As a watch collector with poor impulse control, I have long sought storage solutions for my collection. Today, I am reviewing a product that may be the polar opposite of that. The Jenkins Watch Stand neither hides your watches from casual view nor provides maximal watch inventory in minimum space. Rather, it presents your most cherished watches as objets d’art held aloft for all to admire, and it does so remarkably well. I tested a three-watch model for this review.
The Jenkins is similar to other stem-style watch stands I have seen, consisting of a base, a long rod, and a C-clip to hold the watch in place. My experience with these has been limited to commercial displays at trade shows, and the design has always struck me as being inherently suspect. As I set them up, I would ask the same questions. “Is this base really stable?” “Are these parts supposed to feel so loose?” “Will the clip scratch the watch?” “How long before someone knocks these over?” I certainly never thought I would want to buy one for myself. Given that background, Jenkins had a lot to prove.
I got my first indication of the Jenkins Watch Stand’s quality when I lifted the surprisingly heavy package from my doorstep. Inside were the component parts, securely held by dense, closed-cell foam. The stainless steel base alone weighs 1.6 lbs. It measures 5.5″ wide and 0.25″ thick, and it is nicely finished with circular brushing, a polished chamfer, and a scratch-proof felt bottom. Yes, I know steel is heavy, yet I still found it hard to believe that this modest disk weighed so much. It was a very good sign.
Three stainless steel rods exhibited similar quality. A cylinder at the top accepts the post from the C-clip while a smaller ring at the bottom caps a threaded tip that screws securely into the base. That little flare at the base prevents overtightening and provides some visual symmetry with the top. It likely doesn’t need to act as a “foot” to stabilize the rod in the base, but it made me feel better to have it there nonetheless. Once in, it is clear that these rods are not going anywhere unless you take affirmative steps to remove them.
The C-clips have smooth pegs that fit into the rods’ receptacles. They are snug enough that you won’t need to worry about knocking them free, but have enough play to let you position them. Each clip is coated with a generous layer of black rubber that protects your watches and prevents any slippage.
When fully assembled, the Jenkins Watch Stand cuts an attractive figure, elevating your watches to 9.75″ on the highest stem. It looks clean, solid, and purposeful. Call it the tool watch of watch stands.
Now, it was time to put some watches on it. I particularly appreciated the L-shaped grips that allow you to pinch the C shut when attaching a watch. Jenkins says they will accommodate bracelets sized between 6.4″ to 8″, and I found no reason to doubt this. They held both 6.75″ bracelets and loosely-strapped watches with ease.
I grabbed three photogenic subjects from my collection and review inventories, and popped them into place.
Perfect! The display looked great, and I felt confident that my watches were safe. Jenkins claims the stands are sturdy enough to resist “the paws of passing cats or children.” My kids are old enough to keep their paws to themselves, but my cats were more than happy to put this claim to the test. Sure enough, in the battle between a casually strolling cat and the Jenkins, the stand prevailed. That said, this orange doofus could not resist trying to chew on the rubber clips, regardless of whether a watch was fitted or not. I consider this a flaw in my cat’s programming, not the Jenkins Watch Stand’s design.
The Jenkins Watch Stand is $149 for a three-watch and $129 for a two-watch. I’d say the price is quite reasonable considering its quality. As I said at the opening, I would never be able to relax with my watches perched on some of the cheaper, flimsier stands I’ve encountered in the past, but I wouldn’t have the least worry about entrusting my watches to the Jenkins, even in a cat-trafficked area. It would make a lovely focal point for your watch collection, a solid display for a watch show, or a reliable stand for watch photography.
If you are serious about your watch displays, I highly recommend it. Find out more and order your own at getjenkins.com.
