Unitas 6497 in a Victorinox Swiss Army AirBoss Watch

ETA/Unitas Caliber 6497

Unitas 6497 in a Victorinox Swiss Army AirBoss Watch

Brand Unitas
Caliber Number 6497 (also see 6497-1)
Movement Type Manual wind
Size (lignes)
16.5”’
Diameter
36.6mm
Height
4.5mm thick
Jewels 17
Power Reserve
46 hours (6497-1) / 53 hours (6497-2)
Vibrations Per Hour
18,800 bph (6497-1) / 21,600 bph (6497-2)
Lift Angle
44 degrees
Shock System Incabloc
Winding Direction Uni-directional
Hacking?
No
Functions Central hours, central minutes, small seconds at 9:00
Country of Manufacture Switzerland, Swiss made
Known Brands
Panerai, Victorinox Swiss Army Airboss Mach 4 (pictured), too many to list…add your watch in the comments below

The Unitas caliber 6497 is a Swiss made mechanical manual wind movement with 17 jewels. This movement is often confused with the Unitas 6498. This caliber is one of the most popular hand-wound mechanical movements in the watch industry. The 6497 is often referred to as a “pocket watch movement” because that is the origin of the design. Thanks to its large diameter, the 6497 is often found in flieger style pilot watches.

For modern watches, you may want to read: ETA caliber 6497-1.

Some of the topics covered in this caliber listing:

Non-Hacking:

The 6497 is a non hacking caliber, but there are brands (such as Chronoswiss) that have heavily modified base 6497 movements and added hacking mechanisms. If you know of a specific 6497 based caliber with an additional hacking module added, please mention it below.

Crown/Stem Removal:

The 6497 has a set lever detent screw to keep the stem in. In order to remove the crown and stem from the movement, first pull the crown out one click to time setting mode. Locate the small screw near the stem (see image below). Very carefully unscrew to loosen it, but do not go too far to fully remove it – unscrewing too much will likely result in screwing up (pun intended) the keyless works, which means pulling off the hands and dial to put the set lever back in place.

Eta 6497 Crown Stem Removal

In ETA’s own words: “First pull the winding stem to position 2 (time setting), then unscrew the screw (see marking) a maximum of 2 turns to loosen the setting stem.”

Caliber Drawings:

Eta Unitas 6497 Drawings

Watches With This Caliber:

The movement pictured at the top of this page is from a Victorinox Swiss Army Airboss Mach 4.

Please add your watch to the comments below…

Additional Resources:

You are reading Caliber Corner, the world's most popular resource for watch movement pics, specs, mods and DIY repairs. Follow @calibercorner on Twitter, Instagram but NOT Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube. Join our mission to spread movement awareness!

Join the discussion on ETA/Unitas Caliber 6497?

  • Keep comments respectful and follow our community guidelines.
  • Keep comments on the topic of ETA/Unitas Caliber 6497

For off topic or general watch questions, post in the Caliber Corner Forum.

guest

36 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Paul
Paul
9 years ago

My favorite movement by far. So much to look at.

Tom
Tom
6 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Agree. It’s beautiful and so clear to see all the moving parts. I can’t wait to get a watch with a caliber 6497 movement inside.

Dan T
Dan T
10 months ago
Reply to  Tom

these are hard to find, this is a swiss made 6497-2 movement, i have them in silver also, i build them myself and are for sale, let me know.

IMG_7062.JPG
IMG_7063.JPG
Judas
Judas
10 months ago
Reply to  Dan T

Im interested in getting one to start learning how ro work on watches… is there a comprehensive list of pocket watches that use this movement ?

Dan T
Dan T
9 months ago
Reply to  Judas

mine

Dan T
Dan T
9 months ago
Reply to  Judas

they are wrist watches not pocket
watches

shmuel penchas
shmuel penchas
8 years ago

Shmuel penchas

Bert Kanne
Bert Kanne
6 years ago

I have a watch with a movement described as 9372 calibre. It is a Chinese movement based on this Unitas, no question about it. It is described as 21 jewel, 21,600, 36 hour reserve.

Tom
Tom
6 years ago
Reply to  Bert Kanne

Who described the movement that way? What brand watch is it? Thanks.

Bert Kanne
Bert Kanne
6 years ago
Reply to  Tom

The watch brand is DM1936. The description of the movement is from their website.

Dustin
Dustin
3 years ago
Reply to  Bert Kanne

The 6497-1 beats at 18,800, the 6497-2 beats at 21,600.

Otto
Otto
4 years ago

Is this a hacking movement?

Carlos Aguila
Carlos Aguila
2 years ago
Reply to  calibercorner

What is the power reserve of fully wound barrel in this movement?

R Currell
R Currell
3 years ago

I have this movement in a steinhart watch and for the money paid I am very pleased indeed with the movement and the watch overall, in fact very,very pleased.

trackback
Weiss 42mm Standard Issue Field Watch – Beans & Bezels
3 years ago

[…] movement is based on a standard ETA/Unitas 6497, and I believe it is finished, assembled and regulated in-house. Their website isn’t clear […]

trackback
R&R – How To Become A Watchmaker - FIFTH WRIST
3 years ago

[…] 17.33 ETA Unitas 6497 movement […]

Luis Estrada
Luis Estrada
2 years ago

Laco has a version of the 6497 with hack function for a top grade Flieger watch.

Lasse Myrdal
Lasse Myrdal
2 years ago

My Tissot, best watch i have. Best regards from Norway

IMG_20210825_211947.jpg
Kent
Kent
1 year ago
Reply to  Lasse Myrdal

Love how Tissot did more of a modern take on the cutaways.
I have a Steinhart and it’s my first 6497, love it.

trackback
Eterna: Forgotten Founder of ETA - Lugs and Lume
2 years ago

[…] also acquired A. Reymond SA in 1932, which brought Unitas under the umbrella. The Unitas 6497 has been used by way too many brands to name, but probably the most notable would be Panerai. […]

Alex Tomlinson
Alex Tomlinson
2 years ago

The Dufrane Bergstrom Air uses this movement.

Guest123
Guest123
2 years ago

I think Weiss Watch uses this movement.

Guest123
Guest123
2 years ago

Weiss

42EFD80D-978D-4EFC-AF98-3E704897D027.jpeg
Andrew
Andrew
2 years ago
Reply to  Guest123

Does the Weiss have hacking?

Batt
Batt
2 years ago

I have Doxa pocket watch

Batt
Batt
2 years ago
Reply to  Batt
MARWAN
MARWAN
2 years ago

Hi,
I am looking for movement that I can get to use on panerai luminor case size 44…

Anthony
Anthony
1 year ago

Laco has added a hacking module and moved the seconds hand in the center of the dial in their 55mm replika flieger models.

trackback
Owner Review: Roamer Competence La Grande - FIFTH WRIST
1 year ago

[…] La Grande translates as “The big one”, and it uses the tried & true pocket-watch Unitas 6497. Of course there are bigger, thicker, and more in-your-face watches out there, and this one carries […]

Zak
Zak
1 year ago

Is this used in Panerai hand winds?

Deej
Deej
1 year ago
Reply to  Zak

Yes

Anthony
Anthony
11 months ago

I’ve got this movement on my Steinhart nav b-uhr 44 handwind, a very beautiful flieger watch with type A dial. This movement is incredible, very accurate, constant (gains 3 spd) and pleasant to use, nicely decorated by Steinhart in addition. It’s one of my best and favorite watches/movements.

Kent
Kent
10 months ago
Reply to  Anthony

Have the same watch. Bought it last August and my feelings are the same as yours. Beautiful watch, excellent movement and very accurate.

David Robinson
David Robinson
26 days ago

Here’s an example in a Stowa Flieger 6497

IMG_20240221_101627672
Seagull Caliber St19

Join our mission to spread movement awareness!

Members Online

  • keepthetime

Recent Forum Posts

Sponsors

36
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x