Certina

Adolf Kurth founded a watchmaking business in Grenchen in 1888 with his brother, and the family produced movements and complete watches under several names before settling on Certina — from the Latin certus, meaning sure — in 1938.

The house built its identity on shock protection at a time when a dropped watch usually meant a repair bill. The DS system, introduced in 1959, stood for Double Security: a reinforced case, a strengthened crystal, a screwed caseback with an O-ring seal, and a shock-absorbing mount for the movement. The turtle emblem that marks DS watches became the brand's signature.

The system was tested in public and in earnest. Certina DS watches accompanied the Swiss Dhaulagiri expedition to the Himalayas in 1960 and were worn on subsequent scientific and diving expeditions, including deep-sea work off the Mediterranean coast.

The company was among the founders of the General Watch Co consortium in 1971, which later folded into ASUAG and then the Swatch Group, where Certina sits today.

Its modern position is value-focused Swiss mechanical watchmaking: the DS Action and DS PH200M dive watches, the DS-1 and DS-2 dress and sport lines, and widespread use of the Powermatic 80 movement with its eighty-hour reserve. Certina has timed motorsport and cycling events, including a long association with the Dakar Rally.

Certina holds 33 models, from £400 to £1,180. Half cost less than £820, and a quarter less than £525. 23 of 33 are automatic. 19 are stocked by more than one retailer, giving 52 offers in total. Prices are checked nightly against the retailers’ own feeds.

1888

The Kurth brothers found the company in Grenchen.

1938

The Certina name is adopted.

1959

The Double Security system and turtle emblem are introduced.

1960

DS watches accompany the Swiss Dhaulagiri expedition.