Eterna Opions?

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smithrjd

·Dec 9, 2012

As most know I like GMT and World Time watches, and Omega has few that I can afford.. Eterna Kon Tiki? Old line maker, Schild, ETA first ball bearing rotor etc. Have read they are now owned by the Chinese.. The one I am considering is Swiss.

 

U

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ulackfocus

·Dec 9, 2012

Eterna is my next brand to pop up in value. There are some nice ones floating around, but you have to search through some schlock since early ETA calibers can be installed into some older Eterna cases since the companies are related.

 

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smithrjd

·Dec 9, 2012

They do have a history, the one I am looking at is what I would call recent, within 10 years. Looking for a new "road watch" as I travel a lot. Had a Citizen Blue Angel that I gave to my son, perhaps I should have kept it. Did everything, but it had no back light and poor lume. It was also Quartz.. Just can't seem to get past that. As a minimum I want two time zones. In the under $1K range there is not a lot that appeals to me. Invicta, Oceanaut, Sturling etc I have issues with LOL

 

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LouS

·Dec 10, 2012·Mrs Nataf's Other Son

U ulackfocus

Eterna is my next brand to pop up in value. There are some nice ones floating around, but you have to search through some schlock since early ETA calibers can be installed into some older Eterna cases since the companies are related.

You've been saying that for a little while (and I thought so too) but I don't see a lot of eterna activity other than Super KonTikis. Somebody really needs to sort that brand out for collectors. Until that happens, it isn't going anywhere I think.

 

U

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ulackfocus

·Dec 10, 2012

LouS

You've been saying that for a little while (and I thought so too) but I don't see a lot of eterna activity other than Super KonTikis. Somebody really needs to sort that brand out for collectors. Until that happens, it isn't going anywhere I think.

You might be right - there's nothing out there as a guide. Just like Benrus has no records, without some clarity the brand might not catch on.

 

U

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ulackfocus

·Dec 18, 2012

Speaking of vintage Kon Tikis, can somebody tell me what the various models usually sell for?


Lou: there's an Eterna book available now. I sent an e-mail in about buying it. Costs around $100 shipped, and I'll let you guys know if it's worth getting.

 

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smithrjd

·Dec 18, 2012

Not an expert by any means, but the older Kon Tiki divers are the ones that bring the big money, as well as the IDF and other limited diver models. Eterna for the most part has only sold 50 to 80K watches a year. Compared to others that is chump change for production. Solid gold of course also is expensive. Old saying, Schild had Eterna as a hobby, the money was in ETA ebuces. Now that they have been bought by a company in China it is hard to say where they are going now. Porsch Design had them before 2011.

 

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ulackfocus

·Dec 18, 2012

But which Kon Tiki divers Ron? I've seen different models, some with caseback medallions, some without. Some are large at 37/38 mm wide, others are average near 35 mm. Then there are the plain Kon Tiki, Kon Tiki 20, etc. Aside from the obvious love collectors have for caseback medallions and the preferred larger size, do you know why some are more popular than others?

 

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smithrjd

·Dec 18, 2012

The divers are more sought after than the Kon Tiki 20's or perhaps any others, many had the caseback medallions. I guess I would think of the Seamaster 120, 300 series. Eterna made one very similiar. These are the ones that I have seen that are the most sought after. About the same vintage as well.

 

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smithrjd

·Dec 18, 2012

It's to me kind of funny, several recent Kon Tiki's very much resemble the older Zodiac Sea Wolf, same style dial, hands and the markers at 12, 6 and 9. Some styles are just classics I guess. My Eterna a modern Monterey GMT is very much like an Omega SMP GMT as well.

 

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smithrjd

·Dec 19, 2012

This link is the best write up I have found for the Kon Tiki divers, you may have seen it already?
http://www.worldtempus.com/en/news/top-news/detail/article/1300804075-eterna-kontiki/