Once you start building a watch collection, you're eventually going to want something to safely and securely store your timepieces and maybe even to show them off at the same time. Watch boxes, cases, and rolls enable you to access all or part of your collection without the need for frequent opening and closing of the watches' individual packaging, and they can provide a more compact method of transporting multiple watches while you travel. Who makes the best watch boxes on the market today? Here we spotlight 10 notable brands, as chosen by our team and our loyal followers on Instagram, and showcase a favorite item from each, with an emphasis on including options for various budgets and collections of any size. Most all of the makers listed here offer many other similar products in additions to the model featured, and all are worth exploring.
Founded in 1834 by German silversmith Philip Wolf, Los Angeles-based Wolf is now in its fifth generation of family ownership and continues the mission of its founder, who set out to make “fine quality cases” to protect precious possessions such as jewellery and timepieces. Perhaps at least as well known these days as one of the leading purveyors of high-tech watch winders, Wolf still produces an array of luxurious boxes and cases, holding as few as five watches and as many as 15, including this 10-piece British Racing cabinet with a quad-angled, paneled lid, gold hardware, suspended watch cushions, a smartwatch USB port, and a vegan leather exterior.
Swiss design firm Kross Studio, launched in 2020 by former Hublot product development head and Romain Jerome CEO Marco Tedeschi and his team, works with established purveyors of pop culture, such as Disney-owned DC Comics and Lucasfilm, to produce co-branded luxury items aimed at discerning collectors. Sci-fi fans will appreciate this colorful series of individual leather watch rolls paying homage to famous characters from the Star Wars franchise: Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, Yoda, Darth Vader, the Mandalorian, and an Imperial Storm Trooper. Each one comes in vegetal tanned leather with a soft polyester microfiber fabric interior. (https://kross-studio.ch/en)
Another multigenerational family firm, Rapport of London began In 1898 when 20-year-old Maurice A. Rapport built his first timepiece, establishing the company as a world-renowned leader in clockmaking. Today, four generations later, its accumulated knowledge and expertise in the fields of cabinetmaking, horology, and electrical engineering continues to produce quality watch winders as well as collector boxes and carrying cases for watches and jewelry. The Heritage model comes with a lustrous Burr Walnut or Macassar veneer finish, achieved with five layers of lacquer. The box closes with a gold-plated lock and key and features a sumptuous suede inner lining with adjustable cushions to fit any size of watch. (https://www.rapportlondon.com/)
Molequin, which was founded in 2016, is the passion project of “watch guy” Michael Luther and “leather guy” Sidney Grzclaczk, and is primarily known (and highly regarded) for its leather watch straps, all of which use skins sourced from French farms that adhere to sustainable methods and practices. Referring to itself as a “French-Belgian Affair” (the products are made at an atelier in France; the company is based in Brussels), Molequin applies the same environmental standards to its watch carrying cases like the one here, with a Hunter Green calfskin exterior, with tone-on-tone stitching, and an interior in Pecan Alcantara, a more durable alternative to suede. The six 12mm-deep recesses inside will fit watches up to 46mm in diameter, which are held by snap closures. (https://www.molequin.com/)
With a mission to revive manufacturing in the city of Detroit, Shinola hit the American watch scene in 2011 and quickly established itself as a major player in its price category. The company, launched by Fossil Watch co-founder Tom Kartsotis, quickly branched out into other items as well with an emphasis on “American Made” nostalgia appeal — bicycles, leather goods, eyewear, jewelry, wall and desk clocks, and knives, to name just a few. As one would expect, Shinola also makes handsome carrying and storage cases for its timepieces, including this Watch Collector’s Box, made of oak with a monogrammable leather insert and featuring four separated leather cushions that are ideal for just about any sized watches. (https://www.shinola.com/)
If you’re looking for rugged robustness over luxurious presentation in your watch storage, consider one of the options from To The Hour, which sources its cases from Peli, a world-renowned producer of ultra-resilient carrying cases made from Copolymer Polypropylene with an open cell core and solid wall construction. Peli cases are waterproof, dustproof, crushproof, and virtually indestructible, utilizing elements like an O-ring seal to protect precious cargo from the elements, double-step latches that allow firm shutting as well as easy opening, and an automatic pressure release valve to keep the air inside the case flowing normally in the event of a change in external pressure, such as when you’re bringing your watches on a flight. The smallest model, the Enigma, holds a single watch, while the largest, the Vault, can accommodate up to 21. (https://tothehour.com/)
U.K.-based Holme & Hadfield is relatively new to the scene, founded in 2018 by two school chums who apparently decided to quit their jobs and start a business “after one too many beers on a beach in Brazil.” The company’s signature Watch Deck is a stylish option for those who like to store their timepieces and show them off at the same time. Combining the features of a traditional watch organizer with those of a valet tray, its four round wooden posts hold your watches under a clear acrylic lid; with an added drawer below for other accessories, the entire ensemble makes for an attractive presentation as the centerpiece of any table or shelf top. (https://www.holmeandhadfield.com/)
An Australian-based brand with strong British roots, Tawbury’s founder hails from a working-class coal mining town in the U.K. and credits his journeys to London as a young man with inspiring the designs and names of the company’s high-end watch storage units. The Bayswater, named for one of London’s most cosmopolitan areas, holds 12 watches in its soft velvet-lined interior and displays them under a clear glass window top. The box has a premium vegan leather-treated exterior with chrome-finished hardware and includes a lower drawer with dividers to hold additional accessories. (https://tawbury.com/)
Before starting Bosphorus Leather, Adem Arslan worked with both his father and uncle at a leather shoe making factory in Istanbul. Since 2012, Arslan has been the head craftsman and team leader at Bosphorus, personally selecting all the high-quality leathers, dyes, and other materials for a selection of handmade products ranging from shoes to wallets to briefcases to watch rolls. The Galata Montana roll can accommodate up to four watches in its velvety suede interior with its snap-secured, easy-to-separate cushions. The exterior is Natural leather, with silvered brass snaps for opening and closing, and each roll can be individually customized with the owner's initials. (https://www.bosphorusleather.com/)
David Innocente and his wife Tania Ingerson established Innocente in Adelaide, South Australia, in 2006. The company’s handmade watch and jewelry boxes combine powder-coated sheet metal with rare timbers such as Huon Pine, English Elm, American Black Walnut, Californian Redwood, White Ash, Mahogany and Black Heart Sassafras. The interiors are velour and the hinges are chrome-plated brass. Each box — including the “Best of Both Worlds” edition showcased here, which combines California redwood with hand-rolled sheet metal and holds 10 watches — is individually numbered and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. (https://www.innocente.com.au/)
Refurbished goods tend to get a bad rap, but these items can actually save you a bundle if they're truly in like-new condition. Open-box products have a similarly bad reputation because the term suggests they're used. However, they may actually be brand-new items — just with a nice discount because the box happens to be open.
Open-box products are available at many retailers, including Best Buy, eBay, and Wayfair. And while they can be a good deal, that doesn't mean they always are. If you're considering buying open-box, here are a few things you need to know first.
When you see an item marked as "open-box," it means just that: the packaging has been opened. The product has likely been returned for some reason, but not necessarily because it's damaged. An open-box product could be something a shopper changed their mind about. The buyer may have returned it because they decided they didn't like the color, or for an equally trivial reason. So you could be picking up a completely new, unused item for a nice discount.
Open-box products are typically floor models or returned goods that have been inspected to make sure they work.
However, that may not always be the case. Most stores allow you to return products for at least a couple of weeks, and as a result, open-box items could have seen some use. They could show a little wear or cosmetic damage from their brief time in the original buyer's hands. This usually isn't a problem, but you should be aware that buying open-box means some items will be used, if only lightly.
Open-box products can also be floor models that the store has used to show the item off to customers. These can be a risky buy, as they've probably seen a lot of use. They may have never left the store, but all-day demoing from random customers adds up, and can make the items more prone to failure. If the open-box item you're looking at is a floor model, you may want to reconsider.
Whatever the reason items have received the "open-box" label, these products usually get an inspection to make sure they're working before they're resold. This could be a thorough check of each product's functionality, or the inspection could be as basic as plugging the item in to make sure it powers on. Either way, open-box products should (usually) work, though it's worth finding out how the retailer has tested them. More testing can help ensure a more reliable product.
SEE ALSO: What Is eBay Certified Refurbished All About?
One other thing to be aware of is the fact that open-box products may be sold "as is," meaning you can't return or exchange them. The manufacturer's warranty may or may not apply, too. So if you buy an open-box product that turns out to be damaged or defective, you have no recourse. Not all retailers do this, but you'll want to find out before you buy.
Even with these caveats, open-box items can still be a bargain for careful shoppers.
Refurbished items tend to be damaged goods that have been repaired to return them to like-new condition, while open-box items have simply been returned to the store for some reason, then put back on store shelves with an open-box label. So while retailers may sell refurbished and open-box items in the same section of their store or website, and even use the terms like they're interchangeable, there's a difference between refurbished and open-box products.
Refurbs tend to be damaged goods that have been repaired, while open-box items have been returned, then put back on store shelves with an open-box label.
Either type of product can give you a great deal, but be sure you know which one you're buying — and what to look for — before you take it home.
Before you buy, be sure to find out the following:
Your biggest opportunities are with pricey electronics, where even a few percentage points could mean serious savings. While not every deal is a good one, shopping open-box can save you in the 20% range — and sometimes more.
Shopping open-box can save you around 20% — and sometimes more.
The biggest reason to consider an open-box item is cost. Still, be sure to check that discount before you buy. There's always some risk of getting a damaged good, so if the discount isn't great (or there isn't a return policy), you may want to reconsider. Because the products can be brand-new, they can make for a fantastic buy — and as long as there's a return policy, there isn't much risk to buying open-box.
Even with a particularly low price, there are reasons to avoid buying open-box. A lack of return policy can be a big warning sign, with the best prices only offered on products the retailer won't stand behind. Because open-box items may not have a manufacturer's warranty either, there may not be anything you can do if the product is defective.
SEE ALSO: Everything You Need to Know to Buy Refurbished Electronics
It can also be hard to tell how much wear these items have. You may not know why they were returned or whether they were floor models. And if you aren't careful, you could wind up with an item that's simply used, and barely priced any better than a brand-new model.
The best place to buy open-box products is at a retailer you trust. Amazon Warehouse, Newegg, and Best Buy Outlet all sell open-box items, and products often fall under their standard return policies (though you'll want to double-check before making a purchase).
eBay is another place to look for open-box items, but you'll want to shop with care. When buying from a small seller on eBay (or anywhere else), you should look for good feedback, so you can be sure you aren't throwing your money at products that don't work.
Ready to start shopping? Check out the best open-box deals right now, and follow us on Facebook to get more helpful buying advice.