The Eterna calibre 1448 is a classic Swiss automatic movement from the golden era of Eterna-Matic, designed for mid‑size men’s and larger ladies’ watches in the 1960s–70s. It offers reliable, hand‑winding timekeeping with date and central sweep seconds, making it a practical and repair‑friendly choice for vintage collectors and hobbyist watchmakers.
For the Vintage Watch Enthusiast
The cal. 1448 has a clean, elegant layout with a central rotor and a good balance of finish and function, typical of mid‑range Swiss automatics of its time.
It’s commonly found in Eterna-Matic watches from the 1960s–70s, often in cushion‑case or mid‑size tonneau designs, and sometimes under other brands that used Eterna ébauches.
Original parts (like the date disc and setting lever) can be scarce, but cross‑referencing with related Eterna calibres (such as 1424 and 1408U) often helps when sourcing spares.
Many examples today run well after a standard service, provided the mainspring, automatic winding, and date mechanism are in good order.
For the Hobbyist Watchmaker
The cal. 1448 is relatively straightforward to disassemble and reassemble, with a conventional automatic winding train and a standard date module on top.
The dial side is where most issues arise: the date advance pawl, setting lever, and sliding pinion can rust or wear, so having a donor movement (e.g., cal. 1408U or 1424) is very helpful.
When servicing, pay attention to the auto winding (winding pinion, sliding pinion, and reverser wheels) and check for bent or worn teeth, which can cause poor winding performance.
Balance and escapement are similar to other Eterna-U equipped calibres; it’s a good movement to practice on once the basic layout is familiar.
Key Technical Specifications
Type: Automatic, self‑winding, with manual winding and hacking.
Diameter: Around 10.5–11 ligne (approx. 23.3–24.5 mm), mid‑size automatic size.
Height: Roughly 4–5 mm, depending on case and dial setup.
Frequency: 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz), 5 beats per second.
Jewels: Typically 17–21 jewels, with Eterna-U shock protection on the balance and sometimes the escapement.
Power reserve: Around 36–40 hours when fully wound.
Functions: Hours, minutes, central sweep seconds, and date at 3 o’clock via a standard date wheel and jumper.
Rotor: Central rotor, bi‑directional automatic winding, with a separate winding & setting mechanism.
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Watch Parts Enquiry
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Stem, Crown, Hands & Spares might be available for this movement.
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