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ETA

ETA 2824-2

Swiss lever · introduced 1982
ETA 2824-2 movement
Photo by Guy Sie (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY-SA-2.0A lightbox macro of the 2824-2 fitted in a Stowa Antea. The rotor is signed Stowa and reads TWENTY-FIVE 25 JEWELS SWISS MADE, which is the 2824-2 jewel count: ETA supplies the ébauche and the brand that cases it signs the rotor, so a 2824-2 in the wild almost never says ETA on it.
Beat rate
28,800 vph
Power reserve
38h
Jewels
25
Introduced
1982
Escapement
Swiss lever

The ETA 2824-2 is the workhorse of the Swiss watch industry, found in hundreds of brands from entry-level sport watches to mid-range dress pieces. Its combination of reliable timekeeping, abundant parts, and wide technician familiarity makes it arguably the best-supported movement in the world. Collectors accept it without stigma in watches priced under around $3,000.

Specifications

Beats per hour
28,800
Jewels
25
Power reserve
38h
Diameter
25.6mm
Height
4.6mm
Escapement
Swiss lever
Introduced
1982
Finishing
Industrial
Service interval
5 years
Service cost tier
Entry

Complications

datequickset

Known service issues

  • Date wheel can crack at the tooth root after 15-plus years if serviced with incorrect lubricants
  • Cannon pinion slippage on heavily used crown-set examples
  • Susceptible to magnetization from bag closures and phone speakers; a demagnetizer resolves it but accuracy will degrade silently first
  • Mainspring click wear in older examples causes inconsistent winding engagement; inexpensive to replace at service
  • Date quick-set can feel rough on high-mileage examples; the quickset lever spring is the usual cause

Notable in

  • Tudor Submariner 79090 (pre-in-house era)
  • Ball Engineer II Ohio
  • Longines HydroConquest
  • Hamilton Khaki Field Auto

13 watches in our catalog share this movement

Across 7 brands: Bulgari, Damasko, Doxa, Laco, Ming, Movado, Rado. The same engine, cased and finished differently by each.

Buying advice

Practical guides for buying a watch with this caliber on the pre-owned market:

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