Keep Your Automatic Watches on Time With These Top-Reviewed Watch Winders

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LET’S ANSWER THE obvious questions first: What is a watch winder, and why do you need one? Automatic watches are powered by a mainspring that is wound by a weighted semi-circle in a wheel, which turns with the motion on your body, thus winding itself automatically. The movement runs as the spring decompresses and the wheel compresses it back with each turn, creating a continuous power source as long as the watch is on your wrist. All automatic watches have a power reserve, measured in hours, which indicates how long the watch will run, from the time that the mainspring is fully wound, without any motion. This ranges from 12 hours to several days, with an average of somewhere around 40 hours for newer mid-to-luxury watches. So essentially, once you take your watch off, it becomes a literal countdown until it stops running and will have to be reset whenever you put it back on.

Some watch fans are fine with this dilemma. It is either no bother or a pastime to pull out the crown and set the time and any other complications, as needed. Others find it to be inconvenient and prefer their complex—and often expensive—timepieces to always be at the ready with accurate settings. Fortunately, that is why watch winders exist, and you do not have to drop the price of another automatic watch to get one. Simply put, a watch winder is an electric machine with one or more small padded cylinders which hold a watch and turn at set intervals to wind the mainspring by mimicking the motion of your wrist. Some are simple and utilitarian, while others are ornate display cases, sometimes with additional storage space.

While there are plenty of watch winders that are both extraordinarily complex machines in their own right and gorgeous pieces of furniture, an entire range exists to fit any budget and any size watch collection. So if you are tired of having to reset your automatic watch, or you have a collection that you like to cycle through, we’ve rounded up the best watch winders available right now.

Cub Single Watch Winder

Single watch winders are good for anyone with one or two automatic watches that they wear regularly, or if you use an auto mixed in with a couple quartz watches. Single watch winders don't take up much space, so if you choose not to show it off on a dresser or end table, they can fit discretely in a coset.

WOLF is one of the best-reviewed manufacturers of watch winders. The German company was known for jewelry cases before it got into the winders, so display-worthy aesthetics are its first and foremost priority. That doesn't mean there is any skimping on the mechanics. This single watch case is programable to turn clockwise, counterclockwise, or alternate between both. Turn and rest periods are available to accommodate any power reserve out there.

This beautiful watch winder also travels well because it runs on both plug and AA batteries. It is available in green, navy, black, brown, orange, yellow, and burgundy. So you can match it to your decor or favorite watch.

Watch Winder

Versa provides a great watch winder at a super affordable price by keeping things pragmatic and simple. Rather than building out a decorative jewelry case to house the winding mechanism, this small and light weight winder is an almost spherical plastic shell just big enough to hold the winder and the watch. Three light-up buttons control the display light, spin direction, and rotations per day.

This is the highest rated watch winder on Amazon because it is small, simple, and reliable. Tuck it away in your closet or show it off on your dresser or desk. It does not have a built-in power supply, but even with the plug, it is small enough to travel. You can even buy multiple for less than the price of higher-end multi-watch winders, if you have a collection of automatic watches.

Some of our editors have noticed that bulkier watches, especially those with steel bracelets, can get in the way while working on a laptop for long periods of time. This Versa winder fits nicely on a desk to park your watch and keep it fully wound during the work day.

Automatic Wooden Watch Winder Display Box

Large, decorative watch winders that house and wind multiple watches don't have to break the bank. J Queen has an excellent reputation among the watch community for dependable watch winders that you want to show off. This large case, the largest in the brand's lineup, holds an impressive thirteen watches in total. It can wind four at a time, while the other nine fit into a luxurious jewelry case below.

We love this winder because it comes with a lock. Whether or not you own any exceptionally expensive automatic watches, it provides a certain peace of mind to know they are safe and secure. You don't have to own a dozen watches to make use of this winder, because the case can hold other jewelry as well.

With three shades of lacquered wood available, you can match just about any bedroom or office furniture. At such a bargain price, this makes an excellent men's gift for the watch lover in your life.

Perpetua III Lacquered Walnut Watch Winder

Many watch winders double as watch boxes, and few men's jewelry boxes are nicer to look at than the Perpetua III from Rapport London. The case is rendered in lacquered walnut with a velvet lined interior and gold plated accents. Genuine leather is used for the watch rolls that set into the winders. Every piece is hand assembled in England. The motor is virtually silent so it won't both you in the bedroom.

A small LCD screen allows you to control the direction and rotations per day for your watches, as well as monitor where each winder is at in the cycle. Each winder is individually programable for different watches as well.

Although this winder does not have a clear display case window to show your watches, it is a beautiful thing to look at all the same. Arguably, the same level of craftsmanship that goes into a grand piano is on display with this case. If you have a couple very nice automatic watches that you cherish, this is a perfect home for them.

7-RT Triple Watch Winder

Think of the Scatola del Tempo as the Rolex of watch winders. The Italian brand was founded in 1989 in Lake Como, with the president of Patek Philippe as one of its first clients. Swissmade motors are used for optimal precision in the winding process because these winders are made to house the finest watches on the planet. The highest quality materials are used to construct the case, like full grain leather and velvet.

This particular case has three winders, each with seven different winding settings to choose from. Four more watches can be stored above on jewelry store style display pillows. The lid is evenly padded where the face of each watch touches to prevent scratches. If your watch collection is approaching the value of a luxury car, this is the watch winder for you.

Six-Piece Watch Winder

For passionate watch collectors with an ever-growing fleet of fine automatic timepieces, there are few high quality winders out there that can accommodate six watches at once. Fortunately, Wolf makes an excellent option that doubles as large display case. Essentially, the British manufacturer stacked six of its singe watch winders together in one large package. That means each individual winder is fully programable to match whatever watch goes in it.

Black pebble grain faux leather covers the outside while soft microsuede covers the inside. The watch cuffs are padded and lock your tickers in safely. Each winder has a back lit LCD display screen that makes for easy programming and spin cycle monitoring.

The front display window folds down like a briefcase, so this watch winder will need a sizable space to be stored in. Of course, it looks so nice—especially when filled with watches—that we recommend showing it off on top of a dresser or on a book shelf.

What to Look for in a Watch Winder

Other than budget, there are three major considerations when choosing the right watch winder: how many watches, programmability, and watch size capacity. Plenty of single watch winders exist and a wide range of budgets, as you move up in number, the choices get fewer and prices get more expensive. If you already have or are building a collection of automatic watches, a four-watch winder should keep enough ready to rock at any given time, assuming the fifth watch is on your wrist.

Programmability: This may require you to do some homework. All watch winders run on a move-and-rest pattern, simulating the stop and go motion of the human body. That is crucial to avoid damaging watches by over winding them. This simple consideration will accommodate most entry-to-mid level automatic watches. For most watch winders, all you have to do is set the power reserve number for your watch.

Once you get into higher-end watches with more complex movements and complications, you may have to adhere to specific winding directions and amounts. That is why higher end watch winders come with programmable settings. Finding the correct setting for your watch will require cross referencing the watch manual and winder manual. When in doubt, you can always contact the brands directly through e-mail or on social media.

Size: As far as size capacity goes, you need to make sure the winder can handle the case size and band size of your watch or watches. Unless you have an enormous diver pushing 48 mm, or a very small bracelet, almost any good watch winder will work for you. Just check the specs before purchase to be sure.

How We Selected

Brad Lanphear is a style professional and watch enthusiast with over a decade of experience testing watches, as well as watch winders. In addition to his own experience trying watches, Lanphear combed through dozens of reviews from ecommerce sites we trust, and he also scanned reddit sections like r/watches for unbiased watch winder recommendations.

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