New Camy, anyone reccommend a watchmaker to service UK?

[allaction]

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e217/TSIPPY/EBAY/IMG_3880.jpg

[allaction]

Hi, sorry couldn't fit any writing as I made picture too big! Just bought this off ebay and am going to get it serviced before wearing and wondered if anyone could refer me to a trusted watch doctor for checkup? It is a 1960's nos watch so never worn or used. Thanks in advance. I'm in Cumbria but am prepared to post obviously dependant on your advice.


Russell

[Ray MacDonald]

I'd say it's 1970s and probably a generic ETA movement so it should be easy to get serviced.
I'll let our UK members advise you about a watchmaker.

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What does ETA mean please Ray? I'm new to the watch collecting lark and pretty green! I think it most likely is a seventies model as quite a few of these are advertised as from this decade. It wasn't expensive at £65 so thought I'd take a punt at it as a bit of fun and something a bit different. I recently bought an Omega Seamaster 30 from 63 which is probably to more forum users tastes!

[Hartmut Richter]

ETA is more correctly known as Eta (it is not an abbreviation) and was originally the watch movement making branch of the company Eterna. Eventually, it split off, having joined the Ebauches SA (ESA) trust which was an agglomeration of many independent movement makers (Adolf Schild, A. Michel, FHF, Felsa, FEF, Ebauches Bettlach, Venus, Valjoux, Landeron, Peseux, etc., etc..........!!) founded in 1927. When the quartz crisis came in the seventies, the Eta became the most important section of the ESA (or whatever it had named itself by then - can't remember offhand) and swallowed up the rest of the makers. That's why the Valjoux 7750, Unitas 6497/6498 and Peseux 7001 are now often referred to as the Eta 7750, Eta 6497/6498 and Eta 7001. The Eta is now the main movement maker in the Swiss industry, being incorporated and supplying most Swatch group watch making companies as well as many others outside (including non-Swiss companies).

Hartmut Richter

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Many thanks. I should at least be able to get it serviced relatively easily if it is the most common movement on the market.


Russell

[Ray MacDonald]

I'm not a purist by any stretch of the imagination. Although it's a common enough movement, it'll still be a high quality mechanical for the time.
The good thing is there were lots of them made so most watch repair shops can fix them and get parts if needed. This of course isn't a concern with NOS unless you run it dry for some period of time. Basically a cleaning and lubrication should do it for you.