Watches Certina C041.407.19.041.01

Certina watches are well known for their accuracy, reliability and sportiness. Over its 130 years of existence, this sports watch brand has built a solid international reputation on quality Swiss craftsmanship.

THE BIRTH OF A NEW BRAND OF SPORTS WATCHES

Brothers Adolf and Alfred Kurth set up their own watch production in the Swiss town of Grenchen, an idyllic location at the foot of the Jura mountains between Solothurn and Biel. The two brothers and their three employees work in an annexe at the family home. The business soon begins to flourish, expanding and taking on new employees in the following years.

THE NEW BRAND NAME

In 1906, the Kurth brothers introduce the brand name of their watches: "Grana", which stands for "Granacus", the Latin word for Grenchen. The quality of their watches is immediately recognised and they win several awards. In the 1920s, Alfred's sons Erwin and Hans join the company and survive the difficult period of the Great Depression.

CERTINA. WITH CERTAINTY

During the 1930s, the company increasingly used the name Certina, and for good reason: it is easy to pronounce in all languages and comes from the Latin word "certus", meaning "certain". The brand is officially registered in 1939 and chosen as the only brand name in 1949.

THE BIRTH OF THE DS CONCEPT

In 1959, the company launches the first Certina watch with the DS concept. It is an automatic watch that is extremely shock-resistant and waterproof up to 20 bar (200 metres). It thus sets new standards for an entire generation of wristwatches.

A SYMBOL OF ROBUSTNESS AND DURABILITY

The tortoiseshell is a symbol of robustness and longevity - qualities that characterise all Certina watches without exception. It is therefore no wonder that the brand chose the tortoise as its symbol as early as the 1960s. Even today, its characteristic silhouette can be found on almost all Certina products and in the company logo. It is a reminder of the extraordinary durability that characterises all Certina watches.

EXPEDITION TO THE HIMALAYAS

The Certina DS accompanied an international expedition on its first successful ascent of the 8,167-metre-high Dhaulagiri in western Nepal. It overcomes all challenges - from severe temperature fluctuations to pressure differences - without any difficulties.

WITH SEALAB II STATION ON THE OCEAN FLOOR

Certina DS is participating in the US Navy's Sealab II underwater project, in which scientists and divers conduct research in an undersea station. They confirm that the Certina DS watch can be relied upon at all times.

A SUCCESSFUL PAIR

The innovative DS-2 Super PH 500 M watch takes part in the Tektite underwater experiment, during which four scientists live underwater in two living cabins under the supervision of NASA. The Certina models worn by the scientists achieve the best results.

HIGH RUNNING

A Certina watch accompanies the Japanese expedition to Mount Everest, where it once again stands up to very challenging conditions. Wearing a DS-2 Chronolympic watch, Japanese skier Miura skis the most daring route of all time, down 1,000 metres from an altitude of 8,000 metres.

CERTINA CELEBRATES 125 YEARS

On the occasion of its 125th anniversary, Certina not only presents a completely new and fresh corporate identity, but also three new watch movements. The automatic and high-precision Powermatic 80 movement has a power reserve of up to 80 hours. The C01.21 is renowned as an extremely reliable chronograph, and the innovative trio is rounded off by the Precidrive™ movement, representing a new generation of quartz watches with precision comparable to chronometers. The brand continues to make a strong presence in motorsport and is now the official timekeeper of the FIA World Rally Championship.

SAVING THE SEA TURTLES

Certina shares its love of the underwater world with the Sea Turtle Conservancy. This Florida-based charity is dedicated to saving sea turtles and was founded in 1959 when Certina launched its DS Concept double protection.