Birks Challenger Eterna

[watch_treasures]

Hello:

I had not seen any other posts on Birks Challengers and was wondering if that is because they are uncommon or if just not loved.

I don't know much about this Birks Challenger other than Eterna on the dial.

I do know that Birks was a Canadian jeweler that marked dials of various makes with their store name.

I liked this watch as the lugs are unusual. The dial has some staining which I am hestitant to touch.

Does anyone have Birks Challengers to picture here?

Rick

 

[Tony C.]

Very uncommon lugs on yours. Here's mine:

 

[watch_treasures]

Here's another example. Hidden crown. I really like the looks of this watch!

 

[michael22]

I wonder if Birks called everything a challenger? Sounds suitable for a sporting watch, rather than dress watches.

 

[MMMD]

michael22

I wonder if Birks called everything a challenger?...

Not everything😉

 

[CdnWatchDoc]

As several of you know, Birks was the Canadian equivalent of Tiffany's, with a long history of high end jewelry, watches and luxury goods. According to others including those working at Birks now, Challenger was a name Birks coined during the Second World War; it was originally intended for those serving overseas and needed a good timepiece. The Canadian forces did not formally issue watches until after the war, so many a watch was bought after enlistment. The name was continued on after the war as a line of Birks watches, mainly using Eterna mechanical movements. I have recently seen a modern watch with the Challenger name on their website, but no clear idea who is the manufacturer.
I have a couple in the collection:

 

[CdnWatchDoc]

michael22

I wonder if Birks called everything a challenger? Sounds suitable for a sporting watch, rather than dress watches.

No, they produced/added their logo to a few other lines as well:

 

[watch_treasures]

Here's another (not Challenger).

 

[hoipolloi]

Sorry for being late, here is mine.

 

[0uss]

Regret selling my 1954 Birks challenger. 34mm and housing a solid 1412u movement

 

[Canuck]

Henry Birks & Sons Jewellers had (past tense) the franchise for Eterna watches, for Canada. Nobody else carried the Eterna line. The private label name of Challenger made some Eterna watches a private label. As recently as nineteen years ago, Birks still carried Eterna watches, but the Challenger name hadn’t been around for many decades.

 

[amcclell]

My piece with the wildest patina is a Birk's Eterna Challenger.

 

[amcclell]

Thanks for your post. It inspired me to dig it up and wind it up.

 

[krogerfoot]

I really like my Eterna-Matic 1000 with Birks signatures on the dial and inside the caseback. It has an inscription on the back indicating it was presented to recognize an employee of the Canada Life Assurance Company. The watch is so Canadian you can practically hear it apologize.

 

[bubba48]

 

[cfilmcat]

watch_treasures

Hello:

I had not seen any other posts on Birks Challengers and was wondering if that is because they are uncommon or if just not loved.

I don't know much about this Birks Challenger other than Eterna on the dial.

I do know that Birks was a Canadian jeweler that marked dials of various makes with their store name.

I liked this watch as the lugs are unusual. The dial has some staining which I am hestitant to touch.

Does anyone have Birks Challengers to picture here?

Rick

 

[cfilmcat]

Here is mine. It is from my grandmother

 

[river rat]

Here is maybe the earliest Birks. Birks was partners with Savage Lyman Co just before it went bankrupted he left to form his own company.

Pocket watch from Savage Lyman Co.



Birks became a partner in Savage and Lyman’s company in 1868. Unfortunately, the depression of 1873 hit the firm head on, and it was forced into bankruptcy in 1878, a year after Birks had left it. The assignee put him in charge of liquidating the assets.

 

[carrottopfarms]

Hi,

Going through my folks house after their passing and came across a Birks Eterna chalenger pocket watch. They were collectors and I am wondering if there is a market for these?
It looks like it was awarded to a First Officer of the S.S. Acadian for 25 years or more of continuous service.