Ever Been Conflicted About a Watch?

namor · Post by **namor** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:52 pm

Having been a frequent critic of Mike Kobold and his antics, it is unseemly to buy one of his watches. But on the other hand, I've always thought this was a great watch in design and execution.

Therefore, I'm conflicted about buying a used one - will the name on it (even in subdued print) be too much to overcome? Opinions welcome!

kobold1.jpg

Chocodove · Post by **Chocodove** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:59 pm

I love the designs and realize at this point any Kobold watch has passed through at least one owner and would not be bought direct, but personally I just couldn’t live with the name on the dial. If I already owned one prior to the meltdown it would be a different story.

I wouldn’t begrudge anyone that did, however. Unless they were an apologist.

Henryj · Post by **Henryj** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 7:18 pm

If you like the watch, you like the watch. The name on it wouldn’t bother me. Think of it as a link to the good old days when Kobold made good watches. It’s kinda like OG Anonimo.

hoppyjr · Post by **hoppyjr** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 7:30 pm

I always liked that model too and came close a couple of times, but I couldn’t own or wear anything with that name on it these days.

deepcdvr · Post by **deepcdvr** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 7:38 pm

I’ve had that exact watch and it rocks - I actually owned it last year well after I knew MK was a turd. Didn’t bug me one bit - awesome piece!

mattcantwin · Post by **mattcantwin** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:09 pm

I have a few Kobold straps; never gave a thought to swapping out the OEM buckles.

Post by **CGSshorty** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:22 pm

I still own this one. I rarely wear it. No fault of the watch.

Post by **toxicavenger** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:29 pm

You are buying a ticking timebomb. So pass.

Ryeguy · Post by **Ryeguy** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 3:23 am

I have to agree with our esteemed colleague, T-bone.

It isn’t the branding that is the issue, it is the lack of availability of replacement parts that would worry me.

dnslater · Post by **dnslater** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:29 am

At his current progression, at some point Mike is going to completely snap and commit a mass killing or something and the value of these might start shooting up?

Henryj · Post by **Henryj** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:45 am

Ryeguy wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 3:23 am
I have to agree with our esteemed colleague, T-bone.

It isn’t the branding that is the issue, it is the lack of availability of replacement parts that would worry me.

I’m thinking it’s a bog stock 7750 inside, just with flipped day and date wheels. Movement service shouldn’t be an issue. Case, bracelet, crown, and crystal might be a concern, but I don’t remember the last time I needed to replace one of them. If you ever did need something Kobold-specific fixed, I’m sure the Nepalese Tourism Board could get you fixed right up. (Too easy).

tmw · Post by **tmw** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:24 am

Wear what you like. Wear what you enjoy.

I still have kobolds....and do wear them. I enjoy wearing them - as some of these are what pushed me into this crazy hobby of ours (and how many of us connected). I don't pay attention to the name - that's just me.

In the end, the designs were great - and maybe somewhat unique still (seals, soarway divers, phantoms, polar surveyors) and not your run of a mill clones.

Terry got parts - and I have many now to serve what I have from him plus WCT. Crowns and tubes especially.

dinexus · Post by **dinexus** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:21 am

I've more or less stopped wearing my two-line Pelagos, because I kinda feel like Tudor's more or less totally lost the plot, and everyone that wears them still thinks they're part of some secret club. Guess I'm in that "your favorite band sucks" phase, but I'm too lazy to sell it.

Post by **matt.wu** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:33 am

dinexus wrote:I've more or less stopped wearing my two-line Pelagos, because I kinda feel like Tudor's more or less totally lost the plot, and everyone that wears them still thinks they're part of some secret club. Guess I'm in that "your favorite band sucks" phase, but I'm too lazy to sell it.

Hahaha sell it to me! I want to be part of the super secret club!

aikiman44 · Post by **aikiman44** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:38 am

That’s a true classic Kobold along with the others mentioned. Have no second thoughts about them.
As long as you’re not buying new...

BC1185F0-6052-40E4-B0CF-607DAF4F82F6.jpeg

dinexus · Post by **dinexus** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:09 am

matt.wu wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:33 am

dinexus wrote:I've more or less stopped wearing my two-line Pelagos, because I kinda feel like Tudor's more or less totally lost the plot, and everyone that wears them still thinks they're part of some secret club. Guess I'm in that "your favorite band sucks" phase, but I'm too lazy to sell it.
Hahaha sell it to me! I want to be part of the super secret club!

haha it's definitely showing a little age, and is nowhere near as new as the ones that Bryce tends to buy/flip

Knome · Post by **Knome** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:18 pm

Definitely buy what you like, especially since you do not technically have to ever have to deal with Kobold to own and maintain one of their watches. However, for me, the watch world is too big and there's too many cool watches out there for me to be conflicted about this brand anymore, I just move on to the many other pieces vying for my attention.

Post by **toxicavenger** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:10 pm

tmw wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:24 am
Terry got parts - and I have many now to serve what I have from him plus WCT. Crowns and tubes especially.

Is Howard still in business? Last I talked to him he was talking about closing up due to age.

Steve O. · Post by **Steve O.** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:16 pm

Even though the guy's an assclown, the name on the dial wouldn't bother me one bit. Have owned many Kobolds and would buy another (used).

tmw · Post by **tmw** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:50 pm

toxicavenger wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:10 pm

tmw wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:24 am
Terry got parts - and I have many now to serve what I have from him plus WCT. Crowns and tubes especially.
Is Howard still in business? Last I talked to him he was talking about closing up due to age.

I got some spare seal bezel parts from him in the past - and an entire "spare" WCT seal.

Don't know if he still is in business.

Post by **toxicavenger** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:51 pm

tmw wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:50 pm

toxicavenger wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:10 pm

tmw wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:24 am
Terry got parts - and I have many now to serve what I have from him plus WCT. Crowns and tubes especially.
Is Howard still in business? Last I talked to him he was talking about closing up due to age.
I got some spare seal bezel parts from him in the past - and an entire "spare" WCT seal.

Don't know if he still is in business.

Nice! Last I heard from him he was moving into a condo and didn't know if he was keeping the business. Since then he has not answered any emails.

namor · Post by **namor** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:44 pm

aikiman44 wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:38 am
That’s a true classic Kobold along with the others mentioned. Have no second thoughts about them.
As long as you’re not buying new...

BC1185F0-6052-40E4-B0CF-607DAF4F82F6.jpeg

Is this the titanium version? Always liked the looks of that one

sierra11b · Post by **sierra11b** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:53 pm

Been in the game for awhile and like these Kobold threads more and more as I never understood the appeal when the getting was good. Glad I never liked straight-lug watches.

aikiman44 · Post by **aikiman44** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 6:13 pm

namor wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:44 pm

aikiman44 wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:38 am
That’s a true classic Kobold along with the others mentioned. Have no second thoughts about them.
As long as you’re not buying new...

BC1185F0-6052-40E4-B0CF-607DAF4F82F6.jpeg
Is this the titanium version? Always liked the looks of that one

No, steel. I had a Ti version that Jack PVD’d, but those are hard to find.

gwells · Post by **gwells** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:03 pm

sierra11b wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 10, 2020 5:53 pm
Been in the game for awhile and like these Kobold threads more and more as I never understood the appeal when the getting was good. Glad I never liked straight-lug watches.

i always thought there was something interesting about them, but something about them just didn't work for me, either. which worked out well for me.

The Dive Watch Connection