Certina Chronolympic

The top athlete

 

The Chronolympic models were Certina’s best-known and most successful line of chronographs, and featured a lot of interesting and beautiful pieces. The first Chronolympic models (Ref. 8501 503) came to the market at a time when chronographs were becoming popular again at the end of the 1960s. Manual winding movements like the Valjoux 232, 234 and 726 were initially used, before an automatic version with the Valjoux 7750 (Ref. 674 3559 41) was launched in 1975. Models similar to this reference were also available from Longines, Mido, Rado and Technos. Those brands were consolidated into the GWC (General Watch Co.). The models vary primarily in their different dial designs.

In the same year, the reference 749 3754 41 with the tuning fork movement ESA 9210, became available. This movement – licensed from Bulova – was also used in the Omega Speedsonic and the Longines Ultronic.

Certina Echo

In 1970, Certina equipped a Japanese expedition team with five DS-2 Chronolympic watches (Ref. 8501 800). Certina had also previously supported a Swiss expedition. The goal of this Japanese expedition was Mount Everest. In the course of this tour, after having climbed 7,986 metres within two months, Yuichiro Miura (see photo right below) strapped the skis to his feet and dashed down the slopes reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h, slowed only by the use of a brake parachute.
Miura, who became world-renowned for his daring ski run, was stopped after 2 minutes and 20 seconds having covered a descent of 2,000 metres. He lost control on an icy patch, tumbled and was seriously injured sliding down the slope for several hundred metres.

Certina Echo

The exceptional ski run is documented in the movie, “The Man Who Skied Down Everest,” which won the Oscar for best documentary film in 1976.
According to some reports, the Certinas endured this expedition very well and met all demands despite the adverse conditions.

Yuichiro Miura set another record in 2003 by becoming the oldest man to climb to the top of Mount Everest at the age of 70 years and 222 days.

Model Reference no. Calibre Dimensions mm Comments
Chronolympic blau
Chronolympic 8501 503 Certina 29-062
Valjoux 726
38 x 43.5 x 13.5
LW: 18
Manual winding. No date
Blue dial, 3 white sub dials
About from 1968 to 1972
Chronolympic weiss
Chronolympic 8501 503 Certina 29-062
Valjoux 726
38 x 43.5 x 13.5
LW: 18
Manual winding. No date
White dial, 3 blue sub dials
About from 1968 to 1972
Model Reference no. Calibre Dimensions mm Comments
DS-2 Chronometer
DS-2 Chronolympic 8501 300 Certina 29-052
Valjoux 72
42.5 x 47 x 16.5 (13)
LW: 20
Manual winding. No date
DS-2 case
Black dial, 3 white sub dials
About from 1968 to 1970
Chronolympic weiss
DS-2 Chronolympic 8501 800 Certina 29-053
& 29-062
Valjoux 23 & 726
42.5 x 47 x 16.5 (13)
LW: 20
Manual winding. No date
DS-2 case
Cremfarbenes ZB, 3 black sub dials
About from 1970 to 1974
hronolympic blau
DS-2 Chronolympic 8501 800 Certina 29-053
& 29-062
Valjoux 23 & 726
42.5 x 47 x 16.5 (13)
LW: 20
Manual winding. No date
DS-2 case
Blue dial, 3 white sub dials
About from 1970 to 1974
DS-2 Chronometer
DS-2 Chronolympic 8501 800 Certina 29-053
& 29-062
Valjoux 23 & 726
42.5 x 47 x 16.5 (13)
LW: 20
Manual winding. No date
DS-2 case
Black dial, 3 white sub dials
About from 1970 to 1974
Chronolympic creme
DS-2 Chronolympic 8601 800 Certina 29-0531
& 29-0631
Valjoux 232 & 234
42.5 x 47 x 16.5 (13)
LW: 20
Manual winding. Date on 6
DS-2 case
Grey dial, 2 dark blue sub dials
About from 1970 to 1974
Chronolympic creme
DS-2 Chronolympic 8601 800 Certina 29-0531
& 29-0631
Valjoux 232 & 234
42.5 x 47 x 16.5 (13)
LW: 20
Manual winding. Date on 6
DS-2 case
Cream-coloured dial, 2 black sub dials
About from 1970 to 1974
Chronolympic blau
DS-2 Chronolympic 8601 800 Certina 29-0531
& 29-0631
Valjoux 232 & 234
42.5 x 47 x 16.5 (13)
LW: 20
Manual winding. Date on 6
DS-2 case
Blue dial, 2 white sub dials
About from 1970 to 1974
Chronolympic schwarz
DS-2 Chronolympic 8601 800 Certina 29-0531
& 29-0631
Valjoux 232 & 234
42.5 x 47 x 16.5 (13)
LW: 20
Manual winding. Date on 6
DS-2 case
Black dial, 2 white sub dials
About from 1970 to 1974
Model Reference no. Calibre Dimensions mm Comments
Chronolympic Regatta
Chronolympic
“Regatta”
8701 504 Certina 29-064
Valjoux 728
40 x 44 x 14
LW: 22
Manual winding. No date
Center Chronominute and -seconds
hour counter at 6
From 1971
Model Reference no. Calibre Dimensions mm Comments
Chronolympic for the Hungarian Airforce
Chronolympic
Hungarian Airforce
487 3904 41 Certina 29-062
Valjoux 726
(Partially labeled as 728)
45 x 40.5 x 14.5
LW: 20
Manual winding. No date.
Red bezel. Case from Eterna.
Specially made 200 pcs.
for Hungarian Air Force 1974
Model Reference no. Calibre Dimensions mm Comments
Chronolympic 7750
Chronolympic 674 3559 41 Certina 674
Valjoux 7750
43 x 43 x 14
LW: 22
Automatic. Day and date
Blue dial, 2 white sub dials
Sweep second at 9 with Certina logo
Identical models from Rado, Technos
From 1975
Chronolympic 7750
Chronolympic 674 3559 41 Certina 674
Valjoux 7750
43 x 43 x 14
LW: 22
Automatic. Day and date
White dial, 2 blue sub dials
Sweep second at 9 with Certina logo
Identical models from Rado, Technos
From 1975
Model Reference no. Calibre Dimensions mm Comments
Chronolympic C-Tronic
Chronolympic
C-Tronic
749 3754 41 Certina 749
ESA 9210
39 x 46 x 14
LW: 20
Tuning fork movement “Mosaba” (montre sans balancier). Date and day (digit 1-7)
Blue dial. Sweep second at 12 with Certina logo
From 1975 to 1976
Chronolympic C-Tronic
Chronolympic
C-Tronic
749 3754 41 Certina 749
ESA 9210
39 x 46 x 14
LW: 20
Tuning fork movement “Mosaba” (montre sans balancier). Date and day (digit 1-7)
Black dial. Sweep second at 12 with Certina logo
From 1975 to 1976
Model Reference no. Calibre Dimensions mm Comments
Chronolympic DS Quartz
Chronolympic DS Quartz 780 1420 41 Certina 780-24
ESA 934 711
36 x 40 x 10 Quartz movement
12 functions
From 1977
Chronolympic DS Quartz
Chronolympic DS Quartz 787 1420 41 Certina 787
ESA 934 712
36 x 40 x 11.5 Quartz movement
16 functions
From 1977
Chronolympic Quartz
Chronolympic Quartz 787 3001 4166 Certina 787
ESA 934 712
38 x 40 x 10 Quartz movement
16 functions
From 1977
Chronolympic Quartz
Chronolympic Quartz 787 3002 04 Certina 787
ESA 934 712
36 x 39 x 10 Quartz movement
16 functions
Bezel also available in gold
From 1980

 

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Update: 11.15.2018

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