IDF KonTiki Super

During 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.  

In 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.

The 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.

Unlike many other dive watches from this time period the KonTiki Super features an extremely tall and deeply milled bezel for an easy grip by wet or gloved hands.  In addition the bezel is uni-directional and is indexed by the minute.

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).

Eterna sold the KonTiki Super with one of two bracelet options ; either the link bracelet or a mesh bracelet - both stainless steel.

The stainless steel link bracelet came with fitted, hollow end links which measured 20mm in width at the case tapering to 18mm at the clasp.   The clasp is decorated with the Eterna name and the Eterna "five ball logo" - and has a special flex-spring addition to the clasp.  This flex-clasp expands with the right amount of "pull" - and thus adjusts to the wrist whether wearing a wetsuit or not.

Unlike the link bracelet the mesh has no endpieces - the springbar simply slides through the final row of mesh links to attatch to the watch case.   Again the bracelet width is 20mm, but the mesh bracelet does not taper and remains 20mm to the clasp.  The clasp isn't signed Eterna and only bears the "five ball logo" - and provides four size adjustments .  It also comes equipped with a fliplock, which partially covers the logo when closed.

The following photos are of the box an Eterna-Matic KonTiki Super were packaged in when sold. Six other collectors have contacted me indicating their IDF Kontiki watches were bought with the very same box leading me to believe this is indeed the way they were shipped to the Israeli Military  - (more to follow as i gather information) :

The Eterna-Matic KonTiki Super clearly was intended and designed as a tool-watch for divers - military or civilian, professional or amateur.   The fact that they were chosen by the IDF's Shayetet 13 and that so many examples still function as well today as the day they were sold is a testament to just how successful Eterna was in accomplishing the goal of building such a watch.

( Thanks to Cecil of MWR for allowing me to borrow his IDF Kontiki for the photo shoot above)