ETA 6498

Template:File Cal. 6498 is a large pocket watch movement produced by Unitas and ETA since 1950 and continuing until the present day.

Overview

The Cal. 6498 family is a Savonette or hunter pocket watch calibre and thus has the sub seconds dial at 6:00, 90º off-axis from the crown and winding stem, but is closely related to Cal. 6497, the Lépine version. It is a large movement, measuring 16.5 ligne (36.6 mm) in diameter but is only 4.5 mm thick thanks to a compact manual winding design. Modern 6498's are fully jeweled (17 jewels) though some have only 15. Most 6498's operate at 18,000 A/h, though some '6498-2 versions tick at 21,600 A/h. Power reserve for modern versions is 46 to 50 hours.

Although developed for pocket watches and far too large for the small wrist watches that were popular in the 1950's, the advent of large sports watches has made Cal. 6497 popular on the wrist. In particular, Panerai brought the 6497 to popular acclaim, though they do not use Cal. 6498. Makers who use Cal. 6498 include Eberhard, Longines, Martin Braun, Maurice Lacroix, Sinn, TAG Heuer, and Wempe.

Cal. 6497 is also the most-widely used teaching movement in watchmaking schools, making it very well-understood by watchmakers.

Movement family

• Unitas 6497 (1950) - 18,000 A/h
  • ETA 6497-1 (1967) - Updated ETA version with pallet lever bridge instead of cock and Etachron regulator
  • ETA 6497-2 - Elaboré version with Incabloc shock protection and basic decoration; some operate at 21,600 A/h
• ETA 6498 - Savonnette version
  • ETA 6498-1 (1967) - Updated ETA version with pallet lever bridge instead of cock and Etachron regulator
  • ETA 6498-2 - Elaboré version with Incabloc shock protection and basic decoration; some operate at 21,600 A/h
• ETA 6503 - Date

Ebauche Variants

• 6498
  • Dugena 3913
  • Zenith 126
  • Zenith 40
• 6498-1
  • Maurice Lacroix ML-76 - Retrograde calendar and power reserve indicator
  • Sinn SZ04 - Regulator
  • TAG Heuer Calibre 1
• 6498-2, 21,600 A/h
  • Longines L512

See Also

• ETA 6497

Description: Manual winding movement With/without shock protection (Incabloc) Escapement: Stone lever Yoke winding system Functions: Hours, Minutes Small seconds Data: 16½ lignes D 36.6 mm, H 4.5 mm 17 jewels 18,000 A/h Power reserve 46h Production period: Since 1950