Best Watch Winders

Tired of your watches running flat when you’re not wearing them? This guide to the best watch winders will help with that problem.

Whether or not you should buy a luxury watch winder depends on how far you are down the rabbit hole of watch collecting.

However, even some very dedicated collectors don’t really find that a winder is a necessity for them. 

To one collector, a watch winder may be completely indispensable. To another, it may be considered totally outrageous and a complete waste of money. 

What it comes down to is whether you have one or multiple watches. If you only own one timepiece, what are you even doing?! If you have multiple watches, you might want to consider a watch winder.

Why Buy a Watch Winder?  

That’s an easy question to answer. If you love watches and your collection is continually growing, you’ll find any excuse to invest in various accessories. I bet you have a watch stand and a swanky travel case to carry your watches wherever you go. If so, you’re a little late to the party, but get yourself a watch winder.  

Even if you’re swaying more towards not buying a watch winder right now, you may soon change your mind. This guide has several watch winder designs worth considering depending on the size of your collection. 

By the time you get to the end of this article, you may have decided that at some point you’re going to need a watch winder. When you bite the bullet is up to you, but know that there are options out there for everyone. 

If you’ve already decided to get a watch winder, just one question remains. How much do you want to spend? 

It doesn’t matter if you’re splashing out on the most expensive watch winder or going dirt cheap. That’s a call only you can make and no one’s judging here.

What you don’t want to do is get to the end of this article and still be unsure whether you need one or not. Hopefully, this article clears that question up for you. 

What Are Watch Winders Used For?

A watch winder can help simplify your life and, quite literally, save you time. As its name suggests, it will wind your watch so that you don’t have to. 

That’s not to say you’re too lazy to do it yourself. In fact, an automatic movement is powered by the natural movement of your wrist anyhow. 

The problem arises when you want to take that watch off for some time. Without the movement of your wrist to keep the engine running, a movement will slow down and eventually stop. 

A watch winder is a tool to keep your watch steadily ticking over for you when you’re spending time apart. It could be that you wish to leave your watch at home while you travel (why, though?).

Normally, however, a watch winder proves particularly useful if you own multiple watches and rotate your collection regularly. They’re also a great way to keep your watch safe if you don’t have a watch stand or box. (Keep an eye out for my article on the best watch boxes)!  

Lastly, there is one other use for a watch winder. It puts your watch on show. Strap a watch or two into a watch winder and set them turning when you have guests around.

Trust me, it’s sure to direct the topic of conversation back to your favorite subject of all — watches! It beats talking about the weather, right?!  

Now let’s peruse some of the best watch winders out there. From single-watch winders to multiple winding mechanisms, this guide should help you decide which winder best suits your collection. 

Best Watch Winders For Rolex 

Let’s be real, if you’re lucky enough to own a Rolex your watch winder should match its quality. A watch winder is certainly considered a better option rather than a watch case. 

If you’re still reading this article, you’ll be pretty clued up on luxury watches already. You’ll know that it does your luxury timepiece no good to be sat on the bedside cabinet doing nothing. A watch winder is a good way to keep your favorite wristwatch ticking over and at the same time, it protects it. 

The best watch winders for Rolex watches should have some decent features. They should ideally have multiple rotor winding directions so that you can switch between clockwise, counter-clockwise, and bidirectional. 

Most Rolex watches are wound bidirectionally. 

Watch winders should also have a minimum TPD (turns per day) setting. The average Rolex watch should require around 650 TPD. It’s always a good idea to check this before making a final decision on your watch winder. 

Other things to consider include whether the watch winder runs on batteries or AC supply and whether it is pre-programmable. A battery-powered watch winder is a flexible option if you travel frequently. 

Likewise, one that plugs into the wall is less hassle and great for those who don’t move around.

The Rapport Perpetua III Single Watch Winder 

This single-watch winder from Rapport looks and feels luxurious. In keeping with the quality of a Rolex, the watch winder isn’t a cheap option but it does offer the advantage of a touchscreen. 

Finished in walnut, the wooden case construction is both elegant and classic. 

Ideal for those who have a couple of favorite timepieces, you can swap your Rolex whenever you fancy a change. All the while, the Rapport watch winder with 600 – 1200 TPD will keep your watch up to speed.  

The Best Automatic Watch Winders 

Now that we’ve covered the best watch winder for a Rolex, we’ll take a look at the best automatic watch winders in general. Admittedly, the principles of buying a watch winder are the same whether you own a Rolex or not.  

The Wolf Roadster 

If you own more than one watch winder (or enough to rotate throughout the week) this winder is a great option. The Wolf Roadster is a four-piece design and works on a 24-hour cycle. 

What’s more, it operates with 6 hours of intermittent activity. Its “sleep” periods also lower the tension in the mainspring, preventing over-winding. You can select your desired TPD between 300 and 1,200 a day and choose between 50 different cycles. 

The Roadster’s design is also pretty striking. Crafted to a high standard, its design is inspired by classic British cars like Jaguars and Aston Martins. A particularly nice feature of this design is its polished finish inspired by aged wooden dashboards. 

JQueen Double Automatic Watch Winder 

If you’re on the lookout for a budget-friendly watch winder, the JQueen Double Automatic Watch Winder is a great value-for-money option. It holds two watches at any one time, displaying them as a centerpiece in any room. 

The JQueen’s case is also made from corrosion-resistant ebony wood. It features four leather cushions, as well as four independent rotation cycles. To use this winder you can either plug it in or use a battery, enabling you to switch between the two. 

The JQueen Double watch winder is certainly ideal for travel. 

TripleTree 6 Automatic Watch Winder 

Great for if you own many watches, this watch winder stores up to 6 timepieces at any one point, while a further four can go on rotation. One of the nicest features of this watch winder is its exterior finish.

The case is crafted from natural hardwood with a polished finish that gives the winder a high gloss execution. 

Your watches will stay completely protected inside the winder thanks to a soft leather interior and high-quality memory foam cushions. 

When in motion, the winder illuminates the watches, putting them on show underneath a soft blue LED light. The motor of the machine is also virtually silent — another bonus! 

The Cross Studio TIE Advanced 1 Watch Winder 

Looking for a swanky centerpiece for your room? The Cross Studio TIE Advanced 1 Watch Winder has an unusual and abstract design that doubles up as an ornamental feature for your interior.

It accommodates one watch at any time, enabling you to rotate your two favorite timepieces as and when you need to. 

The watch winder has total nerd appeal and was developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm. 

Star Wars creator, George Lucas’, franchise recreated incorporated a miniature TIE Advanced X1 Starfighter into their unique watch-winder design. 

Made from black anodized aluminum, its two-sided mounted wings sit upright on the unit. The center acts as the winding capsule where you place your watch. 

What makes this watch winder even more unusual is its infrared sensor. It detects when a watch is in there. 

To preserve its minimum two-year power reserve, the sensor detects an empty case and saves energy. It does this by returning to energy-saving standby mode. 

Additionally, your phone can act as a remote control for the machine. The Kross Watchwinder smartphone app lets you fine-tune the various settings to suit your particular watch.  

The Takeaway

That concludes my round-up of some of the best watch winders. From quirky to timeless, expensive to affordable — there’s an option for everyone. 

What I hope you take away from this article is that a watch winder can ensure the longevity of your watch. When in search of buying one, you should look for factors like TPD, rotation direction, power supply, and size. Secondly, choose a design you like since it will be on show quite often. Also, decide on a budget that’s good for you. 

Winders for watches range from inexpensive to top quality. Whether you choose an expensive or affordable model, all watch winders share one purpose. 

They protect your watch/es and prevent your beloved timepiece from getting damaged. More importantly, they will keep your timepiece ticking over nicely. It means you can rotate your collection and get the most out of your timepieces. 

Once you’ve followed the guidelines in this article, there is only one thing left to do — enjoy shopping for one!

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