Watches that are kept at home are often thrown away, considered useless. Sometimes they stop working due to a dead battery, and sometimes because of a broken strap or damaged dial. Although many people tend to throw such watches in the trash, sometimes they do not want to get rid of their favorite watch, even if it is broken. Such watches just lie in drawers, and it is unclear what to do with them.
If you have such old watches, there is no need to throw them away as useless. With a little creative approach, old watches can be turned into a piece of home decor. Moreover, individual parts, such as the dial and strap, can be used to create many useful items, promoting the reuse of old things. Six wonderful ways to reuse watches that are broken or have a damaged strap are presented below.
If the dial of your watch looks beautiful but it no longer functions, instead of throwing it away, you can use it for decoration. To do this, you should thoroughly clean the watch and place it on a small wooden stand, in a box, or on a shelf. To make it attractive, you can surround it with small artificial flowers, decorative stones, or other ornaments.
Vintage or antique watches look especially good on a desk, bookshelf, or bedside table. Thus, your old watch can add a special charm to the home interior.
Sometimes the watch dial itself is fine, but the strap tears or looks outdated. In this case, do not consider the entire watch useless. If some part of the strap is usable, it can be given a new look. Small beads, charms, or colored threads can be added to a leather or fabric strap to give it a fresh appearance. If the strap is completely ruined, you can connect the watch dial to a new strap, allowing you to wear the old watch again. Before buying a new strap, be sure to check the size of the dial and the strap attachment method.
If you have a watch with a beautiful dial, but the mechanism has failed, it can be used in art and craft work. The dial can be incorporated into a small framed picture, miniature art, or a handmade collage. You can decorate it with old buttons, small beads, dried flowers, and colored paper to create a special decorative item. It can be used to decorate a desk or a creative corner in the house, giving the old watch a new look.
If the strap of an old watch is durable, it can be used for organizing small items. For example, a wide leather strap can be turned into a cable organizer by installing a suitably shaped button or buckle. This helps neatly coil charging cables, headphone wires, or other thin wires, making storage easier. However, the length and strength of the strap must be suitable for this purpose. It is important to remember that sharp metal parts of the strap should not damage the wires.
If you have a watch that is no longer used but is associated with a special memory, instead of throwing it away, you can turn it into a keepsake. A small watch dial can be included in a craft project to create a keychain or a bag pendant. For this, the dial will need to be attached to a sturdy keychain holder. If the watch is heavy or the glass is broken, direct attachment to a key ring should be avoided.
If you enjoy DIY and art, even small details from broken watches can be useful. Gears, dials, and metal parts of old mechanical watches can be used in miniature art, collages, or steampunk-style decor. These parts can be placed on a small wooden board or frame according to your taste. You can also add old buttons, colored paper, or other items to create a unique piece of art that can be displayed in a corner of the house. Always exercise caution when opening the watch and keep small parts away from children.
