Kobold Seal/Soarway case watches

[Jcp311]

Hey guys,

It's been forever since I've been here. I got bit by the ugly tool watch bug again recently when I saw a kobold in the wild. Does anyone know of any micros or ANY watch brand making a seal or Soarway look a like watch? The past ones that come to mind are the TC1 from Tactico/Crepas (long sold out), Armida A5 (Chris told me under no circumstances would they make another), Tourby lawless from 12+ yrs ago, WCT Diver, and not sure who else....

On principle I'd never giver MK money and I'm not sure I'd want a used Kobold.

Thanks in advance. I'm glad to see in the 10+ yrs I've been collecting this place hasn't changed.

[Chocodove]

Not sure of a Resco Patriot is considered similar enough (it was originally based on the Arctic Diver), but that’s my vote. You can likely get a brushed case if you ask them.

[Jcp311]

I've considered a patriot. They're on the list.

To add to this....Does anyone know who made the Soarway/Seal case after Fricker?

[Chocodove]

Is West Coast Time still in business? They had the 1:1 “homage” a while back using the same case.

[Jcp311]

Is West Coast Time still in business? They had the 1:1 “homage” a while back using the same case.

I think he retired and sold off his stock. I can't find where the rest of the watches went.

[CGSshorty]

Laco and Dievas made several watches using identical cases. Some of the Lacos are particularly nice.

[tmw]

The Laco is the exact same as the large soarway diver. You can find them at reasonable prices. I think it is the seven seas model. It’s in pvd but there is a non pvd version. The seven seas is damn nice.

Wcts are exactly the same as the seal and the original soarway divers. Made by fricker.

[Blaine]

Aegir CD-1/CD 2 seems very close to the Seal. I owned the latter at one point and was really a terrific model. It was their very early variant/production.

I just saw Roger’s post from WRUW Saturday (yesterday) and someone at their G2G had a black dial Aegir CD 1 …I think haha. I believe these may be long out of production. Even has the Fricker case.

Good luck with your search.


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[hoppyjr]

Didn’t WestCoastTime do a run with the original Seal case, but sterile dial?
I’m pretty sure they aren’t available new, but it’s something to watch for.

[tmw]

Didn’t WestCoastTime do a run with the original Seal case, but sterile dial?
I’m pretty sure they aren’t available new, but it’s something to watch for.

Yes. They are exactly the same other than a different dial and bezel font. Totally interchangeable. I have one of the wct seals. It’s identical. Fricker made.


There is a wct soarway diver pvd on flea bay right now.

[Jcp311]

Laco and Dievas made several watches using identical cases. Some of the Lacos are particularly nice.

Good suggestions. I like the Dievas Focal.

Looks like the Laco Seven Seas is still in stock. Tempted.

[Jcp311]

Didn’t WestCoastTime do a run with the original Seal case, but sterile dial?
I’m pretty sure they aren’t available new, but it’s something to watch for.

Yes. They are exactly the same other than a different dial and bezel font. Totally interchangeable. I have one of the wct seals. It’s identical. Fricker made.


There is a wct soarway diver pvd on flea bay right now.

If I could find a WCT brushed in decent shape I'd pull the trigger. It was always the serial dial that put me off originally.

[Jcp311]

Aegir CD-1/CD 2 seems very close to the Seal. I owned the latter at one point and was really a terrific model. It was their very early variant/production.

I just saw Roger’s post from WRUW Saturday (yesterday) and someone at their G2G had a black dial Aegir CD 1 …I think haha. I believe these may be long out of production. Even has the Fricker case.

Good luck with your search.



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Thanks. I'm afraid to ask what happened to Aegir. A cd2 was always on my list.

[tattoo chef]

Aegir CD-1/CD 2 seems very close to the Seal. I owned the latter at one point and was really a terrific model. It was their very early variant/production.

I just saw Roger’s post from WRUW Saturday (yesterday) and someone at their G2G had a black dial Aegir CD 1 …I think haha. I believe these may be long out of production. Even has the Fricker case.

Good luck with your search.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. I'm afraid to ask what happened to Aegir. A cd2 was always on my list.

Went out of business unfortunately. There’s some threads around here from Todd that detailed it, but mostly he had issues with Fricker, never wanted to go to China, attempted to machine cases himself, made some amazing buckles along the way but ultimately he had to give it all up. The brand never really took off and he had put a lot of years and labor into it, and it just came time to put it to rest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Jcp311]

Aegir CD-1/CD 2 seems very close to the Seal. I owned the latter at one point and was really a terrific model. It was their very early variant/production.

I just saw Roger’s post from WRUW Saturday (yesterday) and someone at their G2G had a black dial Aegir CD 1 …I think haha. I believe these may be long out of production. Even has the Fricker case.

Good luck with your search.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. I'm afraid to ask what happened to Aegir. A cd2 was always on my list.

Went out of business unfortunately. There’s some threads around here from Todd that detailed it, but mostly he had issues with Fricker, never wanted to go to China, attempted to machine cases himself, made some amazing buckles along the way but ultimately he had to give it all up. The brand never really took off and he had put a lot of years and labor into it, and it just came time to put it to rest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

That's brutal. I wish Todd all the best.

I wonder who's doing stuff similar to fricker these days? Like if one of us was crazy enough to start a high end tool watch brand where would one go?

[hoppyjr]

Aegir CD-1/CD 2 seems very close to the Seal. I owned the latter at one point and was really a terrific model. It was their very early variant/production.

I just saw Roger’s post from WRUW Saturday (yesterday) and someone at their G2G had a black dial Aegir CD 1 …I think haha. I believe these may be long out of production. Even has the Fricker case.

Good luck with your search.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. I'm afraid to ask what happened to Aegir. A cd2 was always on my list.

Went out of business unfortunately. There’s some threads around here from Todd that detailed it, but mostly he had issues with Fricker, never wanted to go to China, attempted to machine cases himself, made some amazing buckles along the way but ultimately he had to give it all up. The brand never really took off and he had put a lot of years and labor into it, and it just came time to put it to rest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

That's brutal. I wish Todd all the best.

I wonder who's doing stuff similar to fricker these days? Like if one of us was crazy enough to start a high end tool watch brand where would one go?

Sinn

Guinand

Muhle Glasshute

[Jcp311]

Aegir CD-1/CD 2 seems very close to the Seal. I owned the latter at one point and was really a terrific model. It was their very early variant/production.

I just saw Roger’s post from WRUW Saturday (yesterday) and someone at their G2G had a black dial Aegir CD 1 …I think haha. I believe these may be long out of production. Even has the Fricker case.

Good luck with your search.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. I'm afraid to ask what happened to Aegir. A cd2 was always on my list.

Went out of business unfortunately. There’s some threads around here from Todd that detailed it, but mostly he had issues with Fricker, never wanted to go to China, attempted to machine cases himself, made some amazing buckles along the way but ultimately he had to give it all up. The brand never really took off and he had put a lot of years and labor into it, and it just came time to put it to rest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

That's brutal. I wish Todd all the best.

I wonder who's doing stuff similar to fricker these days? Like if one of us was crazy enough to start a high end tool watch brand where would one go?

Sinn

Guinand

Muhle Glasshute

They'd do private label? Guinand makes sense, but Sinn?

[hoppyjr]

Aegir CD-1/CD 2 seems very close to the Seal. I owned the latter at one point and was really a terrific model. It was their very early variant/production.

I just saw Roger’s post from WRUW Saturday (yesterday) and someone at their G2G had a black dial Aegir CD 1 …I think haha. I believe these may be long out of production. Even has the Fricker case.

Good luck with your search.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. I'm afraid to ask what happened to Aegir. A cd2 was always on my list.

Went out of business unfortunately. There’s some threads around here from Todd that detailed it, but mostly he had issues with Fricker, never wanted to go to China, attempted to machine cases himself, made some amazing buckles along the way but ultimately he had to give it all up. The brand never really took off and he had put a lot of years and labor into it, and it just came time to put it to rest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

That's brutal. I wish Todd all the best.

I wonder who's doing stuff similar to fricker these days? Like if one of us was crazy enough to start a high end tool watch brand where would one go?

Sinn

Guinand

Muhle Glasshute

They'd do private label? Guinand makes sense, but Sinn?

I didn’t read it the way you intended.

It seems a hard road to start a brand and have it really take root. When Matt started Ares we had a conversation and I was truly happy he was giving it a go. I believed, as I’m sure he did too, that it would be a great product and have longevity.

I can’t say what his status or longevity will be in the watch business, but based on the post-initial-year or so of reviews, including many of our own experiences here, it may not be as intended. Maybe I’m wrong.

I think the only profitable way forward is to go made in China, but have a strong enough relationship with the maker to assure some proprietary and protected design elements. Good luck with that.

It all seems to much trouble, which takes me back to my original reply:

Buy a Sinn, Guinand, or MG and enjoy.