Friedrich 23 is the brand many collectors come across first when they are looking for watch storage made of genuine leather rather than plastic. Behind the name is a Franconian leather goods company whose range includes watch boxes, watch cases, jewellery cases and watch rolls, and which also appears in retail as Friedrich|23. On this page we place all nine models that we currently see as readily available, each with the verifiable details, our editorial rating and the suitable use. All other manufacturers are collected in our brand overview.
The Friedrich 23 models at a glance
The table below sorts all eight models by our editorial rating and shows capacity and material at a glance. We deliberately do not give specific prices, because they vary considerably depending on version and retailer; instead we place each piece in a price class. The ratings are editorial assessments based on the verifiable features and explicitly not laboratory results.
| Model | Slots/type | Material | Price range | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubano 8 (27022-8) | 8 watches plus central compartment | Genuine leather, glass lid | Mid-range | 4,3/5 |
| Dynasty watch roll | 3 watches, roll | Full-grain cowhide, navy | Mid-range | 4,2/5 |
| London 26106-2 | 5 watches, lockable with glass lid | Genuine leather, black | Mid-range | 4,2/5 |
| London 26140-2 | 5 watches, press stud | Genuine leather, black | Mid-range | 4,0/5 |
| Bond 20068-2 | 10 watches, lockable | Leather look, black | Entry level to mid-range | 4,0/5 |
| Bond 20085-3 | 6 watches, glass lid | Fine synthetic, brown | Entry level | 3,9/5 |
| Cubano 27024-8 | Cubano variant | Not specified | Mid-range | 3,9/5 |
| Cubano 27019-8 | Cubano variant | Not specified | Mid-range | 3,8/5 |
| Cordoba 26390-3 | Cordoba variant | Not specified | Entry level to mid-range | 3,7/5 |
The models in detail
We have sorted the eight models by material, features and how well the manufacturer's details can be verified, with the highest editorial rating at the top. Each piece has a different purpose, from the travel roll for three watches to the case for ten. The assessment under each name tells you what use we recommend the model for and where its limit lies.
Friedrich 23 Cubano 8 watch case for 8 watches
- Eight watch cushions hold the collection, plus a central compartment for tools, spare straps or papers, so the accessories sit right next to the watches
- The body is made of genuine leather in a vintage look and develops a patina over the years that makes each piece unique
- The glass lid shows off the collection and the closure is lockable; some versions in the series additionally offer soft-close and a cable eyelet for the smartwatch
- Pure storage without a motor, and genuine leather commands a premium over functionally equivalent wooden boxes; the cushions measure around 5 x 8 x 3 centimetres
Friedrich 23 Dynasty watch roll for 3 watches
- Three positions with press stud fastening hold the watches securely even when the roll lies open on the shelf in a hotel room
- Full-grain cowhide in navy gives the roll character; the material visibly ages and gains patina with every trip
- Rolled up, the Dynasty measures around 24 x 8 x 10.5 centimetres, so it slips into luggage flatter than any hard shell
- Like any soft roll, it offers no protection against crushing; in a suitcase it belongs in the middle between clothing, and valuable watches belong in hand luggage
Friedrich 23 London 26106-2 for 5 watches
- Same capacity as the 26140-2, but with a glass lid and lock instead of a press stud: the collection stays visible and yet locked away
- The manufacturer states genuine leather and lists five watch cushions of 5 x 7.5 x 3 centimetres, plus a black velour lining
- At 33 x 10.7 x 8.5 centimetres, this version is larger on all three axes than the press stud variant, which leaves room for bulkier cases
- The lock provides protection against access and dust, not against theft. For genuine burglary protection you need a certified security safe
Friedrich 23 London watch box for 5 watches
- Five positions cover exactly the collection most wearers build up over the years, without half-empty boxes standing around
- Here too, according to the product listing, the body is made of genuine leather, which lifts the look and feel well above faux leather competitors of the same size
- The press stud closure keeps the box shut and is quicker to operate day to day than a lock with a key
- This model has no glass lid and no lock, and the product listing does not give the dimensions, so check them on the offer page before buying
Friedrich 23 Bond 20068-2 watch case for 10 watches
- Ten positions make the Bond the largest model in this overview and so the choice for grown collections that have outgrown the six-watch box
- The manufacturer gives the outer dimensions as around 30 x 17.5 x 8.5 centimetres, so you can measure properly before buying whether the case fits in the drawer
- The lockable closure reliably keeps the lid shut day to day and protects the collection from dust and curious hands
- Leather-look instead of genuine leather, and the height of around 8.5 centimetres sets a limit for very large dive watches under the lid
Friedrich 23 Bond 20085-3 watch box for 6 watches
- Six slots are enough for a typical everyday collection, and the square format of around 18 x 18 centimetres needs hardly any space
- The glass lid makes the watches visible without you having to open the box, and at the same time keeps dust off the case and strap
- This model is also lockable and finished in a warm brown, which blends into a dressing room more discreetly than glossy black
- Fine synthetic instead of genuine leather, so there is no patina, and the manufacturer does not state the cushion dimensions for this model
Friedrich 23 Cubano 27024-8
- The Cubano series is the line with the most character within the brand, as the closely related genuine leather Cubano 8 already shows
- If you like the look of the series but want a different colour or finish, this is the matching variant within the same model family
- The model number 27024-8 is unambiguous in specialist retail, so you can look up the features and dimensions specifically if needed
- Apart from series and number, the product listing gives no details, so be sure to check capacity, material and dimensions before buying
Friedrich 23 Cubano 27019-8
- Another version of the Cubano line that takes up the same design language and differs mainly in its finish
- For collectors who want to place two identically styled cases next to each other, a second variant of the same series is the more harmonious solution
- Here too, the model number 27019-8 quickly leads to the manufacturer's full datasheet information in specialist retail
- The listing page is very sparing with data, so without looking it up you know neither capacity nor material and should order with corresponding caution
Friedrich 23 Cordoba 26390-3
- The Cordoba series stands alongside Cubano and Bond as a line of its own in the range and widens the choice of shapes and colours
- For anyone looking for a version outside the well-known series, this model is certainly worth a look
- Using the number 26390-3, you can find the full details on capacity and material from the manufacturer and in specialist retail
- Of all nine models, this one has the thinnest data, which is why, despite the decent series, we place it at the end of the overview
Friedrich 23: origin and workmanship
Behind Friedrich 23 is Friedrich Lederwaren, a family business based in Schwanstetten in the Nuremberg metropolitan region. By its own account, the company traces its tradition back to 1923, hence the number in the brand name. In addition to the watch and jewellery line, the house offers small leather goods such as wallets and key cases as well as travel luggage, and according to company information the watch storage grew out of the jewellery case range.
When it comes to materials, the brand draws a clean distinction between genuine leather and fine synthetic, and that is exactly what makes the choice easier. According to the product listing, the Cubano 8 and the London are made of genuine leather, the Dynasty Rolle of full-grain cowhide, while the Bond series relies on leather-look and fine synthetic. Genuine leather works, darkens over the years and develops patina, whereas fine synthetic stays colour-stable and easy to care for. You can find more models with the same character in our category of leather watch boxes.
Structurally, the boxes follow a classic design: a body with covering, watch cushions inside for the individual watches, and above them a lid, often with a glass insert and lock. The Cubano 8 stands out with its central compartment, which holds tools, spare straps or papers. For several models the brand states exact outer dimensions, for others the listing page stays thin, which we state openly in the boxes above. What to look out for with dimensions is explained in our watch box buying guide.
Two points need to be stated clearly, because product descriptions like to blur them. First, a watch box is storage without a motor: it organises, protects against dust and light, but does not rotate the watch. Second, a lock is purely access and dust protection and not theft protection, because a leather lid will not withstand any tool. Once a collection reaches a relevant value, a certified watch safe belongs in the plan, and our guide to watch safe security levels provides the classification.
Who Friedrich 23 suits
Friedrich 23 suits you if material and feel matter more to you than technical features. If you are looking for storage that looks better after ten years than on the first day, the genuine leather models are right for you, above all the Cubano 8. For a small collection of five watches, the London is the more compact answer, and both bring the leather tone that faux leather does not replicate.
By capacity, the matching is quickly done. The Bond 20085-3 covers six slots, the Cubano 8 eight, the Bond 20068-2 ten, which means it also competes among the large watch boxes. If the collection grows beyond that, a second box of the same series is better than a single oversized piece of furniture, because two identical cases can be stacked neatly and transported separately.
If you travel often, the Dynasty watch roll is the most exciting piece from the brand. It holds three watches, secures them with snap fasteners and lies flatter in luggage than any rigid case. Which design suits which trip is something we compare in the overview of travel cases and specifically for watch rolls. For very delicate watches, a hard shell remains the safer choice anyway.
Friedrich 23 is not the right brand if your automatic watch is meant to keep running between wearing days. No model from the house has a motor, and once the power reserve runs out the watch in the box simply stops. If you want both, combine a box with a separate device from our watch winder buying guide. You would also be badly advised here if you expect a complete datasheet for every model, because for the variants without a description the listing page stays sparse.
Alternatives to Friedrich 23
If you are looking for a traditional German brand with a different holding concept, Heisse und Söhne offers watch boxes with a clasp system instead of cushions, plus a wide range of winder display cabinets. That is especially interesting if the same brand is later to take over the movement as well. In a direct comparison, Friedrich 23 feels more classic, Heisse und Söhne more technical.
If price is your main concern, SONGMICS and ProCase cover the same numbers of compartments at much lower prices, though throughout in faux leather. For mid-range leather boxes with glass lid and lock, ROTHWELL is also worth a look, with a range running from eight to twenty-four compartments. All the manufacturers we list are gathered in the brand overview.
If you would rather compare model by model than commit to a brand in advance, start in our review hub. Of Friedrich 23, we have assessed the Cubano 8 and the Dynasty watch roll in detail, and as direct leather competition the TAWBURY leather box with six compartments is also listed there. That way you can see where the premium for genuine leather really pays off.
Editorial verdict
Friedrich 23 delivers watch storage with character, and that comes mainly from the material. The Cubano 8 leads our overview with 4.3 out of 5 points because it combines genuine leather, glass lid, lock and a well-thought-out central compartment in one piece. Right behind it comes the Dynasty watch roll with 4.2 points, which is the cleanest solution in the brand for three watches on the road. Both pieces are the recommendations with which we would start in this range.
Below that the field becomes more mixed. The London with 4.0 points brings genuine leather in a compact format, the Bond 20068-2 with likewise 4.0 points the largest capacity with documented dimensions, and the Bond 20085-3 with 3.9 points the most affordable entry. The variants Cubano 27024-8, Cubano 27019-8 and Cordoba 26390-3 land at the back with 3.9 to 3.7 points, because their listing pages reveal hardly anything apart from series and number and you have to look things up before buying.
One point applies equally to the entire range: this brand stores, it does not move anything. No box and no roll keeps an automatic watch running, and for that you additionally need a winder. And no lock in the world turns a leather case into a safe, as it protects against access and dust, not against burglary. Anyone who knows that gets storage from Friedrich 23 that is a pleasure to touch.
The text of this page was created with an AI language model and was reviewed and approved editorially before publication. Editorial responsibility lies with Seydhan Cakmak. The product images shown are not AI images but manufacturer and retailer photos from the Amazon catalogue, which we embed unchanged.
A limitation we disclose: Amazon and the retailers selling there now use generative tools in their listings themselves. Whether an individual catalogue image is affected, we cannot check from the outside, so we claim it neither one way nor the other. As soon as an image demonstrably comes from a generative model, we label it visibly on the image with the label AI image. More on this on the AI transparency page.