Why This Watch Matters Who wouldn't want to wake up to the cool tones of this stainless steel Certina? The Full Story Certina was originally founded by the Kurth brothers in 1888, and the manufacturer first produced movements, and later watches, under the name Grana. The name was changed to Certina in 1939, and they quickly started producing automatic watches in the 1940s, eventually introducing the DS series in 1959. The DS divers, a few of which we have been happy to offer in the past, have taken hold in the larger vintage collecting universe over the past few years. On the back of the DS, Certina in general is growing in popularity as collectors continue to be impressed by the reliability and solid build quality. Modern Certina is having a bit of a moment as well here at the HODINKEE as the brand recently returned to the U.S. market exclusively through the Shop. In a world before the iPhone alarm was ubiquitous, the wrist alarm was one of the most practical complications a watch could offer. Vulcain's Cricket found a massive market in the 1940s; it was not long before brands like Certina had developed their own. Where the Cricket is very '40s feeling, Certina's example is very much of the '70s. The case feels at home next to the various vintage 1970s watches we have around the office, such as the Speedmaster Mark II and the Heuer Autavia. The A. Schild ebauche movement inside this Certina is notable as unlike JLC's Memovox alarm caliber, for example, the self-winding rotor winds both the timekeeping barrel as well as the alarm barrel – one in each direction of the rotor. Setting and arming the alarm is all done through the lower crown near four o'clock. Pulling it out all the way allows for the alarm time to be adjusted, indicated by the arrow on the inner disc, and leaving the crown out arms the alarm. All winding and time-setting is done through the more conventional-looking crown at two o'clock. We paired this with our David Lane watch strap in a grey tone to play off of the blue dial. The Fine Print Maker: CertinaModel: Automatic AlarmReference: 681 3750 41Year: 1970sCase No: N/AMaterial: Stainless steelDimensions: 41mm height, 39.5mm width, 13.8mm thicknessCrystal: PlexiglassLume: Yes, tritiumCaliber: Certina, self-winding, caliber 189 (A. Schild 5008)Bracelet/Strap: David Lane Dark Grey Museum Calf Watch Strap For HODINKEELug Width: 20mmBox/Papers: No What We Love And What You Should Know Things We Love: Blue dial design Nice overall condition Automatic alarm complication Things To Know: Scratches on case Patina on dial This Certina is in overall very good condition. The case shows some light surface scratches and light nicks on the edges, but it's generally sharp. The caseback has a few scratches from previous removal attempts. The dial is very clean with a slight patina overall. The lume on the dial as well as on the hands has turned creamy in varying degrees of patina. There is a bit of patina on the dial around each lume plot. The hands and hour markers themselves have developed slight patina. The dial, case, and movement are signed by Certina. The crowns are correctly unsigned and of the correct shape. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.
