Underwood (London) - Rotobox 22/03/2012
 This is a slightly unusual review in that it's for a variety of winders rather than a single piece. That's because the Rotobox from "Underwood (London)" is a cross between an expandable winder and the more traditional 'jewelry box' style winder. The unit itself is completely removable and can be placed into a wide variety of cases from single framed leather boxes to large wooden units housing twenty or more modules.
Underwood as a brand came out an Italian leather company from the early 20th century. Confusingly, they sport the word 'London' as part of the name which appears bracketed after 'Underwood' but are actually still headquartered in Florence. What Underwood have done here is to try and merge the best of two worlds - modular, stackable winders favoured by people who are hedging their bets on the final size of their collection; and fixed space display cabinets preferred by those looking to show off their collection. 1 Comment Orbita - Futura 3 17/02/2012
 Orbita are a real force to be reckoned with. They have been producing quality winders since the late '90s and they have brought innovation to a market that could easily get stagnant. Their patented 'rotorwind' system (reviewed previously here) is a thing of beauty.
However, Orbita have, in the past, been accused of producing tired and stuffy designs. It's true that they tend to push less boundaries when compared to Rapport or even their main competitor - Wolf Designs. But they are always solid, reliable, effective winders. In this example, the Futura 3, Orbita have thrown caution to the wind and gone for a more modern look, albeit at the expense of not having their rotorwind system included. Döttling - Colosimo 09/02/2012
 We'll admit it, this piece only just qualifies for our watch winder reviews. Technically this is a safe first and a winder second. It even comes with the option of no winding mechanism, replacing the innards with a cigar humidor. However, the deliciously over-engineered design piqued our interest here at Watch Winders Int, so we decided to probe a little further.
Dubbed 'the smallest high security safe in the world', this is a 1:13 scale homage to the classic vaults Döttling are known for. It's petite frame (28 x 27 x 27cm) belies it's obese credentials - it weighs in at a hefty 66lbs, or 30kg. For a safe though, that's an advantage. Yet the moniker of 'Colosimo' is unrelated to the colossal size; it's actually from the early 20th century bank robber - Jim Colosimo. Wolf Designs - Roadster Triple 24/01/2012
 If you've spent any time looking into buying a watch winder then you've probably come across the two major players - Orbita and Wolf Designs. These two companies are really the market leaders in this fledgling industry and are forging the way with their design and technical innovations.
Wolf Designs have a long and interesting history in jewelery-box creation and this gives them a unique providence in a market generally bereft of longevity. The latest Wolf family member to lead the company (Simon Philip Wolf) has successfully moved their head office from the UK to the West Coast of America. Whilst it's true that these machines are constructed in China, Wolf Designs maintains their own facility there and has exceptional standards. This outsourcing allows the company to compete at a price point which, while some may still find high, actually provides some of the best value available. Spin-R Twin Head 28/12/2011
 Our friends over at REALWatchReview have come up with another detailed break-down of a Spin-R product. It's a sensible addition by the company and here at Watch Winders Int. we think the extra dimensions make it look more stylish than it's predecessor. Head over to Real Watch Review for the video and full review, or read on below.
"When I reviewed the first watch Winder from SPIN-R, I found it to be one of the best thoughout winder products to be introduced to the market. With digital control, battery power and a very nice design it was a immediate win. Now they have stretched that design to handle two watches while adding a few more tweaks to make it even better. Accuratic 24/12/2011
 One unifying factor of watch collections is that they tend to grow. Some faster than others, but normally sporadically and frequently in an unplanned manner. These means buying a winder requires either a certain level of divination or strong confidence that you can control future watch-purchasing urges.
It's for this reason that some manufacturers are designing 'expandable' winders. By definition, these products start with a single-headed unit and can be stacked, plugged, or clicked together with each new addition. The idea is simple, but the execution can be tricky. If the design is too complicated then the winders can't be connected, but if it's too simple they could look either unfinished when standing alone or like child's building blocks when stacked together. Vartash Trading, based out of Glendale California, believe they have found that balance in their new product - Accuratic. Kadloo - Panamerica IV 17/12/2011
 Kadloo is a German company which has been targeting the entry level mechanical watch buyer since 2006. There is clearly a lot of research and effort in their extensive watch range. While it is true that they suffer from being more than a little derivative, we'll leave the watch reviews for those better educated on the topic than us. This article is focused on the Panamerica IV; one of their many winders.
The Panameria's size and shape is reminiscent of the Orbita InSafe and the piano finish is not unlike the recently reviewed Heisse & Söhne. However, the Panamerica has a design that manages to look classic without being boring. There's nothing eye-catching or aggressive in the style, but the touches of silver work to frame the watches very well, and the control dials are satisfyingly tactile and solid. The controls are more than just nice to look at, they provide access to the 'multi-wind' system which manages the Turns per Day as well as direction and (interestingly) the rhythm of the pausing intervals. That's something a little different to most winders. Heisse & Söhne - Loop 3 04/12/2011
 Designhütte GmbH is a German retailer of quality winders, watch cases and jewelery boxes. They've long been in the business of selling on behalf of companies such as Rapport, Orbita and Buben & Zörweg. Their taste is impeccable and their site does an excellent job in a variety of languages. They've clearly spotted that there's money to be made in retailing their own brand of winders and so they offer an in-house range called "Heisse & Söhne". Presented here is the 'Loop 3'.
While it must be difficult to keep friendly with the big name brands whilst also pushing their home-brand, the Luedenscheid (it's North of Bonn) based suppliers have the added advantage of learning from the best. This particular example takes it style queues from a variety of other models. Rapport - The Optima Time Capsule 28/11/2011
 Here at Watch Winders Int. we normally try to focus on reviews of winders with some level of mid-range appeal. Products that are well constructed but not overpriced. Yet, as with watches, sometimes a daring or outlandish design will catch our attention (see the previous Kunstwinder review). Rapport have one such winder.
The Optima Time Capsule is clearly designed as an exercise in style; and that is very much to its credit. If you're looking for 'practical' or 'affordable' then you've come to the wrong place. Move along, there's nothing to see here. However, if you're looking for something that would be a stunning display case and you're not afraid to part with ~$3,000USD then this may be of interest. SPIN-R - courtesy of REALWatchReview 22/11/2011
 Our friends at REALWatchReview posted an excellent review of the Spin-R winder earlier this year. You can read it here and they have kindly allowed us to re-post it below. Enjoy!
"Watch winders as they are today are pretty straightforward. They turn, at different rates and sometimes they use high-end materials. SPIN-R just flipped the norm on its head, their new watch winder incorporates everything a watch winder should be in one awesome package. Design The design of the SPIN-R winder is very contemporary and will fit in with all your other cool gadgets. Its open-faced front window hinges at the bottom to access the inside without a door in the way. Inside is felt lined with controls and LCD at the bottom. The entire unit stands on runner bottomed pedestal feet. Its also available in black and white as well. |
