Eterna-Matic KonTiki Super IDF Issue
subir imagenesDuring the 1970s the Israeli Defence Force’s (IDF) elite Naval Commando unit, Shayetet 13, were issued the Etena-Matic KonTiki Super dive watch. Designated and trained to conduct naval raids and underwater special warfare missions, Shayetet 13 also is an elite Counter-Terror unit which specializes in covert ops deep within enemy territory. S-13 distinguished themselves during the 1973 Yom Kippur War by finding and destroying several Egyptian torpedo boats with limpet mines, clearing the way for an Israeli armored force landing in Egypt the next day.
subirimagenesIn 1960 Shayetet 13 was, for the first time, made public and its operators started to recieve the renowned “Batwing” insignia badge rather than the general Israeli Navy insignia worn until then.
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subirimagenesThe KonTiki Super’s stainless steel, tonneau-shaped case measures 41mm X 45mm X 14mm, a 20mm lug width, and features an unsigned screw down crown at the 3 o’clock position. The dial bears the Eterna “5 ball logo”, based on the ballbearing Eterna developed to carry the self winding swing weight. Tritium luminous is used on the dial, hands, and bezel marker, as is typical for watches of this vintage. With the screw down crown, screw caseback, and thick mineral glass crystal the watch is rated to 200 meters water resistance.
The engravings on the caseback clearly identify these watches as belonging to, and issued by, the IDF. These markings, being in Hebrew, read from right to left and begins with the letter that resembles a ” y “ – the letter is Tzade in Hebrew and represents the word ” Tzahal “ : the acronym for Tzvah Hagana L’Israel - Israel Defense Forces. Following is the serial number for each particular watch ( 377276 for the example below) – and ending with the Hebrew letter ” Nun ” (pronounced as “noon” ) which resembles the letter ” J “. The lower portion of the caseback is marked with letters “mem” , “samech” and then “Kuf” , “tet” - short for catalog number ; followed by the parts / catalog number ( 1000 8943 for the example below).
The caseback center shows the KonTiki raft with Eterna logo sail – both this symbol and the name KonTiki are derived from the Thor Heyerdahl expedition which crossed the Pacific Ocean in 1947 on a balsa wood raft to demonstrate the possibility of population movements from South America to Polynesia.
The KonTiki Super uses the “workhorse” ETA cal. 2824, 25 jewel, automatic, Eterna decorated movement. The 2824 is hacking and features a quick-set date and runs at 28,800 bph ; while common and unspectacular the 2824 is a very reliable and robust movement still found in many watches today (from Doxa dive watches to the Canadian issued Marathon SAR).
