As of November 14, 2026, a titanium Apple Watch Series 12 in Good condition pays $194 more than an aluminum one against the $200 extra it cost new, and a titanium Series 10 pays $23 more against $220 extra. A stainless steel Series 9 pays $1 more than aluminum against $220 extra, so no case holds its value better across the board: it depends on the generation, and your row in the table below shows it.
What is each Apple Watch case worth today?
These are our own offers, updated daily (how we set prices), for a complete, working watch with its band and charger: the larger case, GPS + Cellular, Good condition. Under each price is its share of what Apple charged for that case new in the US. The smaller sizes, GPS-only aluminum and every other condition are on each model's page.
| Model | Aluminum | Premium case |
|---|---|---|
 Series 1246mm · 2026 |
$19736% of $549 | $391Titanium · 52% of $749$521Ceramic · 55% of $949 |
 Series 1146mm · 2025 |
$17132% of $529 | $277Titanium · 37% of $749 |
 Series 1046mm · 2024 |
$13125% of $529 | $154Titanium · 21% of $749 |
 Series 945mm · 2023 |
$10620% of $529 | $107Stainless steel · 14% of $749 |
 Series 845mm · 2022 |
$7314% of $529 | $78Stainless steel · 10% of $749 |
 Series 745mm · 2021 |
$5410% of $529 | $36Stainless steel · 5% of $749$36Titanium · 4% of $849 |
 Series 644mm · 2020 |
$438% of $529 | $24Stainless steel · 3% of $749$24Titanium · 3% of $849 |
 Series 544mm · 2019 |
$204% of $529 | $23Stainless steel · 3% of $749$20Titanium · 2% of $849$23Ceramic · 2% of $1,349 |
Apple sold titanium as the Edition on the Series 5 to 7, then none on the Series 8 and 9. From the Series 10, titanium replaced stainless steel. Ceramic came on the Series 5 and returned on the Series 12.
Does a premium Apple Watch case hold its value?
Set what each premium case pays over aluminum today against what it cost extra at the Apple Store:
- Series 12 ceramic: pays $324 more than aluminum; it cost $400 more.
- Series 11 titanium: pays $106 more; it cost $220 more.
- Series 7 stainless steel: pays $18 less; it cost $220 more.
- Series 6 titanium: pays $19 less; it cost $320 more.
- Series 5 ceramic Edition: pays $3 more; it cost $820 more.
What the extra buys for certain is the finish and the sapphire crystal Apple fits to every stainless steel, titanium and ceramic case. How fast each Apple Watch loses value overall is in our Apple Watch depreciation report.
Which case material is my Apple Watch?
Check connectivity first. From the Series 5 to the Series 12, Apple sold every stainless steel, titanium and ceramic watch as GPS + Cellular, so a GPS-only watch from these years is aluminum. What cellular adds on its own is in GPS vs Cellular Apple Watch.
The model number won't settle it for a cellular watch, because Apple gives the aluminum and premium versions of each size the same one. It does confirm the generation: on the paired iPhone, open the Watch app, then My Watch, General, About, and tap Model until it shows a number starting with A. Our Apple Watch Series guide matches it to a Series. Then look at the watch:
- Check the color. Graphite was only ever stainless steel. Natural and Slate were only titanium. Pearl White and Night Blue were only ceramic. Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray and Jet Black were only aluminum. Silver and gold came in more than one material.
- Read the case back. Apple's identification guide points to the engraving on the back for the case size "and more information."
- Ignore the collection name. Edition was titanium or ceramic, Hermès was stainless steel through the Series 9 and titanium from the Series 10, and Nike was aluminum. Every SE is aluminum, and every Apple Watch Ultra is titanium.
Still unsure? Pick the material you think it is. If we find a different one, we send a revised offer before paying, and you can accept or decline it.
How do I sell my Apple Watch?
Sell it as it is. Don't polish out scratches; pick the condition that matches (how we grade).
- Unpair it in the Watch app on your iPhone. That erases it and turns off Activation Lock (Apple's steps). No iPhone? How to reset an Apple Watch covers that.
- Check at icloud.com/find that the watch is gone from your devices.
- On a cellular watch, remove the plan and call your carrier to cancel the line. A watch still on a payment plan has to be paid off first.
- Pack the band and charger. If either is missing, say so in the quote.
- Get your quote with the exact generation, size, case and connectivity. It is locked for 21 days and comes with a free prepaid label.
I would choose a case for how it looks and wears, and treat any premium it still pays back as a bonus.
Sources
- Techtree price book, as of November 14, 2026: trade-in price index and the model pages linked above
- Identify your Apple Watch, Apple Support
- Unpair and erase your Apple Watch, Apple Support
- What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Apple Watch, Apple Support
- Introducing Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Newsroom, September 2024
- Introducing Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Newsroom, September 2026
- Apple's US launch prices for each case (aluminum $529 or $549; stainless steel $749; titanium $749 on the Series 10 to 12 and $849 on the Series 5 to 7; ceramic $949 on the Series 12 and $1,349 on the Series 5, all at the larger size with GPS + Cellular): the Apple Store, checked September 30, 2026, for the Series 12, and Apple Store pages archived by the Internet Archive for each earlier generation: Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, Series 9, Series 10, Series 11
