Kobold Professional B Pilot's Watch, c. late 1990s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Why would one buy a pilot’s watch if one’s not a pilot, you might ask? Pilot’s watches are renowned for their utility — legible, practical, rugged and handsome, they’re beloved by many who have never (and likely will never) actually sit behind the controls of an aircraft. Available in numerous configurations and designs, they’re a significant entry in the history of the “tool watch” and have only become more important and collectible in recent years. Kobold, an American company founded by a German in Pennsylvania in the late 1990s, makes some of the best tool watches in the world. From divers to chronographs to GMTs to pilot’s watches, their often-oversized wares are beloved for their tactical bent and extreme ruggedness. One of their original models, the Professional B Chronograph, is a particular favorite of collectors, and an awesome, under-the-radar pilot’s watch. This particular Professional B Chronograph ref. 351-65, dating from circa the late 1990s to the early 2000s, features a 37.5mm stainless steel screw-back case, round chronograph pushers, a black dial with rare italic Arabic typeface, a quickset date window at 3 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, and tritium luminous material on the indices and matching pencil handset. It’s powered by the handwound Valjoux 7760 chronograph movement, giving it a true vintage feel, and fitted to a black leather strap. Handsome, well-proportioned, unique, and featuring an untouched case in excellent condition that shows only small signs of wear, this is a true pilot’s watch through and through — though in this case, a wildly affordable one considering it’s pedigree. Take this one for a spin!