Best watch winders 2024: keep your timepiece ticking away

T3's guide to the best watch winders – keep your Rolex at the ready & your Grand Seiko in the saddle

Best watch winders 2024: Jump Menu

watch winder

(Image credit: Barrington Watch Winder)

00. The top three
01. Best overall: Wolf Cub Single Watch Winder
02. Best sophisticated: Barrington Single Winder
03. Best double: Rapport Vogue Duo Watch Winder
04. Best automatic: Wolf Heritage Double Winder
05. Best large: Wolf Viceroy Six-piece watch winder
06. Best single: Rapport London Perpetua III Winder
07. Best triple: Wolf Roadster Triple Watch Winder
08. Best attractive: Rapport London Optima Time Capsule
09. Best affordable: Stackers Watch Winder
11. How we test

If you're into your watches, you need to have one of the best watch winders at your disposal. Collecting watches can be a rewarding pastime, not to mention a great way to stay accessorised to the nines. However, every owner of automatic (self-winding) watches knows that if you don’t keep them moving, they'll slow down and stop.

This is where watch winders come to the rescue. These boxes can act as storage solutions and display cases, but above all else, they rotate periodically to keep your watch’s power reserve topped up. That way, no matter how long it is since you last wore your best watch, the winder will ensure it's topped up at the right time and ready to be worn.

A watch winder should feature a considered design that will serve to highlight your investment and suit your interior aesthetic. In this guide, we've found a wide array of watch winder options to suit all kinds of collectors.

If you're travelling with your watches, keep them in impeccable style with the best watch rolls and cases. Watch rolls won't keep your watches ticking, but they will protect them from scratches and damage.

WRITTEN BY
Lizzie Wilmot
WRITTEN BY
Lizzie Wilmot

Lizzie is T3's Home Staff Writer, also covering style and wellness. Not only does Lizzie scout out and review the best products to buy within these areas, but she also dedicates time and effort into finding out how to keep them safe. When it comes to your timepieces, watch winders are the perfect accessory to keeping them wound up when not in use. They're also great for protection, and Lizzie couldn't recommend them enough. 

The top three

Best watch winders ranking

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The best watch winder overall

Wolf Cub Single Watch WinderT3 Award

(Image credit: Wolf Cub)

1. Wolf Cub Single Watch Winder

The best overall watch winder

Specifications

Best for: All-rounder
Type: Single
Material: Leather
Power: AC or Battery

Reasons to buy

+
Leather design
+
Multiple colours
+
Great brand

Reasons to avoid

-
Only one setting

If you're looking for a single watch winder that exudes class and luxury, then the Cub by Wolf is your best option. It feels like a meticulously engineered piece of kit, with a sharp, faux-leather design. 

It features a fine Saffiano finish and has a glass cover to keep dust off your pride and joy. The Cub comes in a number of colour options too, but my favourite is this stunning dark-green colourway. The watch winder is finished with chrome hardware and has a single winding setting.

Obviously, the Cub is the entry-level model of Wolf's range, with space for just one timepiece. If you want a watch winder with a larger capacity, then you'll have to look elsewhere in Wolf's range, or at the other options below.

The best sophisticated watch winder

Barrington Single WinderT3 Award

(Image credit: Barrington)

2. Barrington Single Winder

The best sophisticated watch winder

Specifications

Best for: Short on space
Type: Single
Material: High-gloss engineered wood
Power: AC or Battery

Reasons to buy

+
Number of colours
+
Compact
+
Affordable

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as luxurious as others

The Barrington Single Winder is made from MDF, but with an incredibly smooth gloss finish. That makes it perfect if you own one automatic watch or if you're short on space. Inside is a Japanese motor which rotates almost silently, and is powered by either a mains plug or two AA batteries.

There are settings for the direction of rotation, as well as the number of turns per day. Knowing which setting is incredibly easy thanks to the Barrington Watch Database, which suggests the best setting for your watch model.

There are seven colours to choose from, meaning it shouldn't have a problem fitting into your room, and, at a price of £125, we think it's tremendous value for money. Check out all the colours available on Barrington's website.

The best double watch winder

Rapport Vogue Duo Watch Winder in Carbon FibreT3 Award

(Image credit: Rapport London)

3. Rapport Vogue Duo Watch Winder in Carbon Fibre

The best double watch winder

Specifications

Best for: Modern settings
Type: Double
Material: Carbon Fibre and aluminium
Power: AC

Reasons to buy

+
Modern design
+
Premium 
+
Each rotator can be controlled individually 

Reasons to avoid

-
Too modern for some
-
Very expensive

If you're looking for a modern watch winder, this contemporary design from Rapport is beautifully created from carbon fibre and brushed aluminium. It features two bevelled glass panels on the upper lid, which is complemented with a luxurious grey velvet interior. 

The watches are placed on luxe soft leather watch holders, each of which can be individually controlled for each individual watch's needs. The motor runs virtually silent and can be powered through the battery backup too. At 305 x 185 x 160mm, it's large, but not too imposing.

The best automatic watch winder

Wolf Heritage Double Watch WinderT3 Award

4. Wolf Heritage Double Watch Winder

The best automatic watch winder

Specifications

Best for: All-rounder
Type: Double
Material: Faux leather
Power: AC, D-Cell batteries

Reasons to buy

+
 Suits all sizes of watch 
+
 Pre-programmed rotation phases 
+
Top storage compartment

Reasons to avoid

-
Large

This is the best watch winder if you have a larger watch collection. It's designed to suit varied collections too – the sprung watch holders can carry all types of watches, from dinky to oversized, and it’s also able to simultaneously wind two watches on different settings – with pre-programmed sleep phases and intermittent rotations, no less. 

It’s smart in more ways than one, too, with its faux leather casing and chrome hardware looking simple and sleek, and a glass front panel that allows you to keep an eye on things while showing off your favourite watches.

Wolf is one of our favourite watch winder brands too, and well respected, so we know this is a reliable and well-designed product.

The best large watch winder

Wolf Viceroy Six-piece watch winderT3 Award

(Image credit: Mr Porter)

5. Wolf Viceroy Six-piece watch winder

The best large watch winder

Specifications

Best for: Large collections
Type: 6-watch winder
Material: Black faux leather
Power: AC-powered

Reasons to buy

+
Plenty of space for a growing collection
+
Individual settings for each watch
+
Faux leather

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the last word in security

If you've got a large watch collection, or like to wear a different watch every day of the week, then you need a serious watch winder. This Wolf Viceroy has space to store and maintain the precision of six watches. It's made from rich faux leather, which is great if you're vegan, with a glass cover and silk lining. 

It can perform up to 1,200 turns per day and has a start delay of up to 72 hours so you can set it ahead of time. Each watch winder can be programmed individually, so it can suit all different watch needs. You can also keep everything secure with the integrated lock and key, although, the front is made from glass, so it's probably not that secure.

The best single watch winder

Rapport London Perpetua III Watch WinderT3 Award

(Image credit: Rapport)

6. Rapport London Perpetua III Watch Winder

The best single watch winder

Specifications

Best for: A small collection
Type: Single
Material: Walnut and velvet
Power: Battery, DC adapter

Reasons to buy

+
Choice of timed or fast-wind modes 
+
Small footprint 
+
Lid stops dust

Reasons to avoid

-
Doesn't display your watch

A leather-bound watch winder-meets-jewellery box might be enticing, but if a three grand price tag takes it out of the realms of accessibility, consider this dinky version instead. A testament to the old adage that good things come in small packages, it’s ideal if a single watch winder is all you need, with its practical small footprint and high-end-looking lacquered box made from solid walnut. 

The low-voltage motor keeps things moving constantly and quietly on a choice of timed or fast modes, by DC adapter or batteries, making for a superbly versatile winder. 

The only reason we're not sure about it is that the lid is opaque, which means you can't see your watch when it's in your winder. You may like my watch to be on display, but if you prefer something a little more discreet, or have a vintage watch that might fade in the sun, then this is a great option.

The best triple watch winder

Wolf Roadster Triple Watch WinderT3 Award

7. Wolf Roadster Triple Watch Winder

The best triple watch winder

Specifications

Best for: Large collections
Type: Triple
Material: Wood, faux leather
Power: AC/DC adapter or D-cell batteries

Reasons to buy

+
Huge capacity 
+
Really quiet operation 
+
Top compartment

Reasons to avoid

-
Wood veneer not for everyone

With winders for three watches and storage for five more, this really is a winder for the watch obsessive. 

The whisper-quiet operation is really impressive and it's really easy to set up with the correct rotation settings. It features a handy protective delay start function to guard against over-winding, and winders are solid enough to handle even the heaviest, oversized, luxury watches.

The best attractive watch winder

Rapport London Optima Time Capsule Watch WinderT3 Award

8. Rapport London Optima Time Capsule Watch Winder

The best attractive watch winder

Specifications

Best for: Striking design
Type: Single
Material: Crystal glass, chrome-plated aluminium
Power: DC with backup battery

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful mechanical design
+
Rotation options
+
See it working

Reasons to avoid

-
Rather expensive

Yes, we appreciate that spending over £2,000 / $2,300 on a device purely to keep your watch wound up is a bit excessive, but would you just look at this winder from Rapport?! The London Optima Time Capsule shares its mechanical design with the luxury watches it will no doubt contain, complete with metal cogs nestled behind a beautiful cylindrical glass.

With stainless steel controls which look like they come from a vintage record player, the Optima Time Capsule offers multiple winding modes for different watches. Quite simply, it's stunning, and is the perfect addition to an uber-luxe dressing room.

The best affordable watch winder

Stackers Watch WinderT3 Award

(Image credit: Stackers)

9. Stackers Watch Winder

The best affordable watch winder

Specifications

Best for: Quiet operation and reliable brand
Type: Single
Material: Faux leather
Power: Mains or battery (AA batteries)

Reasons to buy

+
Smart, simple design
+
Mains or battery powered
+
Quiet operation

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Just two colour options

Stackers is a company that creates stackable jewellery and watch boxes, and also now offers a stylish watch winder. Borrowing a similar design as its other products, which I really like, the cuboid watch winder holds a single timepiece and is available in black or brown. 

The winder can be plugged into the mains or powered with AA batteries. A pair of control knobs on the front let you set how the winder works. It turns your watch 600 times per day, and has three rotation settings to pick from (clockwise, anticlockwise or bi-directional). The level of quietness is also very impressive – so it shouldn't disturb you if kept in the bedroom.

How we test

One of the best watch winders on a wooden table in front of a green wall, with a vase and books next to it

(Image credit: T3)

When we review a watch winder the process is fairly simple. First, we assess the watch winder's design, whether it looks good, what materials it's made from and whether it feels robust and well-made. This is an important consideration, because ultimately a watch winder is a luxury purchase, and if you want it to display your pride and joy then you'll want it to be attractive.

Then we'll look at how practical it is, whether the watch cushion feels secure and how easy it is to dial in the correct settings.

Finally, we'll look at how the watch winder operates, how quiet it is, how long the batteries last, whether it's smooth and what functions it offers.

Lizzie Wilmot
Staff Writer, Home

Lizzie is T3's Home Staff Writer, also covering style, living and wellness. She works closely with Bethan Girdler-Maslen, T3's Home Editor, ensuring all the latest news, trends and recommendations are covered. Outside of T3, Lizzie can be found mooching around Bath, attempting (or at least trying to) a new DIY project or spending time with family and friends.

With contributions from