geekhack

geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: The Switch Journal on Mon, 08 June 2026, 15:09:08

Title: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits! | New vendor!
Post by: The Switch Journal on Mon, 08 June 2026, 15:09:08
Hello everyone! I would like to introduce to you this little project I've been working on for the past 6 months.

(https://i.imgur.com/hZaiGJv.png) (https://i.imgur.com/TamkPLO.png)
(renders by MiKeyDigit)

>>>> Interest Check Form <<<< (https://forms.gle/WarCot13WizMy6XQ6)

Please if possible fill out this form and leave your feedback, it helps a lot.


● Intro ●

Hi everyone! Here is KKB Cobalt, my first keycap project. I have set out to release a set of keycaps because of the frustration I had seeing so many beautiful sets releasing (more specifically made of quality ABS) - but none in my local layout which I love, so I ended up asking myself "why not giving it a try?" and here we are. Of course, it doesn't mean that I'm not gonna support other layouts!
For the design I wanted to do something sober but with a slight flair, being inspired by GMK Blanc sur Noir I really wanted to see how the tulips would look on a deep blue set of keycaps, and boy I wasn't disappointed. Of course I got the ok from BsN's designer so no worries.


● Kitting ●

Base kits

(https://i.imgur.com/tfJcLcz.png)(https://i.imgur.com/aEFm730.png)(https://i.imgur.com/R5ZjnE5.png)

Child kits

(https://i.imgur.com/jCGIkVT.png)(https://i.imgur.com/n9qpeYZ.png)(https://i.imgur.com/7dmi2mO.png)


Alert Row / Extension kits

(https://i.imgur.com/DlmwMXS.png)(https://i.imgur.com/7ec3swf.png)(https://i.imgur.com/ZUo5eOy.png)

RAL Colors

(https://i.imgur.com/CEXxNXC.jpg)


● Vendors ●

EU/FR: DeltaKeyCo (https://deltakeyco.com/)
EU/DE: Monacokeys (https://monacokeys.de/)
US: Divinikey (https://divinikey.com/)
UK: Proto[Typist] (https://prototypist.net/)
AU: KeebzNCables (https://www.keebzncables.com/)
CN: Zfrontier (https://www.zfrontier.com/)
KR: Geon (https://geon.works/)
SEA: Ktechs.store (https://ktechs.store/)
Global: Unikeys (https://unikeyboards.com/)

CN (in-stock only): Keykobo (https://www.keykobo.com/)


● Details ●

Manufactured by Keykobo
ABS double-shot keycaps
Novelties (including “NoFR/DE NoBUY”) as well as tulip keys are going to be UV printed

Price: expected under 100€ VAT included for FR and DE base kits, under $90 USD for US + UK base kit (expect the usual KKB prices)
MOQ: 350 total between the 3 base kits (combined)

GB date: Expected end of Q3 - start of Q4 2026

Novelties made by EricSky - Thank you for everything you’ve done for me my friend.


● Collabs ●

Custom cable: Khor (https://khor.store/) will be doing a cable following the set's color scheme.

If anyone is interested into making any kind of collab like an artisan, a deskmat, anything, here are my contact infos:
Email: theswitchjournal@gmail.com
Discord: @aurorepoke


● Additional renders ●

(https://i.imgur.com/c9Mtnt7.png)(https://i.imgur.com/psj1FwT.png)(https://i.imgur.com/vTTyIx9.png)



● IRL sample pics ●

(https://i.imgur.com/jdM8AVj.png)(https://i.imgur.com/JvI2gEw.png)(https://i.imgur.com/alRkDT8.png)


Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: The Switch Journal on Mon, 08 June 2026, 15:10:07
[June 29th 2026] - New vendor for China (Zfrontier).

[June 12th 2026] - Updated kitting (additional 1.5u Super and 1u rAlt added into the Base kits — Stepped Ctrl moved from Base kits to what were previously known as the "Alert" kits, now named "Extension" kits — Shine-through Caps-Locks, Num Locks, and Scroll Lock, added into the Extension kits — Regional keys NoFR/DE NoBUY in reversed colors added into the FR/DE Extension kits — White 6.25u and 7u added into the previously known "40s and Split" kit, now known as the "40s and Spacebars" kit — Q, E, and M keys without sub-legends were added into the DE Base kit — 1.75u Shift was added into the Novelties kit — Fixed render mistakes on the FR Base kit (1.75u shift icon aligned on the top instead of center as well as pgup and pgdn using GMK's icon instead of KKB's). | A new vendor joins the project: Ktechs.store based in Singapore | added Khor's custom cable into the collabs | Narrowed down the expected GB date.
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Tue, 09 June 2026, 16:24:10
Approval bump :thumb:
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: Celty on Tue, 09 June 2026, 16:38:35
That's obviously a big yes!
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: MartinThePolarBear on Tue, 09 June 2026, 17:36:32
Yes
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: rob2kx on Tue, 09 June 2026, 18:14:05
That blue *chef's kiss*

Love that it doesn't just use the basic accent layout too.
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: newzealot on Tue, 09 June 2026, 20:45:05

The Novelties bottom row 2.25U and 2.75U are for shift keys or spacebars?
Could you swap their places, as normally the 2.25U is on the left and 2.75u is on the right.
Or if you could do a render with them, it would be even better (Alice if they are spacebars)
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: IBMweMissU on Wed, 10 June 2026, 01:34:01
Love the colors, how about adding shine through CapsLock, NumLock? KKB sets usually offer them
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: Eragon_Brisingr on Wed, 10 June 2026, 01:44:54
Love the set and the compatibility ! So hyped to see the GB, vendors are amazing !
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: d3smo on Wed, 10 June 2026, 01:59:10
ISO/FR double Shot ABS ? You say the words it's an instant YES  :thumb:
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: Bagri on Wed, 10 June 2026, 02:56:50
GLWIC  :thumb:
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: Plaketdebeur on Wed, 10 June 2026, 04:04:34
Nice project, GLWIC
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: The Switch Journal on Wed, 10 June 2026, 05:07:56
Quote from: newzealot on Tue, 09 June 2026, 20:45:05

The Novelties bottom row 2.25U and 2.75U are for shift keys or spacebars?
Could you swap their places, as normally the 2.25U is on the left and 2.75u is on the right.
Or if you could do a render with them, it would be even better (Alice if they are spacebars)

They are for the shifts, and sure I can do that!

Quote from: IBMweMissU on Wed, 10 June 2026, 01:34:01
Love the colors, how about adding shine through CapsLock, NumLock? KKB sets usually offer them

I'm a bit afraid that it would push the price over 100€ for us in EU, an alternative might be to replace the R3 controls with the shine-through caps lock if that's something you guys would prefer?
I'll look into it and see what I can do, maybe I'm worried for nothing and I can just add them.
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: inviz on Wed, 10 June 2026, 11:11:55
Give it to me!
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: pixelpusher on Wed, 10 June 2026, 11:53:53
I like the color, but I'm confused.  I wouldn't consider that to be Cobalt blue.  It looks like the deep navy used in GMK Rudy to me.  When I hear cobalt I think of a brighter, more vibrant color.  Maybe this is a deep cobalt?  Also confusing because there is a GMK Cobalt but this has nothing to do with it.
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: The Switch Journal on Wed, 10 June 2026, 12:08:00
Quote from: pixelpusher on Wed, 10 June 2026, 11:53:53
I like the color, but I'm just confused.  I wouldn't consider that to be Cobalt blue.  It looks like the deep navy used in GMK Rudy to me.  When I hear cobalt I think of a brighter, more vibrant color.  Maybe this is a deep cobalt?  Also confusing because there is a GMK Cobalt but this has nothing to do with it.

That's how RAL named the color I'm using, so I just went with it, thought a gem theme would be nice so "cobalt" fitted pretty well into it :D
If you google "cobalt blue" you can find a bit of every tone of blue tbh.
Rudy's blue uses RAL 5003, which is indeed pretty close to the RAL 5013 I'm using, just a smidge lighter/less saturated (well, depending on how the designer color-matched it there could be a bigger difference, unfortunately I don't have it to compare).
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: newzealot on Thu, 11 June 2026, 03:12:37
Quote from: The Switch Journal on Wed, 10 June 2026, 05:07:56
Quote from: newzealot on Tue, 09 June 2026, 20:45:05

The Novelties bottom row 2.25U and 2.75U are for shift keys or spacebars?
Could you swap their places, as normally the 2.25U is on the left and 2.75u is on the right.
Or if you could do a render with them, it would be even better (Alice if they are spacebars)

They are for the shifts, and sure I can do that!

Great, since they are for the shifts, could you add another 1.75U right shift novelty?

2.75U is for full size and TKL, so another 1.75U will fit most smaller keyboards (just like in your US base kit)
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: The Switch Journal on Thu, 11 June 2026, 10:02:50
Quote from: newzealot on Thu, 11 June 2026, 03:12:37
Quote from: The Switch Journal on Wed, 10 June 2026, 05:07:56
Quote from: newzealot on Tue, 09 June 2026, 20:45:05

The Novelties bottom row 2.25U and 2.75U are for shift keys or spacebars?
Could you swap their places, as normally the 2.25U is on the left and 2.75u is on the right.
Or if you could do a render with them, it would be even better (Alice if they are spacebars)

They are for the shifts, and sure I can do that!

Great, since they are for the shifts, could you add another 1.75U right shift novelty?

2.75U is for full size and TKL, so another 1.75U will fit most smaller keyboards (just like in your US base kit)

Sure, will do!
Will update the renders once I figure out how to include the shine-through caps-lock keys in a way that doesn't push the set over the target price
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: azhdar on Thu, 11 June 2026, 16:21:24
very nice
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: The Switch Journal on Fri, 12 June 2026, 10:06:56
I updated the kitting following the suggestions from you guys as best as I could!
If this makes you change your mind regarding a particular kit, you're free to change your vote in the IC form.
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits! | Updated kitting & more
Post by: IBMweMissU on Fri, 12 June 2026, 14:13:55
changed  ;D, thank you for the updates already
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: newzealot on Sun, 14 June 2026, 01:22:09
Quote from: The Switch Journal on Fri, 12 June 2026, 10:06:56
I updated the kitting following the suggestions from you guys as best as I could!
If this makes you change your mind regarding a particular kit, you're free to change your vote in the IC form.

Oh wow, thanks! You are really very responsive!

I just realised that I had previously watched your review on Jerrzi Misty Purple switches before (or is it Misty Lavender?). Will probably get them together with this set!
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits!
Post by: The Switch Journal on Sun, 14 June 2026, 09:17:50
Quote from: newzealot on Sun, 14 June 2026, 01:22:09
Quote from: The Switch Journal on Fri, 12 June 2026, 10:06:56
I updated the kitting following the suggestions from you guys as best as I could!
If this makes you change your mind regarding a particular kit, you're free to change your vote in the IC form.

Oh wow, thanks! You are really very responsive!

I just realised that I had previously watched your review on Jerrzi Misty Purple switches before (or is it Misty Lavender?). Will probably get them together with this set!

I've seen both names being used for this switch.
And thank you (and everyone else) for the support <3
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits! | Updated kitting & more
Post by: NightFox99 on Fri, 19 June 2026, 14:00:46
FR + Tulip ? I'm in.
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits! | Updated kitting & more
Post by: kustom3 on Sat, 20 June 2026, 11:22:13
Bon chance
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits! | New vendor!
Post by: INFILTRATION on Sat, 11 July 2026, 14:55:50
the first bluecaps set that i am actually in love it, therefore, this will be the first blue set i will own.. hurry up with the GB already bro!  :thumb:
Title: Re: [IC] KKB Cobalt - US/UK/FR/DE base kits! | New vendor!
Post by: The Switch Journal on Sat, 11 July 2026, 18:13:53
Quote from: INFILTRATION on Sat, 11 July 2026, 14:55:50
the first bluecaps set that i am actually in love it, therefore, this will be the first blue set i will own.. hurry up with the GB already bro!  :thumb:

Thanks for the support!
The exact dates for the GB will be revealed soon, I'm just waiting for the vendors to get back to me to confirm it's good for them :)