WWR# 24: Kobold Soarway GMT

I really find the Watch Snob column over at askmen.com very entertaining and insightful at the same time as we see a character, no one knows if he's real or  just another creation, who lives higher in the food chain and basks in a lifestyle where nothing is acceptable unless it is haute.  And while so, he accepts questions from readers asking about his opinion on advice from the lowest forms of watches to haute horlogerie.  But something new and quite very interesting was his column a couple of weeks ago.  It was a watch challenge from a watch manufacturer himself.  This is quite the first time that a watch manufacturer has communicated with the Watch Snob aside from the askmen readers.

That company was Kobold, who is obviously founded by Michael Kobold.  What was the challenge?  well basically Mr. Kobold wrote a letter to the Watch Snob telling him some surprising information about his company and his watches and gladly sending the snob an actual Kobold watch for some scrutiny and criticsm. That is one bold step I would say but goes to show how confident Mr. Kobold really is with his creations.

Well, I know someone would hint me at the back and say that this could be one whole marketing stunt, but none the less, the letter that Mr. Kobold sent made me change the whole impression of what Kobold watches really are.  You can check out his letter here.

After reading the lengthy letter, I have to say only a few of these types of companies really do what they are passionate about.  I mean, I am passionately sure that in majority of watch manufacturers in the market right now have hugely big profit margin with insanely prices that even an expert cost accountant could not justify, to where only a high profile businessman could just give you a smirk.  Is there really a watch out there where we could physically get our money's worth?

So for my 24th WWR, it's non other than the Kobold Soarway GMT watch.  Aside from the striking good looks that pointed out to me while I was looking at their line up, the totally of how Kobold manufactures their cases in USA with great quality and powered by a bulletproof swiss ETA movement and at a price that normally would come out a few times over is a great deal itself.

More on the watch, I like the sunray textured blu dial with an unmarked bezel with only a lume pip at 12'o clock for a classy function for marking elapsed time.  And paired with a brown leather strap is somewhat awkwardly matched but I think came out really great.  and a GMT hand for those who want to know the home time the old fashioned way.  And of course, change the strap for rubber or nylon and you can dive it in with its 500m WR rating.  I have also attached some pictures of another version of the Soarway GMT with a grey bezel matched with a grey zulu strap, strikingly calm and military cool I have to say.  Both watches are a sure winner.

Technical specs:
Case Diameter of about 46mm w/o crown, stainless steel
24 mm lug width
500m WR
Movement ETA 2893-A2, Automatic, Hacking, Date, GMT, 40hr PR, INCABLOC Shock Resistant System
Antimagnetic 80,000 a/m


Priced at $4,550, I say value is claimed to your it should be.

I'm still looking forward for the results of the challenge but I'm confident that even though the Watch Snob might have something bad to say about it, well he ain't a snob just for nothing, kobold watches will be at the higher end of our scores for the average men that compose most of the watch wearing market everywhere.

And, I would like to end this quote from Oscar Wilde, that would gladly fit our WWR topic for today.

"Nowadays, people know the price of everything and the value of nothing"

WWR #23: Citizen Eco-drive Watch BV1060-07E

Many watch freaks don't like quartz powered watches, they have no life, soul, nothing romantic about the ticking seconds hand and totally boring. But I'm not doing thus do just for crazy collectors like me, but also lots of watch consumers out there who seriously need a watch and not rely everything on the digits on the iphone. Every reasonable ans respectable man must ans I say must have a watch strapped to his wrist. For this week, I am recommending a watch that you can literally and practically say the only watch you will ever need putting aside a collectors or fashionable stance. I'm talking about this simple yet classically designed Eco-drive from Citizen. Look at it, I swear it looks or would want to have an automatic mechanical movement inside it and the small second hand sweeping through with about 6 ticks per second, but no no no. As long as the sun shines,this baby will give you the time as accurate as you will ever need it to be. A true maintenance free watch that you just set it and forget it. Well adjust the date every two months actually and everything is done. From Citizen, this will cost you $199 and that's it, you have a dependable and beautiful watch that will fit in every occasion or attire you desire. 43mm case size with leather strap, date function and classic sub-dial second hand at 6, you can never go wrong.

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