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You are here: Home / Movements / ETA 2894S2

ETA 2894S2

Last Update: February 27, 2020

Brand:ETA
Family:
ETA Flatline 2890 Family
Height:6.10 mm
Jewels:37
Reserve:42 hours
Frequency:28,800 A/h
Winding:Automatic, Bi-Directional Automatic Winding, Central Rotor Automatic Winding
Diameter:28.00 mm (12.5 ligne)
  Complications:2-Button, 6-Column Chronograph, Chronograph, Column Wheel Chronograph, Hacking Seconds
Hands:12 Hour Chronograph Hand at 6:00, 30 Minute Chronograph Hand at 9:00, Central 60 Second Chronograph Hand, Central Hour Hand, Central Minute Hand, Small Seconds Hand at 3:00
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.

Image: Europa Star 280, 2006

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.

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

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