feedthewrist.

You know, sometimes we come across certain pieces where so much was done right to a point where we put ourselves in a zone to block out all the negatives. Because hey, no product is perfect after all. Well, that exact scenario happened approximately 4 years ago when I decided to buy my first Swiss diver, the Certina DS PH200m reference C036.407.16.050.00. As mentioned before here, vintage aesthetics have always been my cup of tea and this Certina is no different. Being a reimagined version of the original DS Ph200m reference 5801 117 from 1967, it was love at first sight. With that said, let’s take this diver together as we dive into the details, shall we?

First things first, how this watch feels on the wrist. With the watch measuring at 42.8mm in diameter, I would have to give it to Certina for making this case feel balanced in terms of weight on the wrist. Maybe part of it is due to its side-profile thickness of only 12.9mm which I find really sexy. When worn on straps, there was never a moment where I felt that the watch was “head heavy”. However, with it being 42.8mm in diameter and 52mm lug-to-lug, the potential downside here would be the overhanging lugs when put on small wrists. It is worth pointing out that although the lugs have a slight downward angle, the case doesn’t hug my 16cm wrist as it doesn’t sit flush due to the bulk of the caseback. With that said though, the way that a watch wears on you really depends on both the shape and size of your wrist. Hence, conclusions should be made only after trying it on and not before. While we’re at it, the brushed finish of the case pulls off a utilitarian vibe while not sacrificing any form of aesthetics. A point to highlight here would be how the lugs beautifully taper down as they move away from the case. Before talking about the dial, let’s talk about the roof above it, the domed hesalite crystal. Although Certina currently offers a version of the DS PH200m fitted with a sapphire crystal, my heart still melts for the warmth that hesalite crystals are able to bring out from a dial.

Moving on, my favourite element on this piece would be the contrasting red seconds hand that brings the black lacquered dial and red crosshair together. Although different from the original DS PH200m reference 5801 117, I find that the inclusion of the red seconds hand adds a ton of character to the watch and is a highlight on its own. To further compliment the aforementioned items is the well-proportioned date window that allows for good visibility when the date is in double digits while not drawing too much attention towards itself. However, the thickness of the minute markers present on the dial and bezel seem to do the opposite.

Next up, behind the dial lies the well-known Powermatic 80 movement which boasts a whopping 80 hours of power-reserve. That alone, has raised the bar for other dive watches at this price point. Besides the big power reserve numbers, the movement is also hackable! So if you like your seconds to be in sync, you’re in for a treat!

Well, here we are again to discuss about one of the most talked about aspects of a dive watch, the lume. First off, no faux patina can be found here and unfortunately for all you patina lovers, no creamy patina would develop here either. On the bright side, the Super LumiNova shines bright in the dark and bonus points go to the sword hour hand that looks extra cool while glowing in the dark.

So, with it all said, is this the vintage re-issue diver for you? Well, if size isn’t part of your concern when looking for a modern-day diver with good specifications, great looks, brand heritage and also innovative engineering concepts, this is definitely up there in my books for only CHF 725. Do I wish that it was made in a smaller size? Yes. But again, we all have different preferences. Regardless, this DS PH200m still remains as a great watch in my eyes and is one that does not get the recognition that it deserves. Dear Certina, if you’re reading this, a limited run of a 38mm version that has a shorter lug-to-lug length and faux patina would be great…..