There are many ways in which you can properly store your watch. Most methods revolve around keeping the piece in a dark, dry, temperature-controlled environment, far away from moisture and the destructive effects it can have on the dial, movement, and other parts. There are other additional measures you can take to ensure your watch remains operational and ages well. Using a high quality travel and storage case like the Triple WATCHPOD may be one the best investments you make for your watch.
Avoid Humidity
Moisture is your watch’s biggest foe. Keeping the timepiece unprotected in a cold safe, for example, might seem like the right thing to do, but is it really? While it may keep the watch locked away securely, the condensation inside can have a rather withering impact. Humidity can creep into your movements and deprive the oils of their lubricating properties by coagulating them.
Quartz watches are known to often fall victim to condensation which can damage the IC circuits effortlessly.
Use Silica Gel
Silica Gel can do wonders when it comes to preventing moisture from building up. Chances are, you have some silica gel lying around the house in all those electronic boxes you shoved away in the drawers. Alternatively, you can buy some packets in bulk; aim to get the ones that change color over time to indicate their expiry date.
Depends On The Watch
We all have a watch that’s especially dear to us – a timepiece we don’t wear as often. Mine is a rare vintage Cortebert which holds personal value and is safely stored away in the home safe, along with all the relevant paperwork. This is a watch from the forties, meaning it doesn’t resist a trifle of moisture.
Vintage pieces, chronographs above all, require extra thoughtfulness when storing. I’m keeping mine in a protective zip bag with silica gel which should keep it ticking for years to come. This way, I can take it out whenever I want, wind the mechanism and enjoy the watch in its prime condition.
Quartz watches are at an increased risk of moisture damage, too. With them, you risk battery leakage or corrosion. Always remove the battery and place it in a separate zip bag to ensure the movement doesn’t get damaged.
From the sixties onward, however, you won’t have to worry as much. Especially if you own a water-resistant piece with a screw-down crown – these have far better chances of surviving humidity, dust, and other culprits.
WATCHPOD Protective Cases
A quality protective watch case can do a great job of keeping your timepiece safely stored. They don’t cost a fortune, either – the Single WATCHPOD case retails at around 15 bucks, which makes it one of the greatest small investments you could make.
A decent little watch accessory that is both durable and portable, which is just the kind of thing you need for maximum impact protection. It’s compact round shape makes it an excellent travel companion as well.
The WATCHPOD cases come in quite a few variations such as the single black Balistic Nylon case, single brown leatherette case and the double & triple Lycra case, all of which have the concave in the middle to limit movement and protect the case-back of the watch from the bracelet.
Maintenance and Servicing
For more high-end watches, it is a wise idea to take them out for some servicing every now and then. Choose a suitable watchmaker to service your watch – whether it is polishing, maintaining dial and bezel, looking after the movement, or replacing the crystal.
Keep in mind, though, that restoring a watch to its previous condition significantly reduces its value. These servicing choices need to be approached from several standpoints, including monetary. For example, replacing a crystal is usually something watch collectors forgive as they know the contribution this makes to the watch’s aesthetics.
For luxury mechanical watches, get yourself a tool like a timegrapher. This will provide you with a snapshot of the health of your watch, including accuracy, and correct amplitude, which can indicate when the watch needs to be taken for servicing.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the way you store your watch will greatly depend on the value of the piece, and its age, among other factors. Whatever storage approach you opt for, remember to keep the moisture, heat, and dust away. It should also go without saying to keep your favorite locked away in a safe, if possible. All these steps, along with regular maintenance, should have your watch running in mint condition for a long time.
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