Watch Care
How to Store and Care for a Luxury Watch
4 December 2025 • 8 min read
A fine watch is built to last for decades, but it rewards thoughtful care. The way you handle, store and maintain a timepiece has a direct bearing on how it ages, both mechanically and cosmetically. Good habits cost little and protect both the enjoyment you get from wearing it and the condition that matters should you ever decide to sell.
This guide brings together the practical fundamentals of looking after a luxury watch. It covers everyday handling, sensible storage, winding, water resistance and the small routines that keep a watch in good order, along with a note on why these things help preserve value over the long term.
Everyday handling and cleaning
Most wear and tear happens during ordinary use, so a little awareness goes a long way. Be mindful of knocks against door frames, desks and gym equipment, and take care when wearing a watch alongside rings or bracelets that can scratch the case and crystal. Removing a watch before tasks that involve impact or harsh chemicals is a simple safeguard.
Cleaning is straightforward. A soft, dry or slightly damp cloth will remove fingerprints and everyday grime from the case and crystal. For a watch with a water-resistant case and a metal bracelet, gentle cleaning with lukewarm water and a soft brush can lift dirt from between the links, provided the crown is fully pushed in or screwed down first.
Avoid harsh solvents, abrasive cloths and ultrasonic cleaners at home, as these can do more harm than good. Perfume, sunscreen and cosmetics can also affect straps and seals over time, so applying them before putting the watch on is a sensible habit.
Sensible storage
When a watch is not being worn, store it somewhere clean, dry and away from extremes of temperature and humidity. The original box is ideal, but any padded, dust-free case will protect it from scratches and knocks. Keeping watches separated, rather than loose together in a drawer, prevents them from marking one another.
Strong magnetic fields are worth avoiding, as they can affect the accuracy of a mechanical movement. Everyday items such as speakers, tablet covers, laptops and some magnetic clasps can carry surprisingly strong magnets, so it is wise not to rest a watch directly on them for long periods.
If you have the original box, papers and accessories, store them together in a safe place. Keeping the full set intact is not only practical but also helpful if you ever sell, as completeness forms part of how a watch is assessed.
Winding and keeping a watch running
Mechanical watches need energy to run. An automatic watch winds itself through the motion of your wrist during normal wear, while a manual watch needs to be wound by hand, usually once a day for consistent timekeeping. When winding by hand, do so gently and stop as soon as you feel resistance to avoid overwinding.
If you do not wear a watch regularly, it is fine to let an automatic piece stop and simply set and wind it again when you next wear it. A watch winder can keep an automatic running while in storage, which some owners find convenient, though it is not essential and is largely a matter of preference.
When setting the time and date, take care around the date-change window, typically late evening to early morning, as adjusting the date during this period can strain the mechanism on some movements. Consult the watch's guidance if you are unsure how a particular model should be set.
Understanding water resistance
Water resistance is not a permanent guarantee. It depends on gaskets and seals that age and degrade over time, particularly with exposure to heat, chemicals and daily wear. A watch rated for water resistance when new may not maintain that rating years later without attention.
Always ensure the crown is fully pushed in, or screwed down on watches with a screw-down crown, before any contact with water. Avoid operating the crown or pushers while the watch is wet, and rinse a watch in fresh water after exposure to salt water if it is designed for such use.
If you intend to rely on a watch's water resistance, having the seals checked periodically by a qualified watchmaker is sensible. For watches that are not designed for swimming or diving, it is best to keep them away from water altogether.
Routine maintenance over time
Beyond daily care, mechanical watches benefit from periodic servicing to keep the movement clean, lubricated and running well. The right interval varies by watch and how it is used, so it is worth following the maker's guidance rather than servicing too often or leaving it too long.
Keep any service records, receipts and job cards together. A documented history of care is genuinely useful, both for your own reference and as part of the story a watch tells a future buyer about how it has been maintained.
Resist the temptation to over-restore. Light cleaning and necessary servicing protect a watch, but heavy polishing and unnecessary part replacement can erode the original character that gives a fine piece its appeal. Careful, measured maintenance is almost always the better path.
Keeping a watch sale-ready
Good care and the prospect of a future sale go hand in hand. A watch that has been handled thoughtfully, stored properly and serviced when needed will present better and assess more clearly than one that has been neglected. Retaining the box, papers and accessories adds to that picture.
If a sale is ever on your mind, there is no need to rush into expensive preparation. The most valuable things you can do are simple: keep the watch clean, keep it original, and keep your documentation together.
Sell My Watch Co is an Australian-owned, Sydney-based buyer, and every watch is reviewed by an independent professional horologist. If you would like an honest assessment of a watch you have cared for over the years, you are welcome to arrange a private appointment by calling 0485 511 177 or emailing sellmywatchco@outlook.com.