Eterna Automatic Vintage Honeycomb Circa 1954

In 1948, Eterna introduced the Eterna-Matic, the world’s first automatic movement with a ball-bearing mounted rotor, an innovation so fundamental that competitors quickly adopted the principle, commemorated to this day in the brand’s five-ball logo.

This example pairs a classic Calatrava-style case with its original honeycomb bracelet, a striking and rarely seen combination. The silver dial’s distinctive honeycomb-shaped indexes echo the geometry of the bracelet itself, tying the two together into a single, coherent design language. Both the dial and the crown are signed with the applied five-ball Eterna logo, a matching detail that completes the piece, further complemented by dauphine hands.

This example, dated circa 1954 based on its serial number, is housed in a 34mm stainless steel case powered by the automatic calibre Eterna-Matic 1254UC, part of the very first family of men’s automatic movements fitted with a ball-bearing rotor, produced between 1950 and 1954.

An unusual and distinctive piece, rarely seen with such a cohesive design across dial, crown and bracelet.