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Constructed much like their sunglasses cases, only doughnut-shaped for accommodating watches, Watch Vaults were very affordable at $20 each so it’s no wonder why they developed such a passionate fan base. Sadly, the company ceased production of these wonderful cases, which has led to some being sold on eBay for north of $40.
If you are one of the throngs who wishes Oakley would start making their Vaults again, you can stop bombarding them with your emails. There is a new case in town, called the WATCHPOD, that borrows many of the excellent elements from the Watch Vault, plus a few unique aspects as well. Let’s see if this case is an adequate substitute for the Oakley case we all know and love.
The WATCHPOD
Even with the Watch Vault off the market, there are many single watch travel cases out there to choose from, but few come as close to the Watch Vault’s winning recipe as the WATCHPOD. This is my personal pick for the best watch travel case on the market, and with its impressive list of features and super affordable price, I am sure it is easy to see why.
Check out these specs:
- Two case material options: brown leatherette or black nylon.
- Crushproof shell and super soft interior material.
- Doughnut shape locks your watch in place, keeping the clasp from contacting the back of the case and scratching it up.
- Great for large watches up to 50 millimeters, so just about any watch will fit in this case.
- Full-length zipper to prevent the case from opening unintentionally as it jostles around in your bag.
- Each WATCHPOD includes a microfiber cloth for cleaning the dial or packing around the watch to prevent it from moving while you are on the move.
- Satisfaction guarantee means the manufacturer will refund or exchange the case with no questions asked for one full year.
Sure, it’s basically a copy of Oakley’s design, but since Oakley stopped making their version, there is no guilt in taking advantage of it. This isn’t just a travel item, either. Cases like the WATCHPOD will come in handy for keeping in your gym bag, storing your watch at home, or any other time you need to tote your watch around while it’s not on your wrist.
I especially like the look of the black nylon case, with its sporty, rugged style. The nylon used here is a lightweight-but-tough 1680 denier ballistic version, which means this thing can hold up to some extreme abuse. The same grade of nylon is used for luggage and motorcycle bags, so you can rest assured it is plenty strong for a watch case. The brown leatherette version is also designed to be very robust and crushproof, and has a more sophisticated aesthetic.
Now, as you probably noticed, this is a case that can accommodate watches up to 50mm in dial size. That means that smaller watches tend to have a little wiggle room. There are other cases on the market that accommodate smaller watches a bit better, but this is an easily resolved problem if you do decide to purchase the WATCHPOD: simply wrap the included microfiber cloth or any other soft material around your watch before your store it. I actually prefer to use the cloth wrap either way, just for that extra scratch protection, so this isn’t a concern for me, and I own some small watches.
Final Thoughts
Clearly, WATCHPOD has been thorough in retaining all of the features that made the Watch Vault the go-to watch travel case for most watch collectors. With an MSRP of $20, they even include the great affordability of the Watch Vaults. As if that weren’t good enough, both versions of the WATCHPOD are currently being offered for around $10 off on Amazon, so affordable you can buy several as backups or for bringing along multiple watches on your trip. I personally wouldn’t hesitate to store the nicest watches in my collection in the WATCHPOD, with its durable shell, soft cushioned interior, and secure closure. The WATCHPOD might not be the fanciest or most glamorous case out there, but if you’re looking for a single watch case that mimics the Oakley watch vault then this is the case for you.
Glad you like the watch case by Oakley as they no longer make watches which is a result of their poor quality & service! I loved their glasses but after my watch experience with them, I will NEVER buy another Oakley product.