ETA Caliber 251.232

Manufacturer	ETA
Caliber Number	251.232
Movement Type	Quartz, chronograph
COSC?	Yes
Lignes	13.25”’
Diameter	30mm
Height	5mm
Battery Cell Number	394
Battery Life	2-3 years (depending on usage)
Frequency	32,768 Hz
Jewels	27
Hacking Seconds?	Yes
Functions	Central hours; central minutes; central chronograph seconds; central chronograph 60 minutes; 1/10 seconds (foudroyante seconds); small seconds; 12 hours counter; date
Country of Manufacture	Switzerland, Swiss made
Known Models	(Add your watch to the comments below…)

The ETA caliber 251.232 is a member of ETA’s Thermoline family of SuperQuartz chronograph watch movements. That means it is thermocompensated.

Official documentation has been found dated February 26, 2003, so this movement has been available since at least that long.

Around 2008, the ETA caliber 251.233 was introduced as a direct replacement for the ETA caliber 251.232.

Breitling Usage:

The ETA 251.232 was used as the basis for the Breitling calibre 73 (aka B73) until later being switched to the cal. 251.264. If you have a Breitling watch powered by the 251.232, please comment below.

Resetting the Chronograph Hand to Zero:

If your chronograph hand is misaligned (for example, after a battery change), it is easy to get it back to  zero (unlike mechaquartz watches).

1. Reset the hours counter: Pull the crown out one click to date setting mode, press the top chronograph button (holding longer than one second will make it turn faster) until the hand it lined up where you want it.
2. Reset the minutes counter: Same as with the hours counter, while in date setting mode (crown pulled out one click), press the bottom button to advance the hand until it it lined up.
3. Reset the chrono seconds hand: Pull the crown out two clicks (time setting mode), then press the top button until the hand is back to zero.
4. Reset the 1/10 secs counter: With the crown pulled out two clicks, press the bottom button until the hand is lined up.

Press the crown back in to save the setting.

ETA 521.232 Pros & Cons:

Pros:

• Thermocompensated
• Extremely accurate
• Easy sequence to reset hands to zero

Cons:

• No EOL (in other words, no end of life indicator for a low battery)

ETA 257.232 Tech Docs (PDF):

Additional Resources:

• More ETA watch movements
• COSC VS Chronometer
• Breitling Colt instructions manual (PDF)