Barton Leather Watch Roll
The Barton leather watch roll, made from recycled leather, is yet another option if you are looking for a watch travel case. Although the leather quality seems adequate given the price point, the case has a major drawback. In the review video, I show the unboxing, discuss pros and cons, and test how various watches fit in the roll.
Here, you will find some photos and a dab of context. The finer details are in the review video.
Details:
- Colors: Brown, Black
- Length: 9.5″
- Diameter: 4.25″
- Recycled leather
- Stainless steel snaps
- Microsuede interior
- “Premium” stitching
- Retail Price: $70
Pros:
- Tongue and groove cushions
- Microsuede interior
- Stitching
Cons:
- Lack of space/cushion between the front of the roll and the watches
- The snaps tend to pop easily
- Overall size
The Video
https://youtu.be/bP-ucrs864c
Timeline:
- 0:00 Intro
- 1:52 Unboxing
- 3:11 Details
- 7:26 Testing with Watches
- 11:29 Pros & Cons Summary
- 13:19 One More Test
- 14:47 Final Thoughts
I wanted to like this watch roll, and I am very thankful that Barton Watch Bands sent me the rolls to test out and review, but I don’t think this particular roll is for me. The leather quality is ok and on par for the price, the stitching is quite good, and the interior suede and cushions are nice.
But, this is a travel case and the primary feature should be protecting watches during travel. If you have small watches, and by small I mean thin watches, then it might be ok. However, if you intend to put an average height watch…say anything over 11mm in the case, then you might want to invest in a different watch roll. This one just does not have enough space or cushion between the case and the front of the watch to offer adequate protection.
Most of my watches press directly against the inside front of the roll, meaning no real protection against direct impact as the case gets bobbled around.
A fairly typical diver-style watch in the case? Expect the roll to bulge in the front making it hard to keep the snaps closed. I’m not trying to be harsh, that’s just the reality. Maybe Barton could have made the cushions a tad smaller, or added several millimeters to the diameter, but I would not travel with this watch roll, given the watches in my collection.
I think Barton Watch Bands offer some good straps, particularly their Elite Silicone straps, but this particular watch accessory is a miss for me. For a watch roll, I tend to prefer one with more secure ties as opposed to snaps. The Hide and Drink watch roll is the one I typically take on trips to hold a couple watches and some straps. But if I really want to protect a watch during travel, I throw it in a pod, be it a single or a triple.
