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Eterna KonTiki 36mm Stainless Steel
Ref. 1270.53
The KonTiki collection began as a tribute to Thor Heyerdahl's 1947 balsa-raft crossing of the Pacific, and its design has always carried that maritime character — rugged utility dressed in something more considered. This 36.4mm iteration translates that lineage into a format built for the wrist it is sized for, keeping the screw-down crown and threaded caseback of a genuine tool watch while surrounding them with rose gold PVD on the bezel and the central bracelet links. The dial layout is the most interesting thing here. Rather than a conventional three-hand arrangement, the Ronda 6004.B delivers a grande guichet big date near twelve and a small seconds sub-dial at six — an asymmetric pair that gives the sunburst guilloché silver dial something to do at both ends. The two-tone bracelet integrates cleanly at the lugs, with brushed and polished steel on the outer links framing the rose gold accents, and the folding clasp releases on buttons rather than requiring a fingernail. The Ronda Mastertech line is worth knowing about: unlike the disposable movements common in this category, its components are metal and individually serviceable, which means a watchmaker can work on it properly rather than swap the whole module.
- Reference
- 1270.53
- Brand
- Eterna
- Collection
- KonTikiCase Size: 36
- Case size
- 36.4mm
- Case thickness
- 11.1mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- Ronda 6004.B
- Functions
- Date, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Origin
- Swiss made
Learn more about Eterna
Josef Girard and Urs Schild founded a watchmaking workshop in Grenchen in 1856, which became Eterna. Its contribution to horology is disproportionate to its current profile, and it comes in two parts.
The first is the alarm. Eterna produced the first wristwatch with an alarm complication in 1908, decades before the mechanism became common.
The second changed every automatic watch made since. In 1948 Eterna introduced the Eterna-Matic, which mounted the winding rotor on five miniature ball bearings rather than a simple pivot. Friction and wear dropped dramatically, winding efficiency improved, and the system proved so effective that ball-bearing rotors became the industry standard. The five bearings appear as the five dots in the Eterna logo.
Eterna also founded ETA. In 1932 the company separated its movement production into a distinct entity, which grew into the largest movement manufacturer in the world and now supplies a substantial share of the Swiss industry from within the Swatch Group. Eterna and ETA parted ways in 1984.
The house produced the Kontiki in 1958, named for Thor Heyerdahl's raft expedition, and continues to build dive and dress watches around that heritage. Ownership has changed several times in recent decades, most recently to Chinese investors.
- 1856
- Josef Girard and Urs Schild found the company in Grenchen.
- 1908
- Produces the first wristwatch with an alarm.
- 1932
- Movement production is separated, creating ETA.
- 1948
- The Eterna-Matic introduces the ball-bearing rotor.
- 1958
- The Kontiki launches, named for Heyerdahl's expedition.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (2,551), Watches Under 37mm (1,351), Women's Watches (1,285), Silver Dial Watches (576), Two-Tone Watches (359) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (199).
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 36.4mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 1270.53 | 01570000981 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £650 | £750 |
| Case size | 36.4mm | 36mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's, though at 36.4mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb at £650, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.
Is this available new?
Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £650 from Mappin & Webb. A pre-owned watch has been worn, and is normally sold under the retailer’s own warranty rather than the manufacturer’s.
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