Recently I have geared part of my collection towards early and important dive/sport watches. It started with a first generation Waltham/Blancpain Bathyscaphe which I shared HERE, but then Eterna Kontikis caught my eye.

I know a lot of members here really like Eterna and I believe that this brand offers great value in the vintage market right now. I have seen @Bill Sohne share a few of his Kontiki models on another forum. Many of the later Kontiki models can be readily found online with original bracelets for around $500.

However, I wanted to find one of the early generation models with the classic triangular lume plots. These do come up from time to time but often show excessive signs of aging. From what I understand, the first generation Kontiki with the classic triangular plots was introduced around 1958. I was thrilled to find the watch below dating to the early 60s. It is a very early generation with uncommon date window.

The dial and lume is in excellent condition with subtle patina. The gilt printing is very attractive as is the gilt date window. The 34mm case still retains its lines and the back gold medallion is in pretty good condition. I was happy to find this watch on the original Gay Freres bracelet (although the clasp looks like a later replacement). Unfortunately, the watch stopped running in transit so it will need a full service before I can start wearing it.

Enjoy and please share your Kontiki watches!



Below a side-by-side with my Waltham Bathyscaphe, which has become one of my favorite daily vintage watches:

 

Really nice example. I love those early versions.

 

Fantastic. If you can, take a loupe and look at the 12/9/6, its pretty cool how they shape the numbers within the lume itself.

The other one that has a similar look is the Zodiac Seawolf.

 

Dibs please

 

Wow, beautiful pieces in the last picture.

 

Beautiful !!

 

this is interesting to me. I thought that the numbers and the triangles were raised and that the lume was simply filled into the open spaces. are you saying that there's a different method?

 

This looks like the case here:

 

very nice example
(I share your opinion about the value of the brand in the current vintage market right now).

 

Wow! great looking Bathyscaphe. these are so far to come by in original condition. saw one with box on flea bay couple months back but missed it.

DIBS PLEASE!

 

Thank you! I was very lucky to find it. Especially since it is a 1st generation (before the red 'W' logo was used on the dial) and tropical:

 

“Kon Tiki” was a great book and one of those major reading moments we all have as a kid. I think I need to own one of these. Has to have the raft on the back though.

 

Love the book and the watches

 

The Kontiki has one of my favorite case-backs.

 

Agreed. Some with extra provenance.

 

I agree, I own the book, the original documentary, the film from a couple of years ago, and the 1973 reissue watch; I just need to find a vintage one now. I even teach it in English II.

 

Interesting! Will order the book.

 

...and here is mine

 

Nice piece, these watches are still pretty undervalued imho.

 

Now back from service and running well again! Just a mechanical service and light crystal polish. So happy that the watchmaker did not chip the lume on the hands...these things are fragile!



And a group shot with its early diver siblings: