For many people, watches are an investment and are often seen as precious valuables to collect.
If you’ve got a watch collection, you already know that depending on the size of your collection, it can be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Failure to store your watch collection in the correct way can lead to damage, tarnishing, and even corrosion, so it’s important to get right to keep your watches in the best possible condition.
If you’re curious to know how to store a watch collection, you’re in the right place.
To store a watch collection, you will need to:
- Carefully clean your watch collection
- Remove the batteries
- Place your watches in a watch box
- Choose a safe and secure place to keep your watches
- Check your watch collection on a regular basis
1. Carefully Clean Your Watch Collection
To begin, you will first need to carefully clean your watch collection.
As you wear watches on your wrist, cleaning your watches before you store them is essential to get rid of any dust, dirt, or grease that your watch has picked up through general wear.
Even high quality materials like leather and stainless steel can be impacted by this, so it’s important to give your watches a proper clean before storing them.
To clean your watches, use a damp microfiber cloth, as well as a dash of dish soap to help you remove any dirt. You can even use a small toothbrush to help you get into all the nooks and crannies.
Following this, you will need to ensure that you thoroughly dry your watch collection to prevent any moisture from causing mould and mildew growth or causing the metal to corrode.
Failure to store your watch collection in the correct way can lead to damage, tarnishing, and even corrosion, so it’s important to get right to keep your watches in the best possible condition.
2. Remove The Batteries
Next, you will want to remove the batteries from the watches that you plan to store.
Whilst it might be tempting to skip this step if your watches are relatively new and in good condition, this is never advised when it comes to storing your watch collection.
This comes down to the fact that batteries can lose their charge over time and can even leak and cause damage if you’re not mindful to take them out beforehand.
While it’s fine to keep the batteries in a watch that you wear often and aren’t storing for the long-term, it’s always advisable to remove the batteries if you intend to store your watches for a long period of time.
3. Place Your Watches In A Watch Box
Once you’ve removed the batteries from your watches, it’s time to place them in a watch box or case.
Not only is a watch box the perfect place to display your watches, but a cushioned one also helps to limit movement and prevent the watches from scratching against each other when transported.
This helps to keep your watch collection in pristine condition when in storage.
While it’s fine to keep the batteries in a watch that you wear often and aren’t storing for the long-term, it’s always advisable to remove the batteries if you intend to store your watches for a long period of time.
4. Choose A Safe & Secure Place To Keep Your Watches
Next, you will need to choose a safe and secure place to keep your watches.
Your watches need to be stored in a dust-free environment, away from direct sunlight and heat to ensure they remain in the best condition, as exposure can cause a variety of issues, including causing the watch dial to fade.
Depending on the size and value of your watch collection, it is advisable to insure and store your watch collection within your own home. That said, you should avoid obvious hiding places that an intruder could easily find, and opt for a more secure option such as a safe.
If you’re planning to store your watches in a storage facility when moving house, many storage companies will state in the contract that goods are stored at the owner’s risk.
However, if you’ve got no other choice and are temporarily storing your watch collection outside of your house during the move, be sure to clearly label the box as “Fragile” to ensure that the removal company takes care of your watches. That said, it’s crucial to insure your watch collection to make sure that you’re covered and to protect your investment.
Depending on the size and value of your watch collection, it is advisable to insure and store your watch collection within your own home.
5. Check Your Watch Collection On A Regular Basis
It’s not enough to carry out the first steps alone, as you will need to continuously check your watch collection on a regular basis to ensure their good condition.
This will allow you to adapt or change your storage solution, and catch any damage to your watches before it is too late.
Failure to check your watch collection on a regular basis in storage can result in you losing thousands of pounds, so be sure to carry out regular maintenance checks.
We hope that this guide to storing your watch collection comes in use.
To learn more about our removals services in South Wales or purpose-built storage facilities, contact Nathan. At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your goods are moved with expert precision and kept in perfect condition.
For more expert advice on how to pack, move and store your belongings — or other FAQs on how removals work — check out our blog page.
Useful links:
- Swansea removals
- House Removals in Ammanford
- House Removals in Carmarthen
- House Removals in Llanelli
Written by Jemima Thomas for Falconer Removals & Storage.
