A client has sent in this unusual black dialled Eterna calibre 1448, It was found in the bottom of a tool box at a car boot sale! The dial is covered in oil and it’s not running.
The movement is in pretty bad condition. Everything metal has rust on it even the hairspring. We decided to get a donor movement!
The dial is actually pretty good if we can clean off the layer of oil!
Same goes for the date ring which is literally swimming in it…
Lucky for us the dial survives being cleaned and looks great!
We get a reasonably prices Eterna cal 1408U movement as a donor. It is the base movement of the 1448U that does not feature a date mechanism.
The dial side is a little bit of a mess, the date advance pawl is missing, the setting lever, winding pinion and sliding pinion is rusted and setting lever spring is broken.
Both the date mechanism and setting lever are the same as an automatic calibre 1424 and I happen to have one in my donor section. The winding and sliding pinion comes from the 1408 donor movement.
Taking the movement apart I’m glad we have a donor. The only wheel we will use is the centre second wheel as it’s longer than on the 1408.
Old mainspring that will be replaced.
All the parts being replaced!
Movement cleaned and ready to be put back together.
I fit a new mainspring in the barrel.
I also replaced the complete balance assembly. I have fitted the shock protection jewels to see that the balance moves freely.
The gear train going back in place.
I start fitting the setting mechanism.
I also find a date quick set pawl from my donor 1424 movement.
The date retaining disk has a spring for the quick set pawl and tension lever. The old one has a broken spring and it’s easier just to replace the complete disk with a donor one. (Also from the 1424)
We now have a working quick set date. I’m so happy with how the date disk cleaned up!
Movement back together and ticking very well!
Super performance.
That looks much nicer in person.
