Certina

Certina was founded in 1888 when brothers Adolf and Alfred Kurth opened a movement and supplies factory in Grenchen, Switzerland. Initially a small workshop with three employees connected to the family home, the company began by producing movements for other watchmakers before transitioning to complete timepieces. In 1906, they introduced the brand name 'Grana' (short for 'Granacus', the Latin name for Grenchen). The company adopted the name 'Certina' in 1938, derived from the Latin 'certus' meaning 'assured' or 'certain'. By 1955, the company had grown to 500 employees producing 1,000 timepieces daily. In 1959, Hans and Edwin Kurth developed the revolutionary DS (Double Security) concept, suspending the movement inside a reinforced case to dramatically improve shock protection and water resistance. The DS watches proved their durability on Himalayan expeditions, including the Dhaulagiri climb. Certina joined ASUAG's General Watch Co in 1971 and became part of the SMH Group (later Swatch Group) in 1983. The company introduced innovations including the world's first biorhythm watch (Biostar) in 1971 and scratch-resistant tungsten carbide cases. In 2014, Certina updated its branding with a turtle logo symbolizing protection against water and shocks.