In the 1970s Mortima made a range of large dive watches with a width of 42 mm or larger. They mainly differ through the shape of the watch case. The dials are almost the same - black or blue with green painted hour markers, all cases are plated base metal and they are all powered by the Cattin C66 movement with date.
The divers were often labelled "SuperDatomatic" which is fun as the C66 movement is hand wound and not an automatic.
On the crystal most of the models has a small magnifying glass over the date - probably inspired by the Rolex cyclop on the Submariner. Following the fashion in the 1970s the watches have cases with hidden lugs.
The divers were often labelled "SuperDatomatic" which is fun as the C66 movement is hand wound and not an automatic.
On the crystal most of the models has a small magnifying glass over the date - probably inspired by the Rolex cyclop on the Submariner. Following the fashion in the 1970s the watches have cases with hidden lugs.
So here we go. The ultimate list of wearable, affordable, desirable, contemporary-sized Mortima’s.
If you are interested in the story of Mortima, Cattin & Cie and Emile Cattin - click here and here.
If you are interested in the story of Mortima, Cattin & Cie and Emile Cattin - click here and here.
The Hexagonal
Surprisingly little printed material with Mortima watches can be found. But we have this super ad that shows an original hexagonal version. Furthermore there was an ad in Motor Boating & Sailing magazine in November 1979 with the same watch. This tells that these Mortima dive watches were produced in the late part of the 1970s and maybe even into the 1980s.
The dial on the watch in the ad reads: "Mortima, 17 Jewels, SuperDatomatic, Waterproof 100%". It is also common to see versions with "Super 28" instead of "17 Jewels" on the dial. And on some watches "Waterproof 100%" has been left out.
The Mortima hexagonal has one internal bezel and two external bezels. The external bezels are interesting - on the inner bezel is the numbers from 6 to 500 and on the outer bezel is minutes and hours and it says "M Km Knt". Not sure yet about how that works - but it is probably for some kind of speed measurement in "Miles", "Kilometers" and "Knots".
It is not uncommon to find versions with "Tachymetre" and cities (world-time) on the external bezels. Maybe the customers had a choice between the two configurations.
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| Mortima printed ad with divers. The larger watch to the right is the hexagonal. Date of ad unknown. |
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| A closeup on the Mortima SuperDatomatic in the ad. It has a blue dial and the outer external bezel is with minutes/hours. The dot on the seconds hand is green. It was sold with a rubber strap in "tropical" style. |
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| Small ad from Motor Boating and Sailing from november 1979. Same bezels as in the ad above. |
The Mortima hexagonal has one internal bezel and two external bezels. The external bezels are interesting - on the inner bezel is the numbers from 6 to 500 and on the outer bezel is minutes and hours and it says "M Km Knt". Not sure yet about how that works - but it is probably for some kind of speed measurement in "Miles", "Kilometers" and "Knots".
It is not uncommon to find versions with "Tachymetre" and cities (world-time) on the external bezels. Maybe the customers had a choice between the two configurations.
Measurements:
Width w/o crown: 42,1 mm
Width with crown: ? mm
Length: 47,1 mm
Depth: 14 mm
Lugs: 21,8 mm
Width with crown: ? mm
Length: 47,1 mm
Depth: 14 mm
Lugs: 21,8 mm
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic with hexagonal watch case. Original configuration with same dial and bezels as in the ad. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic hexagonal with tachymetre and world-time bezels. No "Waterproof 100%" on the dial. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic with red dot on the seconds hand. Original? |
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| The backcase with the famous Mortima diver. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic hexagonal seen from the side with the two crowns. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic hexagonal on the wrist. Screams 1970s and has great presence. |
The Square / Pilots watch
The dial typically reads: "Mortima, 17 Jewels, SuperDatomatic, Waterproof 100%". Sometimes "Super 28" has replaced "17 Jewels".
There is also the "Commandant de Bord" version which reads: "Mortima, 17 Jewels, Waterproof 100%. Commandant de Bord".
The Mortima square has two external bezels - one with tachymeter and the outer with cities for a world time-function. "Commandant de Bord" means "flight captain" which fits with the bezel.
There is also the "Commandant de Bord" version which reads: "Mortima, 17 Jewels, Waterproof 100%. Commandant de Bord".
The Mortima square has two external bezels - one with tachymeter and the outer with cities for a world time-function. "Commandant de Bord" means "flight captain" which fits with the bezel.
This model has two crowns placed in the upper right and lower right corners of the watch. The upper crown controls the internal bezel.
Measurements (taken from different sources):
Width w/o crown: 42,5-43 mm
Width with crown: 42,5-43 mm
Length: 42,5-43 mm
Depth: 12,5 mm
Lugs: ? mm
Width with crown: 42,5-43 mm
Length: 42,5-43 mm
Depth: 12,5 mm
Lugs: ? mm
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic square pilot. The dot on the seconds hand is red here. Usually it is green so maybe it has been replaced at some point? |
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| Mortima square pilot - the Commandant de Bord version. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic square pilot from one side. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic square pilot from the other side. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic square pilot, backcase with the diver. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic square pilot, wrist shot. Note that here the crystal is missing the cyclop and is not original. |
The Circle / Mortima UFO
The shape of this case is a circle cut off in top and bottom.
The dial typically reads: "Mortima, 21 Jewels, SuperDatomatic, Waterproof 100%". Some models has "Super 28" instead of "21 Jewels" on the dial. On some "Waterproof 100%" has been left out.
It has two crowns - super compressor-style. The crown at 2 controls the internal bezel.
There is one external bezel with tachymeter scale. There seems to have been two different layouts on the bezels - one has a larger font.
Measurements (taken from different sources):
Width w/o crown: 45 mm
Width with crown: ? mm
Length: 42-43 mm
Depth: 13 mm
Lugs: 19 mm
Width with crown: ? mm
Length: 42-43 mm
Depth: 13 mm
Lugs: 19 mm
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic round case with blue dial. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic round case, SUPER 28 on the black dial. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic round case with large font on the external bezel. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic round, seen from the side. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic round, backcase with the diver. |
The Oval Pepsi
The dial reads: "Mortima, 17 Jewels, SuperDatomatic, Waterproof 100%".It has a red-blue day-night Pepsi bezel. This external bezel with 24h markings can be used to indicate an alternate timezone - sometimes called a poor-mans GMT. Very practical and aesthically pleasing.
The case is wider than it is long. It has one crown and the internal bezel with 24h reading is fixed.
Measurements (taken from different sources):
Width w/o crown: 43,5 mm
Width with crown: 44 mm
Length: ? mm
Depth: ? mm
Lugs: 20 mm
Width with crown: 44 mm
Length: ? mm
Depth: ? mm
Lugs: 20 mm
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic oval shaped, pepsi-dial. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic oval pepsi. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic oval pepsi, seen from the top. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic oval pepsi, back of case with the diver. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic oval pepsi on the wrist. The crystal on this watch is missing the cyclop and is probably not original. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic oval pepsi, another wristshot. |
The chunky cushion
The dial reads: "Mortima, 21 Jewels, SuperDatomatic, Waterproof 100%". There is also versions that says "Mortima, 17 Jewels, SuperDatomatic, Waterproof 100%, Etanche 100%". "Etanche" is french for "waterproof". Though one says "21 Jewels" and the other "17 Jewels" - it is the same movement. As 17Jewels.info tells the extra 4 useless jewels were put on the plate just to increase the number.
The shape of this model is difficult to describe - it's like a square, but rounded in the sides and the top and bottom. This is a classic watch shape commonly known as a cushion. But the Mortima version has hidden lugs.
The chunky cushion has two internal bezels that are operated with the upper and lower of the three crowns.
As can be seen from this list many variations in dials, bezels etc. were made for different brands. But it seems that the Mortima-branded watches were very consistent: I have only seen watches with the red internal bezel in racing-style.
Measurements:
The shape of this model is difficult to describe - it's like a square, but rounded in the sides and the top and bottom. This is a classic watch shape commonly known as a cushion. But the Mortima version has hidden lugs.
The chunky cushion has two internal bezels that are operated with the upper and lower of the three crowns.
As can be seen from this list many variations in dials, bezels etc. were made for different brands. But it seems that the Mortima-branded watches were very consistent: I have only seen watches with the red internal bezel in racing-style.
Measurements:
Width w/o crown: 43,7 mm
Width with crown: 46,5 mm
Length: 43,7 mm
Depth: ? mm
Lugs: 21,8 mm
Width with crown: 46,5 mm
Length: 43,7 mm
Depth: ? mm
Lugs: 21,8 mm
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic with the cushion-shaped case and the standard dial, hands and two internal bezels. |
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| Same Mortima but with "17 Jewels" and "Etanche 100%" on the dial. |
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| Mortima SuperDatomatic with cushion-shaped case - seen from the side with the characteristic magnifying glass over the date. |
The Round Pepsi
- work in progress -
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| Note: There is to be two almost identical models, but they differ in size. This watch is only 40 mm wide. The crowns seems to be recessed in the watch case on this model. Should not be mistaken for the larger version. |
The Thermo-Compass
And now for something completely different. But also with a large watch case: The Mortima Mayerling 17 Jewels with three dials showing time, temperature and a compass. Not a diver. Mortima used "Mayerling" on some of their dress-watches. It is not beautiful but it is very unique.
Measurements (taken from different sources):
Width w/o crown: 45 mm
Width with crown: 48 mm
Width w/o crown: 45 mm
Width with crown: 48 mm
Length: 40 mm
Depth: 11 mm
Lugs: 22 mm
Depth: 11 mm
Lugs: 22 mm
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| Mortima Thermo-Compass in silver with blue dial. |
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| Mortima Thermo-Compass in silver with blue dial. Themo-dial with red in bottom. |
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| Mortima Thermo-Compass back case. |
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| Mortima Thermo-Compass in silver with blue dial on the wrist. |
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| Mortima Thermo-Compass in silver with silver dial. |
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| Mortima Thermo-Compass in silver and with a red dial. |
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| Mortima Thermo-Compass was also made in a version with a golden case. |
Please let me know if you have some corrections or input to this list.
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