WATCH REVIEW Eterna Heritage Pulsometer Limited Edition 1942

Foreword

Eterna has been manufacturing watches for over a hundred years; but the brand’s name doesn’t really sound familiar to the average watch-buyer’s ear.

Although it isn’t really known yet outside the insiders’ circle, its contribution to modern watchmaking remains essential.
The Swatch Group indeed bought Eterna’s movement department in 1983, which became… ETA!

For instance, the Eterna watchmakers are the ones who invented the ball bearing rotors that are now found on most modern movements (including ETA automatic calibres).
And, by the way, the Eterna brand logo, with its five points, depicts a ball bearing!

In 1995, Porsche Design acquired Eterna, which has since then been in charge of its watch production, in parallel with its own line of products.
Some Eterna and Porsche Design models look related as far as design is concerned.

An original function for a classic watch

The Pulsometer 1942 model we’ve tested is a 1942-units limited edition (referring to the year it was first released), and it is an amazingly loyal reissue.

The main characteristic of this chronograph is the pulse meter, which was first designed for the medical profession.

This scaling makes tracking heart rates a real easy task – and it doesn’t matter if it’s your heart rate, or a patient’s!

It functions in a similar way to the tachymeter usually included on sports-dedicated stopwatches.

Instead of launching the chronograph and stopping it after the first kilometer so as to read the speed in km/hours displayed by the seconds hand, it is stopped after tracking 30 heart beats in order to find out the beats per minute ratio.

Even though its everyday use may seem somewhat limited, this functionality brings an original touch to an altogether very classic model.

A chronograph with a very vintage look

This watch has quality madecase manufacturing, with a well-designed polished/brushed finishing set. 

The dial’s alternation of polished, brushed and fluted surfaces gives birth to a rather seducing outcome – especially with its astonishing blued hands. 

The indexes’ pea-green color might be a little confusing at first, in spite of its being in total keeping with the original model.  

On the movement side

The ETA movement could almost be considered as a dedicated manufacturing process of this watch, because of ETA and Eterna’s historic bonds.

Ironically enough, Eterna is now forced to buy from the Swatch Group… the very movements it once helped to create.

This 1942 Pulsometer is thus equipped with an as classic as widespread 2894-2, with its rather low-profile design.
It has not been re-manufactured by Eterna, yet it will perfectly answer your everyday needs.

If we really had to criticize something, it would be the difficulty in triggering the chronograph’s push buttons. A rather manly pressure is indeed needed when triggering it.

On a day-to-day basis

It is worth mentioning that the alligator strap is beautiful – when you think of it, this really doesn’t happen that often – even though it might seem a little too dressed for this watch.
On the other hand, the deployment clasp would have required a little more focus on the finishing side.

The case’s contained diameter, together with its very reasonable weight, makes wearing this watch comfortable.
In spite of its “colorful” identity, this watch will fit most situations, especially at the office… or at the Doctor’s!