The Watch Winders Evaluation
The best solution to fully wind and extend the life of your automatic watches is to use a winder. The device also doubles as a protective box, keeping them away from scratches, dust, and moisture. Our first option is the beautiful watch box made by Heiden. It comes with a beautiful design and is very user-friendly.
With HD15-Walnut you can wind 4 watches. In order to provide the static minimum turns per day as recommended by the manufacturer, this winder comes with 4 different settings – 650-950-1250-1850. In what concerns the direction of turns, it covers all the requirements as it can work in a clockwise, counter clockwise, and bi-directional motion.
- Spring action pillow: can support a wide variety of watch sizes.
- Push-button: allows you to turn the winder on and off much easier.
This model is made of wood and has a walnut veneer finish that makes it very elegant. At 7 pounds, the device is pretty sturdy and durable. The interior, including the watch pillows, comes with an elegant beige velvet.
- See-through cover: you can easily take a look at the watches as it features a clear display top
- Nice accessories: includes a microfiber cloth to easily clean the winder, a microfiber storage bag, and a black storage box.
PROS
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CONS
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- Comes with spring action pillows
- Features a clear display top
- Push on-off button for more convenience
- Individual winding setting for each watch
- Can hold multiple watches
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- The controls are positioned in the back of the box
- Rather large
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VERDICT
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Great option if you have a large watch collection. It features a nice design and a durable construction. The clear display top is a great addition as you can have a glance inside the box. The built-in motors are silent and they have various winding settings for each watch. However, due you the fact that it can accommodate 4 watches it occupies more space. Also, it would’ve been more user-friendly if the controls were located in the front.
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Made by a top-brand, this winder is among the best ones you can get. It can hold one watch and comes with some pretty nice features. We particularly like the design of this model, being the perfect combination between elegance and simplicity. It is made of black high-quality faux leather that will last for many years. The glass cover, as well as the satin lining, are some really nice additions.
It is pre-programmed to deliver 900 turns per day and has 3 directional settings. Additionally, it features a lock-in cuff to make sure the watch strap is well-secured. It can keep large watches with wrist bands of up to 10 inches. What is interesting about this model is that in comparison to the other models that estimate the number of rotations, it actually counts and records them. It works with both battery or power adapter and it comes with a 2-year warranty.
PROS
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CONS
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- Features silent nylon gears
- When the sides of the cuff are locked into the drum you will hear a clicking noise
- Chrome finish hardware
- Beautiful design
- 10 seconds or 12-hours delay setting
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- Less intuitive than expected
- The cuff is rather big for watches with small wrist bands
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VERDICT
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Attractive design and impressive performance. This winder is the perfect choice for an expensive gift. It comes with some pretty nice features and is very silent. Also, it is made by a well-known brand in this industry and comes with a long warranty. Nevertheless, it could be more intuitive and is rather expensive considering the fact that it can only accommodate one watch.
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The next winder in our list is elegant, versatile, and features an anti-magnetic design. It can hold 4 watches and is entirely handmade. The varnish finish gives it a nice appearance and the acrylic organic glass allows you to have a glance at your watches. The polyurethane beige pillows are soft and highly-resistant, being made with great attention to details. The pillows can be adjusted according to your watch size.
It comes with 2 motors and it features 3 direction settings and 4 turns per day settings. This model runs either on batteries which are not included or with a power adapter. It is lightweight and silent, and quite easy to use. For more convenience, this model is covered by an 18-month warranty and the manufacturer offers both customer service and support.
PROS
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CONS
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- Adjustable pillow
- Dual Japenese motor
- 100% handmade
- Also works on batteries
- Anti-magnetic design
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- Rather bulky
- The pillows are small for some watches
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VERDICT
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Overall, this is a nice option if you’re looking for a model that looks nice and can accomodate more watches. It works very well, is silent, and durable. Additionally, it comes with many positive reviews which is a proof that it won’t dissapoiunt you. The only drawbacks are the bulky design and the limited size of the pillows.
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Another great option is this model made by Versa. It can accommodate 4 watches and it has individual motors and controls for each of them – thus preventing any possible damage to your watches. The controls are located at the back of the unit and they are highly intuitive. Like most models, it features 3 directional settings and 3 programs and it works with most watches.
The case is entirely made of durable plastic and the matte finish offers it a sophisticated appearance. In order to protect your watches, it comes with a cover that features a clear display. The interior of the unit is very spacious and it features 4 spring action pillows that can be adjusted – suitable for sizes from 6 to 8.25 inches. Additionally, you will also receive adapters to fit large wristbands.
PROS
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CONS
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- It is equipped with Japanese Mabuchi motors
- The pillows click in place and feature non-slip grips
- Silent operation
- Beautiful matte finish
- Accommodates large watches
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- The watches are a little bit difficult to remove from the holders
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VERDICT
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Worth considering if you want a durable unit that can hold more watches. It is versatile, silent and easy to use. The stand-up design is also great as it takes less space on the furniture.
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This model will impress you with by its stylish design and perfomance. The high-gloss lacquer finish gives it an elegant appearance. The acrylic organic glass window is another a great addition. It comes with 2 built-in noise-insulating motors that are durable and silent.
It features a nice LCD touch display that allows you to select different settings for each of the 2 watches. You can selectd fom 4 different turns per day and 3 directional settings for each watch. This winder is 100% hand made but it has beed thorughly tested to last for many years. It includes 2 foam cusions and a key for keeping your watches safe. For more peace of mind, the model is warranted for a period of 18 months.
PROS
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CONS
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- Features a nice LCD touch screen
- Comes with 2 Mabuchi motors
- Includes a golden key and a wiping velvet cloth
- Made of eco-friendly wood
- Large 80mm diameter pillows to accomodate large watches
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- Doesn’t have a battery operated alternative
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VERDICT
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This model is worth considering if you want a compact winder that can accomodate 2 watches. It has an elegant design and some pretty interesting features. The motors are silent and highly durable. The box is hand made from eco-fiednly materials and besides allowing you to set different winding times, it also protectes them. However, this model only works with a power cord.
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This winder is perfect for winding your watch and it comes in a completely different style. On the back, you can find different turns per day setting and directional settings, as well as the power button and the on/off blue light button. The watch pillow that comes with features a spring on the bottom. It also comes with an attachment that allows you to accommodate larger watches. The lid is transparent and easy to handle.
The motor is silent so you will barely notice it is working. The winder is lightweigth and compact and you can place it on your bedside table or computer desk. When purchasing the winder, you will also receive a 12-month warranty and a user manual. The instructions are easy to use, so you can set it immediately.
PROS
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CONS
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- Nice blue LED light
- Comes with an attachement for larger watches
- Innovative spring action pillow
- Affordable and stylish
- Quiet operation
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- Short warranty in comparison to the other models
- No battery alternative
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VERDICT
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With an innovative design and accurate perfomance, this winder is definitely worh considering. It is user-friendly and less expensive than the other models. It is quiet and you don’t have to worry that it will overwind your watch. Nevertheless, we would’ve wanted it to come with a longer warranty.
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Features and Characteristics We Took Into Account When We Rated the Products
When we selected the products, we took into account some features and characteristics. All of them are
equally important as they helped us decide which are the
best winders you can currently buy. Therefore, we differentiated them in terms of dimension, weight, capacity, settings, and some others aspects. Here is what you need to know.
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The size of the winders is directly linked to its capacity. Those which can accommodate more watches are larger and bulkier, thus occupying more space on your bedside table. Heiden HD15-Walnut is the largest in our list, followed by Jqueen W004. Wolf 270002 is also larger than we expected if we consider the fact that it was designed for a single watch. On the other side, Versa G077 is the most compact model you can go with.
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The weight of the winders is influenced by their capacity and materials they are made of. The heaviest one is Heiden HD15-Walnut while the lightest is Versa G077. However, the weight shouldn’t be a problem. Once you find a good place for the winder, you won’t have to constantly move it around.
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The design of a winder is very important. Who doesn’t want to store their stylish watches in an elegant box? Each of the models selected by us will impress you with their simple yet elegant design. For a classic style, you can go with Heiden HD15-Wal, Jqueen W004, or Chiyoda CYD-SWI22 as they feature a wood style design. If you’re looking for an elegant winder, then Wolf 270002 is a great choice as it features black faux leather. For a modern finish, Versa G077 is the best option. It looks like a ball and is made of highly resistant plastic. All models have a window that allows you to take a quick look at your watches.
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Our purpose was to choose winders that can meet all customers’ needs. For collectors who have more watches and want to keep them ready to wear at all times, the best options are Heiden HD15-Walnut and Jqueen W004. Both of them can accommodate 4 watches. Chiyoda CYD-SWI22 is designed for 2 watches, while Wolf 270002 and Versa G077 can wind only one watch.
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Each winder features multiple turns per day settings you can choose from. Not all watches require the same number of turns of the rotor, so the more programs you can choose from, the more versatile the winder is. In general, most automatic watches need from 600 to 1000 turns per day. Between turns, the winder will rest, the exact number being determined by the TPD setting. You can find out the required TPD by checking the manufacturer’s specifications.
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The directional setting refers to the way the rotor winds the watch and it must be set according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. There are 3 types of direction of winding: clockwise, counterclockwise, or bi-directional. All our models feature all possible rotating directions, so you can choose accordingly.
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The warranty plays an important role when buying a product. The standard warranty for watch winders is 1-year. Nevertheless, there are some models that are covered by a longer warranty. From this point of view, the winner is Wolf 270002 as is warranted for a period of 2 years. Heiden HD15-Walnut and Versa G077 come with the standard warranty, while Jqueen W004 and Chiyoda CYD-SWI22 are covered by an 18-month warranty.
If you don’t want to manually wind your automatic mechanical watch, then a watch winder is the
most convenient alternative to consider. All our models are versatile, stylish, and highly performant. The purpose of our article wast to
provide you all the details you need for choosing the best option. If you have more watches, we strongly recommend you
Heiden HD15-Walnut. It may be more expensive but it works great and it looks pretty nice.
Wolf 270002 is a nice option if you have maximum 2 watches. It’s true that it is less budget-friendly but it is accurate and well-made. At the same time, it comes with the longest warranty.
