The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Here is the generic winder I bought. I got it off eBay dirt cheap. I was thinking about building a walnut or oak box and move the guts into a fancy box, but I have to admit the padded "pleather" case isnt too bad. I will be writing up a detailed review this weekend but here's some info:







6 Watch Programmable Bi-Directional Watch Winder

9 Total Possible Programs To Run
Retail $1200.00 (YEAH RIGHT!)


2 Year Limited Warranty against MFG defects


FEATURES:

Black vinyl/leather covering (very realistic looking leather)
6 Slot Winder
Each slot can be set to differnet program
Blue/Grey Velvet Interior
Bi-Directional winder(beware of cheaper winders that only turn one direction, they can damage movements on certain watches over time)
9 setting Programmable winder
Unit contains 6 different motors
Great Quality, you simply will not find a quality Programmable winder like this for this amount of money.
Quality motors with ultra quiet operation, you cannot hear them working
Push button stainless buttons open winder
Removeable spring loaded slots that will fit any watch and hold it securely
Slots slide in and click into place
There are manufactures that would sell a winder fo this quality for over $3000
2 year limited warranty on MFG defects through our company.
Free shipping within the USA
Comes with instructions on how to program
This is a high quality winder with recomended retail of $1200, this is not like the other cheap 6 watch winders you see for sale on ebay & the web
Ultra Quiet Japanese Motors(not cheap, noisy chinese ones that break in 2 weeks)
Our brand, manufactured for us to our specifications.
Comes with Instructions and warranty paperwork
Retail Price $1200

_________________
Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

can you give a little review, i was tempted to get this one myself

_________________
Pain is only weakness leaving the body.

I'll be REALLY interested to hear your review on this actually Bronco, because I came across an 8 way version of this on the Bay a little while back, but the "pleather" (as you very accurately call it! ) put me off a bit.

Keep us informed matey!

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

I'm on the lookout for a new winder, one which will hold each watch individually and I was thinking about a Rapport Captains Chest Quad Winder, then I saw these on Ebay which looks good and is actually a 6 watch winder

Anyone have any experience of either? The Rapport box has an RRP of around £775, but I can get one for £549, the Ebay one is considerably cheaper again.

Stef

EDIT: I've just searched the forum and found some info on the Official Time, mostly from Driver8 and it all seems positive so I may go for one of those!

_________________

Dumb question (maybe), but I assume that these budget winders don't have one motor per pillow, so how many do they have - just one for the whole box? Does that still allow for separate programming of each pillow??

Do you have a link to this winder on the bay?
Looking forward to your review...My Auto collection has increased enough that I could use a winder like this.

_________________
Cheers,
Christopher

Currently...
Blackbird, Black Hercules, PAM 000
Down to a humble three...

I've been watching these winders as well. I saw an 8 watch model of this go for $366, so I'd get one for that range

_________________

OK Guys and Gals, here is the review.

I have been looking for the best bang for the buck on winders for quite some time. Since I already own 4 autos (5 if you count my vintage Borel) I was looking for the 6 winder boxes. While at my AD, some time back, she introduced me to a local company's winders. They were really nice but they only had a 4 watch and a 2 watch winder. The thing that intrigued me was the way the watches "clicked" into the rotation device by the use of a padded plastic "holder (like a plastic pillow with a spring and padding on it)". When I saw this I was really impressed. By this holder method it is virtually impossible to have the watch fall out of the holder not matter how heavy it was.

Still at $1200 for this winder (which is likely a good deal for what it is), it was still only a 4 watch unit. Then one day I came across the watch winder I bought (see first post) and it too had the locking holders for the cups. The seller has them listed for a Buy It Now of $900 but after researching the "completed sales" for him, I found that many of them only brought $400 or so, when allowed to be a no reserve auction. I offered him $350 on a best offer and he countered with $375, shipped. Good deal, sold!

When it arrived it was very well packed and had a little weight to it. I carefully unpacked it and set it on the counter. I was not too thrilled with the padded fake leather / vinyl covering that was listed in the description but seeing it in person ...well, it’s really not that bad. Honestly, I thought that I would purchase it, gut it, and make an oak or walnut box on my own….. but I will hold off for now. Like I said the outside of the winder is of decent build quality. Note: THIS WINDER IS A 120v USA type plug-in transformer ONLY, no batteries.

Opening the cover (which folds down) gives you access to the front of the cups and the controls. Each cup has its own motor and separate controls for the functions listed in the first post. Solid feel to the control knobs and while running they are very quiet.

Now this "first" winder had something rattling around inside the case when I took it out of the packing and as suspected, there was a small problem. The upper left winder made a horrible grinding noise and the motion could easily be stopped with the slightest touch. I contacted the seller and he sent me a link to print off a return FedEx label and I returned it. (At no cost to me). A little over a week later I received the replacement and it worked just fine.

PROS:

Cheap
Locking watch holders (into the cups)
Individual modules and controls for each watch location
Build quality outside is an 8, inside about a 7 but pretty decent
Has a rest period for our autos
Extra spacer pads for large wristed bracelets
Very quiet operation (at least so far)

CONS:

No ability for batteries
Only designed for US AC voltage (ok for my purpose)
Outside of case is completely sealed so you can’t open it up without damaging the case
Locking holders are very functional but no were near as nice as that $1200 unit at the AD
No padding for the inside of the cups where the watch bands may touch. Mine are not touching but it is close.
Very annoying blinking green LED's when in rest mode and solid green in turning mode (I may be using some black fingernail paint on these!)
No storage drawer for the future manual watches!

So in conclusion, I got a little more than I paid for. I would say that this winder is easily worth the $375 I got it for and the seller was easy to work with and handled the first broken unit quickly and without any cost to me. I don’t know if I would go over $400 for the 6 watch unit, but if I had to do it all over...... I would.

Here is a link to the eBay sellers listings http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/clearinghousesales


Scott

_________________
Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

Hey Stef, your edit there is correct, apart from the fact that I think ALL the info on Official Time winders is from me!

In actual fact, that 6 way grey oak one is the exact model that I have. Personally I've had no problems with it at all. It's not quite as quiet as it was when it was new, but it's certainly not intrusive - and I've had it quite some time now. I've also had a 2 way Rapport and for me the OT beats it hands down - both in price and longevity. HOWEVER (and I can't stress this enough), watchwinders seem to be a minefield where one person can have great experiences while others have the exact opposite with the same model. All I can say is that MINE has been fine, and I'd not hesitate to buy another.

Just as an aside, the first two winders on this link have caught my eye. http://www.blowers-gifts.co.uk/categori ... goryID=146 I'm going to try to get some more info on the internals, but I think the 12 way model (plus a drawer for 7 more!) is reasonable value considering how well-made it looks.......... and I like the choice of wood too. The only thing is, Paramount are made by Rapport!

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks Driver8, I've just purchased one from them.

Stef

_________________

The 6 or the 8?

_________________

Mario,

I think Stef was refering to the winders in his and Driver8's "thread jack" conversation, not the one I posted about.

_________________
Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

Oh, OK. I too made then an offer and they countered. I think I'll just accept it I guess

_________________

Correct! Sorry for the confusion/thread jack!

Stef

_________________

Thanks for the extra push Garrett, I ordered mine.

_________________