WHO loves Certinas ?

Dan S · Mar 27, 2019

ConElPueblo
Well, this one has a late clasp (@Dan S, could you share what year of production the clasp is? Should say on the inside part), but the bracelet + endlinks aren't correct - unless Certina started using a different supplier at some point.

It's a very cool watch, @Dan S 👍

Looks like it has had its luminous material removed at some point, which is exceedingly common on these. On the 3-6-9-12 markers there should be a raised lume inlay, which is very often either missing or replaced. My theory is that the heavy application was very fragile (perhaps more sensitive to moisture?) and therefore was removed/replaced entirely during services.

It's a "T" dial which is a bit less common than those without the T (my observations only), but what this T stands for no-one seems to know. A few times I've seen the model for sale as "DS T". If you could share your serial number (if still visible), it would be great 😀

Actually, I may have posted prematurely on this one ... got a little carried away. The watch is not running well and I'm not certain I am going to keep it.

Anyway, you are right on the money with your observations. Even without your knowledge of clasps and bracelets, I can tell that the bracelet is not original; the endlinks are not quite right. I noticed that once I had the watch in hand. I can't find a year of production, but the inside of the clasp is marked GEMEX. With UV excitation, I can see minute traces of lume inside the inner recesses of the raised markers, but it has definitely been deliberately removed. I think there were also dots marking each hour at some point, but most gone now. A shame, really. The serial looks to be 5,125,xxx.

ConElPueblo · Mar 27, 2019

Dan S
Actually, I may have posted prematurely on this one ... got a little carried away. The watch is not running well and I'm not certain I am going to keep it.

Anyway, you are right on the money with your observations. Even without your knowledge of clasps and bracelets, I can tell that the bracelet is not original; the endlinks are not quite right. I noticed that once I had the watch in hand. I can't find a year of production, but the inside of the clasp is marked GEMEX. With UV excitation, I can see minute traces of lume inside the inner recesses of the raised markers, but it has definitely been deliberately removed. I think there were also dots marking each hour at some point, but most gone now. A shame, really. The serial looks to be 5,125,xxx.

That is certainly interesting, thank you very much for your observations. The year of production will be 1964, so probably a newer bracelet.

DS Divers in good condition are pretty thin on the ground, it seems. For what it's worth, like most other watches go solely on cosmetic condition when searching for one.

JimJupiter · Mar 27, 2019

Dan S
Actually, I may have posted prematurely on this one ... got a little carried away. The watch is not running well and I'm not certain I am going to keep it.

Than Dibs on this one 😁

pweingarten · Mar 27, 2019

I love these and the bigger divers. Why doesn’t Certina get more respect these days?

0uss · Mar 27, 2019

St

ConElPueblo
Well, this one has a late clasp (@Dan S, could you share what year of production the clasp is? Should say on the inside part), but the bracelet + endlinks aren't correct - unless Certina started using a different supplier at some point.

It's a very cool watch, @Dan S 👍

Looks like it has had its luminous material removed at some point, which is exceedingly common on these. On the 3-6-9-12 markers there should be a raised lume inlay, which is very often either missing or replaced. My theory is that the heavy application was very fragile (perhaps more sensitive to moisture?) and therefore was removed/replaced entirely during services.

It's a "T" dial which is a bit less common than those without the T (my observations only), but what this T stands for no-one seems to know. A few times I've seen the model for sale as "DS T". If you could share your serial number (if still visible), it would be great 😀

Still learning about Certinas and apparently i have more things to learn 😁 The devil is in the details indeed 😉 Thank you for your insight @ConElPueblo 😀

Scirocco160 · Mar 28, 2019

One of my recent «finds». Very basic, very simple, but very good case, crystal and dial. Worn out crown. 30$.

Scirocco160 · Apr 11, 2019

One more ugly duckling back from recent service. Simply love this chunk of steel. Hummin’ tuning fork movement.

frankpaul · Apr 13, 2019

Hello folks,
I really don’t want to bother you with too many Certinas. So here’s just a few from my rack:
I love the 60s divers and dress watches.

frankpaul · Apr 13, 2019

And I am going for all colors of the Argonaut 280.

Scirocco160 · Apr 13, 2019

frankpaul

And I am going for all colors of the Argonaut 280.

Please bother us more!!!

Shay · Jun 11, 2019

If anyone has a Certina ref 5601 003 cal 25-451, I would appreciate if you can share some pictures. I am hunting for one but it seems that there are various dial version. The only info I have is from:

https://www.vintagecertinas.ch/en/certina-ds/

Many Thanks

Northernman · Jun 11, 2019

S Shay
If anyone has a Certina ref 5601 003 cal 25-451, I would appreciate if you can share some pictures. I am hunting for one but it seems that there are various dial version. The only info I have is from:

https://www.vintagecertinas.ch/en/certina-ds/

Many Thanks

Not details to share as such, but Certina, as many others, used the reference number to identify the case and/or movement combination.
The "cosmetics", aka dial and hands, were offered in several variants.
The "diver style" dial 5601.003 is clearly the most desireable, but as you have seen, there are several other out there.

Auction house "Kaplans" of Sweden have sold several.
https://www.google.com/search?q=certina+5601.003+kaplans

Shay · Jun 11, 2019

Thank you, I see one on EBay but the caseback
is a turtle case rather than with a Gay Frere case. Is it possible that some were issued with a turtle caseback?

joso · Jun 11, 2019

No, not knowing exactly the one i presume its the one with Date caliber on a no date dial and a later back cover i would not see it as original, on these ones it should have a no turtle pre patent back cover.

Shay · Jun 12, 2019

joso
No, not knowing exactly the one i presume its the one with Date caliber on a no date dial and a later back cover i would not see it as original, on these ones it should have a no turtle pre patent back cover.

Shay · Jun 12, 2019

Pictures attached

ConElPueblo · Jun 12, 2019

The one you post here has several issues; I know of a number of people - myself included - who are watching the auction, but the condition is rather poor which makes me believe the watch has been relumed.

Very poor case, replaced caseback, wear around the markers (moisture? Signs of dial cleaning?), movement issues...

septentrio · Jun 12, 2019

Some pictures of mine. I'm thinking about putting it up for sale 😉

Shay · Jun 12, 2019

ConElPueblo
The one you post here has several issues; I know of a number of people - myself included - who are watching the auction, but the condition is rather poor which makes me believe the watch has been relumed.

Very poor case, replaced caseback, wear around the markers (moisture? Signs of dial cleaning?), movement issues...

Thank you!

ConElPueblo · Jun 14, 2019

ConElPueblo
Does anyone know about this reference? @Bill Sohne? It turns out it is not yellow, but red gold plated... Another first for me. As it is red gold plated with a steel caseback and equipped with a cal. 25-45 the ref will read 5604 XXX; the real mystery is figuring out what the last three digits are.

Bill Sohne
have not seen rose gold plate... i have a pat pending yellow gold plate i think..... but caseback is stainless steel.

Best

bill

I Wanted to update this thread with this new eBay find:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/carcasa-Re...1:g:t98AAOSwAF5dA2Lg&LH_ItemCondition=3000|10

Note that the ref. no. is 5804 112, designating a red gold plated case 😀

Really happy to have confirmed that red gold plated DS' exist, even if this one is a later reference!

Of further note is that the seller is - naturally - located in Spain. It seems that there is a tendency for vintage, gold plated (and solid gold for that matter) watches from Spain to be in red or rose gold, where we're used to seeing yellow gold in the rest of Europe and North America.