Proper Storage for Your Watches

Watch Storage - Like jewelry watches should be cleaned before storage to remove perspiration and debris. All storage boxes should NOT be air tight and should be properly ventilated to prevent the build up of condensation around the watch or inside the watch case.

Automatic or Mechanical - These watches should be placed in a proper Watch Winding box after you are finished wearing it. What this box will do is keep the gears oiled because the watch winder moves continually keeping the movement running and the time accurate. Watch Winders also keep the movement running so the watch never loses the time/ date or moon phase. If you do not have a watch winder, then you should fully wind the watch a minimum on once a week. If the watch isn't wound, oil will drain from the gears causing the gears to grind. Refinishing this movement can be on the expensive side and done only by professionals.

For those without watch winders or watch storage boxes - Wrap the crystal and watch case with a plain old tissue (without moisturizer) and tape the tissue together. This protects the crystal and case from knocks. Then store watch in a heavy cotton pouch or leather pouch to further protect it from knocks. Place in jewelry box, jewelry shelf, jewelry drawer or out of the way of harm.

Hand-Wound watches - With the invention of the hand-wound watch winder keeping up on winding is easy. But for people who do not have one, winding your unworn hand-wound watch should be done at least twice a week. This keeps the gears oiled and moving. If the watch isn't wound, oil will drain from the gears causing the gears to grind. Refinishing this movement can be on the expensive side and done only by professionals. Store in a proper wood watch box.

For those without watch winders or watch storage boxes - Wrap the crystal and watch case with a plain old tissue (without moisturizer) and tape the tissue together. This protects the crystal and case from knocks. Then store watch in a heavy cotton pouch or leather pouch to further protect it from knocks. Place in jewelry box, jewelry shelf, jewelry drawer or out of the way of harm.

Quartz watches - Store in a proper wood watch box.

For those without watch storage boxes - Wrap the crystal and watch case with a plain old tissue (without moisturizer) and tape the tissue together. This protects the crystal and case from knocks. Then store watch in a heavy cotton pouch or leather pouch to further protect it from knocks. Place in jewelry box, jewelry shelf, jewelry drawer or out of the way of harm.