Should You Keep Your Watch Boxes?

When you buy a new watch you probably quickly take it out of the packaging and push the box aside. The box inevitably gets put somewhere out the way and eventually gets forgotten about or even lost.

It is often asked what you should actually do with the box, do you really need it? Well, sometimes it makes sense to throw it away, but for the vast majority of watches you buy it makes sense to keep the box and anything that it comes with.

There are more reasons to keep it, than bin it, especially if you’ve bought a high value watch.

Why Do Watches Come with Boxes?

Of course the main job of the box is to get the watch to you in one piece. The box offers protection in transport and also allows a place for the accompanying paper work.

Pretty much all watches will come with some sort of papers. At the very least it will be an instruction manual but it will also often include a warranty card and then you may find anything else related to the watch, such as a certificate of authenticity or general information about the production.

Manufactures could just wrap everything up in bubble wrap and put it in a bag, this would do the same thing. They could also put everything in a plane simple cardboard box; again this would do everything that is required.

However, the box is all part of the experience. The more luxurious a watch is, the better the un-boxing experience will be.

Watch companies have realised that how the watch comes and what it is like to take it out of the box all pays a role in the enjoyment the owner gets. While it may only be a very short lived experience that is usually forgotten about, it can still be nice to unveil your new watch by opening a fancy box.  

Why You Should Keep Watch Boxes and Papers

Once the watch is out and on your wrist, the box doesn’t really have a purpose any more. It is played its theatrical role in the first few minutes of your ownership of the watch, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be thrown away. There may be plenty of future benefits from holding on to it.  

Resale Value

While we are not buying the watch to sell, you never know what might happen in the future. In general, it is better to sell you watch with the original packing.

The box and paperwork can actually increase the value of a watch. A watch that is sold with the box and papers will usually sell for more money than those that do not.  Keeping the box is going to help your watch hold its value over time.

(You can read more about – Is Flipping Watches Worth It?)

Watch Boxes Help Show Authenticity

The box can prove authenticity. If you have the corresponding paper work it proves the watch is genuine and proves it is the model you say it is.

It is very common for people to lie or deceive buyers about watches. They may try and pass a frankenwatch as a genuine (a watch made from a number of different parts) or they may just be trying to straight up sell a fake watch.

Having paperwork proving its genuine cuts through all this doubt and you can usually trust what you are buying is legit. (Of course you still need to check everything, but it is more helpful to have this)

Watch Boxes Can Combat Theft

Okay, well maybe keeping the box doesn’t combat watch theft, but it can help in some ways.

 If someone does not have the box or papers this can raise suspicion. While this doesn’t automatically mean the watch is stolen, as there can a million reasons why someone doesn’t have the box or papers any more, I would just treat the situation differently.

If the watch is high value and relativity new and someone is trying to sell it naked (without box and papers) it should raise your suspicion and you should be very vary of buying the watch.

The box also proves you are the true owner, especially if there is some paperwork with serial numbers and the like that can really identify the watch is yours. If your watch is stolen, you can prove you are the true owner by having this paperwork.

Next Persons Experience

As I’ve said above the box is all part of the experience. If you are selling the watch, you want to try and give that same experience to the next person. I know if I was buying a second hand watch, getting to feel like it was brand new by opening the box is certainly more enjoyable than just unwrapping some bubble wrap.

It also makes the watch complete for the next person. They now have the authenticity and proof they are the owner and it’s genuine. I guess its sort similar to handing over the deeds of a house to the next owner.

Spare Links

I like to store spare links in the watch boxes. I know I could probably store them somewhere else, but to me the links are a part of the watch and they should go with everything else related to that watch.

It just keeps everything together and less likely to get lost. It also means I don’t need to sort through a pile of links to try and work out what links belongs to what watch. I just go to the box and everything is there. 

Some Watch Boxes Are Elaborate

Some boxes are pretty elaborate in their designs and look really cool and would be a shame to just bin them. If you think of G-shocks, they come in a nice tin and Citizen dive watches can come in a box that is shaped like a scuba divers oxygen tank. Some boxes like this can be almost used as ornaments they are that cool looking.

Watch Boxes Have Their Own Value

Watch boxes can usually sell on their own. People will literally buy empty boxes, so there is clearly value in them.

If you really don’t want them, you should at least try and sell them otherwise you could just be binning free money.

Should I keep A Watch Box, If I Don’t Want To Ever Sell My Watch?

Most people buy a watch with the intention of keeping it, but you never know what might happen.

You may change your mind in a few years or you situation might change. You never know and having the box somewhere is just a good little bonus if you do change your mind.

You also need to think about what might happen after you die. I know it’s a bit dramatic, but a lot of people do intent to pass their valuable watches on when they die. To be able to pass on the complete package to someone is just better. I know we shouldn’t think about it, but at least if they sell it on, they can earn a little more. Of course we want them to keep it, but you never know.    

Boxes Of Cheap Watches

When it comes to cheap watches, it probably is not as necessary.

Most people do not really sell cheap watches and are more likely to just wear them until they break. If you do sell your cheap watch, people are not as fussy about having the box. They are cheap watches sold even cheaper second hand. If it doesn’t come with a box, well, so be it.

The authenticity will not be in question and value of the box is probably pretty low. It probably is cheap cardboard or plastic. If you want to keep them, that is cool, but I would not be as worried about this compared to a box from a luxury watch.

Where Do People Keep Watch Boxes?

So maybe you have bought a couple of watches and now have the empty boxes lying around. You want to keep them, but you’re not sure what to do with them. 

Basically just put them out of the way where they will be safe. You don’t really need to anything special. Some people do put them in a plastic bag to keep them pristine, but so long as they are out of sight and in a safe place they should be fine.

It’s common for people to store them in a draw, or at the back of their wardrobe.

Another good technique is to get one of those big plastic storage boxes with a lid, and store them in there. Then put this bigger box in the attic or basement, or somewhere like that.

Really anywhere will work. So long as you know where they are and they are safe, you can’t really mess this up. 

Conclusion

Keeping watch boxes may seem pointless and a waste of space, but you are better off keeping them in the long run.

You never know when you may need them and since they can affect the value of your watch, it is best to just put them out of the way and forget about them. Your future self may thank you if you do.  

(You can read more about – When Should You Buy A New Watch?)