I was looking for my watch the other day and almost thought I lost it. I searched in the bedside table, drawers and closet but I couldn’t find it.
I did see some of the old ones I had but not the one I was looking for. Hours later and lo and behold, I found what I was looking for under the throws in my sofa.
That’s when I realized I don’t have proper storage for my watches. They’re all over the house and it’s not ideal for obvious reasons. So here’s a list of watch storage solutions to keep them organized and intact.
A. Type
1. Box
Source: Houzz
A box is one of the most popular ways to store your watches, and for good reason. These storage options are generally very attractive and can be left out on a chest or bedside table without looking out of place or ruining the décor of the room.
When you are choosing a box, you will want to make sure that it has enough space in it for your collection of watches. Depending on whether or not you are going to be taking the box with you while you are traveling, you may want to opt for a box that will lock as it will make it very easy to keep your watches safe when not at home.
Boxes do a great job protecting your watch from dust, bugs, humidity, and moisture and ensure that you can easily choose one to go with your outfit. There are some watch boxes that are more for protection than they are for display so if you want to make sure that you are taking all steps to protect your watch, then look for one of these heavier-duty boxes that comes with a guarantee on being able to protect your watch.
2. Rack
Source: Etsy
A rack is a great way to display your watches out in the open and makes it very easy to see which one you want to wear for the day. Racks usually are in a T shape with the top of the T serving to hold a few watches. This allows them to hang loose and at the ready for whenever you are getting dressed or want to change your look throughout the day.
The problem with using a rack is that the watches are not ever going to be as protected as they would if they were in a box. Because they are exposed to dust, wet, and even being knocked off of the rack, you have to be very careful around your watches to make sure that you do not knock them on the floor.
For some people, the risks are worth it as it allows them to easily see what watches they have and to switch out the one that they want to wear quickly and with very little effort. It’s important to keep in mind that hanging your watches for an extended period of time can cause damage so you need to make sure that you rotate your watches regularly to keep them in great condition.
3. Roll
While you can certainly use a watch roll to store your watches at home for an extended period of time, this is a great option if you are going to be taking a trip and want to bring a small selection of your watches with you. They are also ideal if you have a smaller bedroom and do not have a lot of surface space where you could place watch storage as they will easily fit into a drawer or on a shelf in the closet.
Rolls generally have a soft tube in them that you can fit your watches around so that there isn’t any chance of them getting knocked or bent out of shape when in storage or traveling. Then a lid will roll up and around the case to snap shut and protect them. This is important as you do not want your watch to get damaged by being knocked around.
4. Pouch
Source: Etsy
A leather pouch perfectly sized to hold a single watch makes it very easy to bring your watch or a backup with you when you are traveling. These pouches, due to their size, are perfect for slipping into a purse or a carry-on and do not take up a lot of space. The watch simply slides into the pouch and a top flap comes up and over to close the pouch and keep the watch from slipping out.
While these are great for short-term use, they are not ideal for extended storage at your home as they do not offer any support to the shape of the watch. While this may not seem to be a big deal to some people, if you have invested in your watches, then you know how important it is to keep them structured and give them the most support that you can while they are in storage.
This is the best way to keep them looking their best and to avoid any costly repairs that they may need if they are neglected. Pouches are best used for shorter periods of time and when you are unable to bring your whole watch case with you. While at home, you will want something that provides more structure and protection for your watch.
5. Valet Tray
Source: Houzz
While not specifically designed to hold watches, valet trays are great for holding all types of jewelry, watches included. These trays fit neatly on top of your dresser or inside a drawer and make it easy to see the jewelry that you want to wear with a quick glance.
Many people also use them to store their keys, wallets, and bits of paper or coins that they have in their pockets. One of the benefits of using valet trays is that they make it incredibly easy to see what watches you have and to make a decision about which one you want to wear.
The problem with this is that they do not have any sort of cover to protect your watch. For this reason, they are often best used for the watch that you wear daily instead of as long-term storage for other watches.
6. Stand
Source: Etsy
Unlike a watch rack, which holds the watches up in the air and allows them to hang down and be pulled with their weight, a watch stand holds the watches on their sides, displaying them out in the open and making it very easy to choose which one you are going to wear.
These help the watches to keep their shape since they are not hanging down and affected by gravity but do not offer a lot of protection from the elements that occur naturally in your room. If your watches are not high-quality, then this may not be a real concern for you; however, if you want to make sure that your watches are protected from dust and humidity, then you will need watch storage that has a lid.
A watch stand looks great on any dresser and the exposed wood appeals to many people but you do have to be careful about whether or not your watches are getting the protection that they need to stay in great condition for a long time.
B. Features
1. Winder
Source: Hayneedle
Keep your watches wound so that you never have to worry about losing track of the time during the day when you opt for watch storage that doubles as a winder. These are state of the art and not only will they store your watch for you but keep it wound using different rotating systems, a delayed start so that you can program when you want your watch to be wound, and even directional setting.
This allows you to choose the exact winding settings for your watch so that you never have to worry about it being wound incorrectly. Make sure that the winder storage you choose has enough room for your other watches as well or you will have to buy multiple storage options for your watches.
2. Locking
Source: Houzz
Keeping very expensive watches or ones that have a lot of sentimental value safe is important and you don’t want to trust just any watch storage to do that for you. If you are concerned about someone taking or damaging your watches, then you will want to opt for storage that locks.
This allows you to safely secure your watches when you are not wearing them and gives you peace of mind that they will not be stolen or damaged while you are gone. For many people, knowing that they can lock their watches in their storage gives them the boost of confidence that they need to be able to store their watches out in the open where they can be enjoyed.
3. Additional Storage
Source: Etsy
It’s very likely that you will be able to benefit from having more than just watch storage as this will allow you to keep your keys, sunglasses, wallet, and even passport all in one location without being worried that you won’t be able to find your belongings when it comes time to leave the home.
If you are not worried about this or already have a system set up to keep your other small items corralled, then you will not need to opt for additional storage. You may also pass on this feature if you have a larger number of watches that you want to keep stored and can’t devote any of the storage space to other items.
On the other hand, this is a really great way to set up a morning station in your room that allows you to find everything you need in one location before you head out of the door.
4. Travel
While you could possibly bring your home watch storage with you while you are traveling, it’s best to invest in watch storage that is designed specifically to protect your watches while you are away from home.
While travel watch storage comes in all materials and designs, you want to make sure that the option you choose is heavy-duty and will be able to protect your watches from being damaged if your luggage is dropped or thrown. Look for storage that has a way to snap or lock shut so that it won’t pop open.
One great feature in your travel storage to look for is formed spaces where your watches will be able to fit. Combined with a tight seal on the storage, this will keep your watches from popping out when the case is moved quickly and will ensure that your watches aren’t scratched up or damaged by the trip.
5. Lining
Source: Wayfair
If you want to make sure that your watches are protected while in storage, then you need to consider the interior of the storage you choose. While hard surfaces may look fantastic, soft silk or velvet will keep your watch protected from damage and scratches. Carefully choosing a storage option and considering how your watch will fare once inside is important and will help your watches look their best for years to come.
6. Cushion
Source: Houzz
Cushions are a great way to ensure that your watches stay in their correct shape while they are in storage. You do not want your watch to lay flat for an extended period of time or it can actually damage the watch. Opting for a cushion allows you to store the watch in a neutral position the way that it rests when it is on your wrist and will keep it looking its best and lasting for a very long time.
7. Glass
Watch storage with a glass top makes it very easy to choose which watch you want to wear for the day without actually sorting through the available options. This is ideal if you have a larger collection of watches to choose from and want to be able to consider which watch will look best with your outfit while you are getting dressed.
Having a glass or crystal top on your case also ensures that your watches are not exposed to the air for a long period of time. This is especially important if you live in an area that is very humid and you worry about the water damaging your watches.
Being able to choose what watch you want to wear before you open the box and then reach in and quickly extract it will allow you to get dressed in a hurry but ensure that you still look your best. Watch storage with a glass top is a very attractive way to store your watches and looks great on any dresser in the bedroom. Users enjoy seeing all of their carefully-selected watches on display all of the time.
8. Engraved
Source: Etsy
When you are going to be giving watch storage as a gift to someone that you love, then you will want to make sure that it will stand out from the rest of the gifts that he or she will receive. The best way to do this is to opt for engraved and personalized watch storage as it will tell the recipient that you were really thinking about him or her when making your selection.
Engraved watch storage is very classy and the fact that it has the user’s initials or name on the storage will only elevate the appearance and how he or she feels about the way that his or her watches are stored. While you can easily try to paint on the personalization yourself, the best way to ensure that it looks great and will impress your recipient is to have a professional do it for you.
This will ensure that all of the lines will be even and that there won’t be any mistakes. Look for someone who can personalize all types of materials so that you can choose any kind of watch storage that you want for a gift or for yourself.
C. Size
1. Small
Source: Wayfair
If you are going to be traveling and don’t want to bring your whole collection of watches with you but still need to make sure that your watch is always safe when you are on the road, then you will want to invest in a small watch case or roll. These generally only hold one or two watches, making them ideal for putting in your suitcase or carry-on.
Because you don’t need as many options when you are traveling and because you do not want to risk losing more expensive watches, you can easily put your favorite watch in the case and rest easy that it will be protected during travel. Putting a watch in your suitcase without first placing it in a case is only asking for it to become damaged as it’s easy for the rough baggage handling to hurt your watch.
2. Medium
Source: Houzz
As your watch collection grows, you will need to make sure that you have enough storage to keep all of your watches protected. This is especially important as it may be a long time between when you wear some watches and you do not want them to be damaged while they are not in use. Having enough storage for all of your watches will keep them from being damaged or lost in a drawer.
3. Large
Source: Houzz
Some people have very large watch collections and will need storage that can hold all of the watches at once so that it is easy to choose which one to wear with a particular outfit. Instead of having multiple storage options in the bedroom, when you opt for a very large option, then you can keep all of your watches in one location.
This makes it very easy to look through your collection and choose which watch you want to wear and will keep you from being frustrated when you can’t remember where you stored a particular watch.
D. Material
1. Leather
Leather watch storage looks amazing, will do a great job protecting your watches while they are in storage, and feels great. This is a classy choice for any room and will ensure that your watches are in great condition whenever you want to wear one.
When you opt for leather watch storage that also has leather on the interior, then you can rest easy that your watches won’t be damaged or scratched while they are in storage. This keeps them looking their best at all times.
2. Faux Leather
Source: Etsy
If you love the look of leather but don’t want to pay the high price tag, then faux leather may be right for you. They look great and will protect your watches. Faux leather also does a very good job at standing up to dust and other bits of debris that may be in the air in your home.
3. Wood
Source: Etsy
Wooden watch storage looks amazing and very classy; for that reason, many people opt for a wood box when they want to store their watches. The problem with wood is that while it looks as if it could stand up to any damage or abuse, it actually is fairly susceptible to water or humidity damage.
This is unfortunate as high humidity is common in many homes, especially when the watch storage is near the bathroom. Since wood doesn’t do a great job protecting against humidity or damp, you have to make sure that you check on your watches regularly to ensure that they are not being negatively affected by humid air.
4. Metal
Source: Etsy
When you want solid storage that won’t rock or move when it is in use, then you can’t beat the strength and security of metal. While this type of watch storage isn’t for everyone, if you want an industrial feel in your bedroom, then the exposed metal of this type of storage may work with the rest of your space.
Metal will be totally unaffected by dust, dirt, or humidity, although you have to be careful that it is not so hard a material that it damages your watches while they are in storage. This type of storage is generally open and doesn’t have a lid so you have to balance your desire for industrial-style storage over protecting your watches.
