I’ve previously posted my newly acquired Certina Blue Ribbon, which looks nice and works well. I’ve also looked at Martin Lovaszs' schedule and worked out that this watch, assuming the case back is correct, is a 1966 automatic.

I have two particular queries. First, unlike my vintage omegas (552/565) and my similarly dated Tissot seven stars, the Certina crown doesn’t wind the watch. Is this normal? Rather like a Seiko automatic.

Second, does anyone have an owners manual that might be scanned to me to read about how the watch works - I’ve already noted from another part of Mr Lovaszs' site that there is no quickset date change.

Any other information on Certinas, a brand new to me, is also welcome.

Obviously I shall learn more as and when I get it serviced but it’s running well at present and I’m enjoying wearing it, so any service is deferred for the time being.

 

The Certina has a Swiss made Kurth Freres movement in it. In my view, this movement compares very favourably with many of the other top line movements that were it’s contemporaries. I have two of them. The watch should wind manually. Were you under the impression that, because winding it seems to go on and on and on, and never stops winding, that it wasn’t winding? That is the way automatic winders are. The exception being many Seiko automatics, and possibly others.

 

Thanks, that’s very helpful. It doesn’t wind at all but runs well on my wrist.

That’s something I’m going to have to get repaired when I get it serviced

 

It should wind, have had the same problem, it could be the spring that has crud, jammed, or broken. In my case it was resolved by a new spring-nice watch

 

Also date can be set by jumping from 23.00 hours to 00.00 hours back and forward....

 

In what way do you say that it doesn't wind. Does the crown not rotate when you're trying to wind or does it wind without charging the mainspring ? (basically without producing the sounds inside that tell that various gears are running)

Also, many movements have a much wider timeframe for changing the date. It could be 23:00 but it could also start changing the date at 18,19 or 20 o'clock. Often you can hear a clicking sound that tells you that it's about to change the date. So be sure to find the "sweet spot".

 

My 25-651 date advances between 10-12. And, of course, it winds.