5 Accessories Every Watch Collector Should Have
Collecting is often accompanied by accessories. If you collect stamps, you'll probably end up collecting books to organize your stamps in, tools to delicately affix them to the pages. If you collect cars, you probably want to a nice garage and tool chests to organize your tools. If you collect cameras, you'll end up with a nice camera bag, lenses, and cleaning tools.
Watch collecting is no different. Whether you regularly cycle through your collection or wear one watch all the time, I put together a list of five accessories you should consider having. These five accessories have become necessities for me over the years.
Watch Storage
Everest Watch Roll (Blue 2-Slot)
Whether you have two watches or 100, you should get something to store them: keep them away from dust, protect them against eventual shocks—and going a step further—from theft. There are many ways to go about storing your watches, but for the sake of simplicity, let’s say you're looking for a place to store them at home. Whether in a drawer or a closet, you don’t want your watches moving around and getting scratched.
Personally, I always have one or two pouches and watch rolls to store my watches in. I like pouches because they lay flat in a drawer and are easy to throw in my backpack or carry-on when traveling. They are generally lined with a soft material that protects the watch crystal and bracelet from getting scratched. Watch pouches are also thin and take little space, which is a big plus for me. A great alternative is a watch portfolio which allows you to carry a few watches, tools, and extra straps.
Watch rolls are great for semi-permanent watch storage or transport. By the way, by watch roll I mean a hard-case that comes with a pillow and not a roll as in chef-knife-roll which functions more like a pouch. A proper watch roll will keep your watches organized and safe while looking good. (Watch rolls also make for great photography props.)
Essential Watch Strap Tools
Everest Spring Bar Tweezer Tool Kit
In my early watch collecting days, I remember finding out I could buy extra straps for my favorite watch. I also remember realizing that I needed tools to install most of them. There are a couple of tools you should always have on hand to change a strap or adjust a bracelet. If you feel comfortable doing this yourself, you can save yourself a trip to your local jewler or watchmaker.
The tools I use most come in the Everest Premier Tool Kit. The primary tool has two ends: a thin and circular one to remove spring bars from the lugs (when the watch has drilled lug holes) and to adjust the claps (where you also have to push a spring bar.) The other side - the one that looks like a tiny fork - is what you use to remove a strap or bracelet, pushing the spring bars away from the lugs. This tool also comes with a flathead screwdriver for removing links.
The other tool I recommend you get are spring bar tweezers. Tweeers make it just a bit easier to safely and easily remove spring bars to swap a bracelet for a strap and vice versa.
Something to Clean Your Watches With
Everest Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
Needless to say, you should keep your watches clean. A staple of any watch collection should come in the form of a good microfiber cloth, to mostly clean fingerprints and dust off the crystal. The cloth can also be used to wipe fingerprints from the case and bracelet. An alternative, and sometimes a necessary one, is a glasses wipe. They contain gentle chemicals that remove dirt, dust, and fingerprints from any watch surface.
If you don’t feel like investing a few bucks on a microfiber cloth, use a soft toothbrush and dishwasher liquid to clean your watches. (Do not do this on leather straps.) I do this regularly and my watches always come out clean. I use lukewarm water from the sink, putting a little dish soap on the toothbrush. I clean every part of the watch before patting it dry with a paper towel.
The Ubiquitous Demagnetizer
Source: www.chrono24.com
Nowadays, most watches can get magnetized as long as you use a cellphone, a microwave, a computer, or even drive a car. Unless you own a watch that has a silicone hairspring or internal soft iron cage, your watch will eventually become magnetized. Magnetization causes your watch to run fast in dramatic ways (like +30 seconds/day out of the blue) which may make you think you need to get the movement serviced. You can save yourself a trip to the dealer or watchmaker by getting yourself a demagnetizer.
You can get one for $20 on Amazon and they are fairly simple to use. At first, I was worried that I would damage my watch but that’s almost impossible to do. So every once in a while, it can't hurt to demagnetize your watch - it only takes a minute. Pretty neat. Even my COSC movements get magnetized. Most watches are not efficiently protected against magnetism so having a demagnetizer is a must in my opinion.
Spare Spring Bars
This might sound silly if you don't regularly swap bracelets or straps, but I always have spare spring bars on hand. I’m not the most delicate person and, admittedly, I can get frustrated when swapping out a strap. I've bent spring bars more than a few times and I’m always glad I have spares. Again, Everest Bands is your friend and for about $10-15, you can buy high-quality replacement spring bars for Rolex, Tudor, and Panerai Watches.
Final Thoughts
There are probably other accessories and tools you want to purchase. The five above (or five categories) are those I personally have and use on a regular basis. Having the right accessories not only makes my life easier, it improves my experience as a collector.
Leave a comment