Eterna Kon-Tiki: Expedition to Icon
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Eterna Kon-Tiki: Expedition to Icon

By VintageAlex (aka AlexKontiki) · Jan 16, 2018 · 28 replies
VintageAlex (aka AlexKontiki)
WPS member · Horological Meandering forum
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VintageAlex (aka AlexKontiki) celebrates the Eterna Kon-Tiki, a legendary dive watch series born from Thor Heyerdahl's daring 1947 Kon-Tiki expedition. He recounts how Heyerdahl sought Eterna chronometers for his perilous raft journey across the Pacific, leading to the creation of robust, waterproof wristwatches designed for extreme conditions, and introduces Eterna's modern bronze limited edition.

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“If you had told me when I was 17 years old that I would sail across the sea on a raft, I would have absoluteley denied it and said that it was out of the question. Back then I was afraid of water”

Thor Heyerdahl.





On 1947 the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl sailed 8,000 km across the Pacific Ocean in a hand-built raft from America del sur to the islas Tuamoto.






At that time, for his project Heyerdahl (knowing the quality of Eterna chronometers) turned to Gretchen in order to contact Dr Rudolph Schild-Comtesse and told him about his travel project and the need to have a wristwatch that would cope with the difficult journey conditions.

it is when Eterna starts to manufacture waterproof wristwatches designed to resist the extreme conditions that Thor Heyerdahl and his men would find in their trip across the sea. The Kontiki watch series.

An archaic raft named Kon-Tiki was used by Heyerdahl to proove that Polynesians came from America. Just Thor and his crew of five men in a handmade raft, some food, navigation instruments, a lot of courage and six timepieces from the brand Eterna.





70 years later Eterna has made a limited edition of KonTiki Bronze Manufacture dive watch. Limited to 300 pieces, 44 mm bronze case, ceramic rotating “no decompression” bezel, 200 meters water resistant, leather strap and an in-house 3902A automatic movement beating at 28,800 with 65 hours power reserve.





Indeed a great and iconic diver’s Watch.

All the best.
Alex

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CA
cazalea
Jan 16, 2018
One of the first decent watches I bought, 15 years ago, was an Eterna KonTiki

I used to have all the Thor Heyerdahl books too, but they have disappeared from my bookcases... Cazalea

JT
JToddH
Jan 17, 2018
Beautiful piece! Would look nice sitting next to the KonTiki diver!

Just say'in! ; )

VI
VintageAlex (aka AlexKontiki)
Jan 17, 2018
It is a beautiful Watch!

Yes, maybe the word is “decent” you know I like this brand a lot. The books, is sad but always is the same with books, they just disappear! All the best to you. Alex

AL
Alkiro1
Jan 17, 2018
The “texture” of the dial is something I really like in this watch. It gives it a more adventurer style which is perfectly in the spirit of this watch. I like the unusual bezel numerals too.

Congratulations Alex for this Eterna. Best wishes Alkiro

VI
VintageAlex (aka AlexKontiki)
Jan 17, 2018
Yes, is one of the charming...

Things in this Watch. Thanks Alkiro. All the best to you, always. Alex.

AL
Alkiro1
Jan 17, 2018
My pleasure dear Alex

Best wishes Alkiro

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