Horological Meandering

Care & Feeding of a Watch Collection 5: Storage & Transportation

Mar 02, 2015,07:39 AM

Storing Watches

Convenience and Safety from damage

Watches are tough but they are also delicate in some ways. They deserve care and protection when they are not on your arm. I'll start with a photo of a friend, Alec Dawson (now passed on) who kept most of his 100 watches on his desk. Here he is wearing an MIH that I sold him (photo from Watch Time, April 2009).

We who visited his office were both horrified and thrilled by the pile of watches on his desk. And he was hugely amused at our reactions. He knew that if he stood up and moved towards the door, we'd immediately pick up a watch and start inspecting it, or strapping it on.

Watch Storage

When I started collecting a few watches I found this humidor display on sale at an antique shop. It seemed just the perfect thing to go on my dresser. It was convenient, had some places I could put rings, tie bars and watches. The shelves were perforated, painted metal. They don't scratch the watches and they allow ventilation.

Using copper pipe and a piece of foam tubing, I made a little stand for watches with deployants and/or bracelets.

Alas it was soon under-sized for my aspirations. It has become the case for my wife's watches. And a few knives, pocket watches and pens.

Again on a trip to a used furniture shop, I found this cabinet once used by dentists to store dangerous tools and drugs. It offered a stout metal case, some glass sides with very thick panes, a combination lock to keep out idle fingers (though not a sledgehammer), and was attractive enough for my wife to concede it might fit in my closet.

I think this photo is from Day One. A bit dark and drab, isn't it?

NOTE: Looking closely, I realize the bottom of the watch cabinet is covered by a pair of black placemats that we've been missing for several years. Shhh, don't tell her.

Here's how it looks after a lick of paint, some additional shelves, and mirrors on the back. A quartz reference clock is handy for setting the time and date on your watch du jour. I've added lights and an electrical outlet for my winders. And for the gold or scratch-magnet watches, I have added a soft washcloth upon which I can gently rest them.

I have seen various kinds of storage facilities, although it's probably a rare event to get invited into the inner sanctum of a collector's hoard. One of the finest is my pal Jonathan's entire walk-in watch closet. He is able to keep each of his ~35 watches in its original boxes. I suspect if he got a wife the watches would be forced to find a new home (hence, no wife).

Protection from Pets and Children

I'd classify "Protection" in two categories - one is from idle cats, dogs or kids, and the other is from hoodlums.

Most damage to my watches (not including abuse that I've caused) has a come from the children of visitor finding a watch on a table and playing with it. "Oops, cracked the glass. Put it back, maybe he won't notice." Or the cat finding one that smelled of sweat and chewing on the strap. My storage case is adequate protection from both of those. It also prevents the watches from getting knocked off the back of the dresser or lost in a sofa cushion.

Security from thieves

I think most PuristS will agree the best security of all is to have the collection OUT OF THE HOUSE. If you own a number of valuable watches you need offsite storage. If you have them in a safe and you are home, the thieves don't have to break into your safe, they only have to break into you or your loved ones.

Find a convenient branch of your bank and rent a safe deposit box. Alternatively, you might be able to keep some of your watches at your office or other business location. At my last employer's office, we had a safe the size of a giant refrigerator. The owners were happy to grant me a corner of the vault and a key for my drawer. I still had to get the financial controller to unlock the main vault but it was less trouble than the bank.

I do have a large safe which I use only when we leave town on a trip. It is well hidden away on our property but NOT in the house. That's my alternative if I haven't got time to get to the bank and I want to put the watches away safe from the house sitter or cat-walker. Or the cat.

I guess you might consider a couch safe like this one which I found recently on the Internet - but I wouldn't want to have to sit on it! Or use it for an overnight guest.

Transporting Watches

Soft Carry Cases

Many people carry their watches with them when traveling to a conference, collector's GTG, or family trip. There are many types of watch carriers that you can choose from. I tend to put them in my briefcase, so I need a small soft-sided carrier for 3-5 watches. Like this (photo from anonymous Purist):

Here are the ones I use, gifts of Hublot and IWC. I can carry one large watch, or 5 medium-sized watches.

I show you the five this way because they make a nice set.

But it's safer to turn two of them around so the likelihood of the crowns scratching the adjacent case is diminished. I always carry a soft cloth too - because most watches are fingerprint and dust/debris magnets. This way I can safely wipe them clean.

Here's a version given out when you have a service performed on your watch. (Photo from AndrewD). I've found a hard-shell eyeglasses case works well too, when accompanied by the soft cloth in which to wrap the watch.

The downside of small cases is their ability to run off into a dark corner of the hotel room safe, roll under your car's front seat, get put with the sunglasses in the cupboard by your long-suffering spouse, etc. You don't want your case to shout "Expensive Watch" but you don't want to lose it either.

Hard Carry Cases

Perhaps a spot of color would prevent loss or forgetfulness? Here's the Alain Silberstein approach to providing a box AND a transport device AND some style:

The PuristS ABR watch came in a very similar white case (tools for sterilizing the watch):

While my Stowa came in a cute but totally impractical little metal trunk. Nice strap though, I'll have to put that into inventory! I'd forgotten it.

If you have more watches that you want to easily transport from place to place around town, you may want a hard-shell case that holds a dozen or more. There are some dedicated to watches, such as this hardshell "Pelikan" style (photos from the web)

and this one

or you can fabricate your own to suit, such as this case built by a Purist (photo from MRSNAK).

Small watch cases or carriers are often given to you when you have a watch serviced, or when you go to an event or boutique opening. And they are frequently traded - so if you want one, put an ad on the Collector's Market and see what you can obtain.

Here's a strangely angled photo of a case I bought (via eBay) which came from Camille Fournet, a leather craftsman in Paris. I thought it was for carrying watches.

When it arrived, I learned it was a very nice strap changing kit, complete with table cloth for protection. That leads toward another post, so I will stop here.

Stay tuned for Episode 6 (coming)

This message has been edited by cazalea on 2015-03-02 08:39:34

Mr Dawson

By: Ares501 - Mr Green : March 2nd, 2015-07:52

is my hero :) Is that cool or what Another lovely post from series There are some venerable collectors that keep their watches in plastic freezing bags :) Keep on the good work Mike Best Damjan

Watch storage is a big problem. At home, it is too dangerous.

By: amanico : March 2nd, 2015-09:11

At the bank, it spoils your pleasure. Tough dilemma. As for the transportation, sockets are very good. I try to find one solution which doesn't take too much place in my luggage. I carefully wrap my watches in plastic bags, one Watch per plastic. Not very...

Care & Feeding of a Watch Collection 5: Storage & Transportation

Care & Feeding of a Watch Collection 5: Storage & Transportation

Mr Dawson

Watch storage is a big problem. At home, it is too dangerous.

I like the accessories! [nt]

Thanks for posting these series Mike,

You're welcome