It is undoubtedly maritime navigation and the resolution of the problem of longitude which will have been the most powerful driving force behind the progress of precision watchmaking. A long history has linked sailors to watches since the discovery, by John Harrison in 1735, of the calculation of longitude by means of precision chronometers. Without the watch, it is impossible to locate oneself at sea, it has become an essential tool for expeditions of discovery. Later, the railroad, with its precise timetables stretching across continents and its convoys that intertwine and intersect, made it the obligatory attribute of the mechanic, the engineer, and the traveler. In this respect, the war of 1914-1918 has the merit of demonstrating where exactly the needs are, we have seen a change in behavior begin with a generalization of wristwatches. Navigation, war, diving, automobiles, aviation, and finally the Olympic Games will give him his letters of nobility. All these elements have marked the history of watchmaking, and the chronograph or the diving watch have become the symbol of the modern hero, conqueror of self-control, technique, speed...
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIVING WATCH:
Any watch bearing the diving watch indication undergoes corresponding tests, at least at depths of 100 meters. And when it comes to safety, there’s no question of joking with professional divers. So, to be able to claim this specification the watch must:
- Be waterproof to a minimum of 100 meters.
- Be readable from 30 cm in absolute darkness: its numbers must be luminescent.
- Be proven, meaning that the tightness of all parts has been tested in real conditions of use.
- Have a unidirectional rotating bezel with ratchets, with a graduation of at least the first 15 minutes and including a luminescent reference point.
- Have a seconds hand allowing you to see how the watch is working at any time.
- Be anti-magnetic, resistant to shock, thermal shock and helium atmospheres.
The inspection of each diver's watch is thus divided into approval tests and 100% proofs.
By delving into the world of waterproof watches, we will understand that they are not all made to take in water, and perhaps even less a shower...
In the past, when you talked to a watchmaker about water he would immediately make a face of disapproval. Hans Wilsdorf was a pioneer, the idea he had in 1926, of closing the winding crown of a watch by screwing, seems to us today to make good sense. With hindsight it is almost possible to say that the most significant progress of the 20th century in the field of watchmaking was the success of making watch cases waterproof. Nowadays, every brand offers at least one diving model in its collection. But be careful, it is always good to keep in mind that a waterproof watch must be rinsed in fresh water after a stay in sea water. that it is preferable to ensure the water resistance of your favorite watch before the holidays, rather than having to dry everything at your favorite watchmaker and that the screwed winding crown is only of interest if it ballast...
Era : 1970s, watch in new condition, barely worn.
Dimensions : Width 28 mm excluding crown, 31 mm at the end of the handles and 11 mm thick including glass. Model for women who love authenticity and vintage.
Housing : "Barrel" shape, typical of the seventies, in stainless steel, shiny polished, with screwed back. Bi-directional rotating bezel for dive times or other calculations.
Dial : with large square indexes applied in relief and luminescent “Broad Arrow” hands. The unusual orange-colored central second hand and the date window at 3 o'clock.
Glass : Plexi, very thick, ringed, new.
Movements
: The history of ETA begins in 1856, in Granges, a schoolteacher, Urs Schild and Dr Girard founded a blank factory. It is the oldest watchmaking factory in the canton of Solothurn and is the founder of ETA. It became a factory in 1876. In 1896, Adolf Schild-Hugi founded the AS blank factory in Granges. Adolf Schild is the brother of Urs Schild, founder of ETA. He, Urs, became founder of the Eterna factory in 1906.
In 1926, ETA, AS and FHF participated, with other companies, in the creation of Ebauches SA.
During the Second World War, the production of blanks was maintained in all the factories. ETA is emerging as the leading manufacturer of blanks in the field of automatic movements. In 1960, the three large companies affiliated with Ebauches SA, AS, ETA and FHF employed more than 5,500 people. In 1968, the FHF built a new factory in Corgémont for the machining of turned parts.
In 1978, ETA and AS (A. Schild SA) merged.
In 1982, the structures between ETA, FHF and EEM (Ebauches Electroniques Marin) were simplified. The general management is established in Granges. Marketing is centralized in Marin. The main production centers are in Granges, Fontainemelon, Sion, Les Bioux and Marin. The same year, the famous “Swatch” was launched in the United States. Three years later, in September 1985, the ten millionth was produced while on April 7, 1992, the hundred millionth left the workshops. The famous Flik Flak was launched in 1987.
At the end of 1983, the merger between SSIH (Société Suisse de l'Industrie Horlogère SA), comprising watchmaking factories and manufactures, and Asuag (Allgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG), producer of component parts and finished watches with their own brands. The new company resulting from this merger took the name "Asuag-SSIH Société Suisse pour l'Industrie Horlogère SA" then, from 1985, "SMH Société Suisse de Microelectronique et d'Horlogerie SA" and from 1998, "The Swatch Group Ltd ".
Coming back specifically to this Swiss ETA 2651 movement, it was designed at the end of the 60s, mechanical with manual winding, 21600 vibrations per hour, 21 jewels, incabloc anti-shock and anti-magnetic, with date and quick date corrector in the first position when the winding crown is pulled out. In perfect working order, revised and checked by me.
strap
: new from the 70s, Tropic racing rally type, brown in color, 14 mm wide at the watch, for a maximum wrist of 18 cm.
Observation :
CONDITIONS OF SALE
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If you would like further information or photos, do not hesitate to contact me every day:
Eric BALDIN “Ô Cœur du Temps…” (by message, ask me on ocoeurdutemps at orange.fr for my telephone number).