Vintage ETA 2472 power reserve

KJL · Jul 29, 2021

Looking for some input regarding my vintage Bucherer eta 2472 (25 jewels) power reserve.
The watch is 50 years old. But we’ll cared for.
It’s not my everyday watch. When I fully wind the crown ( approximately 60-65 rotations), then put it down, the power reserve varies. Sometimes it’s dead after 17 hours. Other times it will go 40 hours. I fully wind it the same way every time.
It was fully serviced a couple of years ago. And in 2019 got a new mainspring. The power reserve issue has been a long term issue. I’ve had a couple of extremely good watchmakers look at it and unable to resolve it. It almost seems as though if i wind it too much, the mainspring unwinds.

Any thoughts?
Thank you

Archer · Jul 29, 2021

42 hours would be the norm on this one, sometimes maybe a bit longer depending on condition. I haven't serviced one of these in a while (I used to service a lot of vintage Doxa divers that had these), but there's nothing particularly special about these, so the normal things a watchmaker would look at should be checked. Mainspring slipping (if that is the problem) could be due to lack of braking grease in the mainspring barrel, but any competent watchmaker should be able to properly prepare a barrel.

KJL · Jul 29, 2021

Archer
42 hours would be the norm on this one, sometimes maybe a bit longer depending on condition. I haven't serviced one of these in a while (I used to service a lot of vintage Doxa divers that had these), but there's nothing particularly special about these, so the normal things a watchmaker would look at should be checked. Mainspring slipping (if that is the problem) could be due to lack of braking grease in the mainspring barrel, but any competent watchmaker should be able to properly prepare a barrel.

Thank you. I will be seeing my watchmaker next month and have him look again. As luck would have it, last time he had it to replace the main spring , I asked him to check the power reserve. And…. Of course it was fine. He got 42 hours. The problem is that it’s inconsistent.

Puma_135o · Jul 30, 2021

I had the same problem with a Longines Ultra-Chron.
This problem lasted years, my father thought this watch was broken and put it in a drawer. At last he gave it to me.
The watch died after 12-17 hours even when worn by me, and it was ok for the watchmaker. I changed the watchmaker (after spending 150€ for a full service).
The new watchmaker kept the watch with him and found the problem. I don't know if the right word is "ring" , but a small ring was missing and the rotor touched the underlying bridge; the friction caused an ineffective powering of the spring (sorry for my english). He found the correct ring and now (I'm wearing it while I write) it works as expected. And he did it for free, btw.
Before this I put it on the desk at night and the following day it was dead.

I hope this can help.

KJL · Jul 30, 2021

Puma_135o
I had the same problem with a Longines Ultra-Chron.
This problem lasted years, my father thought this watch was broken and put it in a drawer. At last he gave it to me.
The watch died after 12-17 hours even when worn by me, and it was ok for the watchmaker. I changed the watchmaker (after spending 150€ for a full service).
The new watchmaker kept the watch with him and found the problem. I don't know if the right word is "ring" , but a small ring was missing and the rotor touched the underlying bridge; the friction caused an ineffective powering of the spring (sorry for my english). He found the correct ring and now (I'm wearing it while I write) it works as expected. And he did it for free, btw.
Before this I put it on the desk at night and the following day it was dead.

I hope this can help.

Interesting. Thank you. I will mention your comment as well as Archer’s when I see my watchmaker

Archer · Jul 30, 2021

K KJL
Interesting. Thank you. I will mention your comment as well as Archer’s when I see my watchmaker

Just be aware that the centering rind mentioned for the Longines Movements, is not something that exists in the ETA movement you have, so that specific issue will not apply.

Dan S · Jul 30, 2021

And a part associated with auto-winding should not affect the actual power reserve measured after a full manual wind.

KJL · Jul 30, 2021

Archer
Just be aware that the centering rind mentioned for the Longines Movements, is not something that exists in the ETA movement you have, so that specific issue will not apply.

Thanks again Archer. On another topic, I recently purchased a Longines Conquest with the L888.5 movement. It has been very accurate. Maybe a little fast, but acceptable. It has a 72 hour reserve.
Any thoughts on this movement as far as overall quality, durability and longevity? I know it has a silicon hairspring. Also, I know it’s basically an ETA 2892 Top Grade. Which is basically the same as the chronometer grade without the certification. It has been almost as accurate as my Omega Seamaster 300 with the 2500D movement.

Archer · Jul 30, 2021

K KJL
Thanks again Archer. On another topic, I recently purchased a Longines Conquest with the L888.5 movement. It has been very accurate. Maybe a little fast, but acceptable. It has a 72 hour reserve.
Any thoughts on this movement as far as overall quality, durability and longevity? I know it has a silicon hairspring. Also, I know it’s basically an ETA 2892 Top Grade. Which is basically the same as the chronometer grade without the certification. It has been almost as accurate as my Omega Seamaster 300 with the 2500D movement.

Well, you have summed it up well. A proven movement with a silicon balance spring, and slightly lower beat rate, and should be very accurate.

Vintage ETA 2472 power reserve

KJL

Archer

KJL

Puma_135o

KJL

Archer

Dan S

KJL

Archer

Similar threads

Omega 1120 Timing Check - Power Reserve

Power Reserve 2231.80 Caliber 1120 OMEGA

Speedmaster 145.022-69 Power reserve

Bracelet for Longines Conquest power reserve

Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve Limited Edition

Recently Serviced 145.022-76 Expected Power Reserve