تخزين الساعات - كيفية تخزين ساعتك الفاخرة بشكل صحيح

You own a valuable luxury watch and keep wondering: What do I need to do for safe storage of my watch? Here are 6 tips on how to store your luxury watch properly and for an extended period.

1. Clean the watch first, then store it

Preparing your watch for storage is essential. If you wear your valuable watch regularly, traces of skin creams, soap, sweat, and sebum accumulate on your watch and strap. Over time, these substances can cause corrosion damage or unsightly discoloration on your precious timepiece

Don't be negligent here. This applies to gold, stainless steel, and generally all metallic materials. Neglected care can also harm leather straps and unpleasantly alter other synthetic materials. Therefore, good maintenance of your luxury watch is crucial. Take the time.

As a first step, it is recommended to carefully clean with a damp microfiber cloth. Depending on the degree of dirt, you can also use some dish soap. But be careful: do not use aggressive household cleaners, as they can attack and permanently damage the seals of your watch.

The straps also need care and cleaning. For metal bracelets with links, a good old toothbrush is handy. The toothbrush removes dirt and deposits from the gaps and spaces between the links.

After cleaning, carefully but thoroughly dry the valuable watch. A cotton kitchen towel is recommended for this. Now we move on to the inner workings of your watch.

2. The battery in the watch

If your watch is battery-operated, the question arises whether you should remove the battery before storing your luxury watch. The right answer, as always, is: it depends. Thus, the better questions you should ask as the owner of a luxury watch are: How long do I want to store the watch safely and in what condition is the battery (charge status)?

If the watch is not used for a long time, the battery may leak, which is bad. A leaking battery can cause significant damage and, in the worst case, completely destroy the movement. Therefore, it is highly recommended to remove the battery for planned long-term storage.

To put the battery in standby mode in quartz watches, simply pull out the crown. For safety, check this procedure in the manual.

If you notice restrictions or even failures in function after storing your watch, it’s better to change the battery quickly rather than wait.

3. The right storage place for your watch

You have cleaned the watch and secured the mechanism. Now you want to store the valuable watch properly. The right storage place for a valuable watch must meet the following conditions:

• No direct sunlight - Avoid UV radiation, which can cause dials and leather straps to fade.

• No direct heat source. Continuous heat can cause appliqués to detach and block the hands.

• Dry air. Leather straps are particularly sensitive to humidity, which can cause an unpleasant smell and even mold.

• Dust-free. Dust can penetrate the movement through the smallest openings. During long periods of inactivity, dust deposits can damage the movement.

The original box of the watch is best suited for safe watch storage. If you want to store several valuable watches safely, it is worth using a special watch case. These are lined and usually equipped with a soft cushion. You can place the watches on this cushion. This way, the watches cannot move against each other, preventing scratches and scuffs on the valuable watches.

For the material of the cases, wooden ones are preferable to those made of other materials, as they provide a better internal climate for storing the watches.

4. Store watches securely with Trisor

Storing watches well means storing them securely.

Since more and more banks are reducing their safe deposit box capacities, an independent safe deposit box provider like Trisor is recommended. Here, you even have the option to insure the contents of your safe deposit box up to a value of 500,000 euros, which is certainly worth considering for a luxury watch collection. Don't skimp on the wrong end.

Regular checks – even with good storage

Do not leave your valuable watches completely unattended, despite good and secure storage. Even if nothing stands in the way of long-term storage with these tips, you should not let your watch(es) fall into oblivion.

Especially with mechanical watches, it is advisable to wind the movement every 3 months. The oils in the watch can thicken and, in the worst case, render the valuable watch non-functional.

At Trisor, you have 24/7 access to your safe deposit box. Take advantage of this convenient opportunity to maintain your valuable watch(es).

5. Watch winders – yes or no?

The positive effect and significance of watch winders are always highlighted by two groups: passionate watch collectors and watch winder manufacturers.

But is it worthwhile to get a watch winder?

Watch winders are particularly suitable for automatic watches, whose rotor, i.e., the movement drive, is kept running by movements. When you wear the watch on your wrist, the daily movements are enough to "wind" the watch.

But what happens if you don't wear the watch for a long time?

Advantages and disadvantages of watch winders

A watch winder keeps the watches wound and ready to use at any time. This is a significant advantage, especially for watch models with special features like a perpetual calendar or moon phases. Resetting these functions can be challenging and time-consuming.

Another feature that true watch lovers highly appreciate is the ability to determine the rate deviation with a watch winder. This is at least very convenient.

However, if your valuable watches don't have the mentioned features, watch winders offer no benefit.

One argument against watch winders is that the watch can show signs of wear much faster due to constant operation. Therefore, it is rather recommended to let the watch stop running for longer periods of non-use and then safely store it as described.

6. Vacuum-sealing watches

Is it permissible to vacuum-seal watches? Generally, yes.

The great advantage is that the valuable watches are dry, dust-protected, largely scratch-resistant, and space-savingly packed and can be stored, for example, in a safe deposit box or possibly less secure places, considering the mentioned care instructions.

Automatic watches do not even need to be unpacked for winding, as the rotor can still move in the movement.

Disadvantage: If the watch is not or not highly water-resistant, the vacuum’s negative pressure could potentially negatively affect the condition of the timepiece. Additionally, the already mentioned cleaning measures must be adhered to, as a battery can also leak in a vacuum-sealed state.