certina kf360

oddboy · Dec 26, 2014

Hi guys,

My first post about a watch that is not omega. I got this watch as a gift some 25 years ago. I never knew much about it. I wore it rarely, usually for a dress up occasion.

I'd guess it's around 32mm, maybe 34mm. Inside, it's got a KF 360 which I think is a bumper.

Anyone able to tell me anything about this watch? Folks on WUS said it was likely from 1947..

Thank you!

J

Alpha · Dec 26, 2014

Must confess to having a liking for the older Certina and the lugs on that one in particular.
You seem to have it covered, a bumper from 1947. I take it you are in the middle of a strip down as I don't see the return springs ?

oddboy · Dec 26, 2014

Oh, I'm not that brave or skilled! The rotor springs back into position on its own though. You can see in one of the pics how I'm holding it with a spring bar tool. When I let it go, it springs back to the other position.

Do these carry any sort of value?

oddboy · Dec 26, 2014

A few more lug shots for ya...

noelekal · Dec 26, 2014

I like the style of your watch.

I have lots of neato watches with hour markers of all styles and enjoy them but my very favorite dial style is one with a full slate of Arabic numerals around the face. Extra points if it features Breguet numerals.

Learned something in this thread. Wasn't aware that "water resistant" came into use as a descriptive term as far back as the 1940s.

Alpha · Dec 26, 2014

Thankfully, depending on which side of the fence you sit on prices are still reasonably low but starting to creep northwards as people start to appreciate then more.
Surprised at the rotor springing back !
Here is an image of the 360 courtesy of http://www.vintagecertinas.ch/en/indexeng.html and you can see the reason I asked about the return springs ?

oddboy · Dec 26, 2014

Ah, thanks! Wonder how/if it works. If I give it a few gentle shakes, it starts ticking away, but having been a long time since it was serviced, I don't want to power it up fully.

I can find much info about sales of these. Any rough guide on how much they would go for?

Alpha · Dec 26, 2014

oddboy
Ah, thanks! Wonder how/if it works. If I give it a few gentle shakes, it starts ticking away, but having been a long time since it was serviced, I don't want to power it up fully.

I can find much info about sales of these. Any rough guide on how much they would go for?

I would expect a maximum price itro £100 sterling, i'm assuming that the case is suffering some rub through?.
As always if two people want it ?

oddboy · Dec 26, 2014

Cool, thank you sir!

The case is mostly just grubby and could use a gentle cleaning.

Northernman · Dec 26, 2014

Certina Kurth Freres (hence KF caliber designation) was one of the proper quality Swiss manufactures that unfortunately lost most of it's heart and soul during the harsh 1970s.
As far as I can make out they were mostly marketed in Europe (and perhaps Asia).
They made very high quality (Omega level) movements and some very daring and creative designs including some badass chronographs. Certina was their brand name used from the 1930s. They also made watches under the Kurth Freres and Grana brand to name a few.
The site linked to in the previous post by @Alpha is a good place to start. It is by no means a complete listing but gives some ideas.
Exceptionally undervalued and overlooked. I Warmly recommend any collector to have a closer look.
One will find both great in-house movements and outsourced complications (much like Omega in the same period). Happy Hunting 😉

A couple of mine says hello:
Excelsior Park EP40 based late 40s chrono: