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WHO loves Certinas ?

__ryan__
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There are a number of variants. None of these are mine -- they're just examples that I found while researching these divers.

Here's a 5601-113 with lume dots on the hours, no lume on the applied indices, gilt numerals, and what appears to be white paint for everything else. I was a bit suspicious of the triangle placement on the bezel, but it looks to be similar to the one posted above by @minutenrohr.

5601-113-niceExample.jpg


Another 5601-113, which looks to be fully gilt with golden text and numerals. I'm not sure if the base dial is actually golden, or if it's silver that has aged. With lume on the applied indices and the "T" painted over the red cross, similar to the example of @Eve. This one also has a count-up bezel, as opposed to the count-down bezels of the others.

certina-ds-red-cross-1964-vintage-swiss-automatic-watch-cal-25-65-ref-5601-113-tropical-dial-.jpg


Another reference is the 5801-113, which has wider hands, rectangular lume plots on the hours, and applied indices with lume. These have gilt numerals with painted text and are lacking a "T" beneath the "DS".

lume1.png


Finally, a no-date example without the dive bezel. I'm not sure if it's original.

nondiver2.jpg
 
Eve
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As far as my research goes, there are two major variants between the diver dial, and then there are minor variations in those two variants.
I put an excel and called them "MKI" for the early variant and "MKII" for the later.
please feel free to correct me if something is completely off.

The Upper variant is the "MKI" and the lower variant is the "MKII", these are the major differences of the two.
upload_2023-10-17_10-5-6.png upload_2023-10-17_9-57-1.png


There are some further variations, for example the the lume application and the shape of the (3)-6-9-12 Markers, interrupted red hair-cross and so on.
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Eve
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__ryan__ __ryan__
Another 5601-113, which looks to be fully gilt with golden text and numerals. I'm not sure if the base dial is actually golden, or if it's silver that has aged. With lume on the applied indices and the "T" painted over the red cross, similar to the example of @Eve. This one also has a count-up bezel, as opposed to the count-down bezels of the others.

certina-ds-red-cross-1964-vintage-swiss-automatic-watch-cal-25-65-ref-5601-113-tropical-dial-.jpg
Actually interesting that you mentioned this exact watch, as it is for sale on chrono24 for a while, and i have been trying to understand why the Numerals have kind of a "frame" in colour between the middle part and the edge of the numeral.
But now that we know that the numerals are gilt it makes perfect sence that the patina behaves in such a way.
The question is only have this dial been baked and the silver part turned brown or is it a natural patina.
It would be very intersesting to see this watch in person.
upload_2023-10-17_10-13-30.png
 
__ryan__
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Do we know what the "T" stands for on these DS dials?
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osterman
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Hi everybody.
Here's my newly arrived Blue Ribbon ref. 5801 100 with movement 25-651.
20231102_155446.jpg
 
All Military
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Early 50's 28003.1 - Yet to figure out the exact year
IMG-20231104-162946819-HDR-2.jpg
 
Eve
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The red colour really pops on this Amagnetic🥰

20231106_101027.jpg
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__ryan__
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Earlier in the year, I was hunting for a Gay Freres bracelet for a Certina DS. As I understand, purchasing a watch with the bracelet attached tends to be a better proposition than finding a good stand-alone bracelet at a reasonable price. This one came up for auction a few months ago. From the seller's photos, the bracelet looked to be in pretty good shape. Reasonably sharp links, original finish (brushed flats and polished beads), and there didn't seem to be excessive stretch.

As for the watch, the dial looked a bit rough and my expectations were not high. There's no turtle on the case back, so I suspect it's a patent-pending case. I was in it mostly for the bracelet, so I decided to take a swing.

top_withBraceletRotated.png top.png


Here is what showed up:

x__IMG_5650.jpg x__IMG_5647.jpg


All I did here was polish the crystal and put the watch in half decent lighting. Really nice vertical texture and golden hue, which I thought some might find interesting.

With special thanks to @philby, who was very kind to point out the auction.
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Eve
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__ryan__ __ryan__
Earlier in the year, I was hunting for a Gay Freres bracelet for a Certina DS. As I understand, purchasing a watch with the bracelet attached tends to be a better proposition than finding a good stand-alone bracelet at a reasonable price. This one came up for auction a few months ago. From the seller's photos, the bracelet looked to be in pretty good shape. Reasonably sharp links, contrast between the brushing on the links and the polished beads, and there didn't seem to be excessive stretch.

The dial looked a bit rough, but the lume pips were rather neat -- so I thought it might be half-way decent. Also, no turtle on the case back, so I suspect it's a patent-pending case. I was in it mostly for the bracelet, so I decided to take a swing at it.

top_withBraceletRotated.png top.png


Here is what showed up:

x__IMG_5650.jpg x__IMG_5647.jpg


All I did here was polish the crystal and put the watch in half decent lighting. Really nice vertical texture and golden hue, which I thought some might find interesting.

With special thanks to @philby, who was very kind to point out the auction.
Very nice watch, congrats! 👍
 
philby
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__ryan__ __ryan__
Earlier in the year, I was hunting for a Gay Freres bracelet for a Certina DS. (…)

All I did here was polish the crystal and put the watch in half decent lighting. Really nice vertical texture and golden hue, which I thought some might find interesting.
Wow, that's a *really* nice DS – glad this worked out so well, congrats!

BTW, if I may be so bold as to post a general recommendation re: Certina DSs – do not forget to check the yellow suspension ring from time to time, and if necessary replace it. I'm speaking from experience, this DS fell about 1m to a not-too-hard surface (plastic floor on a bus) which not only broke the glass, but also the supposedly very robust cal 25-651 inside. My watchmaker gave me back this 😲 after exchanging the movement – no wonder it was of little protective use.
Certina ds 1965.jpeg
 
D
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Nice Chronometre on eBay has come up, feel like I don't see these too often. Lovely condition
 
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dandog
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My 3 Certinas. All manual winding. All found on eBay in the past couple of years. Total cost less than $350. It’s a greatly undervalued brand, imo. Now looking for a DS turtleback.
IMG_5324.jpeg IMG_5323.jpeg IMG_5322.jpeg
imo.
 
Spruce
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Matched and fitted a vintage bracelet - which seems to work 😀

IMG_4614.jpeg
 
minutenrohr
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You can bend the end links a little tighter so that there's no gap between the case and the strap.

Regards - HU
 
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