Certina Automatic DS

Certina Automatic DS

Diameter 37 with crown
Running OK
Original Dial
Original Crown
Collectible ?? better read the review below, thanks

Certina Automatic DS review.

In the middle of the fifties, a team under the guidance of engenieer Philipp Kurth wanted to design a wristwatch as rugged as possible. Through countless experiments they finally developed the construction principle of the DS models. DS stands for "Double Safety". This was achieved by a floated mounting of the entire movement with an elastic shock absorber ring in addition to the conventional shock absorber (Incabloc). Aside from that, there was an air gap between the dial and case. So the movement could move in all directions. Other features were additional sealings, an extra thick and sheathed Plexiglass, combined with the enhanced caseback.



Despite the classical styling with the Bombay band lugs, the watch was very robust. She held out bumps up to 6 meters and was water resistant up to 200 meters. The first watches, which came on market in 1958, had a flat caseback whitout the turtle logo. As movement, the 25-45 was used. Very early specimens still had a evidence to the patent application instead of the patent number engraved on the inseide of the caseback. This patent (346825) was related to the shock mount of the movement and was registered on 8. Mai 1958 by case manufacturer Huguenin Fréres (see patent drawing on the right).
From the end of 1960, the new calibre 25-65 respectively 25-651 was used and from then on the famous turtle was engraved in the caseback. The manual wind version had a flat, and the automatic version a waved caseback.



Here you can find a small gallery with which you can track the evolution of the DS caseback.
In 1960, the Certina DS was able to prove their robustness on the Himalaya. On 13 May 1960 a Swiss team succeeded to reach the summit of the Dhaulagiri (8167m). Both teams of this expedition were equipped by Certina with DS watches. More promotionally effective endurance tests demonstrated the resilience of the DS concept. Thus, the Certina DS became the epitome of a particularly robust wristwatch.
Besides the models which are listed below, even some Dive watches were available in the DS line. You can find these in this rubric.

As in 1968, finally the successor of the DS, the DS-2 came on market, more than 300'000 pieces of the DS had been sold worldwide.

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