Big Date – Great Show The new ETA 2826-2 big date caliber ...

PRESS RELEASE
Marketing-Sales
Bahnhofstrasse 9
2540 Grenchen
Switzerland
Phone +41 (0)32 655 71 11
Fax +41 (0)32 655 71 74
etamarketing@eta.ch
www.eta.ch
Big Date – Great Show
The new ETA 2826-2 big date caliber
In the past 500 years, watchmakers have systematically pursued the miniaturization of their ingenious
mechanisms. Ever smaller, ever thinner, ever more delicate – but concurrently more accurate: these were
the maxims of the noble guild. Then, in the 1990s, a countertrend began to emerge: the so-called
oversized date began to gain popularity. This did not mean, however, that the entire watch was supposed
to grow - in this respect, small was still beautiful. A large-format date could therefore only be implemented
with a twin-disk mechanism which, depending on the construction, required 50 to 60 parts more than a
conventional aperture date. It is a considerable effort for a complication, and the reason why, so far, only
wristwatches in the upper and top price categories have been available with large dates. Indeed, a watch
whose date is visible from afar carries a lot of prestige.
Big date, small price
The exclusivity of a large date is now within reach for less expensive timepieces. With its new caliber
2826-2, ETA presents an innovative solution that for a modest premium provides a date display almost
twice as large as the vastly popular caliber 2824-2 movement – 1.91 times as large, to be precise.
The area is 3.7 x 2.8 mm. The 2826-2 also relies on the twin-disk principle, except that the disks are not
adjacent. Instead, they are fully superposed. The lower disk is imprinted with the numerals 1 to 16, while
the upper disk carries the dates from the 17th to the 31st plus a window that allows the dates on the
lower disk to be seen. Thus, from the 1st to the 16th day of a month, the window of the upper disk is
congruent with the equal-sized aperture in the dial, revealing the current date on the lower disk. The
transition from the 16th to the 17th day is performed by the upper disk which also advances by one interval
for the 15 days that follow. After the 31st , the window in the upper date disk again lines up with the dial
aperture, exposing the numeral 1 on the lower disk.
This mechanism allows a logical date display in which the 1st automatically follows the 31st day; moreover,
double-digit dates appear without a gap. The regular date change is semi-fast, but when the date is
corrected with the crown, the change is very fast. The new ETA big date caliber offers another advantage
that gives manufacturers extensive latitude in dial design. Unlike other solutions, the position of the big
date on the dial is not fixed. It can be arranged in many different ways to accommodate signature dial
configurations with brand-typical layouts.
Quality proven in millions
The new calendar movement is based on the proven self-winding 2824-2 caliber that has meanwhile been
sold over ten million times. The construction of the new movement with the patented big date was

inspired by this caliber which has become one of the world’s most successful mechanical movements –
not least because of its robust dependability and unfaltering precision. For the new 2826-2 big date
caliber, this also means decisive benefits as regards worldwide servicing and repair interventions: many
watchmakers are already thoroughly familiar with its underlying construction.
The ETA F06.161: a big date for quartz watches, too.
The ETA caliber F06.161 now makes a big date available for quartz wristwatches as well. It is based on
the same principle as the 2826-2, but some components have been modified. This means that the
exclusivity and prestige associated with a prominent date can now be tapped for the price segment of
quartz watches. Not only does it entail no compromises with regard to quality, functionality, and reliability,
it also gives product managers a convincing sales argument: for an attractive price, they can offer their
customers a function so far found only in costly timepieces for the chosen few.
The ETA 2826-2 mechanical big date caliber
• Patent pending
• Large date aperture: 3.7 x 2.8 mm (1.91 times larger than in the 2824-2)
• System with two congruent, superposed disks
• Semi-fast date change across 1.5 hours
• Logical date sequence (the 31st is followed by the 1st )
• Precise positioning of the date
• Fast date correction with crown pulled halfway out
• Date aperture positionable at 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 or 12, o’clock
• Self-winding (high-density segment rotor on ball bearing)
• Hours, minutes, sweep seconds
• 25 jewels
• Frequency 4 Hz (28,800 semi-oscillations per hour)
• Power reserve min. 38 hours
• Movement can be completely disassembled
The ETA F06.161 quartz big date caliber
• Same big date functional principle as in the 2826-2, patent pending
• Large date aperture: 3.7 x 2.8 mm (1.91 times larger than in the 2824-2)
• System with two congruent, superposed disks
• Semi-fast date change across 1.5 hours
• Logical date sequence (the 31st is followed by the 1st )
• Precise positioning of the date
• Fast date correction with crown pulled halfway out
• Date aperture positionable at 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 or 12, o’clock
• Hours, minutes, sweep seconds
• 3 jewels
• Frequency 32,768 Hz
• Theoretical power reserve 68 months (40 mAh battery)
• Battery end-of-life (EOL) display: seconds hand jumps in 4-second intervals
• Movement can be completely disassembled

For further information, please contact:
ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
Schild-Rust-Strasse 17
2540 Grenchen
Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)32 655 71 11
Fax: +41 (0)32 655 71 12
or visit www.eta.ch