This Watch

We have here an Eterna-Matic Centenaire, the line of watches produced by Eterna to mark their 100 year anniversary.  This particular Centenaire has a stunning, two-tone, champagne-coloured, original dial with the outer ring of the dial having a ribbed effect.  Signed at 12 o'clock with 'Eterna-Matic' and their famous five-ball-bearing logo, and a 6 o'clock 'Centenaire'.  The lumed, Dauphine hour, minute and central seconds hand show some age, which gives no doubt to their originality.  Straight baton markers with lumed pips mark the hours and take this watch into being a 1950s/1960s transitional piece.

The 35mm stainless steel case has a recessed, signed crown which adds to the comfort for the wearer.  It is also quite a thin watch for the time, measuring 8.9mm wide.  Inside is the case is the automatic Eterna caliber 1428, based on the ETA 2430 and 2433, but made to the Eterna specification, fully serviced by us and running strongly.

We've paired this watch on a brown croc-grain strap but it looks great dressed up on black leather too.

Eterna was founded in Grenchen, Switzerland in 1856 by Josef Girard and Urs Schild. Jointly founding the famous ébauche factory.  The company was formerly known as Schild Fréres, starting out by producing ladies’ wristwatches. In 1905, the company changed its name to Eterna.  By 1932, Eterna set up a subsidiary company, ETA SA, which made movements for itself and other Swiss watch companies.  In 1948, Eterna created the advanced self-winding movement called the Eterna-Matic automatic. They used five ball bearings that were placed in such a way to make the movement very efficient. Its popularity was such that in 1948 Eterna adopted the image of five balls as its corporate logo.

After 1982, Eterna was sold several times. In 1999, Eterna produced a range of watches marketed under the Porsche Design label. Porsche Design sold Eterna to International Volant Ltd, a subsidiary of China Haidian in June 2012. China Haidian was later renamed in 2014 to Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group Limited where they continue to own Eterna.

This watch comes fully serviced by our on-site workshop and with a 12 month, non-waterproof service cover.

What we think

The transitional design between the 1950s and 1960s is what drew us to this watch.  It dates right from the end of the 1950s and has the best of this decade and the best of what was to come.  The dial subtly ages the watch making this a great piece for a collector or a vintage watch newbie and is a great size for both men and women.

Spec Stuff