Fresh from the estate of a retired Swiss-trained watchmaker, a genuine SWISS-Made Certina Diver's Dress-watch produced in 1972.  This rare and solidly built watch is the rare manual-wind variant (most were the chunkier automatic versions) of the Waterking, and since it is the "275" model - it was originally produced with a water resistance rating of 275 meters.  The watch was completely overhauled in Dec of 2022 and according to the watchmaker's notes, it was not running because the pallet fork was broken.  He repaired the pallet and then completely cleaned and oiled the movement using 4 separate premium watch lubricants.  After timing the watch, it has been keeping perfect time - a fact we confirmed.  He also polished the crystal and case and then gave the watch a brand-new premium leather band - as requested by the customer.  Unfortunately, according to the watchmaker's notes, the owner could not afford the repair, and so after an agreement with the watchmaker, the owner sold the timeopiece to the watchmaker who purchased it with the intention of selling it.... which never happened.  When the funds were transfered from the watchmaker to the owner, the owner provided the original Certina box.  

This super-cool premium Diver's watch is powered by the ultra-premium, BESPOKE Certina calibre 25-661.  Unlike many other diver watches that use off-the-self ETA or A.Schild movements, Certina produced this movement COMPLETELY IN-HOUSE!  This highly-accurate tiny movement packs a powerful punch!  While it is similar to most other manual-win movements in that it has 17 jewels, unlike their beats per hour of 18,000, this one beats at 19,800!  The higher amplitude on this Certina is harder to produce (which is why others use a lower amplitude) but provides a smoother rotation of the sweeping seconds hand.   Certina then went above and beyond to include a 46-hour power-reserve in this watch.  They decided this because most manual watches had a power-reserve time of 42 hours.  While this also proved difficult to manufacture, Certina is not known as a mediocre horologist marque so they developed unique manufacturing techniques to make a 46-hpour mainspring fit into the tiny movement.  

The watch is in over quite nice condition, as seen in the photos.  The dial is perfect and is almost exactly how it was produced approx. 50 years ago.  The outer edge of the dial is gray-brown which gradually moves to a beautiful royal blue in the center.  This gradual change in color gives the appearance of a smokey patina on the edge of the dial.  However, while most patina is unintentional, this dial was produced with the color gradient purposefully.  The smokey-brown band nicely compliments the dial and almost looks as though it too was original to the watch (it wasn't).  

Watch Dimensions: 
33.00mm Wide excluding the crown
35.2mm wide including the Crown
38.20 long lug to lug
  9.50mm thick

After joining with the SMH Group in 1983 (which was renamed the Swatch Group Ltd. in 1999), Certina continues to produce watches, but falling in line with other SMH companies, they began using ETA movements - something they do exclusively now.  Gone are the days when Certina produced their own movements and parts in house.  This makes older watches with the bespoke Certina movements highly sought after, desirable and collectible.  This explains their exponential growth in price over the last decade. 

An amazing opportunity to invest and own a horologically significant timepiece that continues to rise in value.


Certina History:

The company that is now known as Certina S.A. was founded in 1888 by Adolf and Alfred Kurth. They originally opened in Grenchen as a movement supply factory for the watchmaking industry, and began with only five employees.  In this idyllic spot at the foot of the Jura mountains between Solothurn and Biel, the brothers and their three employees worked in an annex to the family home. Within a short time, success allows various extensions to the workshop and new employees are taken on.

As business steadily increases, the brothers explore the possibility of producing their own brand of watches, a dream that becomes reality by 1906.  Using the names "Grana", short for "Granacus", the Latin name of Grenchen, the brothers find business success in their line of watches.  The high-quality of their timepieces is immediately recognized and earns the brothers awards and more importantly credibility. By the 1920s, Alfred Kurth’s sons Erwin and Hans join the company and guide it through the difficult time (pardon the pun) of the Great Depression.

While the Great Depression was difficult for Americans, it was no better in Europe, and the Swiss, German and French watchmaking industry suffered significantly.  The Kurth brother’s ability to procure and produce watch parts gave them security during this time, and while the company was lean at the end of the period, they nonetheless persevered and succeeded. 

On the other side of the Great Depression, the Kurths decided to attempt marketing campaigns to get their products noticed.  It is during this time that they began using the name “Certina” – from the Latin word "certus", which means “certain” or “sure”.  Early success of this name due to its’ ease of pronunciation in any language pushed the company to use the name on more models and throughout the 1930s the company increasingly uses the brand name Certina.  The brand was officially registered in 1939 and after successfully surviving World War II, in 1949 Certina is chosen to be the main brand name.

Other marketing techniques led to different and sometimes extremely unique watch styles.  For example, in 1936, the company developed the world’s first digital watch.  Horologists, experimenting with different display methods developed a spring-driven movement with rotating disks.  These disks moved bearing inscribed numbers under the dial to directly display the time, instead of using hands.  These designs were later used by other companies to make their own digital watches

Certina continued to expand and by 1955 the company had 500 employees working between the factory and offices, producing 1,000 timepieces every day. Certina worked up a new business plan that expanded its operations.  In 1959, the company brings out the first Certina watch with DS (Double Security) Concept. The Certina DS is an extremely shock-resistant automatic watch with water resistance up to 20 bar (200 meters). This watch would set new standards for a whole generation of wristwatches.

Timeline after the 1950s:

1961 The Certina DS accompanies an international expedition on the first successful ascent of the 8,167-metre-high Dhaulagiri in western Nepal. It overcomes all the challenges – from strong temperature fluctuations to considerable height and pressure differences – with no problems at all.

1965 The Certina DS takes part in the US Navy's Sealab II underwater project, which involves scientists and divers working in a diving station in different areas of marine research. The US Navy confirms that the Certina DS is absolutely reliable under all conditions.

1969 The innovative DS-2 Super PH 500 M is part of the Tektite underwater experiment, in which four scientists live in two underwater residential tanks for two months under NASA observation. The Certina models worn by the scientists achieved the very best scores.

1970 A Japanese expedition to Mount Everest is accompanied by Certina watches, which also stand up to these highly challenging conditions. During the expedition, the Japanese skier Miura achieves one of the most daring ski runs of all time, descending through 1,000 metres from an altitude of 8,000 metres, while wearing a DS-2 Chronolympic.

1971 The Certina Biostar is the first watch in the world to display a person's daily biorhythms. At a glance it shows the wearer's physical, mental and emotional biorhythms.

1972 The company increased workforce and employed 900 people producing over 600,000 watches per year.

1973 The Belgian rider Roger de Coster wins the motocross world championships 500cc class for the third time, proudly wearing his Certina DS 288.

1976 The ultra-robust and scratch-resistant DS DiaMaster attracts attention everywhere – including on the wrist of the famous American heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali.

1983 Certina joins the newly founded SMH Group, which is led by the visionary entrepreneur and watch-lover Nicolas G. Hayek. SMH becomes the world’s leading watch group, and is renamed the Swatch Group Ltd. in 1999. Certina sport watches are in the middle-price segment of the corporate group's range.

2002 Certina continues to extend its involvement in motorsport, and can now be seen on the wrist of the popular rallying world champion Colin McRae.

2004 The DS-3 1000m recaptures the heritage of Certina’s famous diver's watches. This automatic timepiece is water resistant to a record-breaking depth of 1,000 metres.

2005 As the official sponsor of the Sauber Petronas team, Certina celebrates its debut in Formula 1, a discipline to which it will remain loyal for many years. At the same time, the brand is delighted at the 125cc class world title win by motorcyclist Thomas Lüthi, whom it has sponsored since the beginning of his career. These sporting successes are reflected in the launch of the DS Podium, whose sporty design and precision make it one of the most popular and successful Certina watch families to this day.

2013 On the occasion of its 125th anniversary, Certina presents not only a completely new and fresh corporate identity, but also three new watch movements. The Powermatic 80 automatic caliber is a highly precise movement with a power reserve of up to 80 hours, and the C01.21 makes a name for itself as an extremely reliable chronograph; the innovative trio if rounded off by the Precidrive™ calibre, representing a new generation of quartz watches whose precision is comparable with that of chronometers

2015 Certina is expanding its presence in motor rallying, as the official partner of the Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team, one of the most famous and most successful teams in this sport. It is also entering into partnership with the renowned ADAC GT Masters. As the official timekeeper in one of the most exciting racing series in Europe, the brand is consolidating its reputation as an authentic sport watch, which is at home at the world's major motorsports events.