Pelican’s “Puck and Pluck” foam inserts have perforated square segments that allow easy sizing and removal. There are some companies sell ready-made inserts specifically for watches ( Nalpak makes some particularly nice ones) but for such an easy DIY, I’d rather save the money. To make your hardshell case a watch case, you need to cut watch sized sections from the protective closed cell foam. I have known folks who have used these cases for home storage, and if you have a growing collection and not much storage space, it isn’t the worst idea, but it can be a hassle to pull it out every morning. The combination lock and waterproof seal is overkill, but it’s nice to know that they are there. I like the secure latches and integrated handles. Pelican is not the only company that makes them, but they are the most popular. The beauty of a hard shell case is that it protects its contents while facilitating transport. Of course, people like us use them for watches. Folks use them for camera gear, tech equipment, firearms, you name it. Pelican makes hard shell, foam lined cases for transporting all kinds of things. I’ve seen guys with thick leather or canvas rolls made to fit seven or more watches, and they often end up the size of fireplace logs. Better to have two smaller rolls than one unwieldy monster. If you do try a roll with five pockets or more, make sure it is made from relatively thin material. My best advice when shopping for a roll is to keep its fully loaded, rolled up size in mind. ![]() I’m partial to leather because it wears well and adds less bulk than heavy canvas. Rolls are most commonly made from felt, leather, or canvas. If you still can’t find what you want, then I’d suggest trawling Etsy to have one made to order. If you are shopping for one, there are dozens available on most watch sites. ![]() Yes, I know the cost of the roll is built into the final price, but “free gift with purchase” is not a bad way to get something you were ready to pay for anyway. Some brands include them as part of their packaging or as a stretch goal when crowdfunding. Fortunately, rolls are easy to find and budget-friendly. This particular one is no longer offered. This butternut tan beauty has four pouches that are large enough to swallow a 47mm diving watch, one 1/4 sized pocket for a strap tool, and buckled strap to keep it shut. I’ve accumulated several over the years, but my favorite is the Large Leather Watch Roll that came with the original Zelos Abyss. When you find you have one more watch than you have pockets, you can move on to the next storage solution and use the rolls when you travel or cart your collection to enthusiast get-togethers. ![]() Unlike an empty box, a roll collapses to nearly nothing when not in use. A four pocket model is no larger than an overstuffed burrito so one or two will not monopolize your sock drawer. ![]() If I were building my collection all over again, I’d start with a decent watch roll or two instead. Boxes are bulky, occupy precious space on your dresser or shelf, and they have no secondary purpose once your collection outgrows them. I did the same, and after the third one, I realized it was a waste. Many beginning collectors assume they should buy a watch box as their first storage solution. This is not an exhaustive list, and not every idea will work for everyone, but these are the watch organization, storage, and transport tips that work for me. It has been a challenge, but after a few years, a couple of false starts, and some fine tuning, I’ve got a pretty good system. All of it needed to be stored somewhere, and it had to be done in a manner that allowed me to see everything and access it easily. Two became six became twelve and soon I had more watches than any one person could possibly need, an equally stupid number of straps, and an ever-expanding mass of ancillary stuff like spring bars and buckles. Then I discovered the watch hobby, and it rapidly spun out of control. They lived in my nightstand, and that was that. Yes, two: one beater and one dress watch for special occasions.
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