KNOPF
KNOPF is a privately-held, family-run American watch brand founded in Manhattan by a father-and-son team, designing and selling architecturally-inspired automatic watches — the Swiss Made NY-405 and the American-made APEX — directly to consumers through its e-commerce site and Kickstarter.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersManhattan, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What KNOPF does
KNOPF is a privately-held, family-run American watch brand founded in Manhattan by father-and-son team Larry Knopf and Gage Knopf. The company designs and sells distinctive automatic watches featuring architectural-inspired multi-layered dials and proprietary 2-part case/bezel assemblies, positioned at the intersection of art and mechanical watchmaking. Its product portfolio consists of two core collections: the flagship NY-405, a Swiss Made timepiece assembled by hand in Chiasso, Switzerland with an STP1-11 automatic movement, 41mm case, Art Deco aesthetic inspired by New York's Chrysler Building, and a $998 price point; and the APEX, a 40mm American-designed and assembled sport watch featuring a Seiko NH35 movement, 200m water resistance, and a $424 price point. Accessories including rubber, calfskin, and alligator leather straps ($35-$195) and stainless steel bracelets ($125) extend the product line.
The company operates an exclusively direct-to-consumer business model, selling through its own Shopify-powered e-commerce website (knopfwatches.com) with global shipping and free US delivery, plus Kickstarter for special product launches. KNOPF does not utilize wholesale or third-party retail distribution. Its target segments are watch enthusiasts and design-conscious consumers seeking distinctive, non-mainstream automatic watches at prices materially below traditional Swiss luxury brands. The brand has cultivated earned media across Forbes, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Architectural Digest, Town & Country, and Men's Journal, and has secured partnerships with watch enthusiast events such as the Minutes + Hours Watch Show in Austin, Texas. A 3-year international warranty, 30-day return policy, and Klarna installment options support the conversion funnel. The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, though the APEX launch via Kickstarter in August 2024 indicates experimentation with crowdfunding as a growth and capital channel.
KNOPF firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KNOPF
- Legal name
- KNOPF
- Website
- https://knopfwatches.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- KNOPF is a privately-held, family-run American watch brand founded in Manhattan by a father-and-son team, designing and selling architecturally-inspired automatic watches — the Swiss Made NY-405 and the American-made APEX — directly to consumers through its e-commerce site and Kickstarter.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KNOPF industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Mechanical Watches
- SIC
- Watches, Clocks, Clockwork Operated Devices/Parts (3873)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury Mechanical Watches (CRAKADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Watch Parts & Components (Straps/Bracelets, Crystals, Hands, Buckles) (CRAKADAK), Wearable Accessories & Bands (straps, chargers, cases) (CRACAIAK)
Keywords
Where KNOPF is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manhattan
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
KNOPF business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Watch Product Sales: Primary revenue from direct-to-consumer sales of automatic watches through their e-commerce website. Products include two main collections: KNOPF NY-405 (Swiss Made, Art Deco inspired, 41mm) and KNOPF APEX (American-made, 40mm cushion case).
- Accessories and Straps: Secondary revenue stream from sale of replacement straps (rubber, calfskin, alligator leather) and stainless steel bracelets. Strap prices range from $35 (rubber) to $195 (alligator leather). Bracelets priced at $125.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KNOPF NY-405 Gold Steel - $998 USD |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KNOPF APEX Ice - Leather - $424 USD |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Strap and Bracelet Accessories - $35-$195 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
KNOPF product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KNOPF designs, assembles, and sells automatic mechanical wristwatches directly to consumers through its own e-commerce website. The portfolio centers on two collections: the NY-405 (Swiss Made in Chiasso, featuring an Art Deco-inspired architectural dial, STP1-11 automatic movement, and 316L stainless steel case) and the APEX (designed and assembled in the USA, featuring a Seiko NH35 automatic movement, 40mm cushion case, and 200m water resistance). The company also sells compatible replacement straps and stainless steel bracelets as accessories.
Product overview
KNOPF is a luxury watch brand offering two distinct automatic watch collections. The flagship KNOPF NY-405 collection (Swiss Made) features Art Deco-inspired dress watches with 41mm cases and STP1-11 Swiss automatic movements, available in steel and leather variants. The KNOPF APEX collection (designed and assembled in USA) offers bold 40mm sport watches with Seiko NH35 movements and 200m water resistance. Both collections showcase architecturally-inspired multi-layered dials with handcrafted geometric elements. The product portfolio also includes a range of interchangeable accessories including rubber straps (20mm for APEX), alligator leather straps (21mm for NY-405), calfskin straps, and stainless steel bracelets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- KNOPF NY-405 Collection
Quantifiable outcome
- 103 customer reviews with 4.97/5 average rating and 100% positive satisfaction
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use KNOPF
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
KNOPF technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
KNOPF partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KNOPF competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Tissot: Established Swiss watch brand operating at very similar price points ($300-$1,500) with broad retail distribution. Represents the scaled incumbent competition KNOPF faces in the entry-luxury Swiss segment.
- Hamilton Watch: Long-established Swiss watch brand with strong American heritage narrative and automatic watches in the same $400-$1,500 range. Comparable positioning lever of historical/architectural storytelling.
Direct peers
- Shinola: American watch brand built on heritage narrative and DTC/select retail distribution with watches priced in a similar mid-luxury range. Closest direct peer to KNOPF in terms of positioning around American craftsmanship and accessible luxury.
- Daniel Wellington: Globally recognized DTC watch brand at similar accessible-luxury price points. Demonstrates the scale potential of the digital-native watch category KNOPF operates in.
- Vincero: Direct-to-consumer watch brand targeting similar style-conscious male buyers with mechanical and quartz watches at comparable price points. Operates on similar lean, digitally-native model.
- Jack Mason Brand: Independent American watch brand with similar DTC focus, mid-luxury pricing, and emphasis on design-forward automatic and quartz watches for style-conscious consumers.
- MVMT: Original DTC watch brand (now owned by Movado) that pioneered the affordable-direct-luxury watch category. Comparable GTM motion and target demographic.
Emerging players
- Anicorn Watches: Independent microbrand producing limited-edition mechanical watches with strong design narratives and Kickstarter launches. Comparable as a similarly-sized independent operator in the design-led watch microbrand segment.
- Nomos Glashütte: Independent German watchmaker with minimalist/Bauhaus-inspired design language at higher price points ($2,000-$5,000+). Comparable as an independent European watch brand built on distinctive design philosophy rather than heritage status.
- Bamford Watch Department: Independent British watch brand focused on customized and limited-edition mechanical watches with strong design identity. Comparable as a small, design-driven independent leveraging heritage and craftsmanship narratives.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KNOPF social profiles
Digital presenceKNOPF financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KNOPF leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
KNOPF funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KNOPF M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KNOPF
What does KNOPF do?
KNOPF designs, assembles, and sells automatic mechanical wristwatches directly to consumers through its own e-commerce website. The portfolio centers on two collections: the NY-405 (Swiss Made in Chiasso, featuring an Art Deco-inspired architectural dial, STP1-11 automatic movement, and 316L stainless steel case) and the APEX (designed and assembled in the USA, featuring a Seiko NH35 automatic movement, 40mm cushion case, and 200m water resistance). The company also sells compatible replacement straps and stainless steel bracelets as accessories.
Is KNOPF a public or private company?
KNOPF is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was KNOPF founded?
KNOPF was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is KNOPF based?
KNOPF is headquartered in Manhattan, United States, in the North America region.
How does KNOPF make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Watch Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are accessories and Straps.
Who are KNOPF's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Tissot and Hamilton Watch. Direct peers are Shinola, Daniel Wellington, Vincero, Jack Mason Brand and MVMT. Emerging players are Anicorn Watches, Nomos Glashütte and Bamford Watch Department.
Does KNOPF have an API?
No public API is recorded for KNOPF.
What industry is KNOPF in?
KNOPF's product category is Luxury Mechanical Watches. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKADAA, Luxury Mechanical Watches, with a secondary code of CRAKADAK, Watch Parts & Components (Straps/Bracelets, Crystals, Hands, Buckles). Its SIC code is 3873.