How should I store a watch I'm not wearing?

Store it in a watch box, pouch, or watch roll in a cool, dry place (15–25°C, 40–60% humidity). Keep it away from magnetic fields and direct sunlight. For mechanical watches, wind the movement every 4–6 weeks even if not wearing it. For quartz watches stored over 3 months, remove or replace the battery to prevent leakage.

Can I store a watch in the fridge?

No. When a cold watch is brought into warm air, condensation forms inside the case — even on water-resistant watches. The temperature differential forces moisture past the gaskets. A cool room temperature (15–22°C) is ideal for watch storage.

Should I remove the battery before storing a watch?

For storage exceeding 3 months, yes — especially if the battery is more than 18 months old. A dead or dying battery can leak inside the case, and the electrolyte corrodes the movement contacts. At Iglisi Watch, we can remove the battery before storage or install a fresh one if you prefer to keep the watch ready to wear.

How to Store Your Watch Properly: A Complete Guide

Why Watch Storage Matters

A watch stored in the wrong conditions ages faster than one worn daily. The enemies are moisture (which corrodes metal contacts and ruins gaskets), strong magnetic fields (which disrupt mechanical rate and can permanently magnetise steel components), temperature extremes (which accelerate lubricant breakdown and harden gaskets), and physical impact (which can knock a mechanical movement out of beat even without a drop). None of this is dramatic. It happens slowly, in a drawer, while you think the watch is safe.

Storage Conditions by Watch Type

Watch Type	Ideal Temperature	Humidity	Key Risk
Mechanical (hand-wind)	15–25°C	40–60%	Lubricant drying if unwound for months
Automatic	15–25°C	40–60%	Rotor can develop play if not worn or wound
Quartz (battery)	15–25°C	40–60%	Battery leakage if left discharged
Solar / Eco-Drive	15–25°C	40–60%	Capacitor discharge if kept in total darkness

5 Rules for Safe Watch Storage

Keep away from magnetic fields

Speaker magnets, bag clasps, phone cases, and even some laptop lids generate enough field to affect a mechanical movement’s rate. A steel watch box provides some shielding. At minimum, keep watches away from electronics in long-term storage.

Control humidity and temperature

Ideal storage is 15–25°C at 40–60% relative humidity. Attics reach 60°C in summer. Basements exceed 80% humidity in winter. A bedroom drawer is usually adequate; a dedicated watch box in a climate-controlled room is ideal.

Use a watch box, pouch, or roll

Even a soft cloth pouch prevents case scratches from contact with keys or jewellery. A rigid box prevents accidental drops and keeps dust out. Watch rolls are ideal for travel — compact, cushioned, and available in 3–12 watch configurations.

Wind mechanical watches monthly

A hand-wound movement left unwound for months develops uneven lubricant distribution as oil pools at low points in the gear train. Eight to ten turns of the crown every 4–6 weeks keeps lubricants circulating and the movement in good condition.

Remove the battery before long-term storage

A quartz watch stored for more than 3 months with a dying or dead battery risks leakage. Even alkaline batteries corrode when fully discharged, and the electrolyte can destroy the movement contacts. Remove the battery, or have a fresh one installed before storage.

Automatic watches: They keep themselves wound when worn regularly (typically 8+ hours of normal wrist movement per day). If storing an automatic, either use a watch winder set to the correct rotation direction and frequency, or wind it manually for 20–30 turns at the crown every 4–6 weeks.

The fridge myth: Never store a watch in the refrigerator. The logic seems sound (cool, dry), but when you bring a cold watch into warm air, condensation forms on all surfaces — including inside the case. The temperature differential forces moisture past the gaskets even on water-resistant watches. This is a well-documented cause of moisture damage.

Watch rolls for travel: A 6-watch roll keeps each piece cushioned and separated, compresses to fit in a carry-on, and is significantly safer than leaving watches loose in a bag. Several good options are available for under €30.

What to Do Before Storing a Watch for More Than 3 Months

1

Clean the watch thoroughly — sweat, skin oils, and grime accelerate corrosion on the case metal, strap hardware, and crystal edge. Use a damp cloth on steel; condition leather straps before storage.
2

Check or replace the battery — have a fresh battery installed if the watch is within 18 months of its last change. For storage exceeding 6 months, consider removing the battery entirely and storing it separately.
3

Have the gaskets inspected — water resistance seals harden and crack with age. A watchmaker can confirm whether the seals will hold during storage. This is particularly important if the watch has been worn near water.
4

Set the crown correctly — on mechanical watches, push the crown fully in after winding. On quartz watches, some owners pull the crown to the time-setting position to stop the movement entirely and preserve the battery during long storage.
5

Choose a stable location — away from direct sunlight (UV degrades rubber gaskets), away from heating vents, and away from magnetic sources. A bedroom closet shelf is usually ideal.

Planning to Store a Watch? Have It Checked First.

Walk into our workshop on Rruga Aleksander Goga in Durrës. We’ll inspect the gaskets, check or remove the battery, and make sure your watch is ready for long-term storage — no appointment needed. Family-owned and trusted since 2002.

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Rruga Aleksander Goga · Durrës 2001 · Albania · +355 67 636 0510

Published by Iglisi Watch · Durrës, Albania · April 2026. Information in this article applies to general watch storage. Antique pieces and specialist movements may have additional requirements.