My Cart

Close

Eterna-Matic - An 18K Gold Dress Watch - Case Ref: 3897783 - Calibre 1412U - c.1950s***NOW SOLD***

This item has now sold
£0.00GBP
vws2231cs

***NOW SOLD***

A Charming Vintage 18k Gold Eterna-Matic (Automatic) Dress Watch with a Beautiful Ivory Dial, dated to the 1950s. 

Eterna unveiled the Eterna-Matic movement in 1948, and it changed the way brands looked at automatic movements. The Eterna-Matic calibre essentially featured a ball-bearing mounted rotor system to reduce friction. Five strategically placed ball bearings reduced friction and resistance on the oscillating weight that winds the mainspring and increased the watch’s accuracy. 

After this, all the automatic watches produced by Eterna were marketed under the Eterna-Matic name while the five tiny balls - which brought worldwide fame and success to the brand - were chosen as the new logo of the Grenchen manufacturer.

This Eterna technology took watchmaking to new levels soon becoming the new standard for all automatic wristwatches in the world. It still remains in use today.

What’s On Offer 

A charismatic vintage 18k gold watch with bags of charm, this Eterna-Matic is in fine shape with a beautiful ivory dial, with some signs of slight marks to the very outer edge of the dial, but this is barely noticeable to the naked eye. The dial is furnished with applied gold baton hour markers, beautiful Dauphine hands, a needle central seconds hand and the applied 'ball bearing' logo also in gold. The dial is encapsulated under plexiglass and framed by a substantial yellow gold bezel which gives it a meaty feel on the wrist. The case is in really nice vintage condition with very few signs of light wear, and the subtle inset crown also boasts the 5 dot logo. 

This is a mid-sized watch paired with a stylish tan-coloured leather strap with a corresponding gold pin buckle, very comfortable on the wrist, and beautifully opulent. You simply cannot go wrong with a vintage gold watch from such an esteemed watchmaker, it's a timeless companion that will take the wearer seamlessly to all manner of occasions.

The watch runs very well as one would expect as it formed part of a personal collection of watches, of one of our watchmakers, so it has been regularly serviced and regulated by him until it was offered to us, so you should have no issues and in any event, it comes with our in-house 12-month warranty, so buy it now with some degree of confidence!

Additional information

Made from

Case: 18k Gold 

Dial: Ivory

Crystal: Plexi

Bracelet: Tan Leather with Pin Buckle

Technical specifications

Winding: Automatic

Movement Type: Mechanical

Caliber: Eterna 1412U

Jewels: 17j

Waterproof: n/a

Power reserve: 48hrs

Purchase details

Condition: Excellent

Model Reference: Automatic Dress Watch

Date of issue: c.1950s

Warranty: 12 Months by VWS

Dimensions

Width (without crown): 34.5mm

Lug width: 18mm

Lug height: (lug to lug) 42mm

Wrist size: Adjustable