WHO loves Certinas ?

Dr.Sascha · Sep 11, 2021

Nice first-series handwinder on the Bay, and accepting offers:
Certina DS FIRST SERIES cal.25661 Turtle Mechanical WRIST WATCH Swiss Made 60’s https://ebay.us/egHL9p

csburns · Sep 18, 2021

Dr. Sascha's tip a couple months ago got me actively looking for Certina's. Given the takeoff in price for so many popular brands it is refreshing to find a such solid watches at a reasonable price. Many, like the Blue Ribbon, have an understated elegance about them. I just picked this one up which features a 28-45 movement and runs like a top. The two-tone dial and faceted arrow marks are what really do it for me.

Dr.Sascha · Sep 18, 2021

csburns
Dr. Sascha's tip a couple months ago got me actively looking for Certina's. Given the takeoff in price for so many popular brands it is refreshing to find a such solid watches at a reasonable price. Many, like the Blue Ribbon, have an understated elegance about them. I just picked this one up which features a 28-45 movement and runs like a top. The two-tone dial and faceted arrow marks are what really do it for me.

That's a beauty, and I would add the dauphine hands to the list of nice features.

Also, no one should ever take my advice on anything. My past is full of questionable professional choices, bad investment decisions, and absolute trainwreck marriages.

ConElPueblo · Sep 18, 2021

Dr.Sascha
Nice first-series handwinder on the Bay, and accepting offers:
Certina DS FIRST SERIES cal.25661 Turtle Mechanical WRIST WATCH Swiss Made 60’s https://ebay.us/egHL9p

I see "first series" a lot, when in reality the seller has a DS that isn't particularly old. This one is a fairly late model DS with the later case style.

Dr.Sascha · Sep 19, 2021

ConElPueblo
I see "first series" a lot, when in reality the seller has a DS that isn't particularly old. This one is a fairly late model DS with the later case style.

You're absolutely right, this was just the seller's title, not my assessment. As I understand it, first/early series DS models have the 25-36 (no date), 25-45, or 25-451 movement, in any case.

TimeODanaos · Sep 24, 2021

It's visited OF before, but this dial was so beautiful in morning sunshine today, I couldn't resist sharing the joy.

Milos Columbo · Sep 24, 2021

Enjoy the weekend Certina lovers 😉

JamesTYO · Sep 28, 2021

DS2, hefty in every respect.

Danwales · Oct 1, 2021

I happen to live in the city of Bristol and have always fancied a Certina Bristol In that slate grey/blue colour.

philby · Oct 3, 2021

ConElPueblo
This one is a fairly late model DS with the later case style.

Sorry, this probably has been answered before, but: what is the difference between early and a later DS case style?
Just about to bid for my second one, so I'm curious.
TIA.

ConElPueblo · Oct 3, 2021

philby
Sorry, this probably has been answered before, but: what is the difference between early and a later DS case style?
Just about to bid for my second one, so I'm curious.
TIA.

There are a number of different case references for Certina DS', the two most common are the .012 and .112. The .012 has a more slender lug design and sliiiiiightly narrower lug width. The .112 is a bit chunkier in the case - the one in the link is a .112. To make matters more confusing, the earliest .112s have the same appearance as the .012 😁

philby · Oct 3, 2021

ConElPueblo
There are a number of different case references for Certina DS', the two most common are the .012 and .112. The .012 has a more slender lug design and sliiiiiightly narrower lug width. The .112 is a bit chunkier in the case - the one in the link is a .112. (…)

Thanks for that fascinating info!
Now that you explain it, the one in the Ebay link does suddenly start to look a bit Kontiki-ish.
Also, glad to know (or least be reasonably sure) that my DS as well as the one I'm eyeing are .012.
Makes up a little bit for the weirdo non-original dial - bought the watch knowing even less than I do today about Certina, attracted by the nice condition of the case 😬

philby · Oct 3, 2021

And since I'm posting pics and blabbering about dials - I also got myself this completely wonderful and funky New Art.

What has been bothering me about it, though, apart from the fact that it's a really shiny affair, is the missing Certina logo. In all the pics from auctions as well as in the 1973 and 1974 Certina catalogues, the watch always has the C logo.
However the Certina brand and «automatic» seems to be positioned slightly higher in my watch than on those other pics. Could it be that this dial was made without a logo, or am I dreaming and the logo simply fell off without leaving any trace whatsoever?

b-lilja · Oct 7, 2021

Speaking of New Art, y'all see this on Hodinkee? The brand resurrection continues... https://shop.hodinkee.com/collections/vintage-watches/products/2749-certina

I do love that watch - very nice.

philby · Oct 8, 2021

b-lilja
Speaking of New Art, y'all see this on Hodinkee? The brand resurrection continues...
I do love that watch - very nice.

Very nice indeed!

Luckily for me, I already have a much older New Art, bought from grandson of original buyer, who purchased it in 1963 (original receipt is in the attic). 😁

This watch is in good shape, it feels and looks almost like new and keeps excellent time. It has more than 48 hours of running time when fully wound and makes my much more recent and expensive IWC Mark XII blush in shame in comparison.

philby · Oct 8, 2021

I think it was in this here forum and probably even somewhere in this very thread that someone memorably wrote something along the lines of «I need a new watch like I need a hole in my head», but... Argonaut with original 919-1 calibre, there's not too many of those still around, right? (Just trying to justificate by wishfully thinking it might possibly be a collectible, of course).

Willi · Oct 8, 2021

Got my first Certina in the mail the other day… Quite hefty for its 39mm. I’m pleased with it.

Been eyeing off a NOS DS diver but I got distracted with this one.

philby · Oct 14, 2021

Latest and hopefully last (for a while) one.
70s sexyness making me want to listen to Pink Floyd combined with good old Swiss strict punctuality (quick measuring indicates the cal 919 runs about 1 second late per 24 hours).

If anyone has an idea where I might get a red seconds index for it (and/or an original DS dial), I‘d be interested.

b-lilja · Oct 14, 2021

Wicked cool unusual watch, don't mess with it.

philby · Oct 16, 2021

b-lilja
Wicked cool unusual watch, don't mess with it.

Guess you‘re right. I had this in mind, but probably the seconds index originally wasn‘t orange or red. (The DS dial isn‘t, of course, for this watch. I may be cold-hearted, but I‘m not a monster)