What determines the price of a watch winder?

Watch winders come from different brands and can differ a lot in terms of technology, material and design. Well-known brands such as Swiss Kubik, Benson, Orbita and Paul Design have been leading the way for years. If you are looking for a good watch winder, what should you pay attention to and how do you ensure that you do not pay too much? There are so many different watch winders that it is sometimes difficult to determine what the exact differences are and why one brand or model is more expensive than another. We try to provide more information on the basis of certain properties of a watch winder. In this article we will discuss the question of what determines the price of a watch winder.

The most important aspects that determine the price of a watch winder are the specific brand, how many watches you can wind in the watch winder, the type of motors, the functionality, the use of materials and the design. We will discuss these aspects one by one for a good overview.

There are various watch winder brands and there is a big difference between good brands and bad brands. Respectable brands such as Benson, Paul Design, Swiss Kubik, Bernard Favre and Heisse & Söhne have been producing watch winders for years and are praised by watch enthusiasts worldwide. These brands have extensive collections and invest in their technology and innovations. As a result, the brands develop and offer better quality, technology and functionality. However, there are also watch winders that are offered by Amazon, Aliexpress or Bol.com (Dutch platform). These are often cheaper Chinese watch winders with unknown motors and poor functionality and quality. The brand name is often nicely conceived, mainly to mislead consumers into thinking they have purchased a quality product. In reality, it is not a real brand that invests in its products, but a Chinese factory that produces cheap watch winders and sells it to all kinds of parties who then place their own name on the watch winder. The difference in price between a serious watch winder brand and an unknown Asian brand with a remarkably low price is easy to explain based on the above.

In addition to the brand, the capacity of the watch winder, in other words how many automatic watches can be wound in the watch winder, also largely determines the price. In general, a watch winder that can wind more automatic watches is more expensive than a watch winder that can wind fewer automatic watches. After all, any watch that rotates is powered by a motor. More watches means more motors. The motor of a watch winder is the heart of this watch accessory and is one of the more expensive parts. A watch winder that can wind more automatic watches is often also larger in size, which also affects the price because more material is used. Larger watch winders require more material, labor and lead to higher transport costs.

As noted earlier, the motor is the heart of the watch winder. The motor ensures the rotation of the watch. With a good watch winder, each watch is powered by a separate motor. This makes each watch individually adjustable in terms of direction of rotation and number of revolutions per day. The quality of the motor depends on where the motor was produced. In general, watch winders' motors come from Switzerland, Germany, Japan and China. Swiss and German motors  are the most highly regarded for quality and durability. In addition, they are often almost silent in use. Japanese motors  are almost as good as Swiss and German motors and are a bit cheaper, which means that watch winders that use Japanese motors are often attractively priced. Japanese motors are also of very good quality and durable, but as a rule the sound level is slightly higher than with Swiss and German motors. Chinese motors are no longer used by serious watch winder brands. These Chinese motors are still used in watch winders that are offered on Amazon, Aliexpress and Bol.com. Often the motors are unbranded and they quickly cause a lot of noise nuisance or malfunctions. Often a watch winder that uses such motors can no longer be repaired. Not only because the parts are difficult to obtain, but also because it is not economically profitable. Replacing the watch winder is often cheaper than a repair. This is not only a waste of your money but is also anything but sustainable.

A watch winder's main task is to wind automatic watches. An automatic watch gets energy when it makes a certain number of revolutions per day. The rotor in the timepiece rotates, tensioning a spring. When this spring relaxes, the automatic watch starts running. Every good watch winder can rotate clockwise, anticlockwise and alternately and is adjustable in terms of number of revolutions per day. This combination of properties allows you to provide any watch, regardless of watch brand or model, with energy. But a watch winder can also have very different functionalities that you can use well as a watch enthusiast. You can think of built-in LED lighting for a good view of the watches, but also a lockable door so that the watches are safe in the watch winder. Other examples of useful features are power winding where you provide the watches with energy in a short time, and also the sleep mode where the watch winder pauses during the night hours because you normally sleep at night and the watch does not move. The Paul Design brand distinguishes itself with a fingerprint sensor with which you can open and close the door. Swiss Kubik distinguishes itself with a battery function in which the watch winder can function for up to 3 years on one set of batteries. The Dutch brand Benson has various useful extras such as additional storage space, flexible watch holders and a modern touchscreen with which you can set the watch winder. In short, each brand has its own advantages.

The material of which the watch winder is made plays a major role on the durability, but certainly also on the price of a watch winder. The quality and quantity of the materials used such as wood, fabric, stainless steel and glass have a direct influence on the price. But also the type of material and its processing can influence the labor. Materials that are difficult to work with require more specific knowledge and concentration in production. You can see this well with the Swiss brand RDI that works with organic materials where each watch winder is unique. The RDI watch winders are therefore not cheap. The material of the watch winder is an important property. Wooden watch winders, for example, absorb sound, but are also more vulnerable to scratches and bumps. Plastic or aluminum watch winders, such as those from Swiss Kubik, are stronger but do not offer an absorbing effect and do not have the same luxurious appearance as a wooden watch winder. However, your personal taste also plays a major role. Do you choose a watch winder purely on the basis of functionality or also on the basis of appearance, material and color? There are many options and watch winders are produced in all kinds of colors. Plenty of choice!

The last element that affects the price is the design of the watch winder. Brands design a watch winder based on the needs of their customers. There are brands that produce small and effective watch winders and brands that turn out much more in terms of size, extras and luxury. A beautiful design usually costs more money than a simple design. For one watch enthusiast who wants to wind his or her automatic watches, design is important, for others it is not and a watch winder is purely a handy accessory. Nevertheless, we notice that customers are increasingly looking for a beautiful watch winder that is really placed as an eye-catcher in the interior. For example in the living room, bedroom or in an office. The watch winder must then match the specific interior in terms of size, color and design.

Watch winder brands each choose their own design that distinguishes them from other brands. You recognize certain brands immediately. For example, we see that Swiss Kubik watch winders have a very compact and functional design. The watch enthusiast who buys a Swiss Kubik watch winder does not so much opt for a high-quality design and a luxurious appearance. Bernard Favre, on the other hand, is a Swiss brand whose watch winders have unique designs. With the Planet models, the watch turns, as it were, on its own axis, which offers a special appearance. The glass bell that comes with it makes it a beautiful watch winder. The Dutch brand Benson has various series such as the Compact, Smart-Tech II, Black Series and Swiss Series, giving you a wide choice in terms of design and price range. The differences in design between these brands are significant. A luxurious design ensures that the price is normally also higher. If you choose a watch winder with a simple design, the price will generally be a bit lower.

There are many different types of watch winders. There are also large differences in price between models and brands. But as a rule, the price differences can be easily explained if we look at the materials used, type of engines and capacity. In addition, you pay a little more for one brand than for another. You also see this in cars, mobile phones and clothing. Well-known brands that also do a lot of marketing are normally more expensive. Due to their brand name, reputation and origin, they can charge a higher price for their products.

If you want to purchase a new watch winder, pay attention to the above aspects and determine what is important to you. Compare different makes and models. Get well-informed by a specialist and determine your budget. On that basis, you will certainly make a good choice for an excellent watch winder that will wind your automatic watches well and safely and which you will enjoy for years to come.