ETA 2894S2

Distinguishing Technical Characteristics
Central-Rotor Automatic Clockwise Balance Cock 6-Column Chronograph Balance Balance at 12:00 Central Rotor
Production: 2006 – Current
1910s	1920s	1930s	1940s	1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s

Cal. 2894A2 is a skeletonized automatic chronograph built on the ETA 2892-2 base. It is very similar to Cal. 2894-2 but lacks the date display. Cal. 2894S2 was officially launched in 2006 but remains quite rare.

It was claimed at launch that ETA created Cal. 2894S2 as a demonstration of their CNC capabilities. They selected the column wheel 2894-2 as a basis because it had an assortment of wheels to display and was expensive enough to justify even machine-operated skeletonization.

ETA 2894-2 Functions

Cal. 2894-2 features a “balanced” subdial arrangement but these features are arranged in an unusual order:

• Small running seconds at 3:00
• 12 hour chronograph counter at 6:00
• 30 minute chronograph counter at 9:00

Very few watch movements in history have a small seconds subdial at 3:00.

ETA 2894S2 Operation

The chronograph function is started, stopped, and restarted using the button at 2:00. It is reset to zero using the button at 4:00.

The movement can be manually wound with the crown in position 1. Rotate the crown clockwise to wind the mainspring.

The time is set with the crown in third position (pulled all the way out). Rotate the crown clockwise to advance the minute and hour hands and counter-clockwise to turn them backward.

ETA 2890 Family Overview

The ETA 2890 family is a series of slim and robust automatic watch movements produced by ETA. They are generally regarded as superior to the similar ETA 2800 family. Cal. 2890 and its successors is based on the Eterna 1466U, with ball bearings on the rotor and a smaller balance wheel in the modern style. Launched in 1975, the family remains one of the leading watch movements to this day.

The most well-known movement in this series today is Cal. 2892A2, a highly evolved automatic movement with central seconds and a date wheel. Because of its slim dimensions, Cal. 2892A2 is often paired with modules to add world time, power reserve indicator, chronograph, and other complications.

Distinguishing features of the ETA 2890 family include a smaller balance wheel than historic movements, including the ETA 2824 family, and a large rotor hub located with seven visible bearings. The balance is located at 12:00 when viewed from the back with the crown at 9:00, and is located by a clockwise cock with an eccentric screw for regulation.

Most members of the modern 2890 family are available in there finish levels:

• Elaboré – with nickel balance
• Top – with Glucydur balance
• Chronomètre – with Glucydur balance and official chronometer certification

ETA also sells these movements with gold plating, various finishes, and custom rotors.

ETA 2890 Family

Most current ETA 2890 family movements have been updated since the 1990s with improved winding efficiency and an extra jewel in the upper winding bridge. As of 2021, ETA is no longer supplying these movements outside the Swatch Group, with most buyers switching to the clone SW300 family from Sellita. Specifically, Cal. SW300-1 replaces ETA’s 2892A2, Cal. SW330-1 replaces ETA’s GMT 2893-1, and Cal. SW360-1 replaces ETA’s small seconds 2895-2.

Complications	First Generation 1975-1983	Second Generation 1983-2000	Third Generation 1996-2021
No Date	ETA 2890 (12.5”’)
Date	ETA 2892 (12.5”’)	ETA 2892-2	ETA 2892A2
World Time Disc, Date		ETA 2893-1
Adjustable 24 Hour Hand, Date		ETA 2893-2
World Time Disc, No Date		ETA 2893-3
Modular Chronograph, Small Seconds, Date		ETA 2894-2 (12.5”’) ETA 2894S2 (12.5”’)
Small Seconds, Date		ETA 2895-1	ETA 2895-2
Dual Concentric Wheel Date			ETA 2896
Power Reserve Indicator, Date			ETA 2897
Perpetual Calendar, Moon Phase, No Seconds		ETA 2890-9	ETA 2890A9
Perpetual Calendar, Moon Phase, Central Seconds		ETA 2891-9	ETA 2891A9

Images are taken from official publications and are used here for commentary and educational purposes. Copyright is held by the original owner as noted.