You’ve got to keep your watches somewhere, right? We take a look at Luxury Watch Rolls – a Kickstarter that could solve that problem.
Luxury Watch Rolls Review
Luxury Watch Rolls is currently funding on Kickstarter. They’re making three different watch rolls to protect one, two or three of your favourite timepieces. They’re made from Italian full-grain Nappa leather with a soft suede inner. The rolls arrive in a simple but effective cardboard bag, within which is a cloth pouch that protects the roll itself.
The dimensions of the three rolls in the Kickstarter campaign are:
- Single Slot Watch Roll – 9cm (L) x 11cm (W) x 8cm (H)
- Double Slot Watch Roll – 17cm (L) x 11cm (W) x 8cm (H)
- Triple Slot Watch Roll – 24cm (L) x 11cm (W) x 8cm (H)
Luxury Watch Rolls lent us one of their rolls for this review – and this is a good sign. They’re prepared to put their money where their mouth is and let me put their claims to the test. The sample I received was made in the UK, and production versions are to be made either in the UK or in Europe.
Are These Kickstarter Watch Rolls Any Good?
That’s what you came here for, right? Are Luxury Watch Rolls just rebranded AliExpress watch rolls being sold at a mark-up? Well, it didn’t take much Google-fu to discover a very similar looking watch roll on offer at AliExpress.
I asked the company for comment and they pointed out that their product is not made in China, and is made of higher quality leather. A lot of the Aliexpress watch rolls will be made of PU Leather (a synthetic material) or split leather (made up from scraps). The fit and finish will be lower, as they are being made to a price. Compare this to the finish of the review sample I was loaned:
Essentially, it’s the same argument as with watches: you can buy a cheaper watch with the same specifications as a big brand model but we all know that there’s a world of difference between a mass-produced watch with an ETA 2824 movement and an Omega or Breitling based around the same innards.
I also looked at higher-end rolls, and the design of these items tends to be similar. I can’t say which way the inspiration was drawn, but you can easily spend the best part of £300 on a Carapaz watch roll that also looks remarkably like that Aliexpress special. If you prefer a British company, then Mayfair is selling a different design – at a slightly higher price than Luxury is asking.
It is worth noting that the companies I deal with are often cagey about the origins of their products. I’ve reviewed a few watches that purport to be British but are made and drop-shipped from China, with the only “British” connection being that a Brit picked out the design from the manufacturer’s catalogue. Luxury Watch Rolls, on the other hand, have answered all of my questions without fail and were willing to lend me a sample to see for myself whether they can back up their words with their product.
Luxury Watch Rolls – Video Review
Luxury Watch Rolls – The WRUK verdict
So are Luxury Watch rolls worth the asking price? Or should you just buy a leather watch roll from Aliexpress?
Well, on the plus side, I can confirm that – whilst not a leather expert – it is made from a very nice leather that looks, feels and smells “right”. The fit and finish is excellent, and it looks good. It protects watches well, with a good amount of clearance between the crystal of even the thickest watch and its front. It’s very clearly better made, of better materials, than the low-end rolls of similar design that you can buy elsewhere.
On the negative side, the springy cushions will be a bit tight if you have bracelets with a small diameter. If you have small watches with shorter straps and narrow lugs – for example the Seagull 1963 – you might have concerns about the amount of pressure that puts onto your spring bars.
For the general user, the Luxury Watch Roll does a great job. It looks good, works well and – even at £75-£125 – is good value compared to the equivalent competition. The test is whether you are in the market for a £75-£125+ watch roll in the first place: if you are, I think you’ll be very happy with this one.
Buy a Luxury Watch Roll
You can view the Luxury Watch Rolls Kickstarter campaign here. Prices range from £75 for a single watch roll to £125 for the triple version – with offers for buying multiple items.
