ETA 2824-2 Grades

[Original Poster]

Is there a way by looking at a see-through caseback watch with an ETA
2824 movement what grade of movement it is (e.g. standard,
chronometer, etc)?

OP

[Jack Denver]

No, not really. The "etachron" screw type microregulator is usually found
in the better grades. A marking such as "adjusted" is a clue. Gold vs.
rhodium finish and decoration vs. no decoration and blue screws mean
nothing. Unlikely you'll be able to spot a Nivarox balance spring or a
Glucydur balance by eye.

Here's a 2824 "Élaborée", the next to highest grade:

http://marcelloc-watches.com/graphics/2012/2012_caseback_silver.jpg

and here is another good one:
http://www.limes-uhren.de/US2/int/bs7.jpg

and here's a cheapy with the auto winding system unjeweled:

http://www.christophlorenz.de/img/watch/movements/ETA_2824-2.jpg

The differences are not that apparent.

"Original Poster" <origina...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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[K.S.]

Original Poster wrote:

A variation on this question is what should one look for in an ETA
2824-2 movement with respect to the most important function of the
movement: keeping time?

For example, should the movement include either a Nivarox spring and a
Glucydor balance, or both? Or are these overkill, and is the common,
lowest grade 2824-2 sufficient when broken in and properly-adjusted?

It'd be good to know so one can begin sorting through all the
marketing hype regarding automatics using ETA 2824-2.

Also, I'd like a common man's English summary of the grades of stock
ETA 2824-2 movements which are sold, as well as the going wholesale
prices in lots of 100 or more to a watch maker. Am I right in that the
wholesale costs of these various grades are not greatly different?

And I'd appreciate a similar summary for the ETA 2892-A2 movement.

Thanks!

k.s.

[Jack Denver]

A modest request. Hahahaha.

In the meantime, here's a non-English (French) spec sheet off the ETA.ch
website that explains the different parts used in the 4 grades:

http://www.eta.ch/d/Produkte/mecaline/pdf/ETA_2824_2.pdf

on p. 2

"K.S." <ksb...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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[K.S.]

Jack Denver wrote:

> In the meantime, here's a non-English (French) spec sheet off the
> ETA.ch website that explains the different parts used in the 4
> grades:
>
> http://www.eta.ch/d/Produkte/mecaline/pdf/ETA_2824_2.pdf

Thank you for supplying that. Now to get out my French-English
dictionary. *laugh*

The most important question I have, and information which I believe
that should be in the public so watch buyers and collectors can know,
is the approximate cost to a watch company of these 4 grades of
movements (and yes, I do understand there are optional finishes as
well.)

So, if I were a small watch manufacturer, and wanted to buy 500
ETA 2824-2 movements of a particular grade and finish, what would I
have to pay per unit? Even a ballpark, approximate number, would be
most appreciated.

I've seen others ask this in the past, and no one gave an answer,
even though I know there are many here who do have an approximate idea
(and maybe even first-hand information.) Is this some sort of State
secret, where revealing it will get one's door kicked down in the
middle-of-the-night by the Swiss watch police, and dragged away never
to be seen again?

Please, I'd like some numbers, even if ballpark.

Thanks!

k.s.

[Jack Denver]

I sorely doubt you'll be able to get the kind of detailed information you
are looking for - does GM or Ford tell you how much it costs to make a car
and how much profit they are making when you upgrade to the optional engine?

As a rough clue, you can buy a 2824 replacement movement of unknown grade at
retail for $49, quantity 1:

http://www.tztoolshop.com/FB_Catalog_Movements.html

so the retailer's cost is probably about 1/2 that ($25).

Another clue is that 2824 based complete watches start at about $200
(Sandoz, O&W) with fairly nice dive type cases and bands. Assuming 1/2 the
cost is in the case, band, box, assembly, etc.) and that from manuf. cost
of goods to retail price is usually around 400%, you again get $25 as a
cost for a basic grade 2824. I'm guessing that upgrading to the top grade
adds no more than another $25, but this is just a wild ass guess. Just
because the price is marked up 4x does not mean that there is 3x of profit-
out of that $150 must be paid all the costs of the retailer and
manufacturer - factory overhead, advertising, etc.

With the 2824 found (in more or less unmodified form) in watches retailing
for $ 400, 500, 800 or more , you can assume there is lots of room for
profit.

This all assumes no modification, hand finishing or adjusting. For makers
like IWC that do considerable work on the movement, their costs must be much
higher at Swiss skilled labor rates, so their outrageous prices are not
totally out of thin air. OTOH, some "jewelry" type watches use straight off
the shelf low grade ETA's, even $10 quartz movements, and yet carry
pricetags in the $1000s, because they are advertised by famous models or
whatever.

"K.S." <ksb...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

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