Long Term Storage

[Captain Chaos]

Hi All,

Does anyone have some useful tips for long-term storage of a watch?

I've just aquired a new (old 16600) seadweller and intend to keep it for 21st Birthday of my son....who is 2..so 19 years to go!
All stickers are on the watch so I won't be removing those.

Best putting it in safety deposit box and forgetting for 19 years?

Any comment welcome

Captain

[Asterix]

I suppose you could do that and then send it to Rolex a few months before the birthday to give it a thorough service.

I'm not watch techy enough what to know what the long term consequences would be but I would imagine that the lube would dry out and perhaps damage/fatigue to the main spring - wound or not? Not sure.

Sure you want to keep it 'brand new'?

[okgo]

What an awesome present though

[fade2grey]

Wicked present.. I wish my pa bought me mine! lol

Sticking it in a safe\safety deposit & servicing it\replacing any parts as nesc before hand is a good option. Since they are tough as old boots, I'd wear it each & every day, service it before you hand it over & it'll be like new. Seriously.

[Captain Chaos]

fade2grey said:

Wicked present.. I wish my pa bought me mine! lol

Sticking it in a safe\safety deposit & servicing it\replacing any parts as nesc before hand is a good option. Since they are tough as old boots, I'd wear it each & every day, service it before you hand it over & it'll be like new. Seriously.

Well I'm a child of the early 70s and a double red SD from the year I was born would have been a SERIOUS present...but my parents were too tight and got me a Seiko. Still got it and it still works but Seiko / Seadweller / Seiko / Seadweller.....hyuuuum let me see now......

I know they stand up to abuse better than most so I'm also thinking of getting a worn in example as a beater. As far as am I sure I want to leave it unused, I say this - how many last of the line M series SDs in box with all bits etc will you expect to see in 20 years time totally unworn ? He can sell it if he wants...or wear it...up to him. If he wears it then it's off to Rolex for recommissioning of course before she turns a hand.....

[Maxf]

I got an Oyster (rolex not crusty shellfish) for my 21st. I think it had been in storage for about 10 years - my folks just had it serviced a few months before they gave it to me.

Great present - I'd sooner have had a sea dweller though

[Bungleaio]

Awesome present mate, another dilemma would be do you tell him thats what he's getting or leave it to be a surprise.

[Old Geezer]

I have Tissot from about 1973.

My brother brought it back than and gave it to me about 1990 I think.

Still going and I often wear it.

I got it overhauled locally in a "Horologist" who scrtatched the face and I was so angry I had to just walk out and swear under my breath.

Never going back there!

Buy a fire proof safe and just leave in there.
It will survive OK if wrapped up with some silica jell.

[Captain Chaos]

Old Geezer said:

I have Tissot from about 1973.

My brother brought it back than and gave it to me about 1990 I think.

Still going and I often wear it.

I got it overhauled locally in a "Horologist" who scrtatched the face and I was so angry I had to just walk out and swear under my breath.

Never going back there!

Buy a fire proof safe and just leave in there.
It will survive OK if wrapped up with some silica jell.

Thanks for the tip on the slica gel, good point. Dessicant that's what I need. Or thought I did. Saw this stuff and will give it a go...anyone come across it?

http://www.zorb-it.com/

Now today I did a silly thing, I got ANOTHER SEA DWELLER 16600 M series...but this one is ever so lightly broken in and so I can wear it and not feel guilty....in years to come if my little fellow turns out to be a good for nothing then he'll get the used one and I'll keep the unused one! Or if he's really bad he gets zero

Fellow who sold me the Sea Dweller said I was lucky I spotted it at 8.30 in the morning and reserved it because by midday when I parted with my money he reckoned he'd have sold it 20 times over. A good punt in these turbulent times methinks

[Old Geezer]

I was in Woolworths the other day and noticed on their hardware section they have a box of moisture absorbent!

[Captain Chaos]

Old Geezer said:

I was in Woolworths the other day and noticed on their hardware section they have a box of moisture absorbent!

Yeah - costs more than buying the whole chain!

[Old Geezer]

Captain Chaos said:

Old Geezer said:

I was in Woolworths the other day and noticed on their hardware section they have a box of moisture absorbent!

Yeah - costs more than buying the whole chain!

Was a big box!