Enicar Big Eye F45 Chronograph by Birks (aka. Pelé)

Up for sale is this insanely rare Enicar Big Eye Chronograph, co-branded by Birks (essentially Canada’s Tiffany and Co). This is something truly special for all you Football fans out there!  

In 2016, as part of a high-profile sports charity auction, an f45 was one of the items included in the lot belonging to the great Footballer, Pelé. Yes, that Pelé...three-time World Cup Champion, FIFA Player of the Century and Brazilian Football legend…an iconic figure who sadly just recently passed away.

Pelé was not an official ambassador for the brand, nor has he been seen wearing this watch, but because of the inclusion of this piece in the auction, this variation of the big eye has been nicknamed the “Pelé” by Enicar expert, Martin van der Ven (if you haven’t yet checked out his scholarship on the Enicar brand, you really should).

This watch originally came in two case finishes - brushed and polished, this example being of the former. No one I’ve spoken to in the Enicar community has seen another brushed finished Birks f45, but I’m not giving up the search just yet. 

What is an f45, you ask? Essentially the Valjoux 23, a standard movement for these watches, was slightly modified to accommodate a 45 minute cycle, instead of the typical 30 minute counter. If you’re a soccer fan, then you already know that 45 minutes is the half way point of a match, making this a very useful complication for those who enjoy the sport as a spectator or player.

If you are an Enicar collector, you’ve likely already been hunting for one of these. If you are an Enicar collector who also happens to be a soccer fan, then this is the watch for you. 

CONDITION & SPECIFICATIONS

The Watch is in very good, and all-original condition. The case has retained very sharp edges with the original brushed grain still visible on the upper part of the steel case. 

There is some light wear around the case, including a small nick on the upper left edge, but is overall in good condition, and no major distractions. 

The dial and hands are all original. There is some faint blotching on the black dial, and light flaking on some of the text on the upper left hand corner of the tachymetre. The lume is intact on the dial and hour hand, while the minute hand lume has been knocked out. 

The watch has recently been serviced and is running well, and the chronograph is working as it should. 

Movement: Modified Valjoux 23 (manual-wind)
Case Size: 39mm

**SERVICE HISTORY**
Recently serviced in 2022