What the hell is going on with watch rolls?
I’ve been meaning to buy a watch roll for ages. I travel relatively often, and up to now my “system” has been… socks. Yes, wrapping each watch in a nice thick sock and tossing it in the suitcase. It’s worked fine so far, but at some point you start thinking: surely this can’t be the best way to protect the little ticking money pits I’ve collected.
Now, this blog is very much in the “mere mortals” corner of watch collecting - ORIS, Christopher Ward, Farer and the like - but even so, the sock trick feels wrong. Imagine doing that with an AP or a Patek. Oof.
So between packings and unpackings I thought: I could really use a proper watch roll.
And that’s when the pain began.
The sad state of watch rolls
A quick browse online tells you the choice isn’t as vast as you’d hope. Yes, you can pick different roll capacities (1, 2, 3, 4 watches), different formats (sturdy roll vs. soft leather pouch), but when it comes to quality, it feels like a desert.
You basically get two camps:
Super cheap and looks/feels cheap.
Super expensive and might be good… but price doesn’t guarantee it.
And that’s the kicker, the higher price doesn’t always mean better quality! Crazy, right?
My BezelHold experience
Before anyone says “Who are you to judge?”, let’s be clear: this is just my personal experience.
I got a BezelHold watch roll for my birthday. I was genuinely excited. I pictured that glorious moment, opening the box, inhaling that rich leather aroma, running my fingers over buttery-soft suede, fitting my watches in like little kings.
That… did not happen. Let’s break it down:
The good:
Great colour combo - black exterior, classy mulberry interior, copper-colour buttons.
Holds three watches comfortably.
Compressible microfibre pillows - fits all wrist sizes.
All pillows are removable.
The bad:
Doesn’t feel premium in the hand.
Stitching is… let’s just say, not Swiss-level precision.
“Velvet” interior is just microfibre - not exactly luxury.
Instead of leather aroma, I got a heavy hit of plastic. This screams either PU leather pretending to be the real deal, or genuine leather smothered in a plastic coating.
Nowhere on the site does it say it ships from Hong Kong - which is a bit of a red flag when you’re selling the “artisanal, finest tanneries” vibe (as stated in their product description)
The sting
Here’s the thing: the bad points could be forgiven. But the price? £181.
Nearly £200 for something that feels like it came out of a factory bulk order. For that kind of money I expect flawless stitching, the best leather, a suede interior, and maybe even a handwritten thank-you note.
To put it in perspective, I can go on Alibaba right now, find something almost identical (clearly labelled PU leather), for about £10. That’s a £170 markup for a logo and some marketing fluff.
The hunt continues
I know what you’re thinking - just find another one online, there are loads. True, but every time I look, I end up in the same trap:
Cheap and bad.
Expensive and bad.
Expensive for no reason.
Will I ever find the perfect watch roll? No idea. Maybe I just need to wander into a leather workshop in Italy and get one made from scratch. At least then I’d know it’s legit.
If I ever find “the one,” I’ll update you.
Rant over.
