Eterna Calibre 1194: A Milestone in Silent Automation
Vintage watch enthusiasts and hobbyist watchmakers revere the Eterna Calibre 1194 as a groundbreaking automatic movement from 1948. Developed with ETA engineer Heinrich Stamm, it introduced the world’s first fully oscillating bi-directional rotor on ball bearings, revolutionizing wristwatch winding with whisper-quiet efficiency.
Historical Context
Launched amid noisy bumper automatics from rivals like Rolex, the 1194 silenced critics with its silk-smooth operation. Mounted on five tiny ball bearings and paired with a clever reverser wheel system, the rotor wound bidirectionally without backlash. This innovation powered Eterna-Matic watches, influencing later designs like the 1237 series for men’s models.
Technical Specifications
Type: Self-winding automatic with central rotor
Jewels: 17–21 (variants exist)
Frequency: 18,000 vph (5 Hz)
Dimensions: Approximately 11.75 ligne (26.6 mm diameter); slim height under 5 mm
Power reserve: Around 40 hours when fully wound
Shock protection: Early Eterna-U system on balance staff
Balance: Glucydur with flat Nivarox hairspring
Functions: Time-only (hours, minutes, central seconds); no date in base model
Rotor: Polished, bi-directional via reverser gears; manual winding compatible
Finish: Clean plates with perlage; high gear-train quality
For any Watch Spare Parts inquiry, Email us for rate and availability: [email protected]
Watch Parts Enquiry
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Stem, Crown, Hands & Spares might be available for this movement.
Email us for rate and availability: [email protected]
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