View single post by Johnny P
 Posted: Fri Mar 23rd, 2007 10:41 pm
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Johnny P



Joined: Thu Nov 3rd, 2005
Location: USA
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 The ETA ‘clones’ With the patents of several of the ETA ‘tractors’ having fallen into the public domain, the companies, which formerly worked in assembling the ébauches supplied by ETA, were now making what are called ETA ‘gauged’ movements.Totally compatible, these ETA ‘clones’ could fit in the same manner into the same cases, and receive the same dials and accept the same additional modules. In this respect, Sellita, which announced that it can produce a total of one million movements per year (of which, up to that fateful day, were included a very large proportion of ETA ébauches), now manufactures its SW 200 movement (clone of the famous ETA 2824) and its SW 300 (clone of the celebrated ETA ‘tractor’ 2892). Starting next year, it will offer the SW 220 (clone of the ETA 2836) and the SW 240 (clone of the ETA 2834).Sellita says that it sells movements to a total of 350 different clients, and that its products equip about 30 percent of ‘Swiss Made’ mechanical watches. Miguel Garcia, owner of the movement maker, remains circumspect as to the company’s’s future projects. “We do not do any marketing,” he says. Yet, he does let out a few titbits on the company’s development plans, affirming that he has united a group of subcontractors all located in the Jurassian arc region of Switzerland, with the goal of constructing a new factory. Over time, this new facility will directly and indirectly employ nearly 1000 people. But beyond that, Garcia remains tight-lipped.

Source:

http://www.europastar.com/europastar/magazine/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003535554