Good choice for a comeback watch!

 

Love the 852s great choice! Definitely undervalued.

 

the 852 is one of my favorite movements- a beefy 14 ligne workhorse. I think the nicest I've seen was actually in a gubelin. they finished it a little more and added whiplash regulation. very pretty.

 

by the way, for anyone who's interested in 852, there's the most amazing example on the bay right now going for the most ludicrous price I've ever seen. really.

I mean, it's a nice watch, but I've never seen an eterna from that era without military provenance going for that kind of money.

 

My Gubelin has the 852...it’s killer.

 

wow. gorgeous.

you have movement shot? I loves movement shots.

my 852 is actually fairly ugly. the dial is so sun-roasted as to be almost completely blank. I've actually been thinking about a re-dial. I know, verboten in the world of swiss vintage.

 

Old seller’s shot

 

well, I wasn't sure the forum allowed links to current ebay auctions, but I have seen several posts whilst trolling around that have done it so...here's the aforementioned 852 auction.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bi...=3&_sacat=0&_nkw=eterna+watch&_from=R40&rt=ncPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

That one is 38mm, which, along with the dial, is why it is (already) so expensive.

 

yeah...but...4k?

I know you have some beautiful examples Tony. I strongly doubt you had to come anywhere near that zip code.

at least the seller didn't claim it as a military piece. seems like any black-dialed watch gets thrown there now-a-days.

 

I've sold a couple in that zip code, though they were rare variations (one was 39mm).

My view is that most fashionable vintage watches are in a bubble, and in that sense overpriced. But relatively speaking, I see no reason why the best of the 852s shouldn't be in the same, approximate price range as equivalent Longines (which I also like). I prefer the Eterna cases, and many of their dials.

 

i agree.

sadly, for the models that i'd be interested in, eterna has become too pricey. hopefully, this bubble will soon burst.

 

and it's a "calatrava".

 

You can still find the odd bargain with some effort, and a bit o' luck.

 

Maybe I should sell

 

Closer than many that are characterized as such...

 

I noticed that. but it's such an abused term at this point that I think my mind just ignores its presence.

 

That seller is not averse to false claims of military provenance. This Angelus chronograph is the civilian version, lacking the "LE" caseback engraving of the Hungarian Air Force. The back just has a personalized engraving.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-mi...m=392089247785&_trksid=p2047675.c100752.m1982Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Well, calatrava or not, it's a really nice piece. As you mentioned, special examples like this are going to command high prices.