Kobold Soarway
Diver Bronze Seal
Return Voyage For WristWatch Readers
I
n 2004 the late actor James Gandolfini met with Michael
Kobold to talk about watches and the possibility of working
together (some may remember the #1 ‘finger’ ad). Already a
watch enthusiast, Mr. Gandolfini produced a hurried sketch
on a napkin for a watch that he would like to see built. This sketch
became the start of what was later to become the Soarway Diver
Seal, Kobold’s bestselling watch.
More than a decade later, and after retiring the Seal from production following Gandolfini’s passing in 2013, Kobold announced a
commemorative edition of the Seal. Limited to 51 numbered pieces,
this special run pays homage to its creator and is the first Seal produced in-house at Kobold’s new on-site CNC facilities. It’s also the
only Kobold watch to date with a case made out of bronze.
This limited-edition Seal will not be advertised. Kobold is
offering these few examples by invitation only. Working with Michael,
we are happy to invite our WristWatch readers to contact Mr. Kobold
personally to reserve one of the 51 examples to call their own. Available
in two executions, 10 examples will bear the original prototype dials
made in 2004 and read “Proto-001” on the dial– which is the same as
James Gandolfini’s own Kobold Seal and later also gifted to a former U.S.
president. The remaining 41 watches feature dials of recent production
without the markings. The Prototype and non-prototype versions cost
$6,450 and $5,650 respectively, and arrive on a Zulu strap.
In keeping with both Michael Kobold’s and James Gandolfini’s
history of charitable work, the proceeds from the Seal Bronze will benefit
two worthwhile causes. One is a PBS documentary about the humanitarian crisis that continues in post-earthquake Nepal and the other is the
Soarway Foundation (www.soarway.org) which Kobold founded prior to
last year’s massively destructive earthquake in the same region. Run
by the former U.S. Ambassador to Nepal, Scott H. DeLisi, the Soarway Foundation performs critical work to help residents recover from
cataclysmic event. “The Kobold Seal Bronze is very close to my heart,”
Kobold says. “I invite you to contact me personally if you wish to order
this special watch.” You can reach Kobold at [email protected] and learn more about his watches and foundation at
www.koboldwatch.com
2016 | Wristwatch
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