The Eterna 1471 is a well-respected, mid‑20th century Swiss mechanical calibre that turns up in many vintage men’s watches from the 1960s and 1970s, and it remains a solid choice for collectors and watchmakers who appreciate robust, repairable movements.
Historical context
Eterna developed the 1471 as a date-equipped automatic movement, closely related to the non‑date Cal. 1470 and sharing core components with the earlier Eterna 1438 family.
It was used in a range of Eterna‑badged watches, including dress and sports models, and often found in cases with a 36–38 mm diameter and moderate thickness.
For hobbyist watchmakers, the 1471 is a good “next step” movement: more complex than a basic hand‑winder, but still straightforward enough for servicing with basic tools and a good manual.
Key features for enthusiasts
The movement has a traditional Swiss automatic architecture with a central rotor and bidirectional winding via a pawl mechanism, making it reliable and easy to diagnose.
It includes a date function, typically with a corrector lever that can be adjusted from the back or via a slightly modified crown operation on some dial variants.
The balance is free sprung (screwed) and paired with a flat hairspring, usually within a standard Eterna shock protection system that holds up well to normal wear.
Because Eterna movements were widely used and supported, spare parts and service manuals for the 1470/1471 family are still available in the vintage watch trade, making repairs practical.
Technical specifications
Type: Automatic mechanical with date, bidirectional winding
Size: Around 12.5 ligne (approx. 28–29 mm diameter), thickness about 4.5–4.6 mm
Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour (6 beats per second)
Jewels: 21 jewels
Power reserve: Approximately 44 hours when fully wound
Functions: Hours, minutes, centre seconds, date at 3 o’clock
Winding mechanism: Pawl winding with auxiliary reversing wheel, similar to the Eterna 1438
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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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