Founded in 1888, Certina’s 60 years of DS Concept

The Certina brand is undoubtedly one of the best brand watches one could ever find out there. There is always a peace that comes with choosing any of the watches in this brand that one could hardly find with some other brands. Unfortunately, there are still some people that do not know about the Certina watches. You might be one of them, but relax; that’s why you are reading this, right? Let’s do a review of Certina watches, shall we?

Certina is a Swiss watch company that was founded in 1888 in Grenchen, Switzerland. Meanwhile, Swiss-made watches are considered to be some of the best in the world, and are known for their precision, durability and craftsmanship. You see why Certina is one of the best brands out there, right?

The company has been owned by various entities, including the Swatch Group, which acquired it in the 1980s. Today, Certina is a subsidiary of the Swatch Group and is known for producing high-quality, reliable watches with a sporty aesthetic for athletes and adventurers designed to withstand extreme conditions. The company is also known for its use of advanced technology and materials in its watches, such as sapphire crystals and high-quality Swiss movements.

Certina Chronolympic

For over 135 years Certina produces not just high-quality but innovative timepieces. Certina Chronolympic models were Certina's iconic, best-known and most successful line of chronographs. The first Chronolympic models (Ref. 8501 503) came to the market around the end of the 60s. Valjoux 232, 234, and 726 were the initial manual winding movements being used, before the automatic version Valjoux 7750 was launched in 1975.

Vintage Certina Chronolympic 8701-504 Regatta from 1972.

One of the old, yet elegant models in the Certina watch brand is the Certina Chronolympic 8701-504. It is a vintage regatta chronograph developed for the 1972 Olympic games in Munich with a rare highlight of its stainless steel bracelet with Olympic rings design.

Certina DS Watches

The Certina DS watches are another one with a long history, a classy sporty series in the watch brand. The letters "DS" in the name of a Certina watch stand for "Double Security", which refers to the brand's use of advanced technical features and materials to ensure the watches are durable and reliable. The DS system is a series of technical features and innovations that Certina first introduced in 1959, and are still used in their watches today.

The DS system was developed to ensure that Certina watches are accurate, highly durable, and resistant to damage. The system includes water resistance, shock resistance, and a reinforced case construction to protect the movement inside.

The DS system guarantees the durability and robustness of Certina watches and is still a standard feature in many of the brand's watches today. Among the Certina collection is the favourite Certina DS Action Diver, with its Certina DS Action Diver 38mm version, and Certina DS Ph200m.

The DS Action line is designed for those who lead an active lifestyle and need a durable and reliable timepiece. So if you are looking for a reliable watch that is built to withstand rugged conditions, then the Certina DS Action may be a good choice for you.

Certina DS Action Automatic Powermatic 80 C032.807.22.051.00

The Certina DS Podium is a line of watches from the Swiss brand Certina. The "Podium" in the name likely refers to the watch's sporty and performance-oriented design. These watches are known for their sporty and elegant design and are suitable for both casual and formal wear. They often feature chronograph functions, and they are water resistant, some models are up to 300m. They also have a high level of accuracy, thanks to their Swiss-made movements. They are available in different case size and materials, leather, rubber or metal bracelets. And also in different colors and dials.

2021 Certina DS Podium Chronograph Automatic

With these watches comes a choice. However, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and what features are important to you in a watch. One of the most important feature is the movement in these watches.

Movements in Certina Watches

Certina watches uses high quality Swiss movements in its watches, which are known for their precision and durability. They use a variety of movements, including both quartz and mechanical movements. Quartz movements are powered by a battery and are known for their accuracy and low maintenance requirements. They are controlled by a quartz crystal that vibrates at a precise frequency. Quartz movements can typically keep time to within a few seconds per month.

On the other hand, mechanical movements are powered by a spring and use gears and levers to keep time. The mechanical movements used in Certina watches are typically Swiss made and are known for their precision and durability. The accuracy of a mechanical watch can vary depending on the specific movement and the care and maintenance given to the watch.

Some Certina watches also feature automatic movements, a type of mechanical movement powered by the movement of the wearer's wrist. A variant of this movement is the Certina DS Action Diver, and its Certina DS Action Diver 38mm version.

Certina DS Action diver chronograph

Price of Certina Watches

Certina offers a wide range of watches, from entry level models to high end luxury watches. Hence, their price can vary depending on the specific model, materials used, and features included.

The price range for Certina watches can range from around $300 to $2,000 for high end models. It is also worth noting that prices for Certina watches can vary depending on where you purchase them, as well as any discounts or promotions that may be available. Additionally, pre owned Certina watches could also be found at different price points.

Certina and Seiko Watches

Comparing Certina and Seiko can be difficult as they are both well respected brands in the watch industry, but they have different areas of focus and target different markets.

Certina is a Swiss brand that has been in business for over 150 years and is known for producing high quality watches at affordable prices. They have a reputation for producing durable and reliable watches, and the DS Action line is designed for those who lead an active lifestyle.

Seiko, on the other hand, is a Japanese brand that has been in business for over 130 years. They are known for producing accurate, reliable, and affordable watches. Seiko has a wide range of watches, from entry level to luxury, they are famous for their quartz and mechanical movements, they are also known for introducing the first quartz watch in the world, the Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ in 1969.

Certia DS Action Vs Seiko Sumo Diver

See the comparison example here; Certina DS Action ISO 6425 is housed with an ETA 2824-2 movement, which has a beat frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), and a power reserve of 80h. The watch in steel watch band will have a price of around USD 860. The Seiko Sumo Diver has a 6R15 movement, a beat frequency of 21600 vibrations per hour (3Hz), and a power reserve 50h. This Blumo in 2017 was priced around USD500.

So it ultimately comes down to what you are looking for in a watch, and both Certina and Seiko have their strengths. If you are looking for a durable and reliable watch at an affordable price, Certina might be a good choice. If you are looking for a watch that is accurate and reliable, Seiko might be a good choice.

Conclusion

Certina is a Swiss watch brand known for its budget friendly timepieces that offer a good balance of style and functionality. The Certina, 60 Years of DS Concept, is a particularly noteworthy model, as it celebrates the brand's long history of producing durable watches with advanced technical features. This watch's key features include its automatic movement, sapphire crystal, and water resistance up to 100 meters. The design is also noteworthy, with a sleek, modern look that incorporates elements of the brand's classic DS (double security) concept. Overall, Certina watches are a solid choice for those looking for a reliable and stylish watch that won't break the bank.

Ever Wondered How to Best Pair your Certina Watches with Watch Bands?

Our guide to awesomely matches your Certina watch with various watch bands, such as : metal watch bands, rubber watch bands, Nato watch straps & leather watch bands.

Your Certina watch can be fully personalized simply by changing watch bands.

The details of the new watch band combinations from left to right :

• On Certina DS Action Diver C032.607.11.041.00
  21mm lug Super Engineer Stainless steel watch
• On Certina DS Super Ph500m Reference: C037.407.18.050.00
  20mm lug RM Vent Tiffany Blue FKM rubber watch band
• On Certina DS 1 Big Date 60th Anniversary Ds Concept Special Edition C029.426.11.091.60
  20mm lug Tropical Pro white FKM watch strap
• On Certina DS Chronograph Automatic 1968 C040.462.18.051.00
  20mm lug Nato watch strap

External references :

• Certina watches
• Certina History
• Certina Vs Seiko

Written by Victor, images by Toni and others as noted