L
ife-long friends and “KYBOE!” co-founders Dick Sijmons
and Kees de Bruïne (Nana called him kyboe) shared a variety of mutual interests in music, travel and fashion among
the brand.
“KYBOE!” exudes an energetic and youthful impression that
mimics the audacity of the two founders. I still remember a chance
others. Since both were also fans of wristwatches, they decided
meeting with these two gentlemen at the Baselworld fair as they
to develop a line of watches that could at once express a sense of
were first debuting their watches in 2009—two guys with a suitcase
freedom and fun, but just as importantly be an affordable fashion
full of watches sitting at the Ramada Bar dying to show anybody that
accessory that anyone could own. Inspired by the vibrant fields of
would give them the time of day their new babies. In an era prior to
flora in their Netherlands home, “KYBOE!” watches launched
a magazine like AboutTime, the staunchly high-brow corps of “jour-
in 2007.
nalists” in Basel had little time for a fashion brand that would sell for
Sijmons and de Bruïne were not watchmakers by trade, nor
was their goal to create the next great mechanical timekeeping
investment. Rather, the idea here was pure pleasure. Big and bold
$190-$530, but the owners’ enthusiasm was contagious. That and a
free beer, and you had my attention.
Once the case of watches opened before me I almost felt like
and as colorful as a kaleidoscope, the friends applied their ex-
I had to adjust my eyes. Kind of like when you first wake up in the
panded palette on a simple, solid case design that would allow the
morning and the lights turn on and it takes a moment for your eyes
bold colors and textures to create the impact and character of
to adapt. It also took me another minute or two to put aside my own
NEON COLLECTION
AboutTime Magazine | FASHION 17