A watch is rarely damaged all at once. Damage builds slowly through small oversights. Here are the six most common.
1. The dresser drawer
This is the classic mistake. Two watches placed side by side in a drawer scratch each other whenever it opens. An open clasp against a sapphire crystal, and the damage is done.
The solution need not cost much: any storage with individual compartments keeps the watches apart.
2. Direct light
A window edge is the worst possible place. The sun yellows light dials, discolours leather bracelets and hardens their fibers. The process is slow, regular and irreversible.
This is also why a solid lid protects better than a glass lid. Glass is a choice for displaying a collection, rather than preserving it.
3. Bathroom moisture
Even a water-resistant watch does not like repeated exposure to hot steam. Seals age faster, condensation forms under the crystal and leather straps can develop mould. A bedroom dresser is a better place.
4. The cushion too wide
Forcing a strap or bracelet onto an oversized cushion distorts it. On leather, the deformation can become permanent within a few months. On steel, the links are put under strain. Choose a cushion that fits instead of forcing the bracelet.
5. The inadequate maintenance product
Alcohol, solvent, impregnated wipe: these products attack the varnishes of a box, soft coatings and glazing joints. A slightly damp microfiber cloth, then immediate drying, is sufficient in almost all cases.
6. Long periods stopped without servicing
An automatic watch left stopped for several years can develop thickened oils. Restarting it without a service puts poorly lubricated pivots to work. If a watch has been stored for a long time, see a watchmaker before wearing it daily again.
The common denominator
None of these errors come from a lack of care. They come from a lack of dedicated space. Give one place to a collection solves five out of six problems.