Movements

In-house and other movements

In 1888, when the Kurth brothers founded their company called Kurth Frères, only watch parts and movements were produced. These were sold in Switzerland and France. Various manual-winding movements were in the product range until 1947 when the first self-winding movement – the hammer-winding KF 360 – came out. The first self-winding movement with a rotor (the KF 21-0114 movement, introduced in 1950), was derived from the AS 1323 movement. Finally, in 1951 with the 25-45, the first Certina-developed self-winding movement came onto the market. The 28-45 movement line was launched in 1953 and had the same construction characteristics as the previous movement, except that the diameter was 3mm bigger. Maybe you had already noticed: the first number in the movement designation stands for the diameter in millimetres.
In 1954, Certina began providing Hamilton with self-winding movements, and did so for a few years. Hamilton saw a need to add automatic wristwatches to their line but they had no such movements.

CertinaAt the end of the fifties, the demand for flat wristwatches was increasing, and Certina developed an applicable movement. The 25-65 or 25-651/652 (with date/day and date) was launched in 1960, and was 1mm slimmer than the predecessor 28-45.
The 25-651 is the most prevalent Certina movement which was used in countless models, where it proved its robustness. This robustness was further improved with the "DS" System (meaning “Double Security”). In this system, besides the shock absorber of the movement, the whole movement assembly is float mounted by means of an elastic anti-shock ring made of synthetic rubber (see illustration on the left).

CertinaWith the "288" movements (which were used beginning in 1970), the balance wheel oscillation rate was increased from the former 19,800 to 28,800 A/h. As a special feature, the 25-671/672 had a micro ball-bearing mounted cannon pinion and the Certina patented "Clineric 21" anchor escapement. The micro ball-bearing (see illustration on the right) had a diameter of only 2.2mm and each of the seven mounted balls had a diameter of 0.3mm! For the final serial production, a slightly improved version, the 25-681/682, was introduced in 1972. You can identify watches with this movement through the marking "288" on the dial. The last Certina-developed self-winding movement was the 919/920-1. It came on the market in the spring of 1976 and was the successor to the legendary 25-65 movements.

For the chronographs, Certina used (as did other manufacturers), approved movements like the Venus movements, the Valjoux 23 and 72 (in its different generations), and later the Valjoux 7750. These movements were partly revised and labelled with Certina’s own movement markings. Two specialities are the 29-064 which was based on the Valjoux 728. It is a later and little-known version of the Valjoux 72 family with central chrono minute indicator as popularized by the Lemania 5100. The other speciality is the Certina 749. This one is based on the tuning-fork movement, the ESA 9210 "Mosaba", which is derived from the ESA 9162/4. For the 9210, the chronograph mechanism is in modular form, and mounts on the dial side of the movement. This movement was used in Omega and Longines chronographs as well. It is the only tuning fork chronograph movement ever made and just 21,000 units were produced.

The first electric movement from Certina came on the market in 1971. It was the 28-353, which was used in the Biostar. The 28-353 was an ESA 9154 Dynotron, with an electronically-controlled balance wheel motor. Certina provided this movement with an additional mechanism for the biorhythm indicator. About that time, the first tuning-fork movements were used. The 29-151/152 was derived from the ESA 9162/64 "Mosaba" (for “montre sans balancier”) and was used in the Certronic models. In 1973, quartz movements were introduced and subsequently more and more watches were fitted with quartz movements. The Quartz Crisis had reached the Swiss watch industry. Quartz was “hip”, mechanical was “out”. And so it remained for a time. The few mechanical movements which Certina still offered were purchased from ETA. Certina’s in-house production was history.

The following list does not contain all Certina movements, but just the most frequently used as well as those which are attached to the models described on these pages. Currently, 53 movements are listed (status April 06, 2017). Do you think that there is a relevant movement missing from this list? Have you found an error or do you have further information? Contact me!

Manual winding

Name Features Dimensions Data Comments
KF 320
(KF) 320 Manual winding
Subsidiary second
12'''
Dm= 27.0mm
H= 3.8mm
15 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 42h
From about 1950
KF 330
(KF) 330 Manual winding
Subsidiary second
13'''
Dm= 29.0mm
H= 4.5mm
15 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 44h
From about 1950
Certina 414
414 Manual winding
Sweep second
11.5'''
Dm= 25.6mm
H= 5.05mm
17 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 51h
From about 1955
25-14
25-14 Manual winding
Sweep second
11.5'''
Dm= 25.6mm
H= 4.2mm
17 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 43h
From ? to 1960
25-36
25-36 Manual winding
Sweep second
11.5'''
Dm= 25.6mm
H= 4.2mm
17 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 43h
Datasheet 1,2
Derivated from caliber 25-35
From ? to 1960
25-66
25-66 Manual winding
Sweep second
11.5'''
Dm= 25.6mm
H= 3.85mm
17 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 48h
Datasheet 1,2
1960-1977
25-66M
25-66M Manual winding
Sweep second
11.5'''
Dm= 25.6mm
H= 3.85mm
17 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 48h
Like 25-66 but modified balance (3 spokes)
About from 1974
25-661
25-661 Manual winding
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.6mm
H= 4.55mm
17 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 48h
Datasheet 1,2
Derivated from caliber 25-65,
25-651 and 25-66
1960-1977
25-661M
25-661M Manual winding
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.6mm
H= 4.55mm
17 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 48h
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
Like 25-661 but modified balance (3 spokes)
About from 1974
28-10
28-10 Manual winding
Subsidiary second
12.5'''
Dm= 28.0mm
H= 3.75mm
17 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 44h
Datasheet 1,2
About from 1955?
28-16
28-16 Manual winding
Sweep second
12.5'''
Dm= 28.0mm
H= 4.4mm
17 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 44h
Datasheet 1,2
About from 1965?
28-163
28-163 Manual winding
Sweep second
Date
Biorhythm
12.5'''
Dm= 28.0mm
H= ?mm
17 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 48h
Mechanism with three biorhythm discs
About from 1965
853-1
853-1 Manual winding
Sweep second
11.5'''
Dm= 25.6mm
H= 4.05mm
17 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 48h
About from 1976
854-1
854-1 Manual winding
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.6mm
H= 4.05mm
17 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 48h
About from 1976

Self-winding

Name Features Dimensions Data Comments
KF 360
(KF) 360 Automatic 11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.45mm
19 jewels
18'000 A/h
First self-winding caliber
Hammer winding with a weight swings in an arc between two banking pins
From 1947
25-011
25-011 Automatic
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.35mm
21 jewels
21'600 A/h
Power reserve 46h
Basic caliber ETA 2783
Date with quickset
About 1975 to 1976
25-032
25-032 Automatic
Sweep second
Day und Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.90mm
25 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 46h
Basic caliber ETA 2789
Day and Date with quickset
From 1976?
25-45
25-45 Automatic
Sweep second
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 6.00mm
21 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 40h
Datasheet 1,2
1951-1960
25-451
25-451 Automatic
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 6.50mm
21 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 40h
Datasheet 1,2
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
Derivated from caliber 24-45
1951-1960
25-65
25-65 Automatic
Sweep second
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.00mm
27 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Datasheet 1,2
1960-1977
1960-1968: 7221 Chronometer (25-65 and 25-651)
25-651
25-651 Automatic
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.35mm
27/28 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Datasheet 1,2
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
1960-1977
1960-1968: 7221 Chronometer (25-65 and 25-651)
25-651M
25-651M Automatic
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.35mm
28 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
Like 25-651 but modified balance (3 spokes)
From 1975
25-652
25-652 Automatic
Sweep second
Day and Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.98mm
27/28 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Datasheet 1,2
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
Derivated from caliber 25-651
1960-1977
25-652M
25-652M Automatic
Sweep second
Day and Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.98mm
28 jewels
19'800 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
Like 25-652 but modified balance (3 spokes)
From 1975
25-671
25-671 Automatic
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.35mm
27 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Derivative of the caliber 25-651
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
Ball bearing for minute staff
1970-1972
25-672
25-672 Automatic
Sweep second
Day and Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.35mm
27 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Derivated from caliber 25-652
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
Ball bearing for minute staff
1972-1977
25-681
25-681 Automatic
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.35mm
27 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Datasheet 1,2
Improved version of the 25-671
3 instead of 2 screws at the minute staff
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
1972-1977
25-682
25-682 Automatic
Sweep second
Day and Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.98mm
27 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Datasheet 1,2
Improved version of the 25-672
3 instead of 2 screws at the minute staff
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
1972-1977
28-45
28-45 Automatic
Sweep second
12.5'''
Dm= 28.00mm
H= 6.00mm
21 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 40h
Datasheet 1,2
Derivated from caliber 25-45
1953-1960
28-451
28-451 Automatic
Sweep second
Date
12.5'''
Dm= 28.00mm
H= 6.50mm
21 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 40h
Datasheet 1,2
Date without quickset
Set by changing 23-24h
Derivated from caliber 25-451
1953-1960
681
681 Automatic
Alarm (duration 10s)
Sweep second
Date
13.75'''
Dm= 30.40mm
H= 7.90mm
25 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 49h
Datasheet
Basic caliber AS 5008
Leap Date with quickset,
Hack mechanism
Self-winding of movement and alarm
1973 bis 1977
919-1
919-1 Automatic
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.20mm
25 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 44h
Datasheet 1,2,3
Derivated from manual winding caliber
853-1/854-1
Date with quickset
From 1976
920-1
920-1 Automatic
Sweep second
Day and Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.20mm
25 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 44h
Derivated from manual winding caliber
853-1/854-1
Day and Date with quickset
From 1976

Chronograph movements

Name Features Dimensions Data Comments
EA 31-061
EA 31-061 Manual winding
Pillar wheel
14'''
Dm= 31.60mm
H= 8.20mm
19 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 44h
Basic caliber Venus 185
Coaxial single button on the winding-crown for stop and reunite of the split-second
About from 1940 to 1952
Venus 188
Venus 188 Manual winding
Cam switched
Sub second L
60s, 30min R
14'''
Dm= 31.60mm
H= 6.00mm
17 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 42h
Datasheet 1,2,3
From 1948 to 1966
29-052
29-052 Manual winding
Pillar wheel
13'''
Dm= 29.50mm
H= 6.95mm
17 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve ?h
Datasheet 1,2
Basic caliber Valjoux 72
Derivated from caliber 29-053
About to 1974
29-053
29-053 Manual winding
Pillar wheel
subsidiary second
60s, 30/45min, 12 h
13'''
Dm= 29.50mm
H= 5.85mm
17 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 46h
Datasheet 1,2
Basic caliber Valjoux 23
About to 1974
29-0531
29-0531 Manual winding
Pillar wheel
subsidiary second
60s, 30/45min
Date
13'''
Dm= 29.50mm
H= 6.47mm
17 jewels
18'000 A/h
Power reserve 46h
Datasheet 1,2
Derivated from caliber 29-053
About to 1974
29-062
29-062 Manual winding
Pillar wheel
subsidiary second
60s, 30/45min, 12 h
13'''
Dm= 29.50mm
H= 6.95mm
17 jewels
21'600 A/h
Power reserve 46h
Datasheet 1,2
Basic caliber Valjoux 726
Derivated from calibers 29-053
29-063 and 29-052
About to 1974
29-063
29-063 Manual winding
Pillar wheel
13'''
Dm= 29.50mm
H= 5.82mm
17 jewels
21'600 A/h
Power reserve 46h
Datasheet 1,2
Derivated from caliber 29-053
About to 1974
29-0631
29-0631 Manual winding
Pillar wheel
13'''
Dm= 29.50mm
H= 6.47mm
17 jewels
21'600 A/h
Power reserve 46h
Datasheet 1,2
Basic caliber Valjoux 234
Derivated from calibers 29-053
29-063 and 29-0531
About to 1974
29-064
29-064 Manual winding
Pillar wheel
Center-Chrono-Min. und Sek.
12h bei 6
13'''
Dm= 29.50mm
H= 6.47mm
17 jewels
21'600 A/h
Power reserve 46h
Basic caliber Valjoux 728
Derivated from calibers 29-053
29-063 und 29-0531
Used in the Chronolympic "Regatta"
From 1971
674
674 Automatic
Cam wheel
subsidiary second
60s, 30min, 12h
Day and Date
13.25'''
Dm= 30.40mm
H= 7.90mm
25 jewels
28'800 A/h
Power reserve 46h
Datasheet Valjoux 7750
Basic caliber 7750
About from 1974
The 7750 is still in production

Tuning fork movements

Name Features Dimensions Data Comments
29-151
29-151 Tuning fork
Sweep second
Date
13'''
Dm= 29.00mm
H= 4.85mm
12 jewels
300 Hz
Datasheet
Basic caliber ESA 9162 "Mosaba"
Date with quickset
From 1969 to 1976
29-152
29-152 Tuning fork
Sweep second
Day and Date
13'''
Dm= 29.00mm
H= 5.55mm
12 jewels
300 Hz
Datasheet
Basic caliber ESA 9164 "Mosaba"
Day and Date with quickset
From 1971 to 1976
749
749 Tuning fork
Cam wheel
subsidiary second
60s, 30min, 12h
Day and Date
13.25'''
Dm= 30.40mm
H= 7.95m
12 jewels
300 Hz
Basic caliber ESA 9210 "Mosaba"
Derivated from caliber ESA 9162/4
Additional chronograph module
Day und Date with quickset
Unique tuning fork movement with
chronograph (21'000 produced)
Also used for the Omega Speedsonic
and the Longines Ultronic. 1972 to 1976.

Quartz movements

Name Features Dimensions Data Comments
28-353
28-353 Electronically con-trolled balance motor. Sweep second. Date
Biorhythm
12.5'''
Dm= 28.00mm
H= 5.55mm
13 jewels
28'800 A/h
Basic caliber ESA 9154 Dynotron with
additional mechanism for biorhythm
(Patent Certina). Date without quickset
(Set by changing 23-24h). Hack feature
From 1971
29-251
29-251
and 755
Quartz Analog
Sweep second
Date
13'''
Dm= 29.00mm
H= 5.75mm
7 jewels
32'768 Hz
Basic caliber ESA 9180
First ETA Quartz movement
Date with quickset
From 1972
29-252
29-252
and 756
Quartz Analog
Sweep second
Day and Date
13'''
Dm= 29.00mm
H= 5.75mm
7 jewels
32'768 Hz
Basic caliber ESA 9181
First ETA Quartz movement
Day and Date with quickset
From 1972
750
750 Quartz Analog
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.5mm
7 jewels
32'768 Hz
Basic caliber ESA 9361
Quickset date
stopsecond
From 1977
787
751 Quartz Analog
Sweep second
Date
11.5'''
Dm= 25.60mm
H= 5.5mm
7 jewels
32'768 Hz
Basic caliber ESA 9362
Quickset date
From 1980
780-24
780-24 Quartz Digital
LCD Chronograph
12 Functions
13'''
Dm= 29.00mm
H= 4.85mm
32'768 Hz Basic caliber ESA 934 711
From 1977
787
787 Quartz Digital
LCD Chronograph
16 Functions
13'''
Dm= 29.00mm
H= 5.55mm
32'768 Hz Basic caliber ESA 934 712
From 1977

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Update: 03.07.2018

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