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To store watches properly, keep each one in its own soft-lined slot, in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight and away from magnets. A watch box does this best. For valuable watches, a safe adds security, as long as you control humidity. Automatic watches can simply be left to stop, or kept running on a winder if you want them ready to wear.
The details change with how long the watch will be stored and what kind it is. Here is what to do for each case.
The five rules of watch storage
- Separate every watch. Watches knocking together is the main cause of scratches. One slot, cushion or pouch per watch.
- Keep them dry. Humidity is hard on leather straps and gaskets, and on old watches it can fog crystals.
- Keep them out of the sun. UV fades dials, straps and lume.
- Keep them away from magnets. Speakers, tablet covers, magnetic clasps and phone mounts can magnetize a mechanical watch and make it run fast.
- Keep them at a stable room temperature. Avoid windowsills, radiators, cars and attics.
How to store watches in a watch box
A watch box is the right home for most collections.
- Choose the right slot size. The case should sit without pressing against the lid, and the cushion should fit the strap without stretching it. Tawbury, for example, publishes slot heights so you can check thick watches.
- Close bracelets loosely around the cushion, or leave the clasp open if the cushion is bigger than your wrist.
- Put leather straps on cushions that match, so they keep their natural curve.
- Keep a glass-lid box out of direct sunlight. A closed lid protects better if the box sits near a window.
- Leave space. An overfilled box gets cushions squeezed and watches scratched. Buy two slots more than you need.
If you are choosing a box, our watch boxes for men guide compares slot sizes, lids and locks.
How to store watches when not in use
| How long | Automatic or mechanical | Quartz |
|---|---|---|
| A few days | Leave it in its box; let it stop or keep it on a winder | Leave it in its box |
| A few weeks | Let it stop, or wind it every week or two by the crown | Leave it in its box |
| Several months | Let it stop; wind and run it for a day every month or two if you can | Store as normal; check it runs |
| A year or more | Let it stop; plan a service before you wear it regularly again | Ask a watchmaker about the battery to avoid a leak |
A mechanical watch is not harmed by stopping. Running it now and then keeps the oils moving, which many owners prefer, but it is not required. Before you wear any long-stored watch in water, have the water resistance checked: gaskets age even in a drawer.
Automatic watches: let them stop or use a winder?
Both are fine. A watch winder keeps an automatic running, so the time and date are set when you pick it up. That matters most for watches with a perpetual calendar or moonphase, which are tedious to reset. A winder set to the right turns per day does not overwind a modern automatic, because the mainspring slips when full.
Letting an automatic stop is also safe. The only cost is resetting it. We weigh the arguments in are watch winders bad for watches, and compare models in our best watch winder guide.
How to store watches in a safe
A safe protects against theft and fire, but it is a sealed box, and sealed boxes can trap moisture.
- Add a desiccant. A rechargeable silica gel canister or a small safe dehumidifier controls humidity. Recharge or replace it on schedule.
- Store watches in a case or pouches, never loose on a metal shelf.
- Keep leather straps on cushions, so they do not dry flat and crack.
- Open the safe now and then to check the watches and the desiccant.
- Consider a winder safe if you want automatics running inside it. Our watch winder safe guide covers safes with built-in winders.
Many compact watch cases fit inside a home safe. Tawbury, for example, notes that its larger Fraser cases suit many safes, depending on internal dimensions.
How to store watches in a drawer
A drawer is fine if the watches cannot touch each other or the drawer.
- Use a drawer insert with cushions or individual compartments.
- Or put each watch in a soft pouch. Microfiber or suede pouches cost little and stop scratches.
- Avoid drawers next to speakers or electronics.
- Do not stack watches. Even in pouches, stacking puts pressure on crystals and crowns.
How to store watches without a box
No box? These work:
- The original box and pillow that came with the watch.
- A soft pouch for each watch, kept in a drawer.
- A watch roll or travel case, which doubles as storage. See our watch travel case guide. Our watch box or watch roll guide helps you choose between them.
- A watch stand for the watch you wear every day. Our watch holder guide compares nightstand and desk stands.
Avoid paper towels or tissue, which can hold moisture and leave fibers, and plastic bags, which trap humidity.
Straps and bracelets in storage
- Leather: store with a natural curve on a cushion. Let it dry fully after wear before it goes in the box.
- Rubber and silicone: rinse off sweat and salt water before storing.
- Metal bracelets: wipe off sweat, close them loosely, and do not leave them squeezed flat under other watches.
- Fabric and NATO straps: let them dry fully to avoid mildew.
Position: dial up, crown up?
For storage, it makes little difference. For a running mechanical watch, position changes the rate slightly, so a consistent resting position overnight (dial up, for example) makes its daily drift more predictable. If your watch gains or loses noticeably, magnetism and a low wind are the usual suspects.
A quick storage checklist
Before a watch goes into storage for more than a few weeks:
- Wipe it down. Remove sweat, sunscreen and salt from the case and strap. Our watch cleaning guide covers case, bracelet and strap.
- Let leather and fabric straps dry fully.
- Check the crown. On screw-down crowns, screw it down; on others, push it fully in.
- Note the date setting. On a stopped watch, you will need to reset it later.
- Put it in its own slot or pouch, away from magnets and sunlight.
- Write down when it last ran or was serviced, especially for a collection you rotate.
Storage also matters for value. A watch kept in its original box, with papers stored separately in a dry folder, is easier to sell or insure later, and its box and papers are often worth keeping together with the watch.
Common mistakes
- Storing watches loose in a drawer or a jewelry dish.
- Leaving a glass-lid box in the sun.
- Putting a watch in a box right after swimming, with water trapped under the strap.
- Ignoring humidity in a safe.
- Leaving dead batteries in quartz watches for years.
- Setting the date on a stopped watch around midnight, when many date mechanisms are engaged.
FAQ
What is the best way to store watches when not in use?
In a lined watch box or case, each watch in its own slot, in a dry room away from sunlight, heat and magnets. Close bracelets loosely and store leather straps flat or lightly curved. Automatics can be left to stop or kept on a winder.
Is it bad to let an automatic watch stop?
No. Letting an automatic run down does it no harm. The only inconvenience is resetting the time and date when you pick it up again. Avoid changing the date during the hours around midnight on most watches, when the date mechanism is engaged.
Should I store watches in a safe?
For valuable pieces, yes, but control humidity. Safes are sealed and can trap moisture, so add a rechargeable desiccant or dehumidifier and check it regularly. Keep watches in a case or pouches inside the safe so they do not touch.
Should I remove the battery from a quartz watch in storage?
If you will not wear it for a long time, it is worth asking a watchmaker. An exhausted battery left in a watch for years can leak and damage the movement. For a few months of storage, just store it as you would any watch.
Is it okay to store watches in a drawer?
Only if each watch is separated. Loose watches in a drawer knock together and scratch. Use a drawer insert with cushions, a soft pouch for each watch, or a watch case that fits inside the drawer.