In the world of everyday carry, watches are often the most prized, frequently worn, and – let’s be honest – pricey pieces around. These are the EDC items that existed before the colloquial phrase was even adopted throughout the industry; heirloom worthy timepieces that, like a generational pocket knife, were shared and passed down through the family tree as a right of passage into adulthood.
Clearly, these items boast sentimental value among those who care about the style and technology hidden underneath the handsome dial face. For with each passing second, the watch becomes an antiquity all on its own – eventually serving as a time portal into the past. It’s what makes watch maintenance so important, and why we place so much value on preservice these wrist-wrapping keepers of time. For these reasons, we wanted to present a list of watch winders for any budget that will keep these self-winding timepieces ticking away for years to come.
Watch Winders
Motorized Movement
If you’re somewhat confused about what exactly a watch winder does then not to worry, you’re not alone. Simply put, because automatic watches wind themselves when strapped to the wrist – thanks to a moving weight inside the watch – they need to remain in motion while not worn to maintain accuracy.
Here’s where the watch winder comes into play. They’re often comprised of a small box and a motor – powered by either a battery or AC power source – that spins the watch in place. Available in a variety of sizes and styles, watch winders often lending themselves more to design-centric styles, and can house anywhere from a single watch to up to 40 or 50 timepieces. Not only do watch winders keep the pieces accurate, but they prevent damage to the watch, extend its overall longevity, and provide trusted storage for collectors. So with that in mind, here are several of our favorite picks ranging from entry-level to more refined collector’s editions.
Versa Automatic Double Watch Winder
As a reliable and trusted starter piece, the Versa is a great way to get your feet wet in this world of watch preservation. It’s a true value item, thanks to the handful of luxury features that come stocked with each Versa and the clean design will display you most trusted timepieces the way they’re meant to be displayed. It comes equipped with a Mabuchi Japanese Gearbox that turns your watches anywhere between 350-1050 times per day and with three directional settings. Each Versa also boasts spring action pillows and additional attachments to help house those larger watches and the entire winder comes with a 1-year warranty.
Accuratic Cubic
Just about as straightforward as you can get, the Accuratic Cubic is quite literally a cube with an embedded motor used to turn a single watch at a time. It’s the comfort found in simplicity that draws us to this pick – that and of course it’s practically silent operation. The piece also boasts up to 14 different turns a day (ranging from 600 to 2160 TPD) and also feature additional settings like hourly rotational cycles and intermediate rest time used to mimic your actual routine. Additionally, the Accuratic runs on a Japanese Mabuchi motor for reliable movement.
Wolf Roadster
Wolf is one of the most well know and respected watch winding manufacturers around. Often times their products are sleek, minimalist and reliable. The Roadster is one of their more popular offerings – complete with a backlit LCD display screen and control panel, and rotation options ranging between 300-1200 turns per day. Additionally, the watch cuff is designed to handle just about any sized timepiece you may own, runs on either a 33v adapter or D-cell batteries, and features an Ebony Macassar wooden veneer faceplate to add a touch of refined style to the winder.
Wolf Viceroy
Complete with a sharp design and monochromatic appearance, the Viceroy is one watch winder suitable for just about any watch collector. It features black pebble faux leather, a silver textured silk lining, locking glass cover, a backlit LCD display and hardware finished in chrome. Rotational options also range between 300-1200 TPD and all three directional settings come stock with the Viceroy as well. The piece also features a delayed start for up to 72 hours, a watch cuff designed to fit just about any watch size, and runs on either an AC power adapter or D-Cell batteries.
Orbita Siena
If a more timeless and classic watch winder is the preferred look then this handsome wood case – finished with multiple layers of high gloss polyester lacquer bringing the finished case to life – is your best bet. The interior is also lined with luxurious suede and the bottom of the case is covered in suede as well to prevent any unwanted damage to your priced mid-century nightstand.
Orbita Tourbillion
For those interested in the mechanics behind a traditional watch winder, be sure to check out the Tourbillion. It’s set within crystal glass for optimal viewing and features digital displays of exact time and turns per day and thanks to proprietary technology from Orbita, watch accuracy errors caused by gravity are diminished when the timepiece is on the winder. It’s powered by a universal power adapter and automatically resets the TPD display at midnight.
Rapport Vogue
Successfully bringing watch winders into the 21st century, Rapport has continued to establish themselves as a forward thinking brand in this regard. Take their Vogue Mono Watch Winder for instance. Each piece is outfitted with carbon fiber and comes complete with handsome polished metal feet. The Vogue also runs on a practically silent motor, is powered by a DC adapter with battery backup, offers multiple directional rotations and boasts fully adjustable watch carriers fitting just about any size.
Smythson Rotary Watch Box
When you’re ready to get serious about preserving that prized luxury watch, then look no further than the Rotary Watch Box from Smythson. Complete with a sleek and attractive design, this calf leather box boasts two watch compartments with battery-powered rotary mechanisms to help keep them fully wound. Additionally, the Watch Box features a light gold lock and hardware, hosts five cufflink compartments, and a gray nubuck lining in the interior. Simply luxurious.
Here's Some Lesser Known Watches For Your Collection
If you’re looking to add some Flieger to your collection then look no further that this list of the best Flieger watches. Plus, they look quite fitting while stored in a new watch winder too.
