Key takeaway: To protect your watches, store them in a box with individual compartments, remove them before risky activities, keep them away from magnetism, and opt for a safe. For valuable pieces, specific insurance and sensible precautions in town help round out protection against theft.
If you own some beautiful watches, you know they deserve optimal protection against scratches, shocks, or humidity that threaten their beauty daily. This guide reveals practical solutions to secure your timepieces, from storage boxes to tempered glass protective films, and specific insurance. Discover how to preserve their shine and mechanism with expert tips and accessories suited to every lifestyle.
1. Store your watch in a watch box
Watch boxes with individual compartments offer optimal protection against shocks and scratches. Each dedicated space isolates your watches, whether it’s a classic model or an imposing piece. You can discover watch storage solutions that are suitable for each of your timepieces.
Opt for soft materials like velvet interiors and microfiber dividers. These textures prevent micro-scratches on metal bracelets that might rub against each other. The 6-compartment fabric watch roll perfectly illustrates this anti-scratch solution with its spaced-out slots.
2. Avoid risky activities
Intense sports and DIY activities expose your watches to shocks, dust, and water. Here are some tips:
- Always remove your timepiece before swimming if its water resistance is less than 10 ATM (100 meters). If you engage in water sports, it’s better to choose watches with 20 or 30 ATM water resistance.
- When playing vigorous sports or doing DIY, such as tennis, it is preferable to remove your mechanical watch, as they remain vulnerable to repeated impacts.
- After being in water, especially seawater, remember to clean your watches with soapy water after exposure to saltwater or sand.
3. Screen protector films
0.3 mm tempered glass films protect screens against scratches without affecting touch sensitivity. Hydrophobic plastic models are suitable for water sports, with an average lifespan of 6 months.
Apply a protective film to your smartwatch by following these key steps:
- Prepare the environment: choose a dust-free room and use a microfiber cloth to clean the screen.
- Align the tempered glass film precisely, starting from the top edge of the screen.
- Remove air bubbles with a plastic card, moving from the center outwards.
- Check the cutouts around buttons and sensors for optimal watch screen protection.
- Allow 24 hours before use for perfect adhesion of the protective film.
There are specialists who can apply films that will be almost invisible.
4. Do not wear your valuable watches in crowded places while wearing a T-shirt
Especially in summer, be careful not to wear a well-known luxury watch (e.g., Rolex, AP, Patek, or even Cartier or Omega) if you are in large cities and frequent crowded places (public transport, bars, etc.).
This will minimize thefts directly from your wrist. There are also secure clasp systems to prevent this type of theft as much as possible.
5. Opt for a safe
Several solutions are possible:
- You can rent a safe deposit box at a bank. You can store watches you don’t wear for about 10 euros per month. The advantage: the bank reimburses for the value of the safe, not what’s inside.
- You can also have a safe at home, but be careful not to choose just any model. It is preferable to have a fairly heavy safe, fixed to a load-bearing wall, etc.
6. Specific watch insurance
Standard home insurance policies limit coverage to 20% of the value of movable property. For watches over €2000, dedicated insurance fully covers theft, damage, and offers worldwide protection.
Prepare your purchase invoice, certificate of authenticity, and detailed photos for any claim. Keep maintenance documents and the police report in case of theft to speed up compensation.
7. Beware of magnetism
Mechanical movements are sensitive to magnetism, and if subjected to too strong a magnetic field, they can experience up to 15 seconds of daily deviation. Keep your watches away from electronic devices.
If you work in environments with strong magnetism, it is preferable to opt for anti-magnetic watches.
FAQ
Store it in a box with individual compartments, with a velvet lining or microfiber dividers, to prevent straps and cases from knocking against each other. Also remove it during risky activities, such as DIY projects or contact sports, which expose it to shocks and dust.
It depends on its water resistance. A watch rated below 10 ATM, or 100 meters, should be removed before swimming. For water sports, 20 or 30 ATM is preferable. After a swim in the sea, rinse the watch with soapy water to remove salt and sand.
Yes, a strong magnetic field can disrupt the movement and cause a drift of several seconds per day. Keep your watches away from electronic devices, such as smartphones or speakers. If you work in a highly magnetic environment, an antimagnetic watch is better suited.
Avoid wearing a highly recognizable luxury watch in busy places, such as public transport or bars. You can also store rare pieces in a safe, at home or at the bank. A heavy, well-secured safe is preferable.
For valuable pieces, specific insurance is recommended, as standard home insurance often limits coverage for personal belongings. Keep the purchase receipt, certificate of authenticity, detailed photos, and maintenance records to make any potential claim easier.