Unitas

Unitas Watch Co. SA was established in Tramelan, Switzerland, and renamed Unitas Watch Co. SA in 1918 as a Swiss ebauche (basic movement parts) manufacturer. The company went bankrupt in 1926 due to post-WWI overproduction and was acquired by the expanding Ebauches SA in 1932, splitting from partner ARSA and continuing production in Tramelan. In the 1950s, Unitas introduced the hand-wound pocket watch movements 6497 (Lépine style, small seconds at 9 o'clock) and 6498 (Savonette style, small seconds at 6 o'clock). These 19 ligne (36.6 mm diameter, 4.5 mm thick) movements became known for robustness, reliability, and ease of regulation. Originally produced at 18,000 vph with 17 jewels and 46-50 hour power reserve, they were used by brands like Omega, Hamilton, Tissot, Bulova, Alpina, Rado, and MeisterSinger. In 1967, ETA rebranded them as 6497-1/6498-1 with updates including pallet lever bridge, Etachron regulator, and hairspring improvements. Later refined as 6497-2/6498-2 with Incabloc shock protection and 21,600 vph options, these movements remained in continuous production as part of the Swatch Group's ETA. The movements gained prominence in the 1990s mechanical revival for large wristwatches, powering Panerai reissues and pilot watches, and are widely used in watchmaking education due to their simplicity.