Last updated on November 15th, 2022 at 04:09 am
Have some old watches lying around, like I do? Some of us are watch collectors, some of us get watches as gifts for Christmas, and some get watches handed down from their parents or grandparents. Now, not all these watches are equally valuable, but what do you do with old watches that don’t work any more? We have some options for you.
If you’re looking to buy a new watch, check out our list of eco-friendly watches!
What Can I Do with an Old Hand Watch?
It can be tempting to just throw your old, useless watch into the trash can. The fashion may have changed, or it may have stopped working. Or, you’re on a downsizing spree and want to get rid of things you haven’t used in a while. But hang on. Let’s see if there’s something of value you can get out of your watch.
1 // Repurpose your Old Watch
- Ok, so your watch isn’t working anymore, even with a new battery. You can take it to your local watch repair shop, and they may be able to use the parts in other watches.
- Contact the manufacturer of the watch. Will they take the watch and dispose of it responsibly? Worth a shot, especially if it’s a well-known brand.
- Are you crafty? You could repurpose the watch (or its components) to make a unique piece of jewelry. OR, you could give your watch to someone who can do that.
- Heavy watch that cannot be repaired? There are other uses for watches. Why not use it as a paperweight? Granted, we don’t use many papers anymore, but we all have bills lying around. Paperweight duty is a useful way to keep your watch while giving it a purpose.
2 // Repair your Old Watch
If you want to use your watch, or want to gift it to someone, why not get it suitably repaired? Either the watch manufacturer, or your local watch repair shop, will be able to help you breathe some new life into your old watch.
3 // Recycle your Old Watch
If your watch is broken beyond repair, then recycling is the best option. Contact the watch manufacturer for options, or you could try using the E-Stewards website to find a responsible recycler near you.
4 // Sell your Old Watch
One of the best options for a usable watch is to sell it to someone who needs it more than you. This could be a jewelry store or an online auction site. Not only will you give your watch a new owner, but you’ll make some money in the process.
You could also sell it back to the manufacturer, or get credits from them for your used watch. Check out sustainable watch brand Nordgreen’s refurbished program.
Can you sell a broken watch? Well, if it has value, someone will want to buy it! If it’s a precious vintage piece, it could be very valuable even if it isn’t in working condition.
If it’s a worthless watch made from cheap materials, then you’re out of luck. But even in this case, please do not throw the watch away. Find a responsible recycler near you, and have them recycle it.
5 // Give Away your Old Watch
>> Give It To Family or Friends
If you have a nice looking watch, or one with an interesting story behind it, you’re not going to want to sell it or donate it to a stranger. Keep it in your family by passing it on to the next generation – with the story of the watch kept alive. Some watches are such beautiful art pieces that it’s worth keeping them just for their aesthetic value.
>> Donate It
If your watch isn’t all that special, you could donate it to an organization such as Goodwill or The Salvation Army.
What To Do With Old Smart Watches?
How do you dispose of an old Apple watch? Well, Apple has country-specific trade-in and recycle programs, where they accept products in any condition and give you credit or recycle it for free.
Similarly, contact other relevant manufacturers when you intend to dispose of your smart watch.
Smart watches contain some rare earth minerals, which can also be sourced from old batteries, and electronic gadgets. The extraction of virgin materials is very damaging to the environment, and we can minimize that by properly recycling our smart watches. So, it’s very important that you do not throw them into the garbage, and, at the very least, please try to recycle them.
Final note: Remember to save and then wipe all your data from the smart watch, and unpair it from your smartphone, before you hand it over.
Where to Sell Used Smart Watches
Smart watches can be sold online on sites such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and eBay.
Companies such as GadgetPickup, Trademore, and DeCluttr will buy your old electronic gadgets from you. Check out SellCell, an aggregator that displays the latest offers. Check out other online stores that sell secondhand electronics – you can sell your smart watches there as well.
Websites such as Best Buy, Amazon, Verizon, Samsung, Walmart, etc. allow you to trade in old smartwatches for credit. Find out how to recycle your old electronics.
We know that waste is a problem, so anything we want to dispose of needs to be thoughtfully disposed. E-waste is a big problem, and people are trying to solve it in unique ways (like this dissolvable smart watch). But there’s no getting around the fact that gadgets have resources that can be reused, and we ought to do that!
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