ETA 6498-1

ETA (originally Unitas) · Hand-wound · Upper tier · Family: Unitas 6497/6498

Factory specs

Caliber
6498-1
Made in
Switzerland
Frequency
18,000 bph (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve
46 h
Jewels
17
Hacking
No
Hand winding
Yes
Accuracy
—
Diameter
36.6 mm
Height
4.5 mm
Functions
Hours, Minutes, Small seconds
Same family
ETA 6497-1, ETA 6498-2

Hand-wound 16½-ligne caliber descended from the Unitas 6498 pocket-watch movement (about 1950), updated to the "-1" specification around 1967 (pallet-lever bridge instead of a cock, Etachron regulator). It is the savonnette (hunter) layout, with the small seconds at 6, 90° from the crown; the 6497-1 is the Lépine version with the seconds in line with the crown (at 9 in a wristwatch). ETA technical communication CT 6498-1 (05.12.2016): Ø36.60mm, 4.50mm high, running time 46h, 17 jewels, lift angle 44°, 18,000 A/h. No stop-seconds (Caliber Corner). ETA's newer 6497-1 document gives 46h minimum and 52h typical, and brands quote anything from 44h to 53h (Zelos quotes 44h and "18800bph", against ETA's 18,000 A/h). Watch brands sell it in an "Elaboré" grade, but no ETA grade tolerances for the 6498-1 were found, so no grades are recorded. The 6498-2 is the upgraded version (Incabloc, basic decoration, some at 21,600 A/h). Grail Watch lists the Sea-Gull ST3621 and Hangzhou 9310 as clones.

Watches with the ETA 6498-1

WatchPrice fromMovementDia. mmThick mmCrystalMicro-adjust
Timefactors Precista Italian PRS-46 Savonette $633 ETA 6498-1 44 12.5 Sapphire no bracelet
Timefactors Richmond Spencer PRS-8 $647 ETA 6498-1 42 12 Sapphire no bracelet
Zelos Skyraider Bronze $899 ETA 6498-1 42.5 13 Sapphire no bracelet
Zelos Skyraider Titanium $899 ETA 6498-1 42.5 13 Sapphire no bracelet
Zelos Skyraider 2 Ti $1,099 ETA 6498-1 42 — Sapphire —
Timefactors Armstrong Siddeley PRS-41 $1,306 ETA 6498-1 42 12 Sapphire no bracelet
Timefactors Sewills Ferreira PRS-39 $1,306 ETA 6498-1 42 10.75 Sapphire no bracelet
Zelos Skyraider Bronze Skeleton $1,799 ETA 6498-1 42.5 13 Sapphire no bracelet
Zelos Skyraider Titanium Skeleton $1,799 ETA 6498-1 42.5 13 Sapphire no bracelet
Zelos Skyraider 2 Ti Skeleton $1,899 ETA 6498-1 42 — Sapphire —
Zelos Skyraider 2 Ti-Damascus $1,999 ETA 6498-1 42 — Sapphire no bracelet
Zelos Skyraider 2 Mokume $2,399 ETA 6498-1 42 — Sapphire no bracelet
Zelos Skyraider 2 Tantalum Skeleton $2,499 ETA 6498-1 42 — Sapphire no bracelet
Zelos Skyraider 2 Ti-Damascus Skeleton $2,499 ETA 6498-1 42 — Sapphire no bracelet

Sources