Rare Whitegold Eterna Matic: HiBeat
Eterna Matic HiBeat: 36'000, Rare: Whitegold Ellipse
ID : EG342217EMFW
Reference : 851
Brand : Eterna
Model : Matic HiBeat: 36'000, Rare: Whitegold Ellipse
Year : 1972
Condition : Very good
Delivery : Watch and Box
Type : Automatic
Caliber : 1522K
Functions : Time (Hour, Minute, Central Second)Date
Diameter : 34mm
Case : White Gold
Bezel : White Gold
Bracelet : Leather with Original Buckle
Dial Color : Grey
Glass : Plexi
WHY WE LOVE IT: The finest in hi-beat by Eterna.
Special EternaMatic made in 1972: Amazing and rare 18K-whitegold case (34mm * 38mm, made by Serva SA for Eterna), housing the 1522K HiBeat caliber by Eterna: 36'000 bph. HiBeat-movements became a big thing in the 2nd half of the 1960s and early '70s: the mechanical approach towards precision and a counter-attack towards the electronic movements (tuningfork 1961ff and quartz 1969ff). The race was on between several Swiss watchmakers and the competition from Far East: Seiko & Citizen.
Girard Perregaux was able to decide the Race to HiBeat for Switzerland: the GyroMatic 32A-movement was presented in 1966. The Eterna cal1522K beats with the same high rate and has to be viewed in this perspective: the try to improve accuracy of mechanical movements to make electronic calibers irrelevant. So, the rare and proudly presented variant in a bold and significant whitegold case is in our opinion a horological artefact and an important watch.
