First off, if you’re wondering, the name Kontiki comes from the expedition undertaken by Thor Heyerdahl in 1947. With 5 companions, he sailed from Peru to Polynesia with Pre-Columbian technology and had nothing in the form of modern technology but a radio and their Eterna watches. As they were successful, Eterna decided to name this model after their heroics and so to some extent, this could certainly be considered the equivalent of the Rolex Explorer.
The Eterna Kontiki is a historically important watch model and is still produced by Eterna today, albeit very different looking. Of all the Eterna Kontikis, the most beautiful and rarest of them all would have to be what you see here, the First Execution. This was the first Kontiki ever released in 1958 and it features a beautiful glossy gilt dial with huge markers filled with lume for improved legibility.
As you can see, this example has aged and gone an insane tropical. Under the sun, it is seriously one of the most beautiful dials I’ve ever come across and the photography really does not do it justice. Complement this with the yellow-orange patina on the dial and hands and the perfectly glossy dial, you not only get a rare watch but one in a unique and astounding condition.
This is truly a collector grade watch and one that would stand out in any collection.
