Why We Love It

When it comes to vintage dive watches, we love the heavy hitters just as much as the next guy. The Rolex Submariner, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, and the Omega Seamaster 300 all have special places in our hearts - and collections. But for every well-known name in the dive watch world, there’s one or two that make us stop and say,

“Now this is why we got into collecting watches in the first place.”

In the 1950s and 1960s, lots of brands got into the dive watch game, some using contract cases and movements, while others went down the route of building a purpose built, ground-up, sea going weapon to vanquish its competition. Some of these even went on to earn military contracts for use in clearance diving and special forces applications.

The Certina DS-3 Super PH1000M falls into that select group of watches. This massive, over-engineered 1000 meter diver was selected by the Royal Australian Navy for use by its diving teams and saw action throughout the 1970s. Featuring a 45mm stainless steel cushion case housing an automatic movement, its prominent bulbous caseback and steeply angled bezel assembly are instantly identifiable to dive watch fanatics the world over with a profile that is not easily forgotten.

This particular example remains in outstanding condition throughout with a brilliantly patinated matte black dial and plongeur handset, perfect acrylic timing bezel insert, signed screw-down crown, caseback with military engravings in deep relief.

Its not often that a funky, colorful, oversized 70s diving watch becomes an artifact sought after by dive watch enthusiasts and those seeking military provenance - but the Certina DS-3 is a rare bird that checks all of the boxes!