Exclusive evening with Certina and Ebba Andersson at the Royal Fortress

It was an evening of both Swiss watchmaking tradition and Swedish ski history when Certina invited us to the Royal Palace in Stockholm to present the DS Action Ebba Andersson Limited Edition. Eqotime was there and had the opportunity to speak with both ski star Ebba Andersson and Certina CEO Dieter Pachner about the collaboration, the new watch, and the brand's strong connection to Sweden.

It was an exclusive event when Swiss Certina gathered invited guests at the Royal Palace in Stockholm to celebrate the launch of the DS Action Ebba Andersson Limited Edition. In attendance were both the guest of honor herself, Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson, and Certina CEO Dieter Pachner, who had traveled to Sweden to participate in the presentation.

Certina has long had a strong connection to the world of sports, not least through its involvement in cross-country skiing, where it is the official timekeeper for the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. Since 2024, Ebba Andersson has also been one of the brand's international ambassadors, and with the new model, the collaboration takes another step forward. This time, it is not just about representing a watch brand, but about actually helping to design a watch of her own.

Ebba Andersson: “It’s really fun to be involved in the design process”

When Eqotime gets a chance to chat with Ebba Andersson, it is clear that the new watch means a lot to her, not least because she has had a much greater influence over the design than she had initially expected.

– It feels really fun, and I understand that it is not common for Certina to do this type of collaboration, so it makes it even more special, she says.

The idea for the watch was born after the Olympic successes, when Certina contacted Andersson with the proposal to celebrate the achievements with a special edition. What could have initially become a relatively traditional ambassador collaboration instead developed into a design process where Andersson herself was involved in making decisions about everything from the color scheme to the small details on the dial.

– Almost immediately after the Olympics, Certina got in touch and told me that they wanted to celebrate the successes in a special way and create a watch together with me. I probably didn't quite understand at first that I would get to help decide so much, but it has been really fun.

During the process, they had recurring meetings where Certina's designers presented different proposals that Andersson then had to make a decision on. Two details became particularly important to her, namely the ski pattern on the dial and the Swedish flag.

– I think above all that the ski pattern turned out really well, and of course the Swedish flag. At the same time, I wanted the watch to be stylish and fairly discreet, which is why the blue color is also relatively subdued. It has been really fun that Certina has given me so much trust in the design process.

The fact that one of Sweden's top cross-country skiers has now also developed an interest in the world of watches is another positive effect of the collaboration. Andersson says with a laugh that her interest in watches has grown significantly during the process.

– Historically, I haven't been much of a watch nerd, but I have become one through the work with Certina, so now I am one of you, she says with a laugh.

Dieter Pachner on Sweden, sports, and Certina's identity

During the evening, Eqotime also had the opportunity to speak with Certina CEO Dieter Pachner, who returned to the brand's long relationship with Sweden and why the collaboration with Ebba Andersson feels so natural.

– We have a long history together with Sweden and really feel at home here in Scandinavia. Sports have always been an important part of Certina's identity, and now we also have a superstar like Ebba with us. She has fantastic energy, is incredibly professional, and represents exactly the values we want to be associated with.

For Pachner, the investment in cross-country skiing is not just about exposure or traditional marketing. He also highlights the economic differences between different sports and argues that it is important for companies like Certina to help create better conditions for athletes in sports that rarely get the same commercial attention as, for example, football.

– Cross-country skiing is a fantastic sport, but compared to many other sports, the financial opportunities are significantly smaller. It is impressive what these athletes achieve, and therefore it also feels good that we can be involved in supporting them. We are very impressed by Ebba, says Pachner.

He also describes how Certina has deliberately built its involvement around three sports: skiing, diving, and padel. What they have in common is that they place high demands on precision, endurance, and reliability, qualities that the brand wants to be associated with.

The conversation also turns to Certina's position in the watch market, where Pachner is clear that the company does not strive to compete with the traditional luxury brands.

– We do not see ourselves as a luxury brand in the traditional sense. Certina is rather a premium brand with a clear sports focus, where we want to offer high quality, technical expertise, and reliable watches at an attractive price. We have a long history of making functional and robust watches, what is often called tool watches, and it is a heritage that we want to continue to develop.

This is also where the collaboration with Ebba Andersson becomes particularly interesting. For Certina, she represents a sport where the results are based on hard work, precision, and long-term commitment, rather than the glamour that is often associated with international sports and exclusive watch brands.

A limited DS Action with personal details

The watch that was the focus of the evening is the Certina DS Action Ebba Andersson Limited Edition, a model that is produced in only 222 pieces. It is based on the DS Action with a case diameter of 34.5 millimeters and combines stainless steel with gold-colored PVD details. A blue rotating diver's bezel gives the watch its sporty character while also tying into the discreet color scheme that Andersson herself requested.

The most personal element, however, is on the dial, where a pattern inspired by the world of cross-country skiing together with the Swedish flag makes the model something more than a regular special edition. The combination of silver- and gold-colored details also alludes to Andersson's athletic achievements.

Under the crystal is a Swiss quartz movement with Certina's PreciDrive technology, designed for high precision with a stated deviation of around ten seconds per year. The watch has sapphire crystal, is water-resistant to 300 meters, and clearly carries the functional identity that characterizes the DS Action collection.

The price is set at 6,690 kronor, and part of the proceeds from the sales go to charitable causes to support the development of Swedish ski sports.. What makes the model interesting is perhaps not primarily its technical features, but how Certina chose to work with the collaboration itself. Instead of merely putting an athlete's name on an existing model, they have allowed Ebba Andersson to be involved in the design and thus created a watch with a clear personal connection. Read our Hands-on article about the watch here.

The evening at the Royal Palace was also a reminder of the position Certina holds in the Swedish market. It is a Swiss watch brand with a long history, but also a company that continues to invest in its relationship with Swedish sports. With Ebba Andersson, they have found an ambassador who not only represents impressive athletic achievements, but also the endurance and precision that Certina gladly highlights as part of its own identity.

And judging by Ebba's newly awakened interest in watches, there are good prospects that the relationship will develop further. For as she herself stated during our conversation, she has now become one of us watch nerds.