In the beginning of 2014 we visited Chronovision in Halver, Germany. CEO Jan Heisse did welcome us and presented his plans with this new watchwinder brand. In our conversation it became clear that the CEO strives to absolute perfection and sublime quality. Last month we did meet again in Basel, at Baselworld. Chronovision presented in it's own booth her newest model: the Chronovision One. 

The Chronovision One watchwinder is made in Germany which means that almost all components are designed and produced in North Rhine- Westphalia region. In the own Chronovision workshop the assembly of more than 70 individual parts in over 23 individual steps takes place.

Specifications summary

The Chronovision One watchwinder has some excellent specs. The watchwinder rotates clockwise, counter clockwise and alternate. The turns per day (TPD) are adjustable in steps of 50 between 500 and 2500 rotations (per day). Thereby the watchwinder has a sleep mode and rapid winding mode.

The watchwinder is controlled by bluetooth and USB connection. Therefore it can be controlled by it's own app for iOS and Android, and of course by PC (and Macs). The battery runtime is up to two years which is comparable with Swiss Kubik. A nice addition is that the Chronovision One can be powered by electricity up to six modules at the same time. 

With a three year warranty Chronovision offers certainty, even more than famous Swiss brands do. The question is; is the new Chronovision One watchwinder a Swiss Kubik killer? Time will tell....

Some time ago we wrote a review about the Spin-R single watchwinder. In general this watchwinder was a good product for a fair price. But time passed and we may expect that brands improve their products with new technique and better materials. The question is, did Spin-R improve these points in their recently launched app-controlled watchwinder?

First a short introduction about Spin-R. Spin-R watchwinders from Hong Kong started in 2010 producing watchwinders with a modern design. The Spin-R watchwinders are developed with energy saving Japanese motors and a rechargable lithium battery inside. The models before this app-controlled watchwinder are already for multiple years on the market. It was waiting for news from Spin-R about new models and after a long silence Spin-R now introduces the Spin-R R2 app-controlled watchwinder. It took a while, so our expectations are high….

Design

The Spin-R R2 app-controlled watchwinder has a compact and modern design! It’s only 12.5 (L) x 16.0 (W) x 14.0 (H) cm. The front has a diameter of 12.5 cm and that’s very compact. This watchwinder is available in 3 colours; black, white and grey. The case has some curves which makes it more nice. On top is a big “R” related to Spin-R. This “R” is not just for design purposes, it’s also a system which allows you to place another Spin-R watchwinder on top of it. You can connect up to five Spin-R watchwinders with one single adapter (main). This idea is well thought and totally in line with the good design.

The Spin-R R2 app-controlled watchwinder is made of plastic. But better plastic than the Spin-R single we reviewed last time. It feels more solid and stabile. The door opens from left to right and feels solid, maybe a bit too solid.

Currently more and more watchwinder brands produce small and compact watchwinders with all kinds of functions. Brands as Swiss Kubik, Rapport, Underwood and Wolf are experienced in this field already. Now there are also new players as Chronovision. Spin-R is one of the first watchwinder brands which produced a compact and modern watchwinder with all functions you need.

As we already said in our first review the Spin-R watchwinders have the advantage to be small and compact. You can put them everywhere, they won’t be annoying. It’s not a big watchwinder where you have to make room for.

This Spin-R R2 watchwinder has a good design which is compact and therefore easy to use. Nevertheless it would be interesting to see other colours than just black, white and grey. Maybe colours as blue, red and green will do well.

Originality

This Spin-R R2 app-controlled watchwinder is totally different than the traditional watchwinder. It only has one button (on/off) and is totally controlled by app. This means that when you pruchase this watchwinder you can download a special Spin-R app to control your watchwinder. We downloaded this app for Android and IOS (Apple). The IOS app was introduced first and works perfect. No complaints about that. Nevertheless the Android app doesn’t work that great. There are bugs in it, which makes it hard to use. We visited Spin-R at Baselworld (Switzerland) and mentioned this and they told us they are working on it. Based on their professional attitude we expect these problems with the Spin-R Android app are history soon.

As said the IOS app does work fine and it allows you to set all functions (TPD, rotation direction, LED light and battery level). A nice feature is that the Spin-R app offers a database with many (not all) automatic watches and their specs. This makes it very easy to choose the exact settings for your automatic watch.

At every day use the app is a step forwards, but we think that when a app is launched it should all work perfectly, for IOS and Android…and it doesn’t. Unfortunately we see it more often at other products (mobile phones, cars, tv’s etc etc), it looks like the brand launched it and then solves all the problems. In our eyes problems which should have been solved before, in the testing phase.

The combination of the app-controlled watchwinder and the eco-friendly battery (which was also used in the previous models) makes it a modern watchwinder. But the fact that the technique is not perfect is a big disadvantage for all who would like to buy one now. We hope Spin-R keeps it promise to solve all problems soon.

Quality

We tested the Spin-R R2 app-controlled watchwinder for more than 4 weeks. Except the Android app problems we are pleased by the quality and functionality of this new Spin-R watchwinder. The motor does run very smooth and almost without any sound. When the door is closed you hear nothing.

The material is hard plastic and suitable for the job. It’s nothing fancy or exclusive but very practical in use and has a good shape. The materials used are good certainly considering the retail price.

We also want to mention the packaging. We must say that Spin-R did a great job regarding packaging and presentation. When we opened the package we had the feeling we were opening a package of a much more expensive watchwinder. The packaging is well made and gives it a luxury touch. Nevertheless we prefer a manual on paper….but maybe we are old school;)

Finishing

The finishing of the watchwinder is very good. The materials are solid and we can see it took special attention to combine the app control system, connection system and special adapter (which can be used in different angles). This Spin-R app controlled watchwinder is certainly value for money, considering the promise of Spin-R to solve the Android app problems soon.

Conclusion

Spin-R is very good at offering a good quality watchwinder for a very reasonable price. There are not many watchwinders in the same price range offering all these functions and an app-controlled system. We think this new technique will be more attractive for younger watch adepts as it’s modern technique and not everyone want to set it’s watchwinder by mobile phone with an app. Because everytime you want to set your watchwinder you have to take your mobile, start the app and adjust the settings….But of course we should consider that normally you will set the watchwinder once and then it will work for a longer period withhout the need making adjustments to the settings.

Our conclusion is that the new Spin-R app controlled watchwinder is a very good watchwinder with attractive technique, a modern design and for a great price. This watchwinder is available for 159.00 USD which is a bargain….

For more inside news we like to interview the people behind a watchwinder brand. To learn more about their company, philosophy and view on the future. Today we present an interview with Mr. Dominik von Ribbentrop, the CEO of the famous brand Stockinger. Stockinger produces high end safes with built-in watchwinders and is a key player on the market. 

Could you please introduce yourself and function at Stockinger?

It is a pleasure speaking to you. My Name is Dominik von Ribbentrop and I’m CEO of Stockinger.  The manufacture of Stockinger produces custom-made unique objects, tailored specifically to the clients’ wishes and fantasies. We only use proven technology from Switzerland and Germany and employ highly experienced craftsmen, engineers, technicians and artists so that they can combine maximum security with elegant aesthetics. A Stockinger Safe provides not only optimum security, but also unrestricted enjoyment of your objects of beauty and value.

The most interesting thing about a Stockinger safe is the fact that they equip their safes with state-of-the-art watchwinder elements. Each winder can be programmed individually according each watches requirements. With a Stockinger watch safe you can make sure that your watch collection is kept totally safe because they meet the highest demands of the VDS in such a way that they are entitled to bear the extremely high VDS III (IV) security rating, based on EN 1143-1. This might explain why in more than a quarter of a century of existence, not a single Stockinger safe has been forcibly entered.

How would you describe the Stockinger company?

 Stockinger’s passion is to enrich the grey world of bulky safes with a high class product that is as secure as a bank, as precise as a master time piece, and as beautiful as a piece of the finest art. For our Bespoke Line, we offer a selection of models in different sizes, levels of security, and options to our clients. We only use the best materials and consistently meet the challenge of our customers’ most extravagant wishes with discretion and the very best in professional service.

How would you describe the Stockinger watchwinders?

We offer products for customers with special needs. Our customers highly appreciate that our safes keep their watches safe and wind at the same time. For Stockinger the watchwinder cabinets were the next logical step. Not everyone wants to hide his collection. Watch aficionados have invested a lot of money in their collection of beautiful timepieces and therefore want to enjoy their collection by displaying and looking at it. Our watchwinder cabinets fulfill this kind of purpose just perfect.

Protected by the German Patent and Trademark office, the Stockinger & Beluwo watchwinder technology creates the most precise watch winders. With our German technology for the first time ever, the data for any self-winding movement can be loaded into the memory of the watch winder thanks to the intelligent microprocessor control, resulting in a never-seen-before gentle and optimum winding. Each wristwatch will be kept and moved according to its own specific requirements as the watch specific optimal winding data will be downloaded onto the winder from a database that contains data of more than 8,000 different wristwatches. The technology implies a 16-hour active phase and an 8-hour resting phase. That way there is a perfect simulation of wearing a watch in the daily routine. Within the 16 hours of active phase the number of rotations is evenly spread out and at the end of each winding interval the watches will stop automatically at the 12 o ´clock position.

Can you tell us more about the production process?

Stockinger Safety First Class GmbH has been producing unique safes and security systems in Neuried near Munich for over 30 years. Quality control, first-class service, and absolute discretion are held in the utmost regard at Stockinger. The most convincing security fact: the safes are produced using the best possible plating offered anywhere in the world and project a striking, beautiful individuality in their appearance. This also applies to the inside of each safe, as well as the user-friendly digital automatic

Stocktronic accessing system, which offers the absolute freedom of enjoying valuables conveniently at any time.

Since a few months we now also offer beautiful watchwinder cabinets using the same winder technology as known from the safes. The elegant design is the perfect addition to the beauty of a hand-made timepiece and you will be delighted by the way it looks in combination every day. The technology is one of a kind based on a database with over 8.000 watches. So these cabinets know how to take care of each specific watch you might own.

What are the main markets for Stockinger? And can you tell us more about the business structure?

So far we have always dealt directly with the end customer. This way we will make sure that clients will receive an excellent service and advice. We are there for our clients every day and so we can provide them with advice and assistance. We also work with a limited number of highly competent dealers in selected places worldwide. We are also interested in cooperations with interior designs and architects.

In which way will Stockinger develop the coming years? What will be the focus?

We are always in a process of innovations, our personal approach is to meet any customer requirements and to exceed their quality expectation. What units our customers around the world and the Stockinger team is passion and drive to excellence. Passion for creativity and discovery, passion for craftsmanship and quality, passion for design and uniqueness.

If you would compare Stockinger with another brand, which brand is this and why?

 Many people can build a safe or a watchwinder. But for us at Stockinger, where their work ends, ours really begins. Every Stockinger safe has a security concept, which is the result of lengthy consideration, coupled with experience and insights. To treasure your high class watches, our watch winders both value and celebrate them on an elegant, high quality basis. For years, passionate watch collectors from all over the world have loved our watch winding solutions and innovations. There is no “either – or decision” we want the perfect solution.

What new projects can we expect from Stockinger in the nearby future?

Our personal approach is to offer both bespoke solutions for safes and for watchwinders. We want to expend our product range. Since recently we are able to customize watchwinder cabinets. In addition to our standard watchwinders with 2, 6 or 10 winders we also offer customized solutions such as cabinets with 4 or more watchwinders. Also the colour of the cabinets can be customized. Therefore, your watches are not only stored in the most appropriate way, but also presented in the most elegant way.

Why should we buy a Stockinger watchwinder? 

Due to our long experience with state-of-the-art watchwinders included in our safes, Stockinger now offers luxury watchwinder cabinets. To treasure your high class watches, our watch winders both value and celebrate them on an elegant, high quality basis. Our watchwinder technology offers an integrated database with the specifications of over 8.600 watch models to program each winder individually – just by using your smartphone or tablet pc. Programming is quickly done! But even if you don’t want to program each winder specifically, you can use a standard program just to keep your watches running. That is perfect for owners of bigger watch collections. 

The technology is proved by more than 15 applications at the German Patent and Trademark Office. With our partner Beluwo we work continuously to improve our products in order to offer the best watch winding technology – made in Germany.

One of the most special watchwinders on the market is the Bernard Favre Planet watchwinder. Therefore it was really nice to receive an invitation to visit the booth of this Swiss watchwinder brand at Baselworld, Switzerland.

Everytime we meet Mr. Favre, the owner and inventor of the watchwinder brand, we notice a extreme passion for creating beautiful watchwinders. The location of the booth was a row of artisan exhibitors presenting their special creations. A perfect place to present the Bernard Favre Planet watchwinders and the special watch making tools Mr. Favre also produces. We noticed that many passersby looked at the beautiful presentation of watchwinders.

Mr, Favre told us that the success of the Planet watchwinder is incredible. A few big Swiss watch brands already placed orders to present their automatic watches in a Bernard Favre Planet watchwinder. A better compliment is hard to get.

While we enjoyed a perfect espresso Mr. Favre told us about his new plans for new series of watchwinders, the materials he would like to use and his thoughts about new concepts. He was also interested in our opinion and thoughts about his new concepts and this reflects his modesty and professional attitude to improve his products.

The Bernard Favre watchwinders are available at several premium shops worldwide. A Bernard Favre watchwinder is not only to wind an automatic watch, it's a statement regarding style and design. If you're interested in something special a watchwinder from Bernard Favre is certainly worth considering.

Spin-R informed us several months ago that they would launch a complete new compact watchwinder which is app-controlled. With other words; the settings of the watchwinder can be set and changed by a smart-phone.

We already noticed that several other brands are working with this same technology. For example Chronovision from Germany introduced us an app-controlled watchwinder last year at Baselworld. The production then was not finished, but we visited Chronovision at Baselworld last Saturday (21th March) and they now have a finished product; Chronovision One (soon we will publish an article about this brand on our blog).

At Baselworld we visited the booth of Spin-R for a first introduction of this new watchwinder. We must admit that we are very curious about this watchwinder, and the good news is that we are testing one right now to write a review about it.

We already can mention that this watchwinder has a very interesting price. The retail price will be around 159.00 - 179.00 USD which is extremely low for a watchwinder with modern technique.

The impression we had from Spin-R at Baselworld is that this Hong Kong brand is seriously improving it’s watchwinders with state of the art technique, and is serious competition for more famous watchwinder brands from the USA or Europe.

Nevertheless we will test the watchwinder to find out if it’s value for money. More to come....