Certina was founded in 1888 by Adolf and Alfred Kurth in Grenchen, Switzerland. Originally a movement and supplies factory, Certina did not start producing complete watches until several years later. Their first brand name was Grana, named after the Latin name of Grenchen.
The name Certina first came into use in the 1930s, and was officially registered in 1939. Ten years later, it became the company’s sole brand name in 1949.
Certina and the Swatch Group
Certina joined the then-newly founded SMH Group in 1983, which was eventually renamed the Swatch Group Ltd. in 1999. Other brands currently owned by the Swatch Group include Blancpain, Breguet, Glashütte Original, Hamilton, Longines, Omega, Rado, and Tissot.
Official Timekeeper of Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing
According to information provided by Certina, the Swiss brand became the Official Timekeeper of Grand Prix motorcycle racing in 1995. The Certina logo appeared on track side billboards and sometimes digitally above the leader board graphics during TV broadcasts until the end of the 2000 season.
While there appears to be no direct connection with the world championship series, 1995’s DS Cascadeur line is worth a mention. Early models featured bracelets that notably resembled a motorcycle chain.
500cc World Champions: Mick Doohan and Àlex Crivillé
Along with Official Timekeeper duties, Certina also began sponsoring then-reigning 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan in 1995. Rider edition timepieces were made for both Doohan and Àlex Crivillé. While this general era is not well documented, these signature models appear to be among the first Grand Prix motorcycle racing watches.
Daryl Beattie, Mick Doohan, and Àlex Crivillé in 1995. (Photo: Box Repsol, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Adrian Bosshard Sponsorship
Former 500cc rider Adrian “Adi” Bosshard was also sponsored by the watch brand during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. After his retirement from racing, he began working as a salesperson for Certina before becoming CEO of the brand in 2003.
Marlboro Honda 250cc and Ralf Waldmann
The Certina logo also appeared on Ralf Waldmann’s NSR250 and racing leathers during the 1997 season, the year before the German rider’s 500cc debut. Details of the arrangement are not well documented.
Waldmann was featured on the covers of the 1997 Austrian, German, and Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix official programs.
Thomas Lüthi Support Class Sponsorship
Former MotoGP Marc VDS rider Thomas Lüthi has also enjoyed Certina sponsorship during the early part of his racing career from 2001 to 2007. The span of time covered his entire 125cc career, plus his first year competing in the 250cc World Championship. The C Sport “Lüthi Special” Limited Edition was released to celebrate his 125cc title, and had a limited run of 1,986 pieces.
Sete Gibernau
Certina has also been associated with MotoGP race winner Sete Gibernau. Photos indicate that this was during his tenure with Gresini Racing, while it was operating as the Telefónica Movistar Honda team in 2003 and 2004 and Movistar Honda in 2005.
The TYPE X-02 Sete Gibernau edition chronograph was likely released as a result of the partnership. The dial does not outwardly indicate a special edition but Gibernau’s signature is etched in the case back, along with the words “RELOJ OFICIAL DE SETE GIBERNAU”.
Sponsoring the Sauber F1 Team
With Bosshard at the helm, Certina entered Formula 1 as an official partner the Sauber-Petronas Formula One team in 2005. The Certina DS Podium Sauber Petronas edition (ref. 536.7029.42.67) chronograph was released that year, and was limited to 2,005 pieces. The case back featured the Sauber logo and an engraving of team founder Peter Sauber’s signature. While details aren’t well documented, at least some appeared to have shipped with a Sauber Petronas C24 showcar die-cast model with Certina-branded packaging.
The partnership carried over to the newly rebranded BMW Sauber F1 team in 2006, with additional team edition models produced over the years. The first of several Robert Kubica edition chronographs were released in 2007, as well as the DS Podium Limited Edition Pedro de la Rosa in 2010. Certina remained with Sauber until 2015.
Marcus Ericcsson in 2015 pre-season testing for Sauber. (Photo: by Daniel Reinhard / Certina Watches, licensed under CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Stéphane Kox Sponsorship
Certina began sponsoring Dutch racing driver Stéphane Kox in 2012. Kox would go on to become the first Dutch woman to drive an F1 car when she tested an Alpine-liveried Lotus E20 at Circuit Paul Ricard in 2023.
Related Pages
References
https://www.certina.com/en/since1888/history
https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/certina-ref-8050-8051-michael-doohan-lot-357-60
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/certina-chronograph-special-edition-michael-doohan-3026-c-0014b40a1c
https://vintagewatchplace.com/new-old-stock-very-rare-certina-alex-criville-special-diver-chronograph-vintage-nos/
https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/certina-ds-c-sport-limited-edition-‘tom-luethi’-1213160976/
https://timeandtidewatches.com/rado-ceo-adrian-bosshard-interview/
https://www.speedweek.com/motogp/news/93312/Adrian-Bosshard-Ex-Rennfahrer-als-Certina-Praesident.html
https://www.chrono24.com/certina/certina–ds-podium–id41934467.htm
https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/9056669/
https://www.watchonista.com/articles/baselworld-2013-certina-and-motorsport
https://www.automotivpress.fr/revue-des-manufactures-horlogeres-en-championnat-du-monde-2015-de-formule-1/
https://www.f1network.net/main/s491/st153430.htm
https://www.europastar.com/news/1004085097-certina-launches-new-limited-edition-ds-podium.html
https://masterhorologer.com/2009/04/29/certina-ds-podium-chrono-automatic-bmw-sauber-f1-team-limited-edition-automatic-chronograph-eta-valjoux-7750-calibre-42mm-stainless-steel-case-tachymeter-scale/
https://web.archive.org/web/20110210203951/
http://www.certina.com/News/News/Press-conference-with-Pedro-de-la-Rosa.aspx
https://www.yournewwatch.com/news/certina/certina-introduces-podium-limited-edition-pedro.htm
https://masterhorologer.com/2018/06/28/certina-swiss-watches-brand-details-company-history-watch-collections/
https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/exclusive-movement-certina-ds-podium-automatic-chronograph.952908/
https://tendancehorlogerie.com/certina-ds-action-chrono-limited-edition-robert-kubica/