Eterna Kontiki

The ETERNA - MATIC Kontiki 1958 reviewed here is an all stainless steel man's wristwatch with a stainless steel bracelet.

It was manufactured by the Eterna Watch Company in Grenchen, Switzerland and this model is now discontinued.

The name is derived from the expedition which crossed the Pacific Ocean in 1947 on a balsa wood raft to demonstrate the possibility of population movements from South America to Polynesia across this expanse. Thor Heyerdahl and his crew wore Eterna watches and this model was launched in 1958 to celebrate the famous crossing. It has gone through several re designs and this example is the last.

This example was obtained new from Rasputin Wristwatch Site in Hong Kong.

The watch utilises a self winding ETA 2824-2, 25 jewel movement.

The case is 37mm diameter, 10mm thick and weighs 110 grams, the width between lugs is 18mm and 44 across lug tips.

The Watch has sold with several different dial colours and the white of this example is about all that is still available new.

The case is completely polished except for the brushed finish on the bezel.

The bracelet has brushed and polished links

The Eterna logo is the 5 balls in gold, below 12 o'clock. These represent the 5 ball bearing for the winding rotor, innovated by Eterna.

The bracelet is fitted with a 'butterfly' double folding catch which when closed presents the logo and name Eterna in the centre of the wrist. Before sizing, the bracelet had 20 links. These are about 9mm each in length and there is no provision for smaller changes in length than 9mm steps. The links are removed by driving out solid pins and care is required here as they must be driven in the direction indicated on the links. There is an off centre groove in the link pins.

Both ends snap into the central frame and provide a secure catch which is a very neat solution.

The Crown is large at 6mm diameter and carries the 5 ball logo. It screws down and settles into a shallow recess in the case.

It can be used to manually wind the movement and quick set the date. Pulled fully out the, watch is stopped temporarily (hacked) enabling accurate time setting.

The back of the watch is screw-in and carries the usual 6 point tool notches. In the centre of the back is a die struck image of the Kontiki raft

Interestingly, between the lugs, the case is formed in a bell shaped flare which broadens in taper from the bezel towards the back. This presents an attractive space fill in when a leather strap is fitted.

Also, the land around the screw-in back and the edge of the case is concave, which is unusual.

Here, the Eterna is placed alongside an Omega Seamaster Professional Mid Size for comparison.

The Eterna is significantly thinner and when worn is generally of less overall bulk.

It is noted that the Eterna makes no mention of water resistance or jewels anywhere on the case

The dial is non reflective pure white. The hour figure / batons are of raised thickness green on a black ground with just a thin line of black surrounding each mark. The dial silk screen printing is in black and the date is black on white. The hands are steel finished with green impressed material and the seconds hand has a red tip. The 5 ball logo is in gold. The green material is of the light stimulated type but the dark performance is poor - in fact the minute hand fades well before the hour hand and any other marks which is a QC problem in manufacture.

The crystal is sapphire and there is a cyclops magnifier over the date window. The sapphire is virtually flush with the bezel.

The dial is as legible as any could be with this configuration

The movement is the common ETA 2824-2, 25 jewel self wind. The rotor is gilt finished as is the balance wheel. ETERNA - MATIC is deep cut into the rotor. There is a dull grey plastic locating ring. This escapement beats at 28800 per hour and there is a fine adjust regulator.

Out of the box the watch is minus 3 secs in 24 hours and this bodes well - will wait for 30 days for settlement.

The ETA movements have their origin in the Eterna Watch Company - so it could be said that this watch has an 'in-house' movement ?

I have been on the lookout for this watch for a couple of years and have already missed a few.

This time I was fast enough to acquire - however my choice would have been the black dial - as per my usual watch - if it had been available.

My search I am sure was driven by a deep recollection when I was much younger and poorer.

There was an expensive jeweller in town with the ETERNA 5 ball logo hanging and I used to lust after the watches on display. More than any other watch - why ? I don't really know.

Therefore my search when I started to collect watches.

This is essentially no more than any other well made watch but for me the whole is far greater than the sum of the parts