbers were changed and this model was given the reference 919 1301 41. There was also an identical model under the name „Technos Sky Diver“ available but this model had an ETA 2789 inside. In 1976, the DS-2 Super PH 1000M was replaced by the almost-identical DS-3 Super PH 1000M which had the same reference number. This one had the new 919-1 movement with the quickset date feature. The DS-3 Super PH 1000M, among others, was used by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). These watches are identifiable by means of the engraved “National Stock Number (NSN)” on the case back.
In addition to the models of the DS line, there were also diver’s watches with the marking “Argonaut”. Unfortunately, I have little information about these models at this time.
You can find further interesting information about vintage Certina diver’s watches in the links below.
| Model | Reference no. | Calibre | Dimensions mm | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Argonaut 220M | 5801 122 | Certina 25-651 | 37 x 42 x 14 | Automatic. Date without quickset. Black “Crossdial” dial with printed indices. Water resistant to 220 metres. From about 1968 |
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Argonaut 220M | 5801 122 | Certina 25-651 | 37 x 42 x 14 | Automatic. Date without quickset. Black dial with printed indices. Water resistant to 220 metres. From about 1968 |
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Argonaut 200M | 5801 223 | Certina 25-651 | 39 x 41 x 12 LW: 19 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Black dial with appliqued indices. Water resistant to 200 metres. From about 1968 |
| Model | Reference no. | Calibre | Dimensions mm | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Argonaut Chrono 200M | 8401 002 | Certina 29-053 Valjoux 23 |
38(39) x 42 x 12 LW: 19 |
Manual wind. No Date. Black dial with two sub dials at 3 and 6 Water resistant to 200 metres About from 1968 to 1969 |
| Model | Reference no. | Calibre | Dimensions mm | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
DS | 5601 013 | Certina 25-65 | D: 40.5 | Automatic Black dial with appliqued indices Water resistant to 200 metres From 1960 |
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DS | 5601 113 | Certina 25-65 | 37/39 x 45 x 14 LW: 18 |
Automatic. No date. Black “Crossdial” dial with appliqued indices. Water resistant to 200 metres. From 1964 |
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DS | 5801 113 | Certina 25-651 | 37/39 x 45 x 14 LW: 18 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Black “Crossdial” dial with appliqued indices. Water resistant to 200 metres. From 1964 |
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DS PH200M | 5801 117 | Certina 25-651 | D: 40.5 LW: 19 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Black “Crossdial” dial, printed indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 200 metres. From 1967 |
| Model | Reference no. | Calibre | Dimensions mm | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
DS-2 PH200M | 5801 301 | Certina 25-651 | 40 | Automatic. Date without quickset. Black dial with printed indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 200 metres. 1969 |
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DS-2 PH200M | 5801 303 From 1974: 913 1302 41 |
Certina 25-651 | 40 x 43.5 x 13 LW: 20 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Cushion case. Black dial with appliqued indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 200 metres. About from 1969 to 1975 |
 |
DS-2 PH200M | 5801 303 From 1974: 913 1302 41 |
Certina 25-651 | 40 x 43.5 x 13 LW: 20 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Cushion case. Blue dial with appliqued indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 200 metres. About from 1969 to 1975 |
| Model | Reference no. | Calibre | Dimensions mm | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
DS-2 Super PH500M “UFO” |
5801 123 | Certina 25-651 | 43 x 48 x 16.5 LW: 19 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Black “Crossdial” dial, printed indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 500 metres. From 1968 |
 |
DS-2 Super PH500M “Tektite” |
5801 123 | Certina 25-651 | 43 x 48 x 16.5 LW: 19 |
Automatic. Date without quickset Black dial, printed orange framed indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 500 metres. From 1968. Used in the Tektite Experiments |
| Model | Reference no. | Calibre | Dimensions mm | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
DS-2 Super PH1000M | 5801 302 From 1974: 913 1301 41 |
Certina 25-651 | 43 x 46 x 18 LW: 20 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Black dial with appliqued indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 1’000 metres. About from 1970 to 1975 |
 |
DS-2 Super PH1000M | 5801 302 From 1974: 913 1301 41 |
Certina 25-651 | 43 x 46 x 18 LW: 20 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Orange dial with appliqued indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 1’000 metres. About from 1970 to 1975 |
 |
DS-2 Super PH1000M | 5801 302 From 1974: 913 1301 41 |
Certina 25-651 | 43 x 46 x 18 LW: 20 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Black dial, printed indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 1’000 metres. About from 1970 to 1975 |
 |
DS-2 Super PH1000M | 5801 302 From 1974: 913 1301 41 |
Certina 25-651 | 43 x 46 x 18 LW: 20 |
Automatic. Date without quickset. Orange dial, printed indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 1’000 metres. About from 1970 to 1975 |
| Model | Reference no. | Calibre | Dimensions mm | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
DS-3 Super PH1000M | 919 1301 41 | Certina 919-1 | 43 x 46 x 18 LW: 20 |
Automatic, Date with quickset. Black dial, printed indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 1’000 metres. Successor of the DS-2 Super PH1000M. Used by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). From 1976 |
 |
DS-3 Super PH1000M | 919 1301 41 | Certina 919-1 | 43 x 46 x 18 LW: 20 |
Automatic, Date with quickset. Orange dial, printed indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 1’000 metres. Successor of the DS-2 Super PH1000M. From 1976 |
| Model | Reference no. | Calibre | Dimensions mm | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
DS-3 PH200M Automatic | 919 1402 41 | Certina 919-1 | 40 x 41 x 14 LW: 20 |
Automatic. Date with quickset Various dial versions. Printed indices, Turtleback. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 200 metres. From 1977 |
 |
DS-3 PH200M Quartz | 750 1402 41 | Certina 750 ESA 9361 |
40 x 41 x 14 LW: 20 |
Quartz movement. Date with quickset. Various dial versions. Printed indices. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 200 metres. From 1977 |
| Model | Reference no. | Calibre | Dimensions mm | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
PH100M Quartz | 750 3008 41 | Certina 750 ESA 9361 |
37 x 44 x 12 LW: 18 |
Quartz movement. Date with quickset Orange dial, printed indices Water resistant to 100 metres About from 1980 to 1983 |
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PH100M Quartz | 750 3008 41 | Certina 750 ESA 9361 |
37 x 44 x 12 LW: 18 |
Quartz movement. Date with quickset Black dial, printed indices Water resistant to 100 metres About from 1980 to 1983 |
 |
PH100M Quartz | 750 3014 41 | Certina 750 ESA 9361 |
37 x 43 x 12 BA: 20 |
Quartz movement. Date with quickset Black dial, printed indices Water resistant to 100 metres About from 1980 to 1983 |
Related links
- Dive Into Watches The DS-2 Super PH1000M on Roger Rueggers Website (german)
- Scubawatch.org Informations about the DS-2 Super PH500M
- Scubawatch.org Informations about the DS-3 Super PH1000M
- The Military Watch Resource Thread about resurrecting a RAN Certina dive watch from the dead
- The Military Watch Resource Interesting thread with list of the known DS-3 Super PH1000M RAN pieces
- Tektite Underwater Habitat Museum Interesting Homepage of the Tektite Museum of St. John
- Spiegel Wissen Article from “Der Spiegel” issue 01.06.1970 about the Tektite II Experiment (german)
- Wikipedia Article from Wikipedia.com about the Tektite Experiments
Update: 03.20.2019
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