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Introduction
With ETA serving such an important role in the global watchmaking community, people have rightly started to ask the question ? what is the true identity of ETA" Evil Swatch-Owned Cartel or Cornerstone of the Luxury Watch Industry"
Representing the conglomeration of the majority of the world’s movement manufacturers going back to 1856, ETA has a virtual monopoly over the production and supply of “ébauches”, the modular and unbranded watch movements used by the vast majority of Swiss watchmakers.
For some, the existence of ETA movements enable the proliferation of soulless products ? the assemblage of cheap and common components into something that can be marketed as “luxury” to the uninformed public. For others, ETA movements have fueled the expansion of small “boutique” brands that can now offer high-quality and innovative watches at a fraction of the cost (see also: The Top 5 Most Innovative Boutique Watch Brands).
Like most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Most watchmakers will admit: ETA movements are well-built, accurate, and easy to maintain. And although they may be lacking in originality, they enable smaller players to deliver high-quality watches without the capital requirements normally associated with manufacturing movements in-house.
Even with well-established brands, these base movements are often brought in to serve as the basis for a more custom end-p...