I would too like to know when Certina stopped using radium. I have searched and searched, but I have not found anything. Maybe someone here will know. The fact that the lume does not charge in light (with a flashlight in a dark room) indicates radium, but this is not a 100% accurate method. Only way to be sure is to use a Geiger counter. In my opinion, radon gas build up is the most problematic aspect with collecting radium watches. It's the reason I only buy tritium dial pieces. I would not worry about the loose particles too much; just don't open the watch. Late 50s/early 60s watches used a relatively small amount of radium compared to older watches, so having one radioactive piece is unlikely to do you any harm. But if you have small children in the family, then maybe the Certina has got to go. Better safe than sorry. And please post a pic of your watch. It does not help answering the radium/tritium question, but we like to look at beautiful Certinas
Finally got this amazing gem from the watchmaker... It actually took him a lot of time to remove the links from the 6300 bracelet..a watchmaker nightmare as he said Doas anybody has the same bracelet ? Just love how classy it looks with that red dial. Sorry for the picture, I definitly have trouble taking good pictures without reflection ^^
Probably Certina's very own DS bracelet. Which unfortunately seems not very well suited to size adjustments, BTW – can't get it small enough for my thin arm .
This bracelet seems indeed to be made by Certina for the DS1, DS ph200 and DS ph500 - the two divers having slight different (and also unfindable ^^) end links I think it's nicknamed "the caterpillar" It can of course be adjusted (I did it on mine) but you have to go to your local watchmaker. It's a real special bracelmet to adjust i gotta admit, and only the third watchmaker I went to managed to adjust it. @philby you'll be able to enjoy that bracelet don't you worry
Thanks for the encouragement – my dark grey DS will be going to the watchmaker this tuesday, to see if he can open it (back is completely stuck) as well as if he can shorten this bracelet. They've been selling Certinas and Eternas for almost 100 years, so I have high hopes for both.
For the first DS line Certina used two different bracelets. The first type (1959 - ~1965) was the supernice g&f. The second (1965 - 1967) was the one you showed. so probably the wrong bracelet for this specific watch (to be correct). But anyway. Here a little guide for removing links: 1. open the clasp 2. use a tweezer. Remove a spring (on the insight of the bracelet (on the cover plate side!) ! Max 4 links removable! 3. make a right angel with the bracelet (on the place you removed the spring). Then you can release the link 4. mount it in reverse wise... 5. good luck!
You are correct i purchase the watch head only today and put it on this bracelet i had in my box The watch came on an original vintage Certina leather strap, with a wrong buckle though.. Luckily i have some old buckles in my box somewhere
Back from the watchmaker, the cal 25-651 cleaned and oiled and ticking away happily. Looking at my DSs, I'm wondering if these cases are supposed to be so different – the bezel looks quite a bit wider on the dark-dialled one, so maybe it's been polished while still keeping sharp-looking edges?
Thoughts from the more certina-experienced, fellow OF members? The watch is a reference 5601 112 with cal. 26-65 inside. What has me wondering, is that it doesn't say "automatic" underneath "Certina" on the dial. Literally any other DS with an auto movement (date or no date) that I own or have seen, do have the "automatic" on their dials.
Could this be a replacement dial? Since the manual and automatics use the same base caliber, I would think that the dial feet would be in the same place and the DS cases seem to be more or less compatible as well. gatorcpa
I'm thinking about buying one of these if I can get it to Canada for a reasonable price. What do you think of this homage to the Bond Seamaster?
