I’m not saying book a ticket and strap it into the seat next to you, but consider securing its safe passage in a watch roll or case – we recommend WOLF if you want to go fancy – or a simple press-stud pouch that won’t break the bank to ensure safe travels. I never thought I’d be asking Santa for a watch roll for Christmas (this one please Mr Claus) but every wristwatch deserves a good life, both on ground and in the skies. Also word to the wise, don’t put them in your checked luggage, AirTags or not. A Vacheron Constantin Overseas is really no fun if you’re not overseas with it.
Stack away, but the right way
As Shakespeare said: “to stack or not to stack, that is the question?” Google it and you’ll find every argument for and again under the sun. And while I’m #TeamStack, there’s ways of doing it. Maybe don’t place your gnarliest metal cuff with textured details next to your metal bracelet Cartier Santos. You’re asking for a chip or two. But you only have to look at Lori Hirschleifer’s approach or Lewis Hamilton’s infamous three watch stack to remember that these luxury items are meant to be enjoyed. That’s not to say go full Swifty mode and decorate your entire arm with bracelets when you’re donning a pièce unique, but a watch is supposed to bring you memories, so don’t be afraid to put it next to your best jewels. Heck, the secondary market is covered in scratches but still sell for a pretty dime or two.
Care about the aftercare
Everyone seems to groan at the mention of aftercare, but I can never fully fathom why. For those unfamiliar, it’s the service provided after you’ve bought the watch, either direct from the brand or an external company. For some, it seems baffling that after a 5-10 year spell of taking on the world with your timely companion, it needs a little TLC. After all, you wouldn’t drive your car without an MOT, so why leave your watch behind? If you’re looking at a watch as an investment purchase too, the more you preserve it, the more money you’ll get back at the end, when you sign it over to another life. Of course watches are tested in the most mind-boggling methods; dropped from heights, shaken in circuits of 5000 rotations, placed into pressure chambers, and essentially put into stoves to test high humidity and temperatures. They’re designed to withstand the extremities of the world, but being human means there’s always going to be room for error. Why not negate the foolishness of you conducting your own at-home tests to see just how durable glass crystal really is and book yourself in for some aftercare love in between your doctor and dentist appointments? Consider it self-love.
The calm of cleaning
Forget the whistle, why not as clean as a watch? Perhaps because you’re nervous to get hands-on with your timepiece, or you genuinely don’t know the best line of attack. Well, gloves at the ready to get that grime. A watch sits on your skin all day and we all know if we got the microscope out on our flesh, we’d be entirely grossed out. Not too dissimilar from cleaning your denticles, find yourself a toothbrush and toothpicks (preferably not the ones you use to clean your teeth) and get going in all of those tiny nooks and crannies. Add some sanitary wipes and micro-fibre cloth to your online basket, pop your metal bracelet in some warm soapy water and be sure to dry it within an inch of its life. For an insider tip, and on theme with the dental experience, rub a little toothpaste on the crystal cover, should you notice a scratch or two, and mere minutes later… voila. A total makeover for your timepiece. And that is how to care for your watch.
