New Rolex Explorer Watch

Big news this year here at Basel from Rolex. Most people are impressed by the new Rolex Submariner watches in all steel, but Rolex has also updated its popular Explorer model. The classic adventure watch has been upped to 39mm wide in steel, and features a slightly new dial. The case now comes in a better steel, which is grade 904L steel (most chemical and corrosion resistant). The dial has been ever so slightly updated. Newer hour markers and larger hands are most apparent.

The Rolex in-house made calibre 3132 movement is rock-solid and is COSC Chronometer certified. The watch has a sapphire crystal of course and is water resistant to 100 meters. Character of the watch is similar to the Submariner - but it is thinner, opts for a polished bezel instead of a rotating diver's bezel, and has a different style dial. The bracelet is very similar between the two, but the Explorer does not have a glide-lock clasp. For many, the Explorer is a simple, and less expensive Rolex that feels like a fantastic fit on many wrists. Surely fans will be excited as it has been a long time since the Rolex Explorer watch has been updated.

Click on the read more link below for technical specifications of the watch.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

REAL - REPLICA SEA-DWELLER COMPARISON

© Dr. Peter McClean Millar - August 2006

 

This review does not try to justify the buying of replica watches. It does not deal with the social, political or economic effects of the replica watch industry and it is not designed to do anything other than educate people. If the fact that people buy fake watches offends you then please stop reading now. Continuing to read this article does not give you the right to slag me off or cast aspersions on my moral fiber as has happened in the past when I have written similar pieces. For those that continue, I hope you learn something worthwhile.

Ask any diver what the ultimate dive watch is and there will be many replies, but I would predict that most of those polled will have only one response. The Rolex Sea-Dweller. On pure specifications alone, it has every right to stake a claim as the ultimate dive watch: water resistant to 4000 feet, Helium Release Valve (HRV), Sapphire crystal, in house chronometer certified movement and over 30 years of use by many of the world's deep sea and saturation divers. If there is one problem with the Sea-Dweller, it comes from its other big number specification: the price. It will cost you around 4000 US dollars to own one. For that reason alone the Rolex brand of watches are probably the most frequently bought replica watches in the world.

The world of fakes and replica watches has come a long way since I bought my first "dodgy Rolex" in Abu Dhabi back in 1989. The case was made of brass which had been chrome plated to make it look like a solid block of stainless steel, but 2 weeks of desert sweat and my wrist started to turn green. Lord only knows where the movement came from but I think it may actually have been Japanese because it actually kept good time. Many people bought those cheap replicas and like me

ended up throwing them in a drawer after about 2 or 3 weeks because the plating had started to wear off.

Since the days of that first fake Rolex, I have lived in most of the countries attributed with producing fake watches; China, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore and over the years I have seen how the quality of them has improved to the point that many replicas are virtually indistinguishable, to the untrained eye, from the real thing. Also in those years I have bought a genuine Rolex Airking, which my wife wears, and a genuine 2001 Rolex Sea-Dweller. Even though I bought my SD from a reputable source, I was still worried about the fact that it could possibly be a fake and ended up taking it to an Authorized Dealer to have it verified as genuine. Because of that fear I bought what is considered to be a high end replica Sea-Dweller and set out to educate myself on the state of the Sea-Dweller replica scene.

 

The replica Sea-Dweller that I purchased is considered to be high end because of the following specifications: it has a solid stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal and uses a genuine Swiss ETA 2836-2 movement. As can be seen in the photo above, on first looks it resembles the genuine Sea-Dweller quite accurately. I gave the replica and the genuine watch to many of my friends and asked them to identify which was the real one. Most were unable to do so. That in itself is not particularly frightening, but

what is scary is the fact that there are many unscrupulous people who advertise fake watches for sale as genuine and people pay top dollar for them unaware that they are buying a fake. It is my hope that this review will allow people to know what to look for when they are buying a Sea-Dweller.

The best way to try to show the differences between the replica and genuine Sea-Dweller is to systematically go through the watch and highlight the anomalies. Some will be obvious, some not so.

 

Normally the first thing anyone looks at when they see a watch is the dial. The dial on the Sea-Dweller is an icon in watch history. Both the Sea-Dweller and the Submariner share the same features and the style and layout has been copied by many legitimate watch manufactures over the years because of the simple and clear layout.

On initial inspection the dials of the replica and genuine SD look to be exactly the same, but closer inspection shows that there are subtle differences. First the size of the luminous hour markers is different. On the genuine dial the markers are smaller and the outer rings not so thick. Next is the actual positioning of the markers. On the genuine dial the minute graduations do not touch the metal rings of the luminous markers. As can be seen on the photo, there is a small gap (about 0.3mm) between the minute graduation and the metal ring of the luminous hour marker.

Next difference is the fonts used both for the writing on the dial and on the date wheel. The font on the replica dial tends to be slightly smaller and blocky. The printing is actually quite well done and is a definite improvement over similar watches I have seen and handled in the past. The Rolex crown printed on the dial is also slightly larger on the genuine SD. The crown prongs are slightly wider as well. The font on the date wheel of the replica is slightly larger, but as can be seen from the image, the manufactures are now using a font which has the numbers 6 and 9 where the loops are closed. In the past, an immediate give away was the use of open 6 and 9s.

Staying with the front of the dial, the next difference is the hands. On the genuine SD the Mercedes symbol is slightly larger and the sweep second hand extends further to the outside of the dial. The fake sweep hand just touches the minute markers whereas the genuine second hand extends to almost the end of them. The luminous coating on the hands and the hour markers is well applied and has the same colour and look as that used on the genuine watch. I don't know what luminous material they use on the replica but it does not glow anywhere near as well as that on the genuine Sea-Dweller.

Whilst the bezel inserts are pretty much identical on both watches, they are not normally a good indication of whether the watch is genuine or not. Many older genuine Sea-Dwellers have aftermarket bezel inserts primarily because the owner went for the cheaper aftermarket option.

 

The next major difference between the watches can easily be seen if both are side by side, but it is not so apparent if the replica is handled on its own. Because of the higher depth rating of the Sea-Dweller the watch is slightly thicker than that of the Submariner. It also means that the dial on the Sea-Dweller had to be made about 1mm smaller than that of the Submariner. At the time of writing, the replica manufacturers use the same case for both the Sea-Dweller and the Submariner. This means that the replica dial is bigger than that used in the genuine watch. It is also noticeable how the slope of the replica's chapter ring is greater. Overall it gives the

impression of a much larger dial. To many people this is not a bad thing as there is a definite wish in the dive watch fraternity that Rolex should make a larger Sea-Dweller. As I have said, the larger dial on the replica is not particularly noticeable unless you have a side by side comparison.

 

Over the years and the many generations of fake Rolex Sea-Dwellers and Submariners, the things that was probably easiest to fix and a definite give away are the crown guards. Yet surprisingly even with the new "high quality" replicas, the crown guards are still not right. The replica crown guards are thicker and have a slightly different recess. Many people who buy the replica Sea-Dwellers modify the guards to make them closer to the shape of the real ones.

Next is the crown itself. These have gotten much better over the years but depending on where the replica watch was made some are still better than others. On the genuine crown, the "plateau" (I don't know what else to call it) on which the Rolex crown and 3 dots to indicate that it is a Triplock crown is slightly more raised and not quite as wide as that on the fake crown. Where the replica crowns have also improved is the sealing. They now use large o-rings just like the genuine article.

 

Looking at the photo of the crowns brings me to the major item which I always look at when trying to gauge if a Sea-Dweller is genuine or not. The bezel. The genuine watch is on the top. Notice the difference in the depth of the bezels. The genuine bezel is significantly thicker due to an extra ridge on the underside. This is due to the much thicker crystal on the Sea-Dweller which is needed because of the increased depth rating. Both bezels have a 120 click turning movement. The genuine one feels slightly tighter but not really noticeably so. However, it is easy enough to "pop" the bezel on the replica and increase the tension on the retaining click spring to tighten the overall movement.

 

The final thing worth noting on the front of the watch is the small etched Rolex crown at the 6 o'clock position on the crystal. Since about 2002 Rolex have etched a small almost un-noticeable crown into the sapphire crystal. Mine does not have it because it is a K series from 2001 and was produced before the etching was introduced. As the replica SD I have does not have the crown etching either, I have had to borrow a photo to show it. Most of the modern replicas have the crown etching on the crystal. Mine didn't.

 

One of the defining things about the Rolex Sea-Dweller is the Helium Release Valve. This was developed in the late 1960s by Rolex and Doxa and although Rolex hold the patent, Doxa actually had the first HRV equipped divers watch on sale to the general public in 1969. The Doxa SUB 300T Conquistador. The HRV was developed to eliminate the need to unscrew the crown when saturation divers were decompressing. Under pressure, helium is able to infiltrate the seals on dive watches and form gaseous helium inside the watch. If this gas is not released it will expand as the diver decompresses and can blow the crystal off the watch. Many dive watches now have HRVs but the Sea-Dweller is arguably the most famous. I believe the genuine HRV is made of Titanium and looks darker than the stainless steel case. I don't know what material the fake HRV is made of or even if it works but it looks pretty convincing.

I don't know when it happened but a couple of years ago Rolex stopped making the Sea-Dweller case with drilled holes in the lugs for the springbars. As you can see from the photos of the HRV, the replica is based on the new model as it does not have these holes in the side of the case.

 

Moving on to the back of the watch, there used to be a dead give away which seems to have been rectified in the latest models. On the genuine SD the caseback has the words¡¦.ROLEX OYSTER Original Gas Escape Valve. Many of the older replicas had the following erroneous words: RO LEX and Esoape. There was a space in the word Rolex and an o was used instead of a c. Generally the quality of the caseback is pretty good. The font is pretty close but the Rolex crown is a bit smaller. The black ink or paint used on the replica caseback has a tendency to fall out very quickly unlike the genuine which is particularly permanent.

The holographic stickers have also been improving over the last few years but still have a way to go to be perfect. But in many cases both genuine and replica owners remove the sticker anyway. Interestingly enough, many people who couldn't tell the difference between my 2 watches thought the replica was genuine because it still had the sticker on it. The reference number for the Sea-Dweller is 16600 but in some cases the replica manufactures put a sticker with 16610 on the case back. 16610 is the reference number for the Submariner.

 

The other thing that has been improving steadily over the years has been the oyster flip-lock bracelet. Genuine Sea-Dweller bracelets are often criticized as being "tinny" and "flimsy" and not befitting a 4000 dollar watch. I do tend to agree with these impressions, however, the bracelet is still substantial and comfortable and considering the large springbars used in the genuine one, very unlikely to part company with the watch under normal circumstances.

 

The replica bracelet looks and feels almost exactly like the genuine one. From the solid end links to the hidden divers extension in the clasp and the screwed links, even though the stampings are not quite so sharp, the bracelet smacks of the real thing except for one flaw. The sides of the genuine bracelet are polished, the replica bracelet has brushed sides.

 

The give away for the Sea-Dweller is that the genuine bracelet reference number is 93160. The replicas not only use the Submariner case but also the Submariner bracelet which is reference number 93250. The modern replicas also have the SD reference number and a serial stamped into the case between the lugs. This has been the practice for several years now. What has changed is that the bracelets also have their serial number stamped into the Solid End Links.

 

Ultimately the only true way to find out id a Sea-Dweller is genuine or not is to open it. The thing that sets the Rolex apart from most other watches is the fact that it uses an in-house movement, the Rolex caliber 3135 which has a frequency of 28,800 vph uses 31 jewels and is automatic winding in both directions. This movement is COSC rated and my SD keeps time at around -2 seconds a day. That's pretty impressive in my book and isn't surprising given the fact that the 3135 was built for accuracy, longevity and ease of servicing. The replica uses a genuine Swiss ETA 2836-2. It has the same frequency (28,800 vph) as the 3135 and has 25 jewels and like the 3135 is automatic. The power reserve of the ETA is 42 hours which is less than the 3135's reserve of 50 hours. The really interesting thing here is that the replica keeps better time than the genuine SD. It is losing 2 seconds in 48 hours. This is unbelievable for a fake watch straight out of the box. Even though the Rolex 3135 movement is an in-house, specially designed and constructed movement, lets not forget that ETA have

been in existence almost 50 years longer than Rolex and produce movements which are the base ebauches for many of today's Swiss watch manufacturers such as Breitling, Omega and IWC. I think I really just got lucky with the movement in the replica.

 

Looking at the images of the replica movement, it can be seen that the replica manufacturers have gone quite a way to make the ETA 2836-2 look like the 3135. It certainly looks good and could fool the untrained eye but anyone with any experience of Rolex movements could spot it a mile away. I didn't have the photo I

took of my replica movement when I wrote this comparison, so I have borrowed a photograph from a replica site and removed their logo. Jocke was kind enough to allow me to use his excellent photo of the Rolex 3135 movement.

So there you have it. I hope that people have learned a bit about the Sea-Dweller in both its genuine and replica guise. For a really in-depth look at the genuine article, I would recommend Steve Hughes superb review. Another site well worth a visit is Jocke's watch wallpaper site where there are spectacular photos of Rolex watches.

As it stands in late August 2006, the quality and accuracy of the replica Sea-Dwellers is pretty good, but there are still some easily identifiable errors which make it possible for people to spot a fake one. Hopefully this review will help inform people about just what to look for when buying a second hand Sea-Dweller.

Location: /Rolex (Swiss)/Submariner

Rolex Submariner SS Swiss ETA 2836-2 Automatic Movement

Product Information

Rolex Submariner SS Swiss ETA 2836-2 Automatic replica watch.  Solid 940L polished full stainless steel case with Swiss ETA 2836-2 Automatic Movement. Swiss 25 Jewels. Serial Number ( accurate ) and model numbers engraved between the lugs. Black dial and bezel. High grade full, solid stainless steel band. Solid back with green holigramic sticker and model number. Solid screw-down back removable by genuine Rolex tool. Laser printed dial. Large 2.5X Date magnification as per ORIGINAL. Diver's extension.  Scratch-proof Sapphire Crystal Glass Exact glow-in-the-dark hour markers and hands. Accurate markings all over the watch. Strong construction. Weight to exact original. Diameter: 40mm. Water proof to 30 m.

Price: $450.00 $382.50

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Product Code: SSUBB In Stock: 4  

ETA SA is a Swiss producer of mechanical and quartz watch movements. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Swatch Group. The company specializes in the production of ébauche movements which are used in a number of mechanical watches. ETA has owned several important Swiss watch movement companies including Valjoux, Peseux (see:[2] ) (and [3] (translation) and Lemania, for a number of years . In fact the company is the result of successive consolidation of the Swiss watch industry. ETA manufactures quartz movements, hand wound movements and mechanical movements powered by self-winding mechanisms. Because ETA maintains vertical control over the manufacturing of all of the components required to create a watch movement (save for the hairsprings which are made by its sister company Nivarox) ETA may be considered a true manufacturer.

[edit] A Brief History

ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse is one of the world's largest manufacturers of watches and movements.[1] In 1856 at Grenchen, Urs Schild, a schoolmaster, and Dr. Girard set up a watch movement (ébauche) factory which eventually became Eterna. In

1926, ETA AS (the movement branch of Eterna, founded in 1896) and FHF (founded in 1793) took part in the creation of Ebauches Ltd. In 1978 AS and ETA merged and in 1985 ETA took in all the activities done before by Ebauches Ltd and FHF (both part of SMH/Swatch Group).[2]

In 1998, SMH Swiss Corporation for Microelectronics and Watchmaking Industries Ltd, founded in 1983 through the merger Swiss watchmakers ASUAG and SSIH, was renamed the Swatch Group.

At the time, both SSIH and ASUAG held a number of well-established Swiss watch brands. ASUAG had been founded in 1931. ASUAG expanded through the purchase of companies that made movement-blanks and a number of finished watch manufacturers that were subsequently brought together under the subsidiary GWC, General Watch Co

SSIH was founded in 1930 through the amalgamation of Omega and Tissot. By consolidating companies that produced high-quality movements and a number of watch brands, SSIH gradually established a strong position in the Swiss watch industry.

In the 1930s, both ASUAG and SSIH entered into complementary research and development programs to combat a severe economic crisis. Following repeated crises in the Swiss watch industry, by the 1970s both ASUAG and SSIH were again in trouble. Foreign competition and the mass production of cheap new electronic products were taking over the market. Eventually, both ASUAG and SSIH faced bankruptcy.

In 1983, critical steps including the merger of ASUAG and SSIH into SMH and the launching of a low-cost, high-tech, artistic and emotional “second watch” - the Swatch. Invented, developed and launched by Ernst Thomke and his team.[3]

During all those years of crisis, and restructuration, since 1978, Dr. Ernst Thomke had been at the helm of ETA SA, and also had become CEO of Ebauches SA and appointed on the Board of Directors of ASUAG. He became SMH's first CEO, position he held until 1991. At that time, Nicolas G. Hayek, as newly elected Chairman of the Board and main shareholder had already become the only person of reference.

[edit] Workhorse mechanical movements

In recent years there has been an increased interest in mechanical watches. ETA supplies the overwhelming majority of mechanical watch movements found in Swiss watches. As such, the ETA movements are considered the workhorses on the industry. Moreover, ETA has come to control a virtual monopoly over the production and supply of watch movements, more on that issue below.

[edit] ETA 2824-2

One workhorse of the ETA mechanical line is the ETA 2824-2, The 2824 is an automatic winding, twenty-five (25) jewel movement, available in four executions or grades:

Standard, Elaborated (improved), Top and Chronometer [4] . The key components which differ at the line of demarcation between Elaborated and Top are the barrel spring, shock protection system, pallet stones, balance wheel & hairspring and the regulator mechanism. In contrast, since the addition of the "-2" at the end of the movement number, there has been no difference between the standard and the chronometer grades in terms of the regulator mecanism, both being Etachron. To illustrate the differences in accuracy garnered by the successive grades, consider the following specifications:

the Standard grade is adjusted in two positions with an average rate of +/-12 seconds/day, with a maximum daily variation of +/-30 seconds/day;

the Elaborated grade is adjusted in three positions with an average rate of +/-7 seconds/day, with a maximum daily variation of +/-30 seconds/day;

while the Top grade is adjusted in five positions with an average rate of +/-4 seconds/day, with a maximum daily variation of +/-10 seconds/day.

The Chronometer grade must meet strict standards prescribed by the COSC. Chronometer grade movements are serial numbered as that is a requirement of the certification authority. Moreover, it should be noted that the degree of decoration on the movement's parts, generally only an aesthetic improvement, increases as well with the grade.[5]

As a footnote, when servicing these movements please check the barrell teeth for wear and replace if worn, correctly lubricating the mainspring to allow the clutch to slip when under tension may help to improve the life of the barrell teeth.

[edit] ETA 2892

The ETA 2892.A2[6] is however, widely considered the more upscale of the basic ETA movements, and it certainly a newer design dating to the 1970s where as the 2824 traces its roots back to the 1950s. The 2892 is fitted with top quality components. The 2892 is an automatic winding, twenty-one (21) jewel movement, available in three executions or grades: Elaborated, Top and Chronometer. The key components which differ at the line of demarcation between Elaborated and Top are the pallet stones, balance wheel & hairspring, and the regulator mechanism. To illustrate the differences in accuracy garnered by the successive grades, consider the following specifications:

the Elaborated grade is adjusted in four positions with an average rate of +/-5 seconds/day, with a maximum daily variation of +/-20 seconds/day;

the Top grade is adjusted in five positions with an average rate of +/-4 seconds/day, with a maximum daily variation of +/-15 seconds/day.

The Chronometer grade must meet strict standards prescribed by the COSC: an average rate of -4/+6 with a maximum daily variation of +/-5 seconds/day. The wider range for the Chronometer grade is designed to take into account the differences in a watches rate between static positions, as when the tests are performed, and the dynamic positions as when a watch is actually worn. Chronometer grade movements are serial numbered.

Moreover, the degree of decoration on the movement's parts, generally an aesthetic improvement, increases with the grade.[7]

The 2892.A2 is regarded by many horologists as being in the same 'quality' range (accuracy and reliability) as the in-house produced Rolex movements.[8] Insofar as accuracy is concerned any movement which is expected to be COSC-certified, or is in fact COSC-certified, must meet the same standards. The ETA 2892.A2 is usually found in the more expensive and prestigious watches and brands. Owing to its relatively slim height of 3.60 mm, the 2892.A2 is a favorite of watch brands that market complicated movements such as Breitling with its trademark chronograph (stop watches). Given the slim dimensions of the 2892, it provides a good platform on which to add or build a chronograph complication. It is also used in IWC's Portofino line without complications simply for its small size.

[edit] The Omega Co-axial based upon an ETA movement

Omega's popular Seamaster line of watches currently use an embellished version of the ETA 2892.A2, which is known as the Omega 1120. As an adjunct, some versions of the Omega watches may be fitted with the proprietary Co-axial escapement invented by George Daniels, an English horologist and exclusively marketed by Omega a sister company of ETA. The movement with the co-axial escapement is known as the Omega 2500 series and is derived from the ETA 2892.

[edit] Valjoux 7750

ETA/Valjoux 7750.

The Valjoux 7750[9] a/k/a ETA 7750 is a widely used chronograph (stop watch) movement operated by cams integrated into the movement. The traditional mechanism used in the chronograph is known as the Column Wheel. With the advent of the Valjoux 7750, the column wheel was abandoned for a three (3) plane cam system. The three plane cam system is properly known as the Coulisse Levier mechanism. The system and movement were developed by Edmond Capt in 1970, as a fully integrated self-winding mechanism with quick-set day/date based on the Valjoux 7733.[10]

The movement is an automatic winding, twenty-five (25) jewel movement, which can be fitted with a variety of features including the triple date (day, date, month and moon

phase) or a variety of two and three register models with totalizers or counters for minutes, seconds and hours. It is available in three executions or grades: Elaborated, Top and Chronometer. The key components which differ at the line of demarcation between Elaborated and Top are the pallet stones, balance wheel & hairspring and the regulator mechanism. To illustrate the differences in accuracy garnered by the successive grades, consider the following specifications: the Elaborated grade is adjusted in three positions with an average rate of +/-5 seconds/day with a maximum daily variation of +/-15 seconds/day; while the Top grade is adjusted in five positions with an average rate of +/-4 seconds/day with a maximum daily variation of +/-10 seconds/day. The Chronometer grade must meet strict standards prescribed by the [COSC]: an average rate of -4/+6 with a maximum daily variation of +/-5 seconds/day.[11]

[edit] Monopoly allegations and investigations

In the Swiss watch industry, there was a two-year investigation[12] into certain aspects of the business practices of ETA SA. The investigation was concluded in November 2005 by the Swiss Competition Commission with the finding that ETA was abusing its dominant market position. ETA had had the intention to discontinue its supply of ébauches (movement blanks) as of January 2006 and thereafter to supply only fully assembled watch movements and its own brands (the so-called “phasing-out”).

ETA argued that it was overwhelmed with orders and that its ébauches were sometimes ending up in fake (a/k/a replica or trademark pirated watches).[13] ETA also warned that there could be another crisis in Swiss watch making unless there was more innovation and investment. Nicolas Hayek, then the CEO of Swatch, the parent of ETA observed,

"[t]ere was no innovation, no new development, and when I pushed them to start doing new production, everybody started shouting... I said I was not going to deliver any more of my movements unless they try to do their own production... Otherwise the Swiss watch industry will suffer exactly the same problems it had before and it will go down."

However, the investigations revealed that ETA held a dominant position in the market for Swiss made mechanical ébauches up to a unit price of CHF 300. The regulators determined that stopping deliveries to third parties would have threatened the future of many small watchmakers in Switzerland and the termination of supply was to be regarded as an unlawful refusal to do business and therefore as an abusive practice. For numerous competitors, the implementation of the phasing-out within such a short time meant in practical terms that they had been deprived of the basis for their business activity, as there was no alternative supplier.

In an amicable settlement, ETA committed to supply the ébauches until the end of 2008 at the current volume and thereafter for two additional years at a reduced volume. This will create a situation in which alternative production plants may be set up. The regulators said the agreement gives small watch making companies in Switzerland enough time to adapt to the market and find new producers.[14]

This has spurred on progress in the watch movement circles with several brands developing proprietary movements, for example Panerai. Another discrete movement maker, Progress Watch Corp. also came into the market for a period of time. ETA movements have also been duplicated by various enterprises including Asian manufacturers and are usually being produced without license[15].

[edit] References

1. ̂ Watches, Movements and Components - the swatch group2. ̂ ETA web site at "ETA": "History" on January 11th, 2008.3. ̂ Company Info History The Swatch Group today the swatch group4. ̂ levels of component quality5. ̂ Manufacturing Information, ETA 2801-2 through 2836-2, ETA, Grenchen May

20066. ̂ Description of Calibre ETA 2892-A2; for a description in English see [1]7. ̂ Manufacturing Information, ETA 2892A2, ETA, Grenchen June 20068. ̂ Comparison between Rolex 3135, ETA2892-A2 and Valjoux 7750:"Having

said that though there is absolutely no question in my mind, that I prefer the ETA 2892-2A over the other two."

9. ̂ Fonctionnement du calibre Valjoux 775010. ̂ John B. Holbrook, II, In Synch Magazine, December 2006.11. ̂ Manufacturing Information, ETA 7750 through 7760, ETA, Grenchen

September 200612. ̂ http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/apparel-accessory-stores-womens-

specialty/4249189-1.html investigation13. ̂ Hayek warns of impending crisis in watch industry - swissinfo14. ̂ Did you know that?15. ̂ Mass Market Tourbillon = New 'Quartz Crisis' Ahead

[edit] External links

F: Events that led to today's ETA SA History of ETA Official ETA Site Swatch Group In depth look at the ETA 2892

ETA Mechanical Watch Movements We have no knowledge about which movements might fit in certain cases.Seek advice from or hire the services of a watchmaker adapt at swapping

and re-casing movements. We do not do and have no knowledge of this kind of work and there is no reference book that we can consult with in

order to answer your questions on which movement to use in a certain case. Only a watchmaker who has learn how to do this sort of work will be able

to help you.

We have no knowledge about which generic movements might fit in certain Rolex® cases, so please do not email or call us about such questions.

   

ETA 2801-2 Watch Movement11.5 ligne, 17 jewels,, manual wind watch movement. Hand sizes 90/150/25 28,800 BPH, lift angle of balance 50.

FB-3015$108.00

   

ETA 2801-2 Gold Plated Skeleton MovementThis movement does not come with a stop lever (hack). Hand sizes are 90/150/25, 28,800 BPH, lift angle of balance 50

ETA-2801-2GP-SKELETON $186.00

 

   

ETA 2824-2 NP-25 Jewels Watch MovementNo Name on Rotor

ETA 2824-2 Nickel Pated with 25 Jewels Watch MovementNickel Plated 11 1/2 ligne, 25 jewels, Incabloc Novodiac shock protection, automatic, sweep seconds, date at 3 o'clock. Hand sizes 90/150/25, 28,800 BPH, lift angle of balance 50

Incabloc Novodiac shock, 25 jewel movement.

ETA 2824-2 NP-25 Jewels$129.00

 

   

ETA 2824-2, Gold Plated 25 Jewels Movement With Name on Rotor 11 1/2 ligne, Gold Plated with 25 Jewels, Incabloc Novodiac shock protection, sweep seconds, automatic, date at 3 o'clock. Hand sizes 90/150/25, 28,800 BPH, lift angle of balance 50

ETA 2824-2-GP-NA $118.00

 

Quantity   1 - 4     5 - 9     10+  Price $118.00 $112.00 $108.00

   

ETA 2836-2 Nickel Plated

These Nickel Plated 11.5 ligne movements 25 jewels, with Incabloc Novodiac shock protection, automatic, sweep seconds, day and date at 3 o'clock. Hand sizes 90/150/25, 28,800 BPH, lift angle of balance 50.

FB-3002NP$138.00

 

   

ETA 2834-213L ligne, 25 jewels, Incabloc shock protection, automatic, sweep seconds, day at 12 and date at 3 o'clock. Hand sizes 90/150/25, 28,800 BPH, lift angle of balance 50

FB-3001$146.00

 

   

ETA 2895-1 Nickel Plated 11.5 ligne, 30 jewels, Incabloc shock protection, automatic, subsidiary small seconds, date at 3 o'clock.

Movements we have now are Nickel Plated.

FB-3007$226.00

 

   

Unitas 6497-1 / ETA 6497-1 Watch Movement16.5 ligne (36.6 mm), 4.5 mm thick pocket watch movement, 17 jewels, Incabloc shock protection, subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock. Hand sizes are 115/200/27, the lift angle of the balance is 44. Because of its size, this is a comfortable movement for the beginning watchmaker.

Pocket Watches have the Crown at 12 and small second at 6.

Wrist watches have the crown at 3, so all you do is turn the dial location 1/4 and wow! You now have a large wristwatch with a small second at 9.

ETA has made the Unitas movements and owned the name for many years. Now all Unitas movements are being stamped ETA.

FB-3016$134.00

 

Quantity   1 - 9     10 - 24     25+  Price $134.00 $129.00 $119.00

   

ETA 6498-1 Watch MovementThese movements are now stamped ETA 6498. ETA owns the Unitas name and have made the Unitas movements now for almost 30 years. This is a 16.5 ligne pocket watch movement that is now being sold as a wrist watch movement and has 17 jewels with Incabloc shock protection. If the crown is at 3 the subsidiary seconds will be at 6 o'clock. Hand sizes are 115/200/27, the lift angle of the balance is 44. Because of its size, this is a comfortable movement for the beginning watchmaker.

FB-3009$134.00

  Quantity   1 - 9     10 - 24     25+  Price $134.00 $129.00 $119.00

   

ETA 6497-1 Nickel Plated Engraved Skeleton w/ Blue ScrewsThis movement has an elegantly engraved design with blue screws.

ETA-NP6497-1E$248.00

 

   

ETA 6497-1 Gold Plated Engraved Skeleton w/ Blue ScrewsThis movement has an elegantly engraved design with blue screws. 16.5 ligne (36.6 mm), 4.5 mm thick pocket watch movement, 4.5 mm height 17 jewels, Incabloc shock protection, subsidiary seconds. Hand sizes are 115/200/27.

Pocket Watches have the Crown at 12 and small second at 6.

Wrist watches have the crown at 3, so all you do is turn the dial location 1/4 and wow! You now have a large wristwatch with a small second at 9.

ETA has made the Unitas movements and owned the name for many years. Now all Unitas movements are being stamped ETA.

ETA-GP6497-1E $248.00

 

   

ETA 6497-1 Movement With Deluxe Finish & Blue Screws16.5 ligne (36.6 mm), 4.5 mm thick pocket watch movement, 17 jewels, Incabloc shock protection, subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock. Hand sizes are 115/200/27.

ETA-6497-BLSCR$179.00

 

   

Valjoux ETA 7750 With Blue Screws, No Name on RotorBlue Screws. Rotor has no name. Hand sizes: 120/200/26/20, the lift angle of the balance is 52.

FB-3010NB-PLAINBLUESCREWS$422.00

 

   

Valjoux ETA 7750 With no Name on Rotor #3Rotor has no name. Hand sizes: 120/200/26/20, the lift angle of the balance is 52.

FB-3010NB-PLAIN3$384.00

 

   

VALJOUX 7753This is it!...Everybody asked for the Valjoux 7750 with the register hands at 3, 6 & 9, well that's the Valjoux 7753, which is the same movement as the Val 7750 except the 7753 again has the register hands at 3, 6 & 9, the date is at 4 and has no day indicator. The current batch we have feature Incabloc Shock System and 27 jewels.

VAL 7753$569.00

 

   

Valjoux 7733 movement

Hand hole sizes: 95/140/28/18

Valjoux 7733$692.00

   

VALJOUX 775113.25 ligne, 17 jewels, Incabloc shock protection, automatic, chrono, day and date, month and moonphase.

Hands sizes: Minute 1.20 mm, Hour 2.00 mm are etched in stone, while I've seen different listings for the sweep 0.25 mm or 0.26 mm. The register hands have me confused at the momment. The tech sheet list the tip of the post 0.18 mm plus or minus 0.05 mm and the base to be 0.22 mm. We have information of 0.22 from one supplier and listing of 0.18 mm from another. We will just have make a test by installing sample hands.

This Valjoux does take the same hour, minute, sweep and register hands sizes as the Omega 1152 and 1155.

FB-3011$698.00

 

   

ETA 2671 Nickel Plated Date at 67 3/4 ligne, shock protection, sweep seconds, automatic, date at 6 o'clock. Hand sizes 70/120/20, 28,800 BPH.

FB-3104-6$142.00

 

   

ETA 2661 Watch Movement Certina 3507 3/4 ligne, 17 Jewels Hand sizes 70/120/20, 28,800 BPH.

Date at 3, with gold background and red print.

ETA-2661-CERTINA$54.60

 

   

ETA 277.001 Sold Without Hour Wheel5 1/2 ligne, 17 jewels, Incabloc shock protection, manual wind , 2 hands.

FB-3038$69.00

 

   

ETA 278111 1/2 Ligne, 17 Jewels, Automatic 21,600 BPH.

Hand sizes 90/150/26.

FB-3106$169.95

 

   

ETA 2512$64.00 FB-3082

7 3/4 ligne, inca, 17 jewels, hand sizes 60/120/, 21,600 BPH.

   

ETA A07.211 MovementSpecial order item please allow for 3-4 weeks delivery. Credit cards are not billed until we are able to ship the movement to you.

Hand sizes are 1.20/2.00/0.25/0.18, min 1.20 mm hour 2.00 mm, sweep second 0.25 and register 0.18 mm

MVT-A07.211ETA$636.00

 

   

ETA 9162 Watch MovementThis is a Tuning Fork Date at 3 sweep second CAL W/CORRECTOR watch movement. 13 Lignes. Hand Size: 90/150/26. For caliber OME 1250.

ETA 9162$296.00

 

   

AF Novodiac Spring Tool for ETA 2801Special tool for use on Incabloc's Novodiac spring in ETA 2801, 2824.2, 2834.2, and 2836.2 movements. Swiss made.

AF-185.381$51.95

 

   

AF Novodiac Spring Tool for ETA 2671Special tool for use on Incabloc's Novodiac spring in ETA 2671, 2660, and 2688 movements. Swiss made.

AF-185.382$51.95

 

   

ETA Chron Regulator Adjusting Tool

Has small opening at the tip for adjusting the regulator pins. Overall length: 2.25 inches.

AF-015595$34.95

 

   

ETA Chron Stud Removing ToolHas small fork shaped tip for removing the stud block. Overall length: 2.25 inches.

AF-015600$34.95

 

   

Screw Assortment for ETA 2892.A2Replacement screws for the ETA 2892.A2 movement. Contains most of the popular screws needed to put your movement parts together; 4 pcs for screw #5105/#5121, 5 pcs for #5125/#5445/#5462/#51141/#52595, 4 pcs for

#5511/#51497, 1 pcs for #5110, 3 pcs for #51134, and 1 pcs for screw #52536. A total of 18 pieces. An assortment like this can save you time when in need of a few screws. Now you can have the whole screw assortment for your ETA 2892.A2 movement on the palm of your hand.

ASST-2892X$19.95

 

 

Valjoux Watch Movements

 

Bucherer Signed ETA, AS, FEF & ST Movements

 

Click Here To View Our ETA 2824 & ETA 2836 Movements Selection

The ETA 2824 & 2836 join the list of popular yet hard to get ETA movements that can now come in different all the time. Our supply is always changing and

adding a page just for these movements should help.

 

Watch Parts For ETA 6497-1 and ETA 6498-1

   

Your cooperation is appreciated.

   

ETA 7750 With Special Finish And Blue Screws Wouldn't you rather be looking at this movement in your see-thru back case? Only one of these special ETA 7750 movements with deluxe finish and blue screws are now available.

ETA-7750-BLUESCREWS$439.00

 

www.ofrei.comOtto Frei and Jules Borel, Inc.

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