Certina DS PH200 Reissue

[Steve O.]

Wow. I cannot wait till these start getting flipped in a few months.

Me too. To me, this is the reissue to have. The price makes it even better.
Not the exact reissue version, but still kicking myself in the ass for selling this one...

[hoppyjr]

After wearing mine quite a lot I’m only able to find three things I’d change;

* this watch should have 22mm lug width

* drilled lugs

* the spring bar holes are too small in diameter


That last one is really odd. Normal spring bars have tips that are
.09-1.2mm and there are countless options for replacements, both traditional and “shoulder-less”. The Certina wouldn’t even accept my bars that had .08 mm tips, so I ordered some with .07 mm from Ofrei and those work. Problem is those are really thin bars, much thinner than I prefer. Most of what you have on hand won’t fit, or it won’t drop fully into the hole.

Yes, it’s nitpicking but it would be better with 1.0 mm (Sinn) to 1.2 mm (Seiko-Rolex) holes, even .09 (Marathon).

[demer03]

“No” on 22mm straps

20 and 19 are perfect.

[Ryeguy]

After wearing mine quite a lot I’m only able to find three things I’d change;

* this watch should have 22mm lug width

* drilled lugs

* the spring bar holes are too small in diameter


That last one is really odd. Normal spring bars have tips that are
.09-1.2mm and there are countless options for replacements, both traditional and “shoulder-less”. The Certina wouldn’t even accept my bars that had .08 mm tips, so I ordered some with .07 mm from Ofrei and those work. Problem is those are really thin bars, much thinner than I prefer. Most of what you have on hand won’t fit, or it won’t drop fully into the hole.

Yes, it’s nitpicking but it would be better with 1.0 mm (Sinn) to 1.2 mm (Seiko-Rolex) holes, even .09 (Marathon).

Dude, that is awful. You should immediately sell that watch. To me.

[hoppyjr]

“No” on 22mm straps

20 and 19 are perfect.

Now get off my lawn!

FIFY

[hoppyjr]

After wearing mine quite a lot I’m only able to find three things I’d change;

* this watch should have 22mm lug width

* drilled lugs

* the spring bar holes are too small in diameter


That last one is really odd. Normal spring bars have tips that are
.09-1.2mm and there are countless options for replacements, both traditional and “shoulder-less”. The Certina wouldn’t even accept my bars that had .08 mm tips, so I ordered some with .07 mm from Ofrei and those work. Problem is those are really thin bars, much thinner than I prefer. Most of what you have on hand won’t fit, or it won’t drop fully into the hole.

Yes, it’s nitpicking but it would be better with 1.0 mm (Sinn) to 1.2 mm (Seiko-Rolex) holes, even .09 (Marathon).

Dude, that is awful. You should immediately sell that watch. To me.

I’m thinking it’s pretty minor, but it’s the only negative I could find.

Mine runs great too; less than a second slow when on wrist.

[demer03]

“No” on 22mm straps

20 and 19 are perfect.

Now get off my lawn!

FIFY

Bahaha. Too true.

[ChuckW]

I wanted to know if polishing the hesalite crystal w/ the protective coating would damage it, so I emailed Certina. At first I got vague answers that didn't really tell me what I wanted to know. I don't think they knew themselves. Finally had this correspondence.

Thank you for your answer, Mr. Badia, but I'd like to press you for something more concise, if I may. I know the Hex Scratchgauard coating make the hesalite crystal of the Certina DX PH200M scratch resistant, but almost certainly not scratch proof like sapphire. I know that Junghans Max Bill watches use a scratch resistant coating called Sicralan. Those who have gotten significant scratches on the Max Bill watches and attempted to polish them have found that it not only removes the Sicralan coating, it also destroys the crystal itself. I just want to know if similar damage from polishing would occur with the HEX Scratchguard coating if the Certina hesalite crystal should ever develop scratches.

Being the owner of an Omega Speedmaster, I know that scratches on a hesalite crystal are not an issue as they can easily be polished out. I recently purchased a Certina DS PH200M re-issue and just want to know the best way to handle it. Perhaps, in using the Scratchguard coating, Certina has overthought the problem.



Regards,

Chuck



Dear Mr. W*****,

Thank you for your email.

We have consulted our Certina product experts and have advised the following:

The HEX Scratchguard coating will limit the superficial scratches but it will not preserve the hesalite cap at 100%.

You can polish the cap as many times as you need to do it without compromising the material integrity and function.

We hope this information is of assistance.

Sincerely,

Vincenzo Badia

Customer Care
Swatch Group US

[hoppyjr]

Excellent

[dukerules]

I think this is my new favorite cheap-ish watch. I think I like it better than the Hamilton khaki field mechanical and the NAFTs. The hesalite crystal really works for me.

[Joeprez]

Can someone take a couple of pictures of the Certina comparing it with a NAFT?

(for us puny wristed individuals)

[ChuckW]

Can someone take a couple of pictures of the Certina comparing it with a NAFT?

(for us puny wristed individuals)

It's been a while since I had an NAFT, but I think this pic clearly shows the 52mm L2L to be an exaggeration.

[toxicavenger]

You can polish the cap as many times as you need to do it without compromising the material integrity and function.

We hope this information is of assistance.

I really don't see how a coating which goes on the outside of the crystal would not be affected by polishing. Unless the coating is part of the crystals make up I dont' think I would take the chance.

[dnslater]

You can polish the cap as many times as you need to do it without compromising the material integrity and function.

We hope this information is of assistance.

I really don't see how a coating which goes on the outside of the crystal would not be affected by polishing. Unless the coating is part of the crystals make up I dont' think I would take the chance.

Maybe it is very superficial and a polish simply removes it? Although if that were true I would think it would get worse before it got better..... like when I removed the AR from a U1 long ago.

I love the Hesalite. Wish more companies went back to these. Love it on my Speedy Pro. Actually enjoy polishing it occasionally.

[MikeyLikesIt]

Got mine in this week after about a two month wait. Very well done by Certina and I can understand why it's been so well received.

Granted, I've been trending toward smaller watches recently but this is relatively large watch so it's going to be flipped.

It was hard to find good comparison pics when I purchased it so wanted to take some compared to other common divers

[deepcdvr]

Thanks for the comparo pics - very enlightening..

Gorgeous piece

[dukerules]

I love this watch, but I wish it was a tad smaller. Looking for a slightly smaller beater, but this has a longer L2L than the U1, MM300, or Pelagos. Dang.

[Jeep99dad]

I love this watch, but I wish it was a tad smaller. Looking for a slightly smaller beater, but this has a longer L2L than the U1, MM300, or Pelagos. Dang.

You still wear your Doxa 1200?

[dukerules]

I love this watch, but I wish it was a tad smaller. Looking for a slightly smaller beater, but this has a longer L2L than the U1, MM300, or Pelagos. Dang.

You still wear your Doxa 1200?

I do. Mostly on vacation and in the summer.

[Joeprez]

Got mine in this week after about a two month wait. Very well done by Certina and I can understand why it's been so well received.

Granted, I've been trending toward smaller watches recently but this is relatively large watch so it's going to be flipped.

It was hard to find good comparison pics when I purchased it so wanted to take some compared to other common divers

Great pictures, thanks.

[erikclabaugh]

Been wearing mine on mesh. Pretty great combo...

[ChuckW]

Been wearing mine on mesh. Pretty great combo...

Haven't used the straps that came with mine. Been alternating between mesh and tropic rubber.

[ChuckW]

BTW, my only disappointment with the PH200M was while others were crowing about accuracy of +.5 spd, mine was running 8 to 9 spd slow. However, I've noticed some improvement over time and more than two months later, it seems to have settled into dead even. Maybe this Powermatic 80 movement is a technological success after all.