For sale we have a 1970s Eterna-Matic Automatic Stainless Steel cased watch. It is well proportioned, measuring 35mm with a polished finish to the case. It has an eye-catching powder grey dial, with applied baton markers and date window. The signed crown to the right-hand side, with a screw back case and an Eterna 12824 automatic movement inside.
 
The dial is the standout feature of this watch with its unusual powder finish. This looks excellent in the silver/grey tone, shining in the light in a way that’s unique, when compared to sunburst or satin dials. The texture to the finish also makes the dial a joy to look at it. It is in very good condition, with original applied baton hour markers, with black painted centre. The date window is balanced at 3 O’clock, with applied silver date window frame. There are beautifully aged lume plots to the base of the hour markers. The Eterna logo is raised and shines in the light with a mirror polish. 
The hands are of baton style and have a black painted centre, matching the hour markers. The lume in-fill is complete and has aged to a lovely tone. 
 
The 35mm case is good, with a mirror polished finish. It has a circular centre, with short straight lugs, with a subtle taper and bevel which catches the light. The bezel is flat, as are the case sides. This creates a clean feel to the case, particularly when combined with the mirror polish. To the right is the crown with coin edge finish and Eterna ball-bearing logo. The screw back to rear is good, having been polished. The serial number is visible. To the inside it is signed ‘Eterna Watch Co. Swiss’, ‘Movement Licensed Bulova & Pat. ESA 133T’. 
 
Inside is the Eterna-matic calibre 12824 movement. It has the classic ball-bearing rotor, with cut out. It is a great quality movement with good finishing. It is keeping time to within 10 seconds a day.
 
An interesting example from the time, this is a correct Eterna-matic watch, within a case from the Eterna Sonic range, housing tuning fork movements. Things weren’t clear cut during the 1970s with the Quartz crisis and rapidly changing technologies and sales. Tuning fork movements were the latest thing, but mechanical movements still had a decent share of the market. This justling for position led to the commonality of parts and cases to prepare for all eventualities. As such this Tuning fork model case, has a correct Eterna-Matic signing and automatic movement. 
 
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
 
Dial: 
The dial is original and is in very good condition with no clear signs of ageing or marks. The lume plots have aged to a nice tone. 
 
Hands: 
The hands are original with original lume in-full. They are in good condition with black painted centre. 
 
Glass: 
The crystal is original and is in good condition with only some slight scratches.
 
Crown: 
The Stainless crown is original and is in good condition with light surface scratching. It has the Eterna logo. 
 
Case:
The case is Stainless Steel and is in good overall condition. It has been lightly polished but maintains some light scratches. The lugs and bezel are also polished.
 
Caseback:
The screw back is Stainless Steel and is in decent condition for the age. It has been polished to remove a deeper scratch, which is still visible on certain angles. The serial number is visible. It has some light surface scratching. 
 
Strap: 
The watch comes on a 19mm Hirsch Rainbow leather strap. 
 
Movement: 
The movement is an Eterna 12824, which is an ETA 2824 base calibre. 
 
 It is an automatic movement with shock protection and a jewel count of 25. It has a sweep central second hand, with hacking function and a quickset date indicator. It operates at a hi-beat frequency of 28,800 BPH with a 40 hour power reserve.
 
The service history is unknown, but the movement is in very good condition cosmetically and functionally. It’s keeping time to within + 10 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 300 degrees and a beat error of 0.2m/s.
 
Case dimensions:
Case width: 34.75mm
Case width with crown: 36.75mm
Case length: 34.5mm
Lug to lug: 40mm
Depth: 10.5mm
Lug width: 19mm