Vintage Eterna-Matic KonTiki Saddam Hussein Dial Ladies Automatic Watch Box

About this watch

A rare piece of 20th-century Middle Eastern history: a ladies' Eterna-Matic KonTiki automatic whose silver dial carries a printed colour portrait of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in a blue suit. Watches bearing his portrait were supplied to Iraq by Swiss and Japanese makers as commemorative and presentation pieces. This one has a cushion-shaped two-tone case with a gold-tone fluted bezel, gold-tone baton markers and hands, the Eterna five-dot logo, "ETERNA-MATIC" and "KonTiki" signatures, "SWISS" at 6 o'clock and a day-date window at 3 o'clock (Spanish day disc). It is fitted on a two-tone steel and gold-tone jubilee-style bracelet and comes in an Eterna presentation box.

Brand heritage

Eterna was founded in 1856 in Grenchen, Switzerland, by Josef Girard and Urs Schild. In 1948 it introduced the Eterna-Matic, whose ball-bearing-mounted rotor inspired the five-dot logo still used today. Eterna watches accompanied Thor Heyerdahl on the 1947 Kon-Tiki raft expedition, which gave the KonTiki line its name, and the movement maker ETA was originally Eterna's own movement division.

Why this one is special

• Historic portrait dial: a collector's piece of Iraqi political memorabilia
• Signed Swiss Eterna-Matic KonTiki, not a generic novelty brand
• Self-winding automatic with day and date
• Two-tone cushion case with fluted gold-tone bezel and matching two-tone bracelet
• Comes with an Eterna presentation box

Specifications

• Brand / Model: Eterna-Matic KonTiki (Saddam Hussein portrait dial)
• Case size: approx. 26 mm (excluding crown)
• Movement: Swiss automatic (Eterna-Matic), day-date
• Case: cushion-shaped stainless steel with gold-tone fluted bezel, gold-tone crown
• Dial: silver with printed portrait, gold-tone baton markers, five-dot logo, signed "ETERNA-MATIC", "KonTiki" and "SWISS"
• Hands: gold-tone baton hour and minute hands, gold-tone seconds hand
• Day-date: window at 3 o'clock, Spanish day names
• Bracelet: two-tone stainless steel and gold-tone jubilee-style bracelet
• Era: vintage, circa 1980s

Condition

Pre-owned vintage condition with signs of age and use: light scratches and wear on the case, bezel and bracelet, and light marks on the crystal. The portrait print is clear and intact. Please check all photos carefully as they are part of the description.
Working at time of listing.

What's included

The watch on its bracelet and an Eterna presentation box with pillow. No papers.

Shipping & Returns

Free shipping with DHL from Cairo, Egypt.
30-day returns, buyer pays return shipping.

Ref: H869