ETA 1218
Description
In 1950 the era of automatic movements began at ETA. For men’s watches the caliber series ETA 1256 was launched, and for women’s watches the no less exciting series of calibers ETA 1216 to ETA 1218.
The ETA 1218 was the version with the smallest diameter.
It was just 8 1/4 lines, corresponding to 18.3mm. Assumingly, it
was a small sensation at the time being and also not very cheap,
therefor, the production numbers of only 150.000 units for the
whole series, are quite small.
base plate
The base plate, which bases on the caliber 1170 is quite unspectacular and of the quality that one expects from ETA.
base plate with minute wheel
The contemporarily classical, but also high building construction uses a direcly driven center minute wheel.
gear train
Third wheel, the directly driven center seconds wheel and the escape wheel complete the somewhat chubby gear train.
side view of the gear train
The swiss pallet lever escapement is controlled by a two-arm screw balance, which is already beared in two Incabloc shock protections, and beats slowly with 18000 A/h.
Its exact frequency can be adjusted via a long regulator arm.
underside barrel bridge
To detach the crown wheel on automatic winding, it is mounted in a moveable way.
selfwinding module missing
As long as the automatic module has not yet been installed, only the bearing next to the ratchet wheel, the movable crown wheel and the pawl, which acts on the crown reminds of a selfwinding movement. Nevertheless, its execution still seems a little semi-professional.
selfwinding module
The selfwinding module is attached with two screws.
Here you can see how the axle-bearing rotor is attached with a screw, which at the same time regulates the height clearance.
underside of the selfwinding module
The oscillating wheel acts on a ratchet changer wheel that ensures that the two subsequent reduction gears are always turn in the same direction, no matter which way the rotor turns.
inside the oscillating weight
The dial side offers the familiar picture that one known from other ETA movements: Clutch winding, Incabloc shock protection and auxiliary minute track, with which the movement can be adjusted also in the uninstalled state, without dial.
ETA 1218: Dial side
In the lab
Timegrapher result
For a 70 year old movement of that tiny size and with visible signs of wear, it still performs well on the timegrapher.| horizontal positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| dial up | +36 s/d | 288° | 0.2ms |
| dial down | +30 s/d | 296° | 0.0ms |
| vertical positions | |||
| crown right (12 up) | +5 s/d | 247° | 0.1ms |
| crown up (3 up) | -10 s/d | 240° | 0.4ms |
| crown left (6 up) | -18 s/d | 240° | 0.3ms |
| crown down (9 up) | +5 s/d | 241° | 0.2ms |
Technical data
| Manufacturer: | ETA |
| Caliber: | 1218 |
| Caliber base: | ETA 1170 |
| Size: | 8 1/4''' (measured: 18,3mm) |
| Height: | 5,35mm |
| A/h: | 18000 |
| lift angle: | 52.23° |
| Number of jewels: | 17 |
| Escapement: | Pallet lever |
| Balance types: |
monometallic screw balance (two legs) |
| Shock protection(s): |
Incabloc |
| Balance bearing / direction hairspring: | Counterclockwise |
| Moveable stud: | no |
| Adjust mechanism: | Long regulator arm |
| Construction: |
|
| Construction type: | solid construction |
| Winding mechanism: | yoke winding system |
| Setting lever spring: | 2 hole(s) |
| Features: |
|
| Production period: | 1950 - 1957 |
| References: |
Ebauches: 1953 38 Feilner: 50 5518 Flume: K2 - |
| Mentioning in literature (years): | 1959 |
| Production years: | 1950-1957 |
| Production figures: | 157.275 (1216, 1217, 1218) |
| Inventory number: | 22006 |
Usage gallery
Aleure (Piaget) Automatic ladies' watch