The best way store and protect your watch, according to experts
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- Three experts weigh in on how to keep your timepieces safe when you're not wearing them.
- To protect the value, hold on to authenticity papers, proof of purchase, and the original box.
- Regardless of the price tag, many of the same proper storage and protection principles apply.
Where watches are concerned, there's a spectrum of collectors and daily wearers whose timepieces run anywhere from the price of a two-person dinner in New York City to a four-year degree at New York University. But, in many ways, the best practices for storing and protecting your watch remain the same. "It has some sort of value, whether it's material or sentimental to each individual," explains Jorge Ramirez, Timepiece Manager for luxury consignment reseller Fashionphile, of each watch owner's property. "You want to have it protected, whether it's a less or more expensive watch."
With this in mind, we turned to three experts to walk through the most important care advice they preach and - as collectors themselves - practice. They include Ramirez, as well as Paul Boutros, Head of Watches at Phillips, and Zoe Abelson - also known as @watchgirloffduty - an 11-year vet of the luxury watch industry and owner of Graal Limited which sources watches for private clients.
For each of these insiders and enthusiasts, the emphasis is not simply on keeping your timepiece in tip-top shape and safe from any potential scratches or damage to the gears, but also preserving the value of your purchase for as long as possible. Read on for advice that applies to beginners and advanced collectors alike.
The best practices for storing and protecting your watch:
Scattola del Tempo
It may seem obvious to toss your rings in a dish on your nightstand or hang a bunch of necklaces on a rack for better access to your collection, but such casual storage of your watch is a huge misstep, according to those who work with some of the most prized timepieces in the world. "Personally, what I recommend is keeping it within a watch box or case, rather than having it sit on a shelf or nightstand," says Ramirez, adding, "the original box is ideal."
Ramirez, who's worked in the watch industry for eight years, explains that any watch's original box will offer the best storage design for it, including an interior pillow or cushion for the piece. Of course, if you don't have the original, there are still plenty of options. "Any good quality box will have the watches separated by dividers and secured around a little pillow so that they don't move around," says Phillips' Butros. "And in case you drop the box for some strange reason, it's locked or latched and it will prevent everything from falling out of the box and preventing further damage." Among his favorite watch box brands are Venlo, Scattola del Tempo, and luxury fashion icons including Cartier, Hermès, and Goyard.
Another option, specifically for automatic watches, is a winder box that acts as storage, protection, and to keep the internal mechanisms (which are usually instigated by the motion of wearing the watch on your wrist) working when you're not wearing it. "If you have a huge watch collection I would definitely recommend getting a specific watch winder because obviously, you're going to be changing out between watches every day, week, or month," Ramirez shares, suggesting brands such as Wolf, Versa, Diplomat, and J.Queen for winders. "Keeping some of those watches on a winder would be a best practice, especially when you get into the more complicated watch movements, such as moon phase, a perpetual calendar, anything that's much harder to set."
However, the use of a winder box is personal and not necessarily a must-have for every watch owner. For instance, Boutros does not recommend automatic watch winders. "Winders turn so that the routers wind the watch, and that keeps it constantly running and increases wear on the parts and it accelerates how soon you'll need it serviced," he says. "It's like keeping your car engine running all the time." Still, watches shouldn't simply remain untouched and packed away for months at a time, either. "If it sits for a very long period of time, the oils" — which allow for the watch to run properly — "dry out." He recommends once-per-month use and manually winding the watch to keep the movement lubricated.
A Collected Man
There can be some risk when traveling with one or more watches as you want to ensure they're safe from scratches or any aggressive jostling in your luggage. In short, a proper travel case is essential. Butros says there are many reputable options, ranging in price, from brands such as Louis Vuitton, Buben and Zorweg, and "at a more entry-level price, there's Casebudi, a round little container you can put a bracelet watch in and has a hard shell that protects it."
Abelman, who recently spent over three years helping open the Watchbox offices in Hong Kong, is also a fan of cases that make it easy to have options when on the road. "I love the ease of travel cases and watch rolls that fit multiple timepieces together since I am constantly on the go and usually want options with me," she says, with specific reference to a favorite case by A Collected Man. "You can store or travel with up to eight pieces but the size of the case is compact yet still protective."
Furthermore, Abelman likes to use travel cases for home storage as well. "For my special occasion/less worn watches, I keep them in a travel case that is long enough for my timepieces on straps to lay flat," she says. "I prefer my strap watches laid flat to keep the strap from setting to the curvature of a typical watch box pillow or travel case."
For a pillow or roll option, she recommends the Amaryll Watch Roll by IFL Watches. "For my bracelet watches, I need watch rolls with small/flexible enough pillows for my bracelets to wrap around and close properly since I have a relatively small wrist. Many travel cases have large firm pillows that don't compress so they are only suited for larger bracelets to fit but this product from IFL Watches works well for me."
The Watch Stand
There's agreement among experts that, above all, protection is the top priority when choosing where to store a watch. But it's worth mentioning that a collection needn't always be tucked away out of sight. "Having a nice presentation box protects the watches but also allows you to present them in a great way to close friends and family members to share your collection," says Butros. He recommends a display box that ensures watches are padded, spaced out, and can be locked for security.
Additionally, collectors may appreciate Abelman's approach. "I like to keep my watches in sight and accessible so picking out my timepiece is a part of my everyday routine. I have watch stands by The Watch Stand that are beautifully designed and minimal enough to fit in with other home decor," she shares, explaining how watches can serve as more than a personal fashion accessory. "I love having my watches on display as pieces of art."
apichat_naweewong/Getty Images
While a solid box or case is imperative for watch storage, full protection means avoiding any of a timepiece's worst enemies: direct sunlight, moisture, crowded spaces, and magnets.
"It really comes down to the small things," says Ramirez of watch-protection tips. "UV radiation can cause the dial to fade, the glass to discolor, it does the watch no good." As with the products he oversees at Fashionphile, Ramirez says watches should be stored in places that are cooler than room temperature and dry. "Even if you sweat a lot, perspiration can penetrate the watch," adds Boutros of the dangers of moisture on watches, including those that are water-resistant. He recommends using a soft microfiber or 100% cotton cloth to wipe away any excess moisture/sweat build-up and visiting a watchmaker once every two years to have the water resistance checked.
"Another basic tip is to avoid scratching your watch,"adds Boutros. "Don't store them next to metal objects, don't hit them against other watches, and avoid wearing them alongside metal bracelets." This further emphasizes why a box is preferred over keeping a watch in a dresser drawer next to anything that could cause a shock or scratch to it. Better still, keep it stored away from your computer, phone, or smart home devices. "I recommend keeping your watches away from your electronics to prevent magnetization which affects the timing of your watch," says Abelman.
Leave the polishing to the professionalsvictorass88/Getty Images
Despite the advice above, scratches do happen. And while a clean, microfiber cloth may be okay for wiping away dust or sweat, experts insist that you leave the polishing to professionals only. "If you decide to polish it, take it back to an authorized dealer who will make sure it's finished and polished properly," says Ramirez. "Once you polish a watch you remove metal" — be it steel, gold, or platinum — "that can never be put back and with that polishing you remove the original factory-created edges, contours, and curves that give the watch a lot of character. You lose that completely when you polish."
Protect your paperworkOmega SA
Watch protection isn't only about maintaining the integrity of the piece of jewelry itself, but also protecting the value of a prized item. So, in addition to the above habits, experts stress the importance of holding onto all paperwork, including the certificate of authenticity, records of purchase, and even consider taking videos of your collection that you could share with your insurance company should anything happen. "Anything that comes with the watch when you buy it, even the box," says Ramirez, "adds hundreds of dollars of value to the watch, so keep all that stuff safe."