I would think that it doesn't make a difference, because when the watch becomes fully unwound all the parts will stop moving. A single shake or turn will not make a difference, because it will stop running almost immediately. Just my two common sense.

 

How often are you transporting or shaking watches you are not wearing?

I'd leave them crown in because if they are running they'll soon stop and then they will just stay like that until needed again.

 

Doesn’t matter - I just let my watches die so the position of the crown is rather irrelevant.

 

Doesn't matter - I just let my watches die so the position of the crown is rather irrelevant.

Same for me.

 

Closed, you don't want to bend the crown stem when you move it around or pick it up again and accidentally drop it. A pulled crown always creates a mechanically weaker spot for no good reason. Quartz watches at the store have this little plastic spacer to keep the crown in place while it's pulled, which also prevents unhealthy crown movement.

 

Precisely! If its a quartz and its long-term storage the crown is the least of your worries - remove the battery to prevent damage from corrosion.

 

Closed, why would you ever leave a watch with the crown out?

Kinda like leaving you car in the car park with the bonnet up.

 

Absolutely

 

Crown closed, let the spring wind down and the watch run to a stop.

 

I definitely keep the crown screwed in

 

Definitely crown-in and closed. I just let its mechanism settle on its own til it gets a wonderful and comfy slumber.

 

I don’t think it matters

 

I leave the crown screwed in on my watches when stored. I do try to give my automatic watches a good shake or Two to get them running or movement running for a little while, about once a month . I even run the Chrono, just to keep everything working. Vance.

 

I like this post, vmgotit's advice in post #18.

Original Poster:
Not a silly question at all.
If you live in a very humid climate, I would definitely keep the crown closed.
For long term, I would always keep the crown closed, whether it is a water-resistant watch or not.
It is always best to choose the path of least potential ingress of dust and moisture to the movement.
If your stem and tube system is worn, such as on a possibly older watch, dust and water can have an easy path into the case.

 

Crown in, and in a winder.

If you keep them all wound and available you may be more likely to rotate through your collection. That's how it worked for me anyway.

 

Crown in - if it's out, you also risk dust, no matter how minimal getting in or on the threads.

 

Right, and possible moisture.

Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk

 

I see no upside to leaving the crown out, but several potential downsides (already stated by others). Leave it in it's normal secured position.

 

If it’s a super humid place where you live, maybe put it in a baggy with the crown out and a few silica packets for a couple days, take it out and screw it back down, put in storage. Couldn’t hurt.

 

Crown in. There's a reason it's called position zero. It is the position it is meant to be in unless utilizing a setting function. If it hacks and uses a brake, you are also just leaving it set on the brake.

 

With my non-hacking watch, I know it doesn't matter - it'll "run" whenever it gets energized, but with a couple of my hacking watches - their rotor is sensitive enough that if I start transporting them they'll run.

I didn't know if it's better to just leave the crowns open and in 3rd position (hacked/time setting) so that the movement never starts running (if it gets shaken, or turned, etc.). Also, would that allow moisture to get in/out of the movement?

Depending on how much jostling you're doing when you move your watches around, it'll run for a few minutes to perhaps hours. But that's still very little if you're not going to be wearing your watches for months at a time. Really, how often would you be moving your watch collection around?

But leave the crown in. I'd be less concerned about water (I'll assume you're not leaving your watch collection by the side of a sink or pool - so how is it ever going to get wet?) but an open crown isn't as protected or secure than one that's closed. Especially if you're worried about carrying it around - just keep the crown pushed all the way in.

 

I'm suprised nobody said they store the watch in dry argon or freon. Inert gas. Crown open. Temperature fluctuation causes the watch to 'breathe'. Moisture!

Lol, just kidding. Crown closed. Kept out in the open on my dresser. Life's too short to keep filling up a container with argon. The wife will kick my rear if I use up all of her computer duster.

 

I don't understand why you would ever leave the crown out on an automatic?

As mentioned, the risk of damage at some point and the possibility of dust or debris entering the case, (not likely if in a watch box/case but still.....) or dust/debris settling on the crown threads.

I can't find any upside to it.

 

Crown in. Always.

 

Crown in to prevent the entry of dust particles.

 

OMG! You worry about wear on the mechanism if left on a winder, but are considering storing your watches with the delicate mainsprings under tension for months at a time?

*I don't actually think that's much of an issue. It's just kinda' fun to see people overly concerned with trivial details go into panic mode hearing something that sounds like a potential problem, even if it isn't.

 

If you're afraid of moisture getting into the watch, you can always store it with one of these silica packs you always find in shoeboxes ...

 

I don't think it matters.

 

How was it shipped to you? Probably with the crown in. That's all you need to know. It's not like a quartz watch where pulling the crown stops the movement, therefore not drawing any battery power.

 

They're stored crown in, but not because of science, religion or superstition. That just the way they are when they come off my wrist.