Stunning Concepts
Some people like to buy an unworn investment piece and make it remain that way-unworn. Popped away in a safe for as many years as it takes to let the asset do its thing (make you money). And then there are others who buy a lovely watch and wear it proudly everyday. And there are also the in-betweens who keep their watches in a secured safe but take them out every now and then to wear. In this blog article we discuss the best way to store your watch so it doesn’t get damaged. Whether your investment watch lives in a safe sealed away or whether your pride and joy sits on your wrist everyday. We’ll look at several ways in which to keep your watch stored so that it stays looking pristine.
The daily
The watch you put on every morning when you wake up and then rest on the bedside table before you go to sleep. This watch gets the brunt of your daily activities and as it should! Watches are made to be worn and loved so of course if you wear your watch everyday, a few scuffs and dings are bound to happen.
We believe that even if your watch gets frequent use there are a few accessories you can use to avoid the scuffs and scratches. So how can I store a daily watch so it doesn’t get damaged?
1. Leather Chamois – Yup the type they use at your local carwash. We’ve found that this is the only cloth that can clean a watch without scratching it. Using one of these when needed will bring the shine back to your watch without leaving any trace.
2. Watch Stand – Another one of our favourite accessories is the watch stand. If the only time you take off your watch is to shower and sleep then we advise using a watch stand instead of placing the watch on a table or surface. These have been designed to stop your watch getting damaged when not on your wrist and we can’t recommend them enough.
The Safe Queen
If you’ve bought your watch for investment, or perhaps even as an heirloom to pass down to your children. Storing your watch so that it doesn’t get damaged is most certainly priority number one. With high-end luxury watches it’s always advised to place your watch in a secure, temperature controlled setting such as a safe, preferably a large heavy one or one that can be bolted to a wall to avoid someone stealing it. So how can I store watches in a safe so they don’t get damaged?
1. If you’re planning on keeping that watch for it’s entire life (or at least yours) we recommend using some kind of leather pouch. Leather pouches have a small profile so are easy to fit in to any safe. They also offer protection against scratches and keeps your watch away from light and air which will cause decolorisation over time.
2. If you have a quartz watch that you plan on storing for a long time, it’s advised to take the battery out. Over time batteries can corrode and leak causing irreversible damage to your watch. If you can’t access the battery compartment yourself, pop down to your jeweller and ask them to remove the battery ready for a long storage time.
The In-between
If you’re the type of person who likes to alternate their watches. Whether you’re changing every day or wearing the same watch for months on end. There are still steps you can take to reduce the chances of dings and scratches.
How to store in-between watches so they don’t get damaged?
We recommend a combination of everything mentioned above-the leather chamois, a watch stand, a large sturdy safe and a leather pouch. In addition a well constructed watch case to store your collection when not on your wrist. The watch should sit securely on individual cushions, separated by the box design into compartments. This ensures the watches never touch and the watch face is always pointing upwards.
How to Store Your Watches So They Don’t Get Damaged
Our 3 Golden Tips
1. Always store your watch face up
2. Avoid humidity
Moisture and condensation can really damage a watch’s gears. Keep your watch in a temperature controlled secured area such as a safe or safety deposit box. If you don’t keep your watch in a safe, you can always keep a small silica gel pouch in your watch box.
3. Try to give it some attention at least once a year
Most watches benefit from being taken out, wound and worn every once in a while. Watches are designed to be worn after all and not much damage is going to come to it by taking it out of the safe giving it a wind, clean and wearing it for a couple of hours. Keeping a watch untouched in a safe should only really be considered for the rarest of watches.