Castle Wallet

Update take on a peek. Modern looking wallet with a ingenious. gimmick. The peek happens naturally and is very deceptive. A good everyday carry for on the spot performance.

Do not buy this product -- you will not be able to use it. Does not fit actual debit, credit cards, licenses or anything. Its crazy that I spent $85 for something that is completely unusable. I was so excited for this purchase as I trust 1914 and Simon Lipkin but this just burned a hole in my wallet and has absolutely no use in any kind of performance. They built the cheapest quality product with no actual practical use as it cant actually be used as a wallet due to the mechanisms at play.

It’s disappointing for me to have to write this review. I’m a big fan of Simon Lipkin’s work, but this product is a textbook example of how a brilliant idea can be ruined by rushed and weak execution. The concept behind the peek and the wallet’s fresh, contemporary design are fantastic. And that pretty much brings an end to everything positive I can say about it. The problems start with the gimmicked card, which the entire wallet is designed around. For some reason, it is a few millimeters larger than a standard plastic card. As a result, the locking mechanism does not securely hold all the other cards, which means they can go flying in all directions when you pull the wallet out quickly. Standard EU business cards also stick out of the wallet, and even the advertised 1914 billets do not fit 100% properly. The black screws in the corners turn completely silver after just one day of carrying the wallet in my pocket. (Honestly, nobody would have complained if they had simply been metal-colored from the start.) The mechanical construction of the entire wallet is extremely finicky. The screws are very loose; I have already had two fall out. On the other hand, if you tighten them even slightly, the Peek mechanism becomes more stiff and, in some cases, the entire card-ejection mechanism can jam. So you basically have to choose between having a tight Peek with screws that stay in place, or risking losing the screws in exchange for a smooth-running Peek. This is not something that should be a choice at this price point. The card-ejection button on my first wallet broke off almost immediately. And everything I’m writing here is based on having tested two of these wallets. This product is full of design oversights, compromises, and uncertainties. It enters the mentalism wallet market at a price point where you expect a reliable, properly quality-controlled product. As brilliant as I think the Castle Wallet is in theory, in practice, it simply isn’t there yet. I genuinely hope that one day Simon, or someone else, will make a wallet like this where it’s not just the idea that feels brilliant, but where the execution and choice of materials also make it clear that the wallet was designed to be a reliable everyday companion.