If you’ve been collecting watches for any length of time, the storage of your little wrist machines can quickly become an issue, especially if you have limited space. Sure, you can keep them in the boxes they came in…some boxes are very nice indeed. But they can be bulky, and inevitably, none of them are the same size or shape. Which leads to the following scenario: Imagine yourself as mayor of the city of Watchboxolis, featuring a vast skyline of oddly sized watch containers, which you preside over from your luxurious corner office. But the city, due to rapid growth, becomes overdeveloped to the point of unsustainability. Predictably, you are voted out of office by your significant other, fallout from a sordid ‘hoarding scandal’.
Put the boxes in storage, chief. You don’t need that kind of bad press staining your legacy.
There’s a vast array of very nice display boxes, either plain or with glass tops available for sale, from a multitude of vendors, typically in some type of wood or leather-like finish. Those are fine, but there’s only so much room on top of that dresser, and the protection they offer is usually limited to dust control. So if you need an inexpensive solution that offers maximum defense against anything life throws your way, do I have a budget baller option for you, my friend. And as a bonus, they’re perfectly safe for travel. Remember travel?
I’ve always been a fan of Pelican utility cases, due to their insane durability and build quality. Overbuilt is more like it. With their rigid, water-resistant outer shells, heavy-duty hardware, locking lids, and dense foam lining, they could probably protect a carton of eggs from a TSA baggage handler’s worst. They’re trusted by the world’s militaries, high-tech firms, and government agencies to protect valuable and sensitive equipment, and I endorse them without hesitation. Accordingly, they’re pricey…about $100 for the Pelican 1400 model.
But as is the Time Bum way, we have solutions for the less well-heeled. I personally have a Pelican case that I use for audio equipment, but I’ve discovered some imported alternatives that offer similar levels of protection.
The Monoprice online catalog https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=12683
offers a few size options to select from, and your local Harbor Freight Tool Company store currently has at least 3 different cases that would fit the bill https://www.harborfreight.com/3800-weatherproof-protective-case-large-black-63927.html from about $30 to $60. And that’s before applying their everyday coupons.
But I’ll do you one better. Over the holidays, I found an even lower-priced option, piled high on display at my local Home Depot. Normally priced at a rock bottom $19.88, the Husky ”13.5 in. Plastic Tool Box in Black”, was on sale for an absurd $14.99. It seems you really can hit rock bottom and keep going. Here’s the link: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-13-5-in-Plastic-Tool-Box-in-Black-2019-002/309211038?MERCH=REC-_-pip_alternatives-_-205440492-_-309211038-_-N
Anyhoo, this case offers comparable protection to the higher-priced competition and will secure 8 watches. It has durable twin latches, along with two holes for padlocking the lid. It’s sealed against water via a gasket, and has a pressure relief valve, although I fail to imagine a scenario where you might need it.
The padding is comprised of layered ‘pick-and-pluck’ perforated foam, so you can customize the interior to fit your needs. Any sharp knife will do, but I like the control of an X-Acto knife. It also helps to map out your cuts using toothpicks to form a grid.
My number one tip when tackling this project is to mark the entire grid ahead of any cutting and then cut slowly and cleanly to minimize the risk of tearing the foam. There are some good tutorials for cutting Pelican-type foam online, including this great watch-specific one by Blake Malin: https://wornandwound.com/diy-pelican-watch-case/ .
The excess foam that you cut away can be saved for use as watch pillows, or you can buy nicer pillows online. But here’s another bargain baller tip: I cut sections of ordinary foam pool noodles (from the dollar store), using a super-sharp bread knife, and use those as watch cushions. They work great, and come in fun colors!
To sum up, due to big-box store economies of scale and some creative DIY thinking, $20 (and some tools you probably already have lying around) will get you a badass portable watch safe. It’s perfect for secure storage anywhere, no need to take up dresser-top real estate, and just the thing for your next watch group meetup…boy, how I’ve missed those! You just need a couple of hours to spare, some patience, and the watches to fill the spaces. And we both know you’ve already got those.
D.C. Hannay is a writer, commercial producer, voiceover artist, musician, and advertising copywriter from New York, writing professionally for over 20 years. He’s been fascinated with watches his whole life, beginning with his father’s 1970 Breitling Navitimer, and will always have a soft spot for anything Casio.
https://www.instagram.com/dchannay_media/
