Is the ETA 2824-2 the Best Movement (Quality for Value)?
Around the 2nd week of December 1996, I strategically placed myself at the pearl counter of the jewelry store where I worked, because we had just gotten in a load of Pinctada cultured pearl Princess strands threaded with graduating 5.5 to 6mm examples for only 195.00! I knew I’d romance these babies and sell a ton for Christmas!
Within a couple days and dozens of sales later, a young man with soiled attire from his outdoor job came in for one of these life-saving gifts for his newly-wed wife looking for something beautiful to adorn her young, crane-like neck. I quickly noticed his watch. “Cool watch…what is it?”, I asked. “It’s a Wenger Swiss Army Officer’s watch…and look — it winds up by itself and doesn’t need batteries!”
Well…after my presentation, sell and gift wrap of the pearl strand, he took the Wenger off his wrist and handed it to me to inspect…then he went his merry way; but that watch marinated and basted within the deepest ceramic coffers of my brain! Eventually, I folded and went to the dealer where he got his and bought one of my own as a secret Christmas present for myself.
I have owned this watch since late 1996 and have never gotten the ETA 2824-2 movement serviced; but yet…it has remained accurate to about +5 seconds/day. It winds and sets beautifully and smoothly…while the date mechanism functions perfectly. The movement ticks away at high-beat levels seemingly without a care in the world.
I’m no movement expert. I understand beat rates, gear train configurations, pallet forks and synthetic ruby placements at high friction junctions…but that’s about it. When it comes to my Wenger’s ETA 2824-2, it all comes to longevity and the absence of any need for service. To me…that spells amazing quality and begs the question: Is this is one of the best movements ever made?
So tell me all you movement experts…how good is the ETA 2824-2…and is it really worthy of all my applause?
Time dictates my linear path to its bitter end. My watches keep me one step ahead of time…and one foot out of the grave.
Not a movement expert so I will not comment on that part. Just wanted to say nice looking watch.
Not a movement expert so I will not comment on that part. Just wanted to say nice looking watch.
Oh…very nice of you good sir!
Very nice to say. Though I have protected it from knocks, it has accompanied me generously over the years…including daily bouts in the yard with my Snapper mower and Mantis tiller, as well as a lot of bike rides.
My old time watchmaker buddies referred to that and other ETA movements as bullerproof fix it with a can opener as long as you know how!
My old time watchmaker buddies referred to that and other ETA movements as bullerproof fix it with a can opener as long as you know how!
That is very promising!
It's a 40 year old movement and still going strong what with the clones and all, so yes. An ETA2824-2 is what you'd call a dependable workhorse movement.
It's a 40 year old movement and still going strong what with the clones and all, so yes. An ETA2824-2 is what you'd call a dependable workhorse movement.
Like a Clydesdale!
Like a Clydesdale!
Exactamundo! It'll live long and if, god forbid you have to exchange the movement, there's a ton of drop-in replacement options from the SW200-1 to the new LJP-G100 no problem for most watchmakers.
Yes, but I would spring for a high grade one when possible. Ditto as @TalkingDugong said, the SW200 and G100 are also great as clones. I really dig the way the top grade G100s are finished.
The ETA 2892 is the best off the shelf movement dollar for dollar. Just an exquisite design. Highly accurate, highly robust, super thin, easily serviced. It’s an upgrade from the 2824 and not all that much more expensive. I really wish it was used more.
Most of these "workhorse" movements are much better than most people give their credit. Particularly "watch people" 🤪.
That said, of all the workhorses, ETA/Sellita is actually the most expensive. I do wonder how much better they are to Seiko nh35, Miyota 8xxx, and Miyota 9xxx lines.
I am particularly fan of the ETA 2892-A2, aka the 1120 and 1128 in my Seamasters...
Regarding your watch what a story! And a great decision by this young man at the time. What is the diameter of the case?
The ETA 2892 is the best off the shelf movement dollar for dollar. Just an exquisite design. Highly accurate, highly robust, super thin, easily serviced. It’s an upgrade from the 2824 and not all that much more expensive. I really wish it was used more.
Has the 2824 been largely replaced then?
I am particularly fan of the ETA 2892-A2, aka the 1120 and 1128 in my Seamasters...
Regarding your watch what a story! And a great decision by this young man at the time. What is the diameter of the case?
It’s about 36mm. It’s almost exactly the size of my new Rangemaster mechanical. As for that customer — I remember him as a really cool guy. Just a young “salt of the earth”,
I Currently own 1 watch with the 2824 clone sw200-1 and its going strong and keeping good time,
But......I have had major issues with 3 watches
1 of them were ETA 2824 reverse gears stripping,
1 was an Eta 2892 with a failed rotor bearing, spinning the rotor when trying to wind and eventually locked up,
And the worst and comically the most expensive
The last was an omega 8900 that was returned twice under warranty before I lost faith, common issue apparently with the jumping hour hand a date function, mine stopped changing date and the hour hand would just spin...
I actually prefer seiko movements these days, they seem to be far more robust, granted they aren't regulated but neither is the eta/selitta base movements, a timegrapher and 5 mins time can have them running in cosc. Servicing is far cheaper and if something does go wrong a new movement is easy to source and cheap.
It's the gold standard in my view