Certina DS: the history of Double Security and classic vintage watches
Certina is a Swiss watch brand strongly associated with robust everyday watches, and few letters are more important in its history than DS. The abbreviation stands for “Double Security” and was introduced in 1959. The idea was to give the movement greater protection against shocks, water and everyday stress: qualities that have remained central to Certina through several generations.
From Grenchen to the DS concept
The story began in Grenchen, Switzerland, in 1888, when brothers Adolf and Alfred Kurth started producing watch movements and components. Certina later became the established brand name, and the DS concept arrived in 1959. The early DS watches were engineered with robustness as a key objective; Certina states that the concept provided water resistance of up to 20 bar (200 metres).
Only a year later, the concept received a spectacular demonstration: members of the expedition that completed the first ascent of Dhaulagiri in the Himalayas in 1960 wore Certina watches. The DS name subsequently became closely linked with the brand's identity.
What does Double Security mean?
DS was more than a model name. Certina describes the system as a combination of construction features designed to protect the watch from shocks and water. The principle has continued to evolve. The turtle shell became a natural symbol of robustness and has been associated with Certina since the 1960s.
An early Certina DS from the 1960s
Our online shop has featured an early Certina DS from the beginning of the 1960s. It has a light dial, applied hour markers, dauphine hands and a hand-wound Certina 25-66 movement. At approximately 36 mm, it is a classic representative of the period and an excellent example of the early DS generation.
DS-2: the next generation
Towards the end of the 1960s came the next chapter. Certina describes today's DS-2 as a direct descendant of the 1968 model. The design became distinctly more modern, and many vintage examples have the bold appearance associated with the transition into the 1970s.
Our Certina DS-2 Automatic dates from the 1970s and has a tonneau-shaped steel case, automatic mechanical movement and date display. The caseback carries the characteristic Certina turtle: a detail many collectors associate with classic DS watches.
Certina in the 1960s and 1970s
The period also produced models with a more urban character. One example is the Certina T+C Town and Country Automatic, dating from around the late 1960s to early 1970s. Its blue sunburst dial and cushion-shaped steel case show how dramatically watch design changed during these years.
DS continues today
The DS concept did not disappear with the vintage models. Certina has continued to develop the principle in modern watches. In 2025, the manufacturer presented a new generation of the DS concept with additional emphasis on shock resistance.
A good modern example is the Certina DS Action Diver Powermatic 80. This automatic diver has sapphire crystal and a stated water resistance of 300 metres. Its appearance is far removed from the elegant models of the 1960s, but the underlying idea of a robust everyday watch remains.
Why is vintage Certina interesting?
Vintage Certina offers a great deal of Swiss watchmaking history in models that can still be worn today. The DS family is particularly interesting because its design, movements and construction can be followed across several decades.
With any older mechanical watch, service history may be unknown. A watch that ticks and runs has not necessarily been recently serviced. Dial, case, crystal, movement and originality can all have a major influence on collector interest and value.
Browse wristwatches currently available. Our timegrapher guide explains how test readings are interpreted, and you can contact us about a watch or collection.
See our Certina watches
Our selection ranges from early vintage DS watches to modern Certina models and changes continuously. Once a vintage example is sold, we may not find another identical one.
