When it comes to travelling with your watches we’ve all heard stories of someone wrapping their £100 beater in a clean sock, sticking it in their hold bag and calling it a day. But frankly, your watch probably deserves better, especially if you’ve had to save up for a long time to buy your dream timepiece. However, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to travel cases. Size is very important depending how much luggage space you have, protective qualities are vital if the bag it’s in is going to be tossed around by airport staff and of course the number of watches it can hold is important too. What types of watch travel cases are out there and which is best for you?
Classic Single Watch Roll
The classic single watch roll, such as the colourful Tutti Frutti by Wolf, is a versatile travel case for multiple reasons. This is for when you’re travelling with only two watches at max, one on your wrist and an extra in your luggage – meaning you can wear your regular beater while also taking your more expensive dress watch with you, ready for that destination wedding.
On the practical front, single watch rolls tend not to be too bulky. The Tutti Frutti has dimensions of 7.5cm length x 7.75cm width x 8.5cm height, meaning it will easily slot into your suitcase without issue or in your hand luggage if you prefer. Plus, the use of a safe-snap fastener keeps it securely closed without the extra bulk of a clasp or lock. A suede interior and cushion will also prevent scratches and protect the caseback and bracelet at the same time. Style wise, the Wolf is available in a choice of six bold colours: turquoise, green, yellow, pink, orange and red
Available at Wolf.
Single Watch Pouch
A watch pouch serves roughly the same purpose as a single watch roll with two significant differences. The largest difference is that a watch pouch can only house watches on straps, not bracelets. The reason for that should be self-evident, they’re not wide enough to accommodate the bulky metal. Instead, you need to be able to fold the strap flat in order to slide the piece into the pouch where it will be protected by the soft interior, as in the case of the Jean Rousseau Navy Alligator pouch.
That sacrifice in versatility though comes with an improvement to utility. It’s dramatically slimmer, meaning it takes up even less luggage space and it’s even designed to be able to fit comfortably in your pocket. So even if you’re travelling with just the one watch and want to protect it while you rush around from terminal to terminal or take it off on the plane if you’re prone to swelling wrists in cabin pressure, you have somewhere to store it on hand.
Available at Jean Rousseau.
Shell Case
A shell case is another style of single watch transportation. You’ll find them with various names but they’re commonly referred to as shell or clam cases because they sit wide and flat with a zip around the circumference that allows them to open on a fabric hinge, like the opening of a seashell. The ‘shell’ itself tends to be woven fabric with nylon reinforcement, such as this example from Watch Specialists. They can be virtually any colour or even printed with specific and creative patterns such as camouflage, doughnuts, burgers or pokéballs.
In terms of protection, the name of the game here is shock resistance. The wider shape and more compressible materials in comparison to most rigid leather cases offers greater cushioning for the watch inside. Absorbing more of the pressure that comes from knocks and bumps instead of transmitting them through to the watch inside. It’s sort of the ‘wrapped in socks’ mentality but at a structured, purpose-built level. They can also be cheaper than some sets of fancy socks with prices around £20 for entry level cases, making them some of the most accessible.
Available at Watch Specialists.
Multi-Watch Roll
As your collection grows and you find yourself needing to transport more watches, multi-watch rolls become more of a necessity. In theory you could slap each watch into its own roll but that risks them becoming unorganised or even lost without careful management, so having them in just one multi-watch (typically two or three) roll ensures they stay together. At the same time, once you reach your destination, it serves as a handy storage holder.
The Bezelhold Capsule is technically an even more advanced example of a 3-watch roll, fitting not just the watches themselves but a removable pod for your main timepiece, making it even more versatile. The downside is the additional bulk, measuring 7.5cm height x 24cm width x 10.5cm length, but the trade off in security and overall convenience is sometimes worth sacrificing a little extra space.
Available at Bezelhold.
Waterproof Case
If your travels are a bit more adventurous than kicking back in business class with a glass of champers, something a bit more rugged and heavy duty might be the best route. While there are many providers of waterproof cases, the most famous name is Pelican, known as Peli in the UK and Europe. The 1200 Protector case has IP67 rating for waterproof and dustproof, meaning it’s rated to protect its contents from immersion in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes. Though in practical terms that means it’s impervious to storms and sea spray from your boat trip.
One inconvenience with Peli cases is that the brand doesn’t create foam interiors for watches specifically. Instead, you either have to carve out the foam yourself and shape it to your needs or there are other brands who can create custom foam inserts for you. Alternatively, there are some watch brands who use Peli-style waterproof cases to package their watches in, such as the Oceaneva 6000m Deep Marine Explorer VI. This style of case’s hard exterior makes it less of a container to place inside another bag and more the method of transportation in itself, though you can get versions that can hold upwards of a dozen watches to make up for that.
Available at Peli.
