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| Kobold Watches |
Among professionals who lead active and often dangerous lives, Kobold is well known for its instrument watches that can withstand punishing conditions. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company is the maker of fine instruments for the wrists, comprising German and Swiss components each specifically designed for use in a certain environment or for a special purpose.
In late 2002 Kobold launched its new Soarway line of watches, a collection featuring watches for astronauts, pilots, divers, and the Special Forces. The highlight of the Soarway line is the Polar Surveyour Chronograph, a sophisticated watch designed for explorers. Its movement is a mechanical gem: Based on an ETA Valjoux 7750, it displays a second time zone and an A.M./P.M. indicator making it the first wristwatch of its kind to combine these functions with a chronograph mechanism.
The creation of the Polar Surveyour Chronograph is indicative of how responsive this modern company is to customer requests. Asked if he could make a watch for polar explorers, 24-year-old company president Michael Kobold - certainly the youngest in the industryreplied that he would be glad to accept the challenge. Eighteen months later, Kobold announced the release of the world's first chronograph designed specifically for use by explorers in Antarctic and Arctic conditions. To date, Kobold watches have been on dozens of major expeditions and are the permanent equipment of some of the world's top explorers. "Unlike most other brands, we don't compare ourselves to our competitors based on the location and prestige of the jewelers that carry our products. Kobold is different. I personally take pride in the fact that we sell the watches we make directly to the people who really depend on them - like an astronaut or an explorer. I admire these people not only for their work and expertise, but also for the positive influence their achievements have on others. It's rather uplifting, indeed."
Alongside the Polar Surveyour, a prototype of which was used on an expedition to the North Pole, Kobold released several other interesting models in 2003. The Diver's Chronograph, waterproof to 1,000 feet, is the company's first watch designed specifically for deep-sea divers. "The Diver's Chrono has already successfully passed its first test - a recent expedition along the coast of western Africa, on the wrist of one of Europe's most daring deep-sea explorers, Dave Mill. Dave is tough on watches. On one of his trips he managed to completely ruin an older diver's watch. That one wasn't made by Kobold, though." explains Michael. The perfectionistic young entrepreneur is quick to point out that the watch ceased working because Mr. Mill forgot to screw down the crown. "That little bit of forgetfulness can be quite dangerous during a prolonged underwater
expedition. Even for hobby divers it's nothing to joke about. As a result, the new Soarway line features cases that are water resistant to 30 meters (100 feet), even if the crown is not securely screwed down. It's only a small innovation, but one that goes a long way!" Another one of Kobold's innovations is the unique way the company markets its watches. Since its inception in 1998, the company has distributed its entire collection exclusively via the Internet, forgoing the traditional retail network. Hence, Kobold can offer a watch at a fraction of its normal retail cost. The company was the first in the industry to sell its watches over the Internet and has since added a print catalogue to its direct-sales efforts. "Our first watches cost as little as $500. The industry could hardly believe the quality we delivered for the price we charged. Since then we have consistently brought out watches that cost a little more but are also higher in quality. The Soarway line represents our pinnacle of quality thus far and still costs far less than if we were to use conventional distribution methods."
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Kobold Instruments Inc.
1801 Parkway View Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Tel.: 412-788-2830
Fax: 412-788-4890
info@koboldusa.com
www.koboldusa.com
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