Mortima Super Deluxe 17J Mechanical Watch (OH) 1970

Make: Mortima
Type: Mechanical
Model: Super Deluxe
Year of Production: Circa 1970
Movement: Cattin C66
BPH: 18,000
Number of Jewels: 17
Hand and Dial: 3D Arabic Numerals with Baton and Hands
Width: 30.3mm
Lug to Lug Height: 36.1mm
Thickness: 10.2mm
Lug Width: 16mm
Bracelet / Strap: Brand New Good Quality Genuine Leather Strap with Silver Buckle
Pouch / Box: Brand-New EVA Type Zipper Pouch

Located in Morteau, France, Jura close to the Swiss border, Mortima was founded circa 1946–1950 by Louis (real name: Louis Roulet), a watch entrepreneur who wanted to create watches affordable for everyday wearers. The name "Mortima" likely comes from "Morteau" + "Time" or “Morteau + -ima” (a common suffix in French brand names of the era).

Mortima gained popularity in France, Italy, Spain, and other European countries. Their watches were commonly sold in department stores, mail-order catalogs, and small jewelers, appealing to budget-conscious buyers. Despite humble movements, they often mimicked more expensive Swiss styles (e.g., Rolex or Omega), making them attractive to working-class wearers.

In the 1970s, Mortima struggled and couldn't adapt quickly or successfully to compete during the Quartz Crisis, when inexpensive, highly accurate quartz watches from Japan flooded the market, with its low-cost mechanical watches. The company ceased operations in the early 1980s, and its watches have become Collectibles.

Here we have a Mortima Super Deluxe 17J Mechanical watch in stunning condition.

The sunburst reflective silver dial,3D Arabic Indices and Baton Hands are in stunning condition after a good deep cleaning. There is wearing out at the top right link because the case is chrome plated, but overall, the case is in very good condition after cleaning albeit a few minor scratches due to age. The original crystal was replaced.

The crown is original and is located at the 3H position and is easily accessible. The hands quickset works by uncorking the crown to the first level for adjustment.

The movement was carefully stripped and meticulously cleaned via ultrasonic immersion, oiled, re-assembled and calibrated on 12 April 2025. It should be able to operate unhindered until the next servicing thereby providing the owner a peace of mind.

Equipped with the rare Cattin 66 Calibre, it has 17 jewels and operates at 18,000 BPH giving it an extremely high level of accuracy. The time-grapher, after hours of calibration, shows excellent readings i.e. rate of +4 seconds every 24 hours and amplitude of 316! Such readings are exceptional even by brand new modern automatic watch standards whereby the accepted tolerance is -20 to +40 seconds a day! This is a testament to the quality, excellent power reserve and longevity for such a vintage timepiece, the meticulous care provided over the years, and of course the painstaking calibration conducted.

The case width and height are approximately 30.3mm (without crown), and 36.1mm respectively. The lug width is 16mm, and the strap can accommodate wrists up to 19.0cm; thus, this watch is suitable for men and the modern women.

The watch comes with a brand new hi-quality genuine leather strap with silver buckle. 

To the best of our knowledge and expertise when overhauling the timepiece, the watch is 100% original Seiko components from this particular watch. No parts were replaced with aftermarket parts or modified thereby it is considered in stunning condition.

Due to its age, this timepiece has not been water-resistant tested.

The pictures provided show the watch’s case in immaculate condition (no dents and major scratches), and the movement within squeaky clean and well maintained. It has also been demagnetised to improve parts reliability, minimise wear + tear, and improve accuracy. The only drawback is the lack of documentation and original box, so a simple aftermarket box / pouch will be provided instead.

Seldom can one find a vintage watch that offers this and more. Yes, there are many other same / similar models in the market, BUT none are as well-kept and maintained as what you see here, and with an attractive price to boot. So, it is a no-brainer that this rare watch will make an extremely beautiful birthday present for that special someone! Another no-brainer is the fact that the value of this watch will appreciate over time.

Bear in mind that this watch has seen many of the previous owners’ ups and downs in life, and should be cherished and well taken care of for the next generation to savour such engineering beauty.

This is a truly rare Mortima Super Deluxe 17J in stunning condition with a beautifully preserved vintage dial, immaculate indices, hands, and movement; so, be unique and use something that is almost impossible to source.

This is a must-have for the Mortima die-hard fan, or any vintage watch fan for that matter!