Certina

Certina and the Grana name

Certina is a Swiss watch brand. Its history begins with Adolf and Alfred Kurth's workshop in Grenchen in 1888. The brothers introduced the Grana brand in 1906. Certina's history dates registration of the Certina name to 1939. The start of the business and registration of the brand are therefore separate events.

What does DS mean?

DS stands for Double Security, a construction concept introduced in 1959 with an emphasis on shock protection and water resistance. The turtle shell later became a distinctive brand symbol. DS does not identify a single movement, and the letters alone do not establish a watch's model.

Assessing a pre-owned example

Photograph the dial, caseback and any reference or serial numbers. Ask a watchmaker to check the calibre and whether movement and case belong together. Record visible wear, previous intervention and service information. Investigate a Grana signature within the company's history rather than treating it as an interchangeable name for every Certina watch.

Historic claims of robustness are not a condition report for an old watch. Do not take an original water-resistance rating as confirmation that the watch remains water resistant. Ask a watchmaker about its current sealing and appropriate use.

Browse our wristwatches.

Sources

Certina: official timeline and history and the DS concept.