How to store mechanical watches

Clean, dry, cushioned and away from magnets. That covers most of it. A stopped watch in a good box is perfectly happy for months.

Before you put it away

Clean off sweat and grime, which can corrode steel and rot leather. How to clean a watch.
Let it dry completely, especially the strap.
Screw the crown down or push it home, to keep dust and moisture out.
Note its last service date so you know where it stands when it comes out.

Where to keep it

A watch box or roll with individual cushions keeps watches from scratching each other. Its original box works well too.
Somewhere dry and stable. Avoid bathrooms, windowsills, cars, attics and garages. Rapid temperature changes and humidity are the enemy.
Away from magnets. Not on speakers, not next to laptops or phones, and not in a box with magnetic clasps. Here's why.
Out of direct sunlight, which fades dials, straps and luminous paint over years.

Safes are damp. Home and bank safes are often humid, and some fire-resistant safes release moisture by design. Add a few silica gel sachets and replace or dry them every few months.

Straps

Leather lasts longer stored flat and dry, not tightly buckled. For long storage, take it off the watch or keep it in the box's cushion rather than folded. Rubber is fine as is; keep it out of the sun. Metal bracelets need nothing special, just clean and dry.

Should you keep it running?

You don't need to. Letting a watch stop does it no harm, and running it on a winder all year only adds hours of wear. Some watchmakers suggest running a stored watch for a day or two every few months to keep the lubricants spread and check it's still healthy. It's a sensible habit that takes a minute, and there's no firm evidence that skipping it hurts.

A watch with a perpetual calendar or moonphase is the exception: resetting one is a chore, so a winder earns its place there.

Long-term storage (a year or more)

Oils age whether the watch runs or not. Expect to need a service sooner if it sits for many years.
Have the water resistance checked before you take it swimming again. Gaskets harden in a drawer too.
Keep papers, box and receipts together with it; they matter for value.

Remember what's in the box

Stored watches are easy to forget. Watch Winder keeps every watch in one list, running or stopped, with notes, and can remind you when one has been off long enough to run for a day.

Coming soon to the App Store

FAQ

Is it bad to let a mechanical watch stop?

No. A stopped watch isn't wearing out. The only risk is when you restart it: set the date carefully, avoiding 9pm to 3am.

How often should I run a stored watch?

There's no hard rule. Running it for a day or two every few months is a common habit that keeps oils spread and lets you check it still works.

Where is the best place to store a watch?

A cushioned watch box in a dry room with a steady temperature, away from sunlight, speakers, laptops and other magnets.

Can I store watches in a safe?

Yes, but safes are often humid. Put silica gel sachets inside and refresh them every few months.

Should I store an automatic watch on a winder?

Only if it has a complication that's hard to reset, like a perpetual calendar. Otherwise a winder adds wear without benefit.