1968 Eterna-Matic 1000 35mm Automatic Cal. 1488K
Ref: 3331T
Specification
Lugs : 19mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Non-waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold “Watch Only” and therefore comes with no original Eterna box or papers. The watch comes paired with a 19mm blue leather strap. The watch is from Circa. 1968 in very fair vintage condition for its age, with signs of aging on the dial and hands, as you can see from the photographs. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BN7INrAnlcg8hG6IQf36VWaG3Ylpsksq?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 30:22 - https://youtu.be/Rj6fpq8fxqs
The Watch
Here we have a 1968 Eterna-Matic 1000 Automatic Cal. 1488K with a 35mm stainless steel case that sits on your wrist with straight flat-ended drilled lugs, and a lug-to-lug length of 39mm and a case thickness of just 9.5mm ensures a comfortable fit. On the right side is a slightly recessed crown. Crisp lines transition around the case towards the bevel-edged lugs, a domed crystal sits above a domed silver dial, and an outer minute chapter ring surrounds applied steel chamfer-edged baton indexes infilled with Tritium marking the hours, at 3 o’clock a framed date window, slender baton hands infilled with Tritium is complemented by a tapered sweeping second hand. At 12 o’clock we have the Eterna-Matic 1000 motif completing this striking vintage timepiece. On the reverse a screw-down case back, inside an automatic Eterna Cal. 1488K, beating at 21,600 beats per hour. The watch comes paired with a 19mm blue leather strap.
Personal Note
More and more collectors are looking for great value vintage finds, just like this 1968 Eterna-Matic 1000, built like a tank with a well-rounded movement, but mostly undervalued and underappreciated in the vintage watch world and therefore can be had for an absolute bargain in this condition! Paired on a blue strap it really shows how you can spice up an affordable vintage watch and make it striking, paired on a brown or black it would look classy and elegant, that is versatility!
The Brand
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. In 1932, Eterna set up a subsidiary company, ETA SA, which made movements for itself and other Swiss watch companies In 1948, Eterna created the Eterna-Matic automatic, an advanced self-winding movement. Five ball bearings were placed in such a way as to make the movement very efficient. In 1948 Eterna used the five-ball arrangement as its corporate logo. In 1999, Eterna produced a series 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.