Eterna KonTiki Diver - Failsafe Bottom Time

Acquired by Ferdinand Porsche in 1998, and the launchpad for the Porsche Design line of watches, Eterna has a rich and storied history dating back to 1856 when it, under the direction of Urs Schild began producing watch movements.

By far the most iconic of Eterna's line of watches is the KonTiki series.  Named after the rustic raft that carried Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl from Peru across the Pacific to Polynesia in 1947 and it's namesake, the Incan Sun God; the Eterna KonTiki Diver too embodies the spirit of exploration by unusual means.

In a well thought out departure from conventional dive watch design, the Eterna KonTiki Diver forgoes the ubiquitous uni-directional bottom time bezel in favor of a much more failsafe design.  Utilizing a unique two-piece case design, the movement vault and the band attachment points are connected by a hinged mechanism that is released by two activators just below the top lugs.  The crown which remains with the movement portion of the operation is secured within the undercarriage.  The bezel is mechanically locked as well - so when in the diving/wearing position, the crown is completely protected and it is impossible for the bezel to move.  To set the watch, you simply release movement container at the top attachment point and pivot it on the bottom hinge to reveal the crown.  Utilizing a shaft seal that's similar to the crankshaft seal on an automobile engine, the crown is waterproof without the need for a screw down device.  To line up the orange 'zero' triangle of the inner bezel with the minute hand to prepare for a dive, you just release the case, hinge it down a bit and rotate the outer bezel (which in turn rotates the inner bezel).  Both operations are much more simple to accomplish than to describe.

The size of the KonTiki Diver is perfectly suited to its function.  At 46mm in diameter and 16mm thick, this big Eterna is not lacking for anything when it comes to wrist presence. 

The dial, besides being easy to read and well organized, looks great with a splash of orange on the power reserve display and the first 15 minute markers of its internal bottom time bezel.  There's a date display between 7 and 8 o'clock - an unusual placement owing to the crown up orientation of the movement.   

Powering the Diver is ETA's Calibre 2897 automatic movement, it has a 42 hour power reserve that's tracked by the aforementioned orange arc at 4 o'clock on the dial.

The case of the KonTiki Diver is PVD'd titanium while the bridge and rotating bezel are stainless steel - this makes for a lightweight watch with a lot of aesthetic appeal. 

It is supplied with a silicon strap and secured with a double-folding stainless steel clasp that's equipped with a wetsuit extension.

The MSRP of Eterna KonTiki Diver is $9,200 USD.  It's a great watch that's ideally suited for the watch collector who has a taste for the unique and spends a great deal of time underwater.