ETA

Swatch Group Vows That ETA Will Stop Selling Watch Movements To Competitors

This news is a huge deal for the watch industry. About two years ago the Swatch Group announced that its watch movement making division ETA would stop selling watch movements to watch makers who are outside of the Swatch Group brands in 2010. ETA is the largest and most popular watch movement maker in all of Switzerland - supplying movements to most Swiss watch brands and anyone else who utilizes Swiss movements. ETA makes a wide range of movements from high end mechanical movements to quartz movements.

Swatch Group brands include companies such as Swatch, Hamilton, Tissot, and Omega. These brands receive their movements from sister company ETA, while ETA also currently sells movements to outside brands. According to Chairman Nicolas Hayek of the watch group, that is all about to change. He is reaffirming Swatch Group's position that ETA will cease providing movements to competitors. The wisdom of the decision is arguable, but it looks like it is going to happen.

ETA has been under investigation by Swiss government authorities on whether this move is illegal and anti-monopolistic. Probes have been launched in the past as well to identify whether or not ETA was engaging in unfair pricing and related charges. The current probe is likely interested in whether such practices of shutting out Swiss watch brands that are important to the Swiss economy is a legal move by the Swatch Group.

A real question emerges of where watch brands will now go to get Swiss watch movements, or any movements for that matter. The move could spell death for legions of brands who are reliant on ETA to offer "Swiss Made" watches. In fact, it will likely spell death for many brands. At the same time it is a golden opportunity for competitors to come in and provide watch movements. While the creation of the tiny parts for movements is highly sophisticated, ETA does have Swiss competitors. Companies such as Sellita and Ronda may quickly step in ETA's shoes to fill the gap.

Most of ETA's high volume movements are not covered under intellectual property rights any longer. Such patent rights only have limited times of protection until their covered technologies can be produced by anyone with the skill. As such, ETA movements such at the 2824-2 have been "copied" by brands such as Sellita (with their SW200 movement) for a while. Plus, some brands might turn to the Japanese who have been making quality movements for years. While Japanese movements don't have the same special power to excite consumers that "Swiss Made" movements do, we may see watch companies turning to them out of sheer need.

Sometime in 2010 ETA will cease or begin to stop selling watch movements to outside Swatch Group brands and the market will have to adjust. We will wait until that time to see what the resulting watch industry reaction is.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2010, competitors, ETA, movements, Swatch Group, SwatchGroup

Bulova Accutron Edison GMT Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Bulova continues to creep up market and some of the latest offerings are clear indication of that. Funny enough the once American, now Japanese (Citizen watches owned) watch maker seems to be using less Japanese movements now as opposed to before. As such, this Bulova Accutron Edison GMT watch contains a high-grade Swiss ETA 2893-2 automatic mechanical movement that I would have never guessed would end up in a watch like this.

Going along with the Japanese obsession for double naming products, what was once two labels is now one under this watch. Accutron used to be a separate label, but owned by Bulova. Now both names are mashed on the face in a seemingly unnecessary attempt to gain as much brand recognition as possible. I will let it slide though as it is just one of those Japanese marketing quirks. The focus on the watch is the large applied Arabic hour indicators while the GMT hand is smaller and has its own ring that doubles as an hour indicator path for the hour hand. I like the little red GMT hand that looks almost cute. The lugs on the 41mm wide steel case look to be direct homages to those on classic Accutron watches - namely the popular Spaceview. Aside from the odd looking "two highways intersecting" graphic in the middle of the watch, things seem to be pretty classic "on the Edison GMT watch front." The caseback has a movement display window and the watch is water resistant to 50 meters. The crystal is sapphire. No price yet, but I would expect just a couple of thousand dollars for this new Bulova Accutron timepiece.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2893, accutron, bulova, edison, eta, gmt, swiss, timepiece, watch

Gold Bicycle Celebrates the Environment

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

In celebration of Green Transport Week a UK based insurance company, ETA, is offering a 24K gold-plated Charge Plug bicycle complete with customized seat, handlebars and chain. Talk about pimping out your ride! This glamorous bike also comes with its own security guard. Unfortunately unless you are living across the pond you can't get in on this great opportunity. You must be eighteen years old, live in the UK, and get a free quote online for cycle insurance in order to enter the contest. One person will be randomly drawn after the contest ends on October 21st. This amazing two-wheeled ride is worth £9,500 and certainly makes the green movement a lot sexier.

Gallery: 24K Gold Charge Plug Bike