Storing Watches and Winders Through a Canadian Winter

Every November we get the same questions in the showroom. Is it bad to walk from -20°C into a warm office with an automatic on your wrist? Should the winder go on the window ledge, or is the basement better? What happens to the collection when you leave for Florida until March? A Canadian winter is harder on a watch collection than most owners think. It's rarely dramatic, but the slow wear adds up. Here's the practical version.

Dry indoor air: the winter problem nobody notices

Forced-air heating dries a house out fast. Most Canadian homes run far drier in January than in July, and it shows on the parts of a collection that are not steel or gold:

•Leather straps dry, stiffen and crack at the holes and folds. Rotate them, keep them away from heat vents, and condition good leather now and then.

•Gaskets (the rubber seals in the case back, crown and crystal) age faster in dry, warm air. That's one reason we tell clients to get water resistance pressure-tested at every service and not assume a watch is still waterproof because it was when new.

•Wooden winder boxes and veneered cabinets can move slightly as humidity swings. Good makers allow for this, but a box sitting directly above a radiator will have a harder life.

General guidance for Canadian homes is to keep indoor relative humidity at a moderate level in winter. A cheap hygrometer in the room where the collection lives tells you more than guessing.

Cold-to-warm condensation

Going from a frozen sidewalk into a warm room is normal for a watch, and a healthy, well-sealed case handles it fine. The risk is a watch with tired seals. Warm, moist indoor air gets into the case, then condenses on the inside of the crystal the next time the watch gets cold. If you ever see fog under the crystal, take the watch off, keep it at room temperature, and get it to a watchmaker. Don't put it on a radiator or use a hair dryer, which can make things worse.

Two simple habits help:

1.Don't operate the crown or pushers outdoors in deep cold or in wet snow.

2.Keep screw-down crowns fully screwed down. It sounds obvious, but a crown left half-open is the most common cause of moisture we see.

Where to put a watch winder in winter

Placement matters more in winter than any other season.

•Avoid exterior walls and window sills. They swing between cold and warm every day, and direct sun through glass can heat a closed box more than you'd expect.

•Avoid heat vents, radiators and fireplaces. Steady dry heat is hard on leather linings, wood and straps.

•An interior closet, dressing room or a safe with proper ventilation is usually the most stable spot. If your winder lives in a safe, see our guide to watch safe and winder storage in Canada.

The settings themselves don't change with the season. If you're unsure about rotation direction or turns per day for a particular calibre, our TPD settings chart covers the common brands.

Ice storms and power outages

Canadians know about winter outages. When the power goes, a plug-in winder simply stops, and the watch on it runs down within its power reserve. That's harmless. When power returns, most quality winders resume their programme. Set the time and date, keeping well clear of the date-change window (see the date-change danger zone).

If you live somewhere with frequent outages and want watches running regardless, look for a winder that can also run on batteries. Some models offer dual power, so check the specification of each winder in our shop before buying.

Snowbird season: what to do when you leave for months

If you're heading south for the winter, you have two sensible options:

•Let them stop. For a long absence, many collectors simply let watches run down and store them in a safe or secure box. A stopped mechanical watch isn't harmed by resting. Set it when you return.

•Keep one or two on a winder. If the house stays heated, the power is reliable and someone is checking on the property, it's fine to leave a winder running. Don't leave a winder running in a cottage or a house where the heat is turned way down.

What we don't recommend is taking a full collection travelling without insurance that covers it away from home. Read your policy before you pack.

A winter service check is a good idea

Winter is a quiet time to service the watch you wear most. A watchmaker can pressure-test the case, replace tired gaskets and check the movement before spring. For servicing in Toronto, our sister store Watchfinder Canada offers servicing and repairs from its Yorkville showroom. If you're thinking about trading a watch you no longer wear, they also buy, sell and consign pre-owned luxury watches.

Visit us

Watch Winders Canada is operated by Watchfinder Canada at 118 Cumberland St in Yorkville, Toronto. That's 25 years in business and 17+ years in Yorkville. Questions about winders or storage? Email sean@watchfinder.ca or call 416-471-1280.