I’m going to assume you like your watches. That’s a pretty safe bet. But are you a genuine watch nerd? Do you wake up every morning and wonder how your watch’s accuracy did overnight? Do you shun loudspeakers in case they magnetise your precious timepiece? Do you find a run-down mainspring the saddest tragedy in the world? Well, you’re in good company. Should we have bigger priorities in life? Certainly. But when it comes to watches, obsession is addictive, and these horological gadgets will help that obsession along no end. Enjoy – and apologise to your family for us. You’re lost to them now.
Watch Demagnetiser, from £10
While most modern watches have at least some anti-magnetic properties, vintage pieces aren’t so lucky. Hell, even the tiny magnets that keep your laptop shut can impact a delicate metal balance spring, causing your watch to speed up to break-neck frequencies. The easiest solution isn’t to take it to a watchmaker, but to spend less than £15 on a degausser. Just switch it on, hold your watch just above it for a few seconds, flip it over for another few and you’re done. No more magnetism. Yes, you can do the same thing using an old CRT TV, but this takes up a lot less space. There are countless versions from countless brands available from as little as £10.
Available at Amazon.
WatchGecko Seven-Piece Screwdriver Set, £28
Whether you’re changing a screwed-in bracelet or diving deep into Seiko modding, a solid set of screwdrivers will be your best friend. This comprehensive set from accessories experts WatchGecko wouldn’t look out of place in a proper workshop, with its industry-standard design and precise machining. There’s a size for every job and just having these lying around shows that you sir, are a cut above the standard watch appreciator. You don’t just know watches; you understand how they work.
Available at WatchGecko.
Eagle Eye Loupe 6X
Your standard plastic loupe isn’t enough to take in all the detail of your hand-finished movement; far from it. You need something worthy, something like Eagle Eye’s phenomenal 6X magnification loupe. It’s a big beast of a magnifier but will give you a look at your watch like nothing else. Precise, detailed and without distortion, it’s perfect for macro admiring. Pair it with their attachable circle light and you can gaze lovingly at your guilloche day or night in crystal clarity. And if you’re looking to share that guilloche with the world, they also sell a universal attachment for the perfect macro phone shot. It’s time for a close-up…Loupe X6 – €250, Circle Light – €95, Universal Smart Phone Holder – €45.
Available at Eagle Eye.
Weishi MTG-1000 Timegrapher, £119.95
Ever wondered just how well your COSC-certified movement is holding up? You might have assumed you’d need to take it into a watchmaker to get anything more accurate than just counting the beats through an exhibition caseback, but this multi-function timegrapher will give you a quick, accurate readout in seconds. Just put your watch of choice on the stand and the machine will automatically pick up the frequency. Otherwise, you can enter it in manually to see just how (hopefully) well your prized watch is running. But beware: once you start testing, you might not be able to stop.
Available at Cousins UK.
Barrington Six Watch Winder, £1,395
What’s better than a three-watch collection? Six watches, obviously. As much a horological statement as any minute repeater, Barrington’s superlative bank of winders is powered by quiet Japanese motors and protected by fingerprint sensors (you can log up to 20 prints). The winders are individually programmable via the tech-forward digital display. Finished with plenty of carbon fibre, it’s the futureproof, multi-watch winder your collection’s been crying out for.
Available at Barrington.
Nestromo Watch Cleaning Machine, £212
If you want to get all that ingrained grime out of your watch, you could opt for an ultrasonic cleaning machine. They’re not too expensive and they’re simple. Or you could opt for this bad boy, a compact, tabletop version of industrial movement cleaning machines. Rather than submersing your watch in water, it instead uses benzine to clean your watch, rotating the parts through the non-oxidising liquid to deep clean the parts. At the very least, it’ll make your bracelet feel factory fresh; at the most, it can give a disassembled movement a new lease of life.
Available at Nestromo.
Modalo Clasico Triple-Watch Winder, from £809.10
If you’ve spent your entire collecting career curating the perfect three-watch collection, you’ll need a fitting shrine to your achievement – and Modalo has just the thing. Available in eight variations ranging from carbon fibre (for the racing chrono fans) to classic sandalwood to malachite, you can suit the winder to your watches. The trio are powered by Modalo’s gentle, quiet motors that can be individually set for each of your grail pieces. And yes, there’s a presentation mode. You’ll be the envy of your collectors’ group.
Available at Modalo.
Wolf Atlas Safe, £37,459
Sometimes you just want to be sure that your hoard of treasured watches is safe and sound. Honestly, sometimes your insurers do, too. For that you need something more than a winder, you need a proper watch safe, and few are quite as proper as WOLF’s incredible Atlas safe. More than a glorified lockbox, the bank of 12 winders uses WOLF’s patented technology to allow you to connect via their Bluetooth app and customise the winding as you see fit. Go easier on a delicate complication or quicker on a basic automatic movement, without the risk of overwinding. And honestly, if you fancy showing off your collection to guests (whether they’re interested or not) there’s nothing like the big reveal of opening a safe door. Yes, it’s pricey, but by the time you have a trio of Patek Philippe high complications, it’s not just worth having, it’s a necessity.
Available at Wolf.
