TESTIMONIALS

In 2025, Kobold began exposing the 11+ year-long U.S. Government-sponsored sabotage activities directed at Kobold, the Nepal Fire Truck Expedition and against Michael Kobold. 

The sabotage efforts started in 2013 and include agents of the U.S. Department of Justice stealing over 150 customers' watches, all of which were replaced at the expense of Kobold. It includes seizing payments to vendors, shipments from vendors and shipments to our customers and to Kobold distributors. 

In addition to the above-mentioned theft of Kobold property and customers' watches, dozens of brand new Kobold watches shipped in perfect condition after passing quality control tests were tampered with between when Kobold shipped them and when they reached Kobold customers. All of these watches were replaced with new watches and hand-delivered to ensure they reached their destination in perfect condition. 

The sabotage also includes agents of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service having in-person meetings with Kobold brand ambassadors, including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the Gandolfini family, Martin Hartley, as well as longtime Koboldians such as President Bill Clinton, actor Malcolm McDowell and other customers in order to convince them not to follow through with planned purchases of Kobold watches or promotion thereof. All of the above-referenced individuals remain supporters of Kobold to this day.

The years-long U.S. Government efforts to drive Kobold out of business also includes wire transfers to Kobold from customer who refused to comply with the U.S. Government's request from being canceled. (One longtime Kobold customer reported receiving repeated fraud warnings and resent the wire four times until it finally went through). 

Why would the U.S. Government go to such extraordinary lengths for so many years to attempt to destroy what was once one of the most successful privately-owned watch companies?

Because in the course of over a decade of working in Nepal, during which he worked on freelance intelligence assignments on behalf of the U.S. Government, Michael Kobold received evidence detailing the CIA's involvement in the massacre of Nepal's royal family in 2001, as well as the CIA's instructions to its Indian counterpart, RAW, to enact the secret economic blockade against Nepal in 2015/16. 

Kobold also came into the possession of recorded testimony from officials at the U.S. Embassy Kathmandu stating independently that the then-U.S. ambassador - a rival of another ex-U.S. ambassador who runs the Kobold-founded Soarway Foundation (now Engage Nepal)- used his power to engage in a sex-for-visas scheme involving young female Tibetan refugees.

Despite the efforts to destroy Kobold, the brand continues to thrive, releasing three new models in 2025, all of which feature the iconic watch case designed by the late master watchmaker Gerd-R. Lang, one of Kobold's founding fathers and longtime mentor to Michael Kobold.  

Above: Before the U.S. Government began its sabotage campaign, Kobold manufactured special purpose watches (popularly known as spy watches) for the CIA and the FBI.


In 2025, the first testimonial we received is from Andre Pankiw of Toronto, Canada:


My journey of becoming a Koboldian

"I honestly had a moment where I did not think this day would come. 

The events that lead up to this watch being on my wrist have been almost comical at times.

Little history…..I have been a watch nut for ages…I have a small collection, and for a long time perusing the various watch community messageboards was my passion. Just seeing all the options out there was thrilling enough. It was on one of these watch boards that I first learned of Kobold. I was immediately hooked on the Soarway Diver and the Phantom. Unfortunately, these timepieces were beyond my means at the time. 

Move forward a few years, and I was once again looking at the watch forums, and was reminded of Kobold. I then found a YouTube review of a Kobold watch. The review was not positive at all. The reviewer complained about the quality of the watch. None of this made sense based on what I knew of the brand. I decided to investigate and followed Kobold on Instagram. 

Michael Kobold was posting numerous stories unrelated to watches to the official Kobold Instagram account. I found these stories highly entertaining, especially the ones related to Michael's work in Nepal. Michael and I connected in a few of my comments and I found that this broke the ice. 

In 2021, when Kobold's Nepal Firetruck Expedition was once again in its planning stages, I decided to support the cause and ordered the special digital watch being sold to help fund the expedition. Michael reached out to thank me personally for my support. I mentioned the YouTube review I'd seen. Michael called me and explained the internal sabotage he'd dealt with over the years. He said this was part of a U.S. Government-sponsored effort to discredit him and his company. He also explained the countermeasures he and his new team had taken to secure the viability of Kobold. I was amazed at all he and the new team had done to bring the brand back to its former glory. After the call, I was left feeling proud to be a supporter, and appreciated the relationships Michael was trying to rebuild.

Some time went by when Michael reached out and asked me if I would consider getting a true Kobold watch. I told him of my love of the Phantom. He gave me a brief sales pitch - one of the most reliable and durable Kobold watches - and so I was quickly sold on the idea of adding this timepiece to my collection. I placed my order, but with the Nepal Firetruck Expedition meanwhile in full swing, I was not expecting to get the watch for a while. However, a few months later I received the good news that the watch was on its way. It was late 2022, and this is where my personal Kobold adventure began! 

A delivery attempt was made by the postal service but I wasn't able to receive the shipment, which meanwhile was back with Canada Post. Some time passed before being returned to sender - the Kobold distributor in Connecticut. I called Michael, who assured me that when the watch arrived back at his US operations, it would be shipped back out to my new address. 

After the watch did not arrive at its point of origin in Connecticut, I opened up several cases with Canada Post. They stated the package was back in the hands of USPS. At the same time, Kobold's distributor in Connecticut opened up a case with the U.S. Postal Service. Neither Canada Post or USPS were able to give any precise information about the whereabouts of the shipment, other than stating that tracking just seemed to have stopped with no further info. I opened up more trace requests, but the package had just disappeared. I was disheartened at this, thinking my watch was gone forever - which it was!

A year and a half later, I had given up hope of ever receiving a Kobold Phantom and just chalked it up to bad luck. To my complete surprise, Michael once again demonstrated to me the lengths he would go to in order to rebuild his brand. I received a call from him notifying me that my original watch going missing was most likely yet another attempt to destroy his business. He gave me a detailed account of how the U.S. Government had seized a number of watches and that Kobold had replaced each lost watch. Then Michael told me that a replacement watch was being sent to me. A brand new Kobold Phantom Chronograph would soon be on its way. 

While this was great news for me, once I got the tracking information, I noticed that the watch has been sent to my old address. This time I had managed to catch it, and get it updated, but true to form, what can go wrong does, Mr. Murphy being alive and well. The courier delivered the shipment to my old address. While I was raising a stink with the courier about not following the instructions, Michael had been in contact with the homeowner. Michael flipped me the contact info, and I was able to arrange a pick up of the watch from my former home. Finally the package was in my hands!!!! 

The Kobold Phantom Chronograph is a great timepiece. I think the watch has only been off my wrist for one day since it arrived. The emotional strain of this adventure has taken a toll on me. I probably have less hair and more grey then when this adventure began. But I am now a proud and happy Kobold owner. I hope this is just the beginning of my Kobold collection. 

Andre Pankiw"

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Pete Sinclair, a former U.S. intelligence officer, writes:

 

"This is a story of perseverance and the effort it takes to do the right thing. The photo is of a brand new Kobold Phantom Chronograph, currently ticking away on my wrist.

I bought my original Phantom in 2008. That watch was with me for eight years. Those eight years included both the worst and best of times.

Between three deployments, eight countries, one trip around the world (over 160+ days), and going to other places I can’t mention, the watch picked up some subdued charm and patina.

The watch didn’t hang out in a watch case, it was used. Worn with love, but not worn out. After eight years, it was time to send in the watch for a minor repair and an overdue cleaning; unbeknownst to me, that was during a long series of unfortunate events befell the company.

One of those events was the watch disappearing into the ether. I was more than a little fired up and disappointed about the loss. That is an understatement. Life goes on. Years passed and I often thought about that Phantom.

When I heard that Michael was hard at work repairing the damage at Kobold, I was quietly rooting for him. Then, one day, Michael reached out to me and offered to send a brand new Phantom as a replacement for my original Phantom. I was amazed and had to sit down to let this news sink in. You can call it “doing the right thing” or “restoring some balance” in the world, but either way I was (and still am) grateful.

My plan for the original Phantom was for it to be an heirloom and for it to capture some of the crazy adventures I had. The new Phantom will be an heirloom for my children and serves as a reminder to them to do the right thing, no matter how much time it takes. To Michael: Thank you again for the watch and for one heck of a story!

If you want to know more, here is Michael's story in his own words."

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Steve Feng is a longtime Koboldian who owns a car repair business in New Jersey:

My Kobold Experience


"Many years ago, I think in 2008, I ordered my first watch from Kobold. The Phantom Chronograph is still my go-to watch all these years later. Knowing my passion for Land Rover vehicles (I drive an old Defender), my wife then found a pre-owned special edition Kobold Polar Surveyor Chronograph with the Land Rover decal emblazoned on the dial and back. I had to have this watch! During a phone call with Michael Kobold I learned that the day-night indicator at the 9 o'clock position meant that this version of the Polar Surveyor was quite rare. I felt it was a treat to speak with the man who designed the watch, an experience that made owning this watch even more special.

In 2022 the Polar Surveyor required maintenance and so I mailed it to Kobold in Connecticut. Michael Kobold personally phoned me again, this time to inform me that my watch would be overhauled and that it would be returned before long. Like the last time we spoke years ago, Michael and I just clicked. To my surprise, he remembered our original conversation, including details like the fact that I drive an original Defender. I was amazed. However, our next call was quite unsettling. 

The watchmaker had tampered with my Polar Surveyor. Because mine had the day-night indicator it could not be replaced. Michael informed me that he suspected that the watchmaker, a man named William Werner, had been sent by U.S. Government agents to infiltrate Kobold, which was at the time in the process of being rebuilt. To me this sounded bizarre, but Michael assured me that he had been tipped off about this watchmaker, and that he had sabotaged several other Polar Surveyor Chronographs with the day-night indicator. According to Michael, the watchmaker had also stolen tens of thousands of dollars worth of Kobold watch parts. I told Michael not to worry about me and that I trusted him. Our previous interactions gave me a good gut feeling. I instinctively felt like he would come through to remedy the situation. 

Sure enough, a year later Michael phoned me to say that a brand new Polar Surveyor Chronograph with day-night indicator was on its way to me. He had kept a secret stash in hiding in his native Germany. Michael told me that the sabotage efforts specifically aimed at watches that the U.S. Government agents believed Kobold could not replace. Then he told me that William Werner was in prison for fraud and that he assumed Werner had been released temporarily just to assist in the sabotage against Kobold. In the meantime, Michael had found new watchmakers. In our most recent call, Michael explained that one of these watchmakers confided in him that he had been approached by U.S. agents with the request to not work with Kobold. According to Michael, this was the first recorded witness statement proving that the United States Government was behind the sabotage that befell Kobold. 

I was astonished by all of these developments. On the one hand, I was very relieved to have a brand new Polar Surveyor on my wrist. On the other hand I was dismayed that so much unnecessary drama had occurred. In all my dealings with Kobold, I have always received more than I paid for, including in my most recent transaction. In 2024 ordered a custom Soarway Diver and Michael added a stainless steel bracelet at no additional cost. I was surprised to receive the watch on the bracelet, especially because it looks even nicer than on a strap. 

My collection includes many fine watches. However, I find that I use my Kobold watches most often, especially to go shooting. I am a mechanical engineer and can attest to the fact that Kobold watches are really rugged tool watches. More than that, they tell a story of overcoming adversity. Best of all, over the years, I have made a new friend. Thank you Michael and everyone at Kobold for always coming through and Godspeed!

Steve Feng
Tenafly, NJ"


[William Werner is an alias used by Werner Janer. Below is a link to an Associated Press story covering Janer's 2018 arrest.

https://apnews.com/general-news-19b0da8c6eb346138ba034b2a6d957b6]


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Then there's the story of Matt Haradon. We tried for almost one year to contact this customer. Perseverance pays off, it would seem, because now Matt is a happy Koboldian:



"I would like to share my Kobold story. In December of 2016 I ordered a Phantom Chronograph. I never got it. Over the years I cycled through anger (both at myself for being conned, and at Kobold), regret, and resignation. A few dozen emails to Kobold yielded no results, and I didn't have the time or energy to keep trying.

Flash forward 5 years! In the meantime I had moved to Europe and in the summer of 2022 moved back to the US. In the middle of this chaos, I was surprised to see that Michael Kobold had viewed my LinkedIn profile. That was notable because a lot of time had gone by since 2016. Michael and I had never met, so the only reason he would know my name is because I'd ordered a watch from his company. I didn't understand why he would look me up on LinedIn, so I ignored it.

Then a week or so later I got a ping in Messages on my European number, from someone claiming to be Michael Kobold, asking if this was Matt Haradon. I ignored that one too. A short time later Michael pinged me a third time, on What'sApp. This time I figured it had to be him, so I responded. By text I told Michael I'd never gotten the Phantom, and would still love to, sent him the invoice, etc. Michael immediately responded with an apology, and promise to send the Phantom to me in the US.

Weirdly, I wasn't skeptical - who after 5 years exerts so much effort to contact an ex-customer to promise something they won't do? And sure enough, about 3 weeks later, a gorgeous Kobold Phantom Black Ops Chronograph appeared at my house. I literally haven't taken it off since. It's that stunning.

During our texts Michael and I had a short exchange about karma - taking responsibility for and trying to make things right in one's life. It's a topic Michael obviously thinks about. It's a topic I also think about for living my life. He didn't hide behind making me prove anything - he just asked if it was me, whether I got the watch, then he sent one. So why write this? I want folks to know that Michael took responsibility and made things good. He found my contact info, persisted in contacting me when I didn't respond, then sent me a watch I am sure he made no profit from. No hassles, no complaining, he just sent the watch.

The word that keeps coming to my mind is grace - the day that watch arrived in the mail some grace entered my life - the grace, after a long arc, of a promise kept, and the grace of a beautiful time instrument that makes me happy to wear every day. I'm grateful for that.

So what's the lesson? If you can get your hands on a Phantom, I highly recommend it. You will have a beautiful precision timepiece on your wrist. And you join in a story of grace as Michael continues to rebuild his company.

Thank you, Michael and best wishes.

Sincerely,
Matt Haradon"


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From the world of finance, an ex-Wall Street banker, Kevin O'Reilly, wrote:

"I have known Michael Kobold for over ten years, and my relationship with his company at times has seemed like an adventure. I first discovered Kobold whilst I was stationed in Shanghai. After reading an article about the company, I contacted Mike and exchanged pleasantries. When I returned to the US, I ordered a Kobold watch, which was delivered promptly in person a week later in NYC by Mike himself. It also came with some excellent ‘swag’, which I believe was commonplace for Koboldians back then.


The watch was handsome, ran to a COSC spec, and I enjoyed talking timepieces and adventures with Mike when we met in person. I was lucky to visit the Galapagos a few weeks later and give the Soarway a little adventure. The watch was fine, but as stated in the Kobold history, there were a few issues with early cases. Whilst the watch held up beautifully in diving and a few other physical (read clumsy) and risky (read stupid) endeavours, it developed minor fogging, which Mike was keen to remedy. There was a recall of the cases, and I was asked to wait, which I had no problem doing as I owned other watches, including Patek Philippe and other luxury brands. But I wanted my Kobold timepiece back, a Soarway. They look big but wear a medium and feel ‘light’. They also look outstanding.

During this time, I ordered a second watch. Mike had since departed to Nepal, so I dealt with the staff members who went on to sabotage Kobold. I ordered a unique modification which I was told would take quite some time, so I waited..and waited and was more than patient. In the interim, I had exchanged notes with Mike, but the replies were intermittent as he was busy on a humanitarian mission in Nepal and assured me his staff were doing their best. Given our relationship and my busy life, I let time pass. I had the luxury of being able to wear my other watches, and so before I knew it, time had flown. Neither watch came back to me! 

Like a few other folks, I was very angry and sent aggressive emails to the company and Mike himself. Eventually, I had to write it off as a bad commercial experience. Life goes on, and it was better to try and take something positive away from the whole experience.

At the start of 2023, I received a long email from Mike explaining what had happened. He gave a detailed account of my watches and company correspondence regarding them while he was in Nepal, including internal emails that evidenced how the former staff had promised him that my watches would be sent, only to then not send them to me. Mike explained his company had been damaged by these persons and that loyal customers had suffered extensively because of their nefarious activities. However, he also stated he had been rebuilding the company and was looking to make amends with anyone who did not receive a watch they paid for, or their existing watches lost in their repair centre. 

To say I was surprised at this news would be an understatement. I would have thought he moved on and either started again or focused entirely on Nepal-related work. Nevertheless, I appreciated Mike's reaching out and his sincere apologies, so I offered him a second chance on the watches because, despite the time, my old anger and what I thought I had lost monetarily, I still wanted a Kobold watch! Put one on your wrist, and you will feel that way too.

A few days later, I received two brand new Kobold watches: A Phantom Safari Chronograph and an Arctic Diver in polished titanium and on a rubber strap. I am thrilled with both watches. The finishes are great, the designs eye-catching, and the performance is +/- 1/2 seconds around the COSC specs after two months of wear. Besides their daily wear, they have not been tested hard apart from in crossfit sessions in the gym, some roughhousing, and for fun in the deep freeze for the Arctic Diver for 24 hours (it was fine, but I had to check).

Every day I thoroughly enjoy one or the other of these watches, and I look forward to new adventures to put them through their paces. I am happy that Mike finally made good on his promise and that the company is working hard to repair its reputation. I highly recommend Kobold if you wish to 'Embrace Adventure' and seek a unique and sturdy timepiece.

Kevin O’Reilly
Berlin, 4/12/23"

 

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Captain Vincente Osorio of the Gardena Police Department in Southern California also ordered a Kobold Phantom Black Ops Chronograph:

"Finally received my Kobold Phantom Tactical Chronograph from Michael Kobold yesterday! I have a modest watch collection and each one is unique, but this one really has a story behind it. I first reached out to Kobold with interest in their watches back in 2013.

The watches intrigued me as they were made in America and had a pretty good following (president, military, police, etc). I placed an order for this watch in 2015, made payments, and waited (and waited). I was later contacted by the company's founder and owner, Michael Kobold and he went on to tell me the story of how his company had been eviscerated by internal theft and employee fraud while he was away in Nepal. (Look up the story. He's written a lot on it and it's crazy!)

Michael assured me that would make good on all orders for his watches, no matter how long it took. He maintained regular contact with me via phone, email, and messenger while he was getting his company back on its feet.

Fast forward almost six years and the Phantom is here! The watch is high quality and a great addition to the collection. I had a couple of questions about stuff that I thought would come with the watch and assured me that the items would follow and that he just didn't want me to wait any longer for my watch. I don't know of any other watch company you would get this type of treatment by the owner of the company! I'll be a Koboldian for life!"

Captain Vincente Osorio's Kobold Phantom Black Ops Chronograph

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Julie Welter, a highly successful real-estate agent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania writes, and a classmate of Kobold founder Michael Kobold in middle and high school at the Frankfurt International School in Oberursel, Germany, writes on Christmas Eve 2024:

"I’m so excited! I ordered a custom watch back in 2021. Due to insane issues out of Kobold's control, it took until today to have this watch hand delivered to me. The face is actually a small slab taken out of Mt Everest. Absolutely love it. Thanks to my old friend from FIS days Michael Kobold for hooking me up! May need to wrap this under the tree!" 

Back story: Julie Welter is an old classmate from our days at the Frankfurt International School in Oberursel, Germany. Julie ordered a Kobold Himalayan Lynx Everest Edition with a diamond bezel. After sending the payment for the bezel to a vendor of 20+ years, the vendor acknowledged receipt of the payment and promised to send the diamond case.

Then the FBI seized the payment and the diamond case, causing substantial financial damage through yet another act of sabotage. For 11+ years, the U.S. Department of Justice has been trying to stop Kobold. Why? Because through my work in Nepal I came into possession of secret information that is highly damaging to U.S. strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

This information will be published as soon as the second fire truck arrives in Nepal (it's currently on its way). Embrace Adventure! -MK


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Harald near Bonn, Germany writes:

Meine Erfahrungen mit Michael Kobold und seiner wunderbaren Uhrenmarke.

Eingangs kurz warum ich das hier poste: Weil Kobold ein feiner Kerl ist.

Ich halte mich kurz.

Ich bestellte eine Kobold Phantom Black Ops, einen technischen Chronographen.

Diese Uhr ging beim Transport "verloren".

Ich war richtig sauer.

Michael erzählte mir am Telefon das sowas schon öfters passierte, und er einen Verdacht habe.

Ich war natürlich skeptisch, denn das hörte sich alles sehr nach Verschwörungstheorie an.

Er versicherte mir allerdings das er sich bemühe, dass jeder seiner Kunden doch noch seine Uhr bekommt, egal was es kostet.

Mal sehen dachte ich, weiterhin skeptisch. Doch ich muss sagen: So war es auch bei mir.

Michael Kobold setzte sich kurzerhand ins Auto fuhr über 700 Kilometer und überbrachte mir persönlich eine wunderschöne Phantom Black Ops.

Das muss man sich einmal vorstellen…er kommt persönlich vorbei.

Wahrscheinlich hatte Michael Kobold genug davon das man ihm mit Absicht sein Geschäft zerstören will, wie ich heute denke.

Ich war danach total begeistert, von Michael und seiner tollen Uhrenmarke.

Bei unserem Treffen haben wir uns sehr gut unterhalten. Michael hat ein wirklich interessantes Leben mit natürlich auch vielen Höhen und Tiefen. 

Dadurch das er viel Zeit damit verbrachte, die dunklen Machenschaften einer sehr mächtigen Organisation aufzudecken, und nebenbei trotz aller Widrigkeiten Feuerwehrautos nach Nepal zu liefern, wurde seine kleine Uhrenmarke von Sabotage heimgesucht.

Michael Kobold hat darauf reagiert und stellt trotzdem wunderschöne Uhren her - Uhren, die auch letztendlich beim Kunden ankommen.

In der TV-Serie “24” durfte Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) eine Phantom von Kobold tragen. Ich jetzt auch, voller Stolz!

Die Kobold Phantom ist echt eine tolle Uhr.

Wer etwas äußerst seltenes und hochwertiges besitzen will, für den könnten die Kobold Uhren die richtigen sein.

Ich habe nur eines zu bemängeln....wann kommt der Film "Die Abeteuer eines Kobold"?

Nochmals vielen Dank an Michael Kobold

PS: Es wird nicht meine letzte Kobold Uhr sein.

 


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Above: Michael Kobold and friend/customer/Koboldian Martin Mueller. 


The most detailed testimonial was provided by longtime Koboldian Martin Mueller from Bavaria, Germany. Martin writes: 

Mein Steiniger Kobold Leidensweg Mit Vielen Ups And Downs Und Einem Späten Aber Sehr Gutem Ende 

Im Jahre 2016 wurde ich zum ersten Mal auf Kobold watches aufmerksam.

Kiefer Sutherland aka Jack Bauer in der TV Serie 24 trug eine Kobold Phantom! Okay cool, dachte ich, die wäre was, denn sie erfüllt meine Vorliebe für Uhren mit Krone und Drücker links. Und damit begann meine unglaubliche Kobold Geschichte.

Die Uhr beschlug beim ersten Kontakt mit Wasser. Also ging die Phantom im November 2017 zu Kobold. Mehrmalige Versuche der Kontaktaufname per Telefon und Email an Mitarbeiter von Kobold USA waren erfolglos, also kontaktierte ich im Februar 2018 Michael Kobold direkt per Instagram und schilderte mein Problem.

Michael rief mich umgehen an - aus Kathmandu. Er schilderte mir das seine Firma von Sabotage-Aktionen heimgesucht wurde. Infolgedessen war meine Uhr von einem ehemaligen Kobold-Mitarbeiter gestohlen und später von der Polizei sichergestellt und schliesslich an Michael Kobold ausgehändigt worden. Am 1. Mai 2019 hatte ich dann endlich meine Phantom Black Ops wieder zurück. Nach 18 Monaten des Hoffen und Bangen. Diese wiedererhaltene Phantom ist bis heute eine meiner Lieblingsuhren.

Zwischenzeitlich hatte ich allen Schwierigkeiten zum Trotz das Verlangen mir einen neuen Kobold Polar Surveyor Chronograph zu bestellen. Ich nahm an das Kobold nicht mehr lange bestehen würde, aber als ein ehemaliger Kobold Mitarbeiter mir eine dieser Uhren zu einem äusserst günstigen Preis anbot, schlug ich zu und überwies an eben diesen Ex-Mitarbeiter 2019 einen stattlichen Betrag. Diese Uhr erhielt ich nie. Das Geld habe ich von diesem Ex-Mitarbeiter genauso wenig zurück erhalten wie eine Antwort auf meine Emails.

Ich schilderte Michael Kobold diese Situation, der mir erklärte das dieser Ex-Mitarbeiter Teil der Sabotage-Aktion gegen Kobold USA war. Michael meinte er würde den Schaden wieder gutmachen. Ich war über diese Aussage doch recht verwundert, denn das Geld für die Polar Surveyor hat ja der Ex-Mitarbeiter erhalten, nicht Michael. Das war im April 2020.

Im Januar 2021 informierte mich Michael Kobold das er dabei sei den Kobold Polar Surveyor Chronograph wieder aufzulegen - mein absoluter Kobold Favorit!

Nach vielen Gesprächen und Nachrichten bestellte ich mir im März 2021 eine Sonderanfertigung des Kobold Polar Surveyor Chronographen, mit Krone und Drückern links. Wie versprochen verrechnete Michael genau den Betrag den ich Jahre zuvor an den ehemaligen Kobold Mitarbeiter verloren hatte. Ich zahlte also lediglich den Differenzbetrag an Kobold.   

Eine Kobold Seal Shrek bestellte ich auch im März 2021, natürlich mit Krone links.
Danach erhielt ich etliche Leihuhren von Kobold, um die Wartezeit zu überbrücken bis meine Custom-Uhren fertig wurden.

 Zwischenzeitlich kam ich dann auf die Idee einen zweiten Custom Kobold Polar Surveyor Chronographen zu bestellen, wieder mit Krone links. Bloß dieses Mal sollte das Gehäuse aus Titan sein.

Für meine Phantom bot mir Michael Kobold ein Upgrade an - sie sollte auch ein neues Titan Gehäuse erhalten. Gesagt getan, alles lief reibungslos und ich bekam die Kobold Phantom Black Ops Titanium am 10 Juli 2021 von Michael Kobold persönlich geliefert. Woohoooo!! Sehr, sehr cool. 

Am 24.12.2021 -Heiligabend!- dann die persönliche Lieferung durch Michael Kobold zweier Custom Kobold Polar Surveyors zum testen. Einige sehr coole Weihnachtsgeschenke erhielt ich auch.

Über diese Lieferung und den persönlichen Service habe ich mich super gefreut, insbesondere über den von Michael Kobold selbstgemachten Christmas-Pudding (für jemanden der keinen Alkohol trinkt, schüttet er lustigerweise umso mehr davon in seine Nachspeisen, die er dann an seine Lieblingskunden verteilt). Die Uhren liefen einwandfrei.

Also bestelle ich mir im Januar 2022 eine Kobold Seal Tactical - die Uhr die James Gandolfini designed hat. Im gleichen Monat wurde diese Uhr an mich verschickt. Kurz darauf blieb sie einfach stehen und wurde an Kobold zurückgeschickt.

Michael Kobold war sehr verwundert darüber und versicherte mir das er die Uhr vor Auslieferung persönlich am Handgelenk getestet hatte. Er meinte er würde die Uhr durchschauen lassen und sie nochmal tragen um sich zu vergewissern das sie perfekt läuft.

Im Mai 2022 wurde die Seal an mich zurückgeschickt, doch nun war sie undicht und von mir umgehend wieder an Kobold zurück geschickt. Michael meinte das könne nicht sein, er hätte die Seal vor dem Versand persönlich auf Wasserdichtigkeit getestet. 

Im Sommer 2022 erhielt ich dann zwei Sonderanfertigungen der Kobold Polar Surveyor per Paketsendung. Nur ein paar Tage später funktionierten diese Uhren auch nicht mehr, also gingen sie wieder zurück an Kobold.

Zwischenzeitlich erhielt ich per Paket meine Kobold Seal Tactical wieder zurück. Michael Kobold hatte die defekte Uhr ausgetauscht und mir eine brandneue geschickt. Die neue Uhr hatte dasselbe Problem wie die erste Seal. Also schickte ich die Uhr wieder zurück an Kobold. Sehr ärgerlich!

Im September 2023 erhielt ich eine Sendung von Kobold mit einer weiteren Polar Surveyor. Auch diese Uhr funktionierte auch nicht und ging wieder zurück. 

Daraufhin erhielt ich nach einigen Monaten wieder eine Sendung von Kobold, diesmal mit drei Uhren die allesamt nicht richtig liefen. Michael Kobold versicherte mir das er wie immer alle drei Uhren persönlich getragen und getestet hatte, bevor sie an mich verschickt wurden, und schlug ein persönliches Treffen vor.

Am 25 Januar 2024 trafen wir uns bei mir in der Nähe zum Mittagessen. Michael erklärte mir das es vor der Sabotage seiner Uhrenmarke nie irgendwelche Probleme mit Uhren gegeben hätte, doch seitdem die Sabotage-Aktion anfing würden des Öfteren Uhren, die bei Kobold einwandfrei liefen und selbst im Praxis-Test wasserdicht waren, beim Eintreffen bei den Kunden nicht mehr laufen oder nicht mehr Wasserdicht sein.

Aus diesem Grund würde er und sein neues Team viele Uhren persönlich an die Kunden ausliefern. Bei diesem Treffen erhielt ich dan auch zwei neue Kobold Polar Surveyor Chronographen. Die Uhren waren einwandfrei, sie laufen bis heute lediglich im Schnitt +4.5 Sekunden vor.

Im Juli 2024 besuchte mich Michael Kobold noch einmal um mir etliche weitere Uhren persönlich zu überreichen. Auch diese Uhren laufen bis heute einwandfrei.
Im Januar 2025 erhielt ich bei einem Treffen zwei weitere Uhren die ich zum Umbau an Kobold geschickt hatte, sowie etliche Weihnachtsgeschenke, inklusive dem einmaligen Christmas-Pudding. 

Michael Kobold meinte er würde Uhren an mich vorsichtshalber nur noch persönlich oder durch Personen seines Vertrauens liefern, denn besonders meine Polar Surveyor Chronographen mit Tag-Nacht-Anzeige seien sehr selten und schwierig zu ersetzen. 

Abschliessend kann ich meine Erlebnisse mit Kobold so zusammenfassen: Die per Paket gelieferten Uhren waren alle defekt und/oder nicht wasserdicht. Alle Uhren die ich persönlich erhalten habe laufen einwandfrei, sind sehr genau und stets Wasserdicht.

Ich bin jetzt auf jeden Fall sehr happy mit meinen Kobold Uhren, sie begleiten mich jeden Tag. Das Kobold Motto “Embrace Adventure” macht für mich, nach all den abenteuerlichen Erlebnissen, durchaus Sinn. 

Martin Mueller
Bayern 
Koboldian 

PS: Im Juli 2021 schilderte Michael Kobold in einem Beitrag das er alle Kunden, die durch die Sabotage-Aktion beinträchtigt wurden, entschädigen würde. Es hieß in dem Beitrag das dies die wahrscheinlich grosszügigste Aktion seiner Art in der gesamten Uhrenbranche sein würde. Damals kannte ich Michael Kobold nicht gut und dachte das sei bloß Schaumschlägerei - ein leeres Marketing-Versprechen. Heute weis ich das dieser Beitrag ernst gemeint war, denn als Wiedergutmachung für die vielen Ups und Downs bekam ich eine ganz besondere Uhr geschenkt: Eine Kobold Soarway Diver Safari mit persönlicher Gravur auf dem Gehäuseboden.