ETA2892/2893

[bertieng]

Just talked to ETA directly and come to understand they will no longer sell their 2892/2893 series movements to non-branded customers.

So, it is mostly likely that after all the stocks incorporated with these movements in the hands of our suppliers are cleared, there will be no more ETA versions for future production.

Guess why China is coming up with the Asia 2892 movement which is seen used in the Bell & Ross. Believe more new watches will be equipping this machine, just like the A7750.

[sssurfer]

I feel it a suicidal policy by ETA... but to each their own.

[Watchmeister]

Thanks for the update. This was inevitable as ETA is doing everything it can to work within the guidelines of its settlement with the EU about what it does not have to sell to non-brand factories. It will be a slow death. I suspect it won't be as bad as we think as some factories actually do sell their own brands and will get them that way. Make no mistake though, eventually ETA will sell only to their brands of watches never mind branded versus non-branded.

[eunomians]

Well, my thoughts are that it's about time that we overthrow the king (aka Swatch/ETA/Richemont/LVMH).

This monopolization of watch companies & watch parts is disturbing. It reminds me of how Swatch/Richemont came to own most small watchmaking firms in the first place: terror tactics.

Read on:

It was the early 1970s. Quartz was introduced. Mechanicals faced being outdated quickly. Tissot came up with the Astrolon plastic mechanical movement as a cheapo way to mass produce mechanical movements... But Quartz eclipsed it and the Astrolon vanished... What happened next was disturbing.

Richemont & others ganged up on most Swiss cottage industry watch firms and point blank said (during the massive recession era of the lurid 1970s) that they would buy them out because Quartz will beat them to a pulp. Well, mechanicals were a dying art, and indeed Quartz was cornering the market - the future looked grim.

So, one by one, these little companies began to face bankruptcy. So, accepting the low-ball offer(s) from Richemont & gang was the only alternative.

Who has the last laugh now!

In any event, I am all for "others" to step up to the plate and come through with intelligent, innovative and cost-effective movements.

Like I said, it's time to overthrow the king. The future looks to be up for grabs. China has serious quality/morality control issues with all of their industries. In due time, attrition/Darwinian natural selection shall weed out the false positives. For the time being, we can be excited at those that uncompromisingly think outside of the box and who are sticklers to true quality & integrity. Remember, only the strongest & most clever in the end survive; and but those who are a clear cut above the rest thrive...

[FxrAndy]

Long live seagul and selitas, (if we can get our hands on the latter)

[Rxus]

If this will mean an inevtiable death to ETA movements inside our replicas, so be it. Maybe it will help bring the price down on our reps. besides tehre is no fun in saying you have a rep watch if it has a genuine Swiss ETA movement