A short life of the author
Michael Kobold is a German-born American watchmaker, adventurer, and writer who founded the Kobold Watch Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company specialises in mechanical expedition watches designed for extreme conditions, and has collaborated with adventurers and celebrities including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who co-designed the Kobold Polar Surveyor, and the actor James Gandolfini.
Kobold’s work sits at the intersection of horology, adventure, and craftsmanship — an area where the stories behind the watches (their design for specific expeditions, their use in extreme environments) become as important as the timepieces themselves. The tradition of exploration watches — from Rolex on Everest to Omega in space — is one of the most compelling narratives in the history of timekeeping.
Collecting Kobold
Kobold watches are collected by horology enthusiasts and adventurers. Books and publications about expedition watches, independent watchmaking, and the culture of mechanical horology represent a growing area of collecting interest among those who value craftsmanship and the marriage of design and function.
Independent watchmakers like Kobold occupy an important niche between the major Swiss houses and artisanal one-off creators, producing watches with distinctive identities and compelling origin stories.