The Eterna Caliber 1438 is a classic Swiss automatic movement from the Eterna‑Matic Centenaire line, made in the 1960s and based on ETA’s 2433 design; it’s a beautiful, historically significant workhorse that many vintage watch enthusiasts and hobbyist watchmakers still appreciate today.
Why It’s of Interest
This caliber is a key member of the Eterna‑Matic family, which helped establish the modern automatic movement standard and later influenced the development of the ETA 2892 family.
It features a self‑winding system with a central rotor mounted on ball bearings, a hallmark of Eterna’s smooth rotor feel and reduced wear.
The movement has a quickset date function, operated by repeatedly pulling the crown to jump the date, which was a practical feature for its time.
Caliber 1438 powers classic Eterna Centenaire and Eterna‑Matic models, often with a refined, mid‑century design and a crisp dial layout that appeals to vintage collectors.
For hobbyist watchmakers, it offers a good balance of mechanical clarity and historical value, making it a satisfying movement to service and study.
Technical Specifications
Movement type
Automatic, self‑winding, with a central rotor.
Caliber designation
Eterna 1438 and 1438U (date‑complicated version).
Base design
Based on ETA caliber 2433, developed during Eterna’s close collaboration with ETA.
Frequency
18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz).
Jewels
21 jewels.
Power reserve
Approximately 44–49 hours, depending on the specific variant.
Size
11.5 ligne (about 25.5 mm diameter), typical for men’s watches of the 1960s.
Functions
Hours, minutes, central seconds, and quickset date.
Winding system
Central rotor with ball bearings for smooth winding and reduced friction.
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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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