Automatic Watches
ETA Watch Movements: A Look at Their Technology and Reliability
By Argos Watches
When you look at a watch, you probably see the design and the brand name. But inside, there's often a tiny engine that makes it work – and that engine might be made by a company called ETA. These movements are a big deal in the watch world, and their story is pretty interesting.
Over the last few decades, watches have gotten super advanced. They can run for longer, resist magnets better, keep time really well, and do things people never thought possible. Watch companies have done this in a couple of ways: by making changes to existing movements or by building their own from scratch. It's really hard to build a good movement all by yourself, so a lot of watch companies use movements that are already made, often improving them to add new features without messing up how well they keep time or how long they last.
Over the last few decades, watches have gotten super advanced. They can run for longer, resist magnets better, keep time really well, and do things people never thought possible. Watch companies have done this in a couple of ways: by making changes to existing movements or by building their own from scratch. It's really hard to build a good movement all by yourself, so a lot of watch companies use movements that are already made, often improving them to add new features without messing up how well they keep time or how long they last.
One of the biggest companies that makes these movements is ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse, or just ETA. They're in Switzerland and are owned by the Swatch Group. ETA is known for making movements that are dependable, good, and don't cost too much. They've been around since 1856 and have gone through some tough times, but they're still a major player and have helped shape how Swiss watches are made. Let's take a closer look at this important company and some of their most famous movements.
Where Did They Come From? The Early Days
The story of ETA started in 1856 in a town called Grenchen. A 28-year-old teacher named Urs Schild and a doctor named Joseph Girard started a factory to make watch movements. This factory later became known as Eterna. Their movements were quickly praised, but the company didn't become a really big brand until Theodor, Schild's younger son, took over. He helped the company grow in the 1900s and also started a place to put the watches together, in addition to the movement-making part.
Because Eterna used new technology and always tried to improve, they became famous around the world and opened several branches, including the ETA SA branch in 1896. But their success didn't last forever. After World War I, things were tough economically, so they had to team up with other movement makers to survive.
Teaming Up: The Start of Ébauches SA
In 1926, three of the biggest movement makers – Eterna, Fabrique d’horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF), and Adolphe Michel SA (AMSA) – decided to join together to make a bigger company and deal with problems related to prices and making enough movements. They formed a company called Ébauches SA (which means ‘movements’ in French). This new company grew quickly by buying lots of different movement-making businesses and became the biggest maker of basic watch movements in Switzerland.
Other watch companies would use these basic movements and add their own parts to them. But then, the Great Depression in 1929 happened, and all the movement makers had to change their plans again. This led to the creation of a new group called the General Swiss Watch Industry AG (ASUAG).
Finding Their Way: The Creation of ASUAG and the Rise of ETA
Because the economy was really bad, Ébauches SA and many other Swiss companies decided to work together and created ASUAG in 1931. The Swiss government helped fund this bigger company, which aimed to bring together and manage the watch industry. Before Eterna could join ASUAG, Theodor split the company into two parts: one part would join ASUAG, and the other would keep making complete watches. So, Eterna stayed as a company that put watches together, while their movement-making part was named after their ETA SA branch.
After this joining of forces, ETA started making automatic movements, and they were one of the few companies that could do this. This special ability helped ETA gain the respect that they still have today. By 1948, ETA even built their own school to train people to make new movements. One of the most clever things they invented later was using tiny balls (ball bearings) in their automatic winding system.
The Big Challenge
The last big challenge for ETA and the movement industry was the invention of quartz watches in the 1970s. Just like in the 1920s, the big movement makers faced a huge threat. Because ASUAG was losing a lot of money, Ébauches SA decided to merge all the movement-making companies in ASUAG, like FHF, Unitas, Peseux, and Valjoux, into ETA. Because of this, by the early 1980s, ETA had become the biggest movement maker in the world and also had a lot of valuable history and knowledge from all the companies they had taken over.
One of the most famous movements that ETA has ever made is the ETA 7750. Because it's strong, simple in design, and easy to make in large numbers, this movement became really popular. By 2004, it was used in most of the chronograph (stopwatch) watches you could buy.
Conclusion
The story of ETA shows how a company can change and improve over time to become a leader in its field. From their early days as Eterna to being the major movement maker they are today, ETA has always been important to the watch industry. Their movements are a great example of good engineering and careful making.
If you enjoyed this look at ETA, you might also be interested in other companies that make watch movements. One standout is Seagull, a highly respected manufacturer known for its reliable and affordable mechanical watch movements. Seagull has a long history of producing high-quality, in-house movements that power not only their own watches but also those of other brands worldwide.
If you enjoyed this look at ETA, you might also be interested in other companies that make watch movements. One standout is Seagull, a highly respected manufacturer known for its reliable and affordable mechanical watch movements. Seagull has a long history of producing high-quality, in-house movements that power not only their own watches but also those of other brands worldwide.
Explore Quality Automatic Watches
Many watch enthusiasts consider Seagull the next big thing in horology, as the brand offers exceptional craftsmanship at a fraction of the price of Swiss alternatives. Whether you're looking for classic dress watches, intricate tourbillons, or robust chronographs, Seagull delivers impressive timepieces that rival much more expensive brands.
Want to explore the some quality automatic watches? Click here to discover a curated selection at Argos Watches, for premium automatic timepieces. Start your watch adventure today!
Want to explore the some quality automatic watches? Click here to discover a curated selection at Argos Watches, for premium automatic timepieces. Start your watch adventure today!
