Why Storage Matters More Than You Think
Buying a watch is one decision. Storing it properly is another — one most buyers underestimate until they pull a favourite piece from a drawer and find the movement has stopped, the strap has creased badly, or the crystal has acquired surface marks from contact with other objects. Automatic watches are mechanical instruments containing springs, gears, jewels, and levers that dislike humidity, dust, extreme temperature changes, magnetic fields, and physical shock. Proper storage is not about luxury. It is about protecting an investment.
Option 1: The Watch Box or Case
The simplest and most practical solution is a dedicated watch box. These range from basic single-watch boxes to multi-watch cases with individual cushioned slots, glass lids, and lockable closures. For a collection of one to three watches, a two-watch or four-watch case with individual compartments is sufficient. Each watch sits in its own cushioned slot, protected from contact with other pieces, and the lid protects everything from dust.
What to look for: felt or microsuede lining (soft enough not to scratch crystal or case), individual pillow-style cushions that hold the watch at the right angle, and a clasp that keeps the case closed without pressing the lid against the contents. Your PINDU watches arrive in presentation packaging — that original box is a serviceable single-watch storage option for the short term.
Option 2: The Watch Winder
A watch winder is a motorised case that rotates the watch in a programmed pattern, mimicking wrist movement and keeping the automatic movement wound even when not being worn. For a collection where you rotate between several pieces, a winder means every watch is ready to wear without manual winding or resetting.
Not all automatic watches need a winder. If you wear the same watch every day, it stays wound naturally. The winder becomes valuable when you rotate regularly and some pieces sit unworn for days at a time — restarting a stopped automatic means winding, setting the time, setting the date, and waiting for everything to regulate.
What to look for: programmable turns-per-day (TPD) settings, both clockwise and anticlockwise rotation options (different movements wind in different directions), and a quiet motor. For NH35A-powered PINDU watches — including the P6628, P6616, and P6655 — a winder set to 650–800 turns per day in bidirectional rotation keeps the movement fully wound.
Option 3: The Display Case or Watch Stand
If you enjoy looking at your watches as much as wearing them, a display case or individual stand lets them be part of the room's aesthetic rather than hidden in a drawer. Display cases with glass or acrylic lids let light in while keeping dust out. Individual T-bar or pillow stands look clean on a dresser or desk.
The consideration with display cases is UV exposure. Direct sunlight causes leather straps to fade and crack significantly faster than normal wear. Coloured dials can also fade with prolonged UV exposure. Position display cases away from direct sunlight, or choose UV-filtering glass.
PINDU's skeleton and tourbillon watches are particularly worth displaying. The P6568 or P6569 sitting face-up in a glass case shows the movement working even when the watch is stationary — turning storage into a minor spectacle. Browse those models at pinduofficial.com/collections/skeleton-open-dial.
Option 4: The Travel Roll
For watches you take on trips, a travel roll — a soft, cylindrical roll-up case with individual padded watch slots — is the most practical solution. It protects watches individually without the bulk of a hard case and fits easily into any bag. Most rolls hold three to eight watches. Ensure the roll's cushions fit the case diameter of your watches — larger watches (44mm and above) need wider cushions to sit securely.
Practical Maintenance Tips Alongside Storage
- Keep automatic watches away from speakers, laptop fans, and phone chargers — all sources of magnetic fields that can disrupt the escapement
- Wind a stored automatic once a month if it is not on a winder, to keep oils distributed across the movement
- Clean leather straps with a dry cloth periodically — do not apply conditioners without checking compatibility
- Silicone and rubber straps clean easily with mild soap and water
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a watch winder for my PINDU automatic watch?
Not necessarily. If you wear your PINDU watch daily, the rotor keeps the movement wound through normal wrist motion. A watch winder is most useful when you rotate between multiple watches and some pieces sit unworn for days. For a single daily-wear watch, a winder is a convenience rather than a necessity.
How many turns per day does the NH35A need in a winder?
The NH35A automatic movement typically requires 650–800 turns per day (TPD) in bidirectional rotation to stay fully wound in a winder. This is a standard specification compatible with most quality watch winders.
Can I store my watch in the original PINDU box?
Yes. PINDU watches arrive in quality presentation packaging that provides a perfectly adequate single-watch storage solution. For multiple watches, a dedicated watch case with individual cushioned slots offers better protection and organisation.
What damages an automatic watch in storage?
The main threats to a stored automatic watch are: humidity (causes corrosion on movement components), magnetic fields from nearby electronics (disrupts the escapement), physical shock from being loose in a drawer, and UV exposure from direct sunlight (fades leather straps and coloured dials). A dedicated watch case addresses all of these.
How often should I wind a stored automatic watch?
If a watch is stored without a winder, wind it manually approximately once a month. This keeps the mainspring from sitting fully relaxed for extended periods and ensures the movement oils remain distributed across the gear train.