====== Certina ======
{{wst>menue|Certina}}

{{wst>image_cr|Certina|DS 1 Chrono Automatique}}

**Certina** is a Swiss watch manufacturer, currently part of the [[Swatch Group]]'s Middle Range.

===== Founded in 1888 =====
In [[1888]] Certina is founded in [[Grenchen]] by the brothers Adolf and Alfred Kurth and operates first as **Kurth Frères SA**. In 1906 the two choose for their watches the name "Grana", a shortened form of "Granacus", the Latin name for Grenchen. The first wristwatches appear on the market - mostly for women, since men at that time still refuse wristwatches.

In [[1938]] the Grana watch factory celebrates the 50th anniversary with its 250 employees. Looking for a new brand name, one chooses "Certina", derived from the Latin "certus" (sure, surely). With this name, which is easy to pronounce in most languages, the image of the company is enhanced and the brand from now on expands even outside their home country.

In [[1948]], at the 60th anniversary, the company has 350 employees and opens its first foreign branch in Germany.

===== The DS concept =====
In [[1959]] Hans and Erwin Kurtz by Hans and Erwin Kurtz develop the groundbreaking concept of DS (Double Security), in which the movement is enclosed in a kind of highly stable vault. Watches with [[self-winding movement]] at that time usually resist a fall from 1.8 to to 2.2 meters. In the new model series //Certina DS// it is 6 meters, and at the same time the degree of [[water resistance]] is increased to 20 atmospheres (200 meters), bringing the watches to the forefront of the market.

In [[1960]] a Swiss expedition successfully completes the first ascent of the 8222 meter high Dhaulagiri in the Himalayas and is equipped with the //Certina DS//. The model "Blue Ribbon", equipped with a particularly flat [[self-winding movement]], is launched in [[1961]]. The name refers to the award of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Riband|Blue Ribbon]] (Blue Riband), which the liners Queen Mary, Normandie and United States have received as the fastest ships on the transatlantic route Europe-New York.

In [[1971]] the //Certina Biostar// is brought to market and is the world's first watch with a display of biorhythms.

In [[1972]] Certina is presented the "Diamonds International Award" and the "Golden Rose" as producer with the biggest innovative strength. At that time the company with 900 employees produces 375,000 watch components per day and consumes 53,000 jewels. The annual production amounts to 600,000 watches.

In [[1979]] the sale of the Certina DS, 20 years after its release, exceeds the million mark.

===== SMH and Swatch Group =====
In the year [[1983]] Certina joins the [[SMH]] group, consisting of a composite of [[ASUAG]] and [[SSIH]]. Today, after increasing by many other watch manufacturers, the group carries the name [[Swatch Group]]. Within this world's largest watch group Certina is positioned as a specialist in sports watches. The brand is now involved as a sports sponsor, for example in racing, and here especially at motorcycle championships and with the Formula 1 team of BMW Sauber.

===== Address =====
Certina Kurth Frères SA\\ Rue de Boujean 9\\ Case postale 3536\\ CH-2500 [[Biel]] 3

Tel. 032 / 343 44 11\\ Fax 032 / 343 44 00

===== Weblinks =====
  *[[http://www.certina.ch/|Certina Swiss Watches]]


{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland General_Watch_Co. Swatch_Group ASUAG}}