Your watch is a personal expression of your personal style, and when it comes to picking that one special watch, we humbly suggest choosing the path less taken. Clearing out the clutter and upgrading to one special watch that has meaning to you beyond mere functionality is a great way to set your personal style tone.
With the continued interest in high-end mechanical watches, luxury brands like Rolex, IWC, Panerai, and Omega have become commoditized status objects – elegant but to a certain extent, ubiquitous. Though each is certainly exceptional and unique on its own, such watches as a category seems to have become relatively commonplace, used more for status recognition than for personal expression.
Huge holding companies like LVMH Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton, Swatch Group, and Richemont have come to dominate the luxury watch market; once the domain of craftsmen.
The craftsmen still exists of course, just not always where you expect them. Close your eyes. What comes to mind when you hear, “handmade mechanical timepiece,” “exacting quality,” and “coveted by collectors, celebrities, explorers, and heads of state?” Did your thoughts immediately drift to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? Maybe they should.
While Switzerland is home to the likes of Rolex and Germany to Glashutte, the Steel City is in fact the world headquarters of Kobold Watch Company and home to the remarkable Michael Kobold. These unique wristwatches are the epitome of making a choice to opt for individual over expected, distinctive rather than predictable. Kobold watches are modern classics; deceptively simple and refreshing.
At all of 34 years old, Kobold has done something most in the luxury industry would have thought impossible. Within the insular world of high-end timepieces Michael Kobold has created a boutique watch company from scratch, and it’s thriving. His line of watches, anchored by the stunning, and stunningly functional Polar Surveyor, is primarily geared to adventurous types – armchair and genuine.
Celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, Kobold Watch Company is barely out of diapers compared to brands like Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre or Breguet. But his creations are already being likened to blue-chip brands like the aforementioned Rolex and Omega. Often it’s Kobold doing the talking, but that’s part of his brand’s success: he isn’t afraid to put his products to the test and tell you why they are just as good – if not better – than those better known names.
Kobold’s loyal brand ambassadors include former President Bill Clinton, A-list actors like The Sopranos’ James Gandalfini and Leonardo DiCaprio, legendary adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and global architect Daniel Libeskind.
One Kobold that stands out for its simple but powerful styling is the Arctic Diver. Even at a weighty 46mm, it’s a great watch that sits comfortably on the wrist. The unique yet classically inspired face is easy to read, which will come in handy as it is also very much built for someone who plans on wearing it to the ends of the earth. Literally.
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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Dyson via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Dyson.