Organizing your collection with a watch display

[Louis400]

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently started collecting a few watches and I’m trying to figure out the best way to keep them organized and visible. I came across the idea of using a watch display, and it seems like a practical solution to both protect the watches and show them off nicely.

I’m curious to know how other collectors here store or display their watches. Do you prefer dedicated display cases, rotating watch winders, or more DIY setups? Any tips or photos would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[Sporky]

I have one of these after a recommendation in the G-Shock thread - also available as a 24-slot. It is much, much nicer than the price suggests.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QDYQJNW

[flasher]

I've got a 11 watch winder display case, similar to this. Sits nicely in the man cave.

[NDA]

It might depend on the value, if you have £100k worth of watches, you might not want them on display and portable.

Mine are all in the safe, tucked away.

[Harris_I]

Rothwell 6 slot with drawer:

https://www.rothwellsf.com/collections/6-slot/prod...

Does the job for the price. Positioned in-between the high end stuff like Wolf and the AliExpress Chinese products like Songmics.

There's much online debate about winders vs static storage. Personally I'm not keen on a winder providing I keep rotating my watches (by which I mean changing them daily!).

[NDA]

Harris_I said:

There's much online debate about winders vs static storage. Personally I'm not keen on a winder providing I keep rotating my watches (by which I mean changing them daily!).

Yep. I am a bit on the fence. If you have a perpetual calendar movement, then 100% have one. I have an annual calendar which is very easy to set.

The problem with winders is that you're basically presenting your watches in a nice display for a burglar, so I used to use winders but not any more.

[Harris_I]

Yes, I can imagine a perpetual calendar would be an absolute pain to set!

Some suggest the other issue with a winder is it decreases the period between servicing since the watch is continually running, rather than (say) once a week. Plus it doesn't actually help with manual wind and quartz watches.

Another minor point was that when I had a winder running continously, it made a quiet humming sound which annoyed me a bit, especially at night.

[Flying machine]

Harris_I said:

Yes, I can imagine a perpetual calendar would be an absolute pain to set!

Some suggest the other issue with a winder is it decreases the period between servicing since the watch is continually running, rather than (say) once a week. Plus it doesn't actually help with manual wind and quartz watches.

Another minor point was that when I had a winder running continously, it made a quiet humming sound which annoyed me a bit, especially at night.

I agree with the noise that some winders make - I had a freebie with a watch that.I bought from Chisholm Hunter (curiously, a hand wound Grand Seiko!) and don't use it for that reason. Barrington winders are slightly quieter I think.

I used to have three watches on winders, but in a safe, now I don't bother keeping them running and just set the watch when I want to wear it (including an annual calendar - if I can be bothered). That said, most of my watches are hand wound. It's a shame that these sorts of things need to be locked away, but it's obviously sensible,

My perpetual has a 7 day chronometric power reserve, so I just wind it once a week when I wind various clocks about the house - job jobbed!

[bigandclever]

When did Lidl tea boxes go out of vogue?

[MattsCar]

NDA said:

It might depend on the value, if you have £100k worth of watches, you might not want them on display and portable.

Mine are all in the safe, tucked away.

This...

And one of those £10-20 Amazon boxes with a few cheaper watches in it on display is a good idea for security.

[Olivera]

Sporky said:

I have one of these after a recommendation in the G-Shock thread - also available as a 24-slot. It is much, much nicer than the price suggests.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QDYQJNW

Those are on Temu for £9. I just couldn't put my watch collection in a Temu box.

[Sporky]

Olivera said:

Those are on Temu for £9. I just couldn't put my watch collection in a Temu box.

Then buy it from Amazon. Simple!

[Corso Marche]

I've a display case on the top shelf of a glass display cabinet. I'm hoping to add a winder for 4 watches in coming weeks.

At that point I might share a photo if it turns out ok'ish.
I don't mind as my collection isn't really worth any money!

[Ascayman]

NDA said:

It might depend on the value, if you have £100k worth of watches, you might not want them on display and portable.

Mine are all in the safe, tucked away.

It may also be a condition of your insurance policy that they are.

Be very careful leaving expensive watches in the house if not in a safe.