ETA Caliber 251.262 Watch Movement

Manufacturer	ETA
Caliber Number	251.262
Type	Quartz, chronograph
Diameter	13 1/4”’ (30mm)
Thickness	5mm
Battery Cell Number	394
Frequency	32’768 Hz
Stem	401-1339, Tap 10
Hand Sizes	200/150/80/30
Jewels	27
Thermocompensated?	No
Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds subdial at 6:00, 1/10 seconds at 2:00, 60 seconds central chronograph hand, 60 minutes central chronograph hand, 12 hours subdial at 10:00, split seconds chronograph function, date at 4:00
Country of Manufacture	Switzerland
Known Models	Tag Heuer Aquaracer Chrono, Certina DS First, Eterna KonTiki Chrono (add yours in the comments below…)

The ETA caliber 251.262 is a 27 jewels quartz chronograph movement. It is part of the Flatline line of movements. This caliber was introduced in 1988. This movement is no longer in production and has been discontinued. Despite some sites incorrectly stating this is a thermocompensated movement, it is not (ETA 251.264 and 251.233 are Thermoline movements).

Some of the topics covered in this caliber listing:

Central Chronograph Minutes

Caliber 251.262 is favored by many chronograph enthusiasts because behind the central chronograph second hand is a central chronograph minute hand that counts up to 60 minutes. The subdial at 2:00 calculates 1/10 second when the chronograph is stopped.

ETA 251.262 VS 251.264

As of this post, the caliber 251.262 has been discontinued. Caliber 251.264 is the updated version of the caliber 251.262. The 251.264 is thermocompensated and the 251.262 is not. You maybe able to use the 251.264 as a replacement for your broken 251.262 movement. If you do this, please tell us about the conversion in the comments below.

Resetting the Chronograph Hand to Zero

If your chronograph hands are not lining up after a battery change, use the following steps to reset them back to 12:00 or zero:

For the 12 hour counter at 10:00, pull the crown out one click to hour hand/date setting position and press the top chronograph pusher. Each push will advance the hand forward one click, you can hold the pusher in to advance the hand faster. When the hand is lined up, press the crown back in.
For the 60 minute central chrono hand, similar to the steps for the 12 hour counter above, pull the crown out to hour hand/date setting position and use the bottom chronograph pusher to advance the hand until it is lined up. Push the crown back in.
For the 60 seconds central chronograph hand, pull the crown out 2 clicks to the time setting position. Use the top chronograph pusher to advance the hand until it is lined and push the crown in.
To reset the 1/10 second subdial hand at 2:00, pull the crown out 2 clicks to the time setting mode and use the bottom chronograph pusher to advance the hand until it is lined up. Push the crown back in.

The small seconds subdial at 6:00 does not need reset because it is continuously running.

Eta Caliber 251 262 Reset Chronograph To Zero