Spirit of America
Manual
In an effort to realize a clean, minimalist design, the Spirit of America features smooth lines and straight-forward functionality.
The watch is housed in an oversized Soarway case made from aerospace-grade titanium. It is powered by a modified Unitas 6497 movement, displaying only hours and minutes on a brushed-finish dial with applied indices. A throwback to the traditions of yesteryear, the movement is hand-wound and features extensive decorative finishing, including a reference to the Kobold Watch Company's place of origin; the main plate of the movement features a gilded engraving that reads "KOBOLD WATCH COMPANY, PITTSBURGH/PA".
The Spirit of America's Soarway case consists of 19 individual pieces and is water-resistant to a depth of 100 meters (330ft.). Measuring 44mm in diameter, the case features a domed sapphire crystal in the front and a plane sapphire crystal on the back.
As part of the Kobold Watch Company's ongoing efforts to increase U.S.-based wristwatch manufacturing, the Spirit of America was the company's first watch to be completely assembled in the United States. Its movement is modified in-house and all manual-winding Spirit of America watches are warranted for 3 years.
The Spirit of America arrives in a wooden collector's box and on a hand-stitched genuine Louisiana alligator strap. The watch features screw-locked lug bars to which the strap is secured. A solid titanium Soarway bracelet is available on request.
The watch was commissioned to pay tribute to the spirit of a country that has had to overcome great obstacles in its relatively short history. In observance of the 5th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Kobold auctioned off a number of celebrity-worn pre-production Spirit of America wristwatches worn by actors James Gandolfini and Gary Sinise, architect Daniel Libeskind, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, television and radio personality Glenn Beck, and pop-artist Burton Morris. The proceeds benefited the United Service Organization of New York City.
