On Techtree's prices, a titanium or ceramic Apple Watch keeps a bigger share of what it cost new than an aluminum one only in its first year or so, and a stainless steel one, last offered on the Series 9, keeps a smaller share than aluminum. As of September 30, 2026, Techtree pays $391 for a titanium Apple Watch Series 12 in Good condition (46mm, GPS + Cellular), 52% of Apple's $749 price, and $197 for the aluminum one, 36% of its $549 price. Two generations back, aluminum keeps the larger share: a titanium Series 10 is worth $150, 20% of $749, and an aluminum one $131, 25% of $529.
The premium cases do keep more dollars on the newest watches. What they do not keep is the extra you paid for them: by the Series 10, most of it has left the price. This guide lines up every Series generation we buy that came in more than one case material (Series 5 to 12), like for like, then shows which generations came in which materials, how to tell which case you have, and what it all means if you are buying or selling.
At a glance (Techtree, as of September 30, 2026):
- Series 12, the newest (46mm, Good): ceramic $521, titanium $391, aluminum $197. That is 55%, 52% and 36% of Apple's $949, $749 and $549 prices.
- Series 11, one year old (46mm, Good): titanium $277 (37% of $749), aluminum $171 (32% of $529).
- A titanium Series 10 cost $220 more than an aluminum one (46mm, GPS + Cellular). Today it pays $150 against $131.
- From the Series 10 back to the Series 6, the aluminum case keeps a larger share of its Apple price than the stainless steel or titanium case of the same generation (compared at the larger size, 44mm to 46mm).
- From the Series 5 to the Series 12, every stainless steel, titanium and ceramic Apple Watch was sold as GPS + Cellular, so the fair comparison is an aluminum GPS + Cellular watch of the same size.
- Activation Lock must be off before you ship. Techtree cannot buy a watch that is still locked, one reported lost or stolen, or one with a balance still owed.
Do premium cases keep more of what you paid?
Here is every Series generation we buy that came in more than one case material, compared like for like: the larger case (44mm, 45mm or 46mm), GPS + Cellular, Good condition (light scratches that do not catch a fingernail, fully working). Each figure is what Techtree pays as of September 30, 2026, for a complete watch with its band and charger. The percentage is that figure as a share of what Apple charged for the same case new in the US, with its least expensive band (sources at the end). Tap a model for its live quote in every size and condition.
| Model | Aluminum | Stainless steel | Titanium | Ceramic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Series 1246mm · 2026 |
$197 36% of $549 |
Not offered | $391 52% of $749 |
$521 55% of $949 |
 Series 1146mm · 2025 |
$171 32% of $529 |
Not offered | $277 37% of $749 |
Not offered |
 Series 1046mm · 2024 |
$131 25% of $529 |
Not offered | $150 20% of $749 |
Not offered |
 Series 945mm · 2023 |
$106 20% of $529 |
$108 14% of $749 |
Not offered | Not offered |
 Series 845mm · 2022 |
$73 14% of $529 |
$78 10% of $749 |
Not offered | Not offered |
 Series 745mm · 2021 |
$54 10% of $529 |
$47 6% of $749 |
$56 7% of $849 |
Not offered |
 Series 644mm · 2020 |
$43 8% of $529 |
$31 4% of $749 |
$31 4% of $849 |
Not offered |
 Series 544mm · 2019 |
$20 4% of $529 |
$23 3% of $749 |
$20 2% of $849 |
$23 2% of $1,349 |
Our reading of the price book, which compares different generations on the same day rather than one watch over time: the extra Apple charges for a premium case fades in stages.
- New, the premium case keeps most of its premium. A titanium Series 12 pays $194 more than an aluminum one, against the $200 extra it cost; a ceramic one pays $324 more, against $400 extra.
- At one year old, the Series 11 sits in between. Titanium still pays $106 more than aluminum, against the $220 extra it cost at 46mm.
- From the Series 10 back to the Series 6, aluminum keeps the larger share. Most of the extra paid for steel or titanium has left the price: a titanium Series 10 pays $150 against $131 for aluminum, a stainless steel Series 9 $108 against $106, and a stainless steel Series 8 $78 against $73.
- By the Series 6 and 5, six and seven years old, a premium case earns little or nothing extra. On the Series 6, aluminum pays $43, stainless steel $31 and titanium $31. The Series 5 ceramic Edition cost $1,349 at 44mm and pays $23; the aluminum Series 5 pays $20.
The smaller case, compared the same way
The 40mm, 41mm and 42mm cases, GPS + Cellular, Good condition, as of September 30, 2026. Apple charged $499 for the aluminum GPS + Cellular version of this size in every generation here.
| Model | Aluminum | Stainless steel | Titanium | Ceramic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 12 42mm |
$177 35% of $499 |
Not offered | $361 52% of $699 |
$491 55% of $899 |
| Series 11 42mm |
$151 30% of $499 |
Not offered | $257 37% of $699 |
Not offered |
| Series 10 42mm |
$116 23% of $499 |
Not offered | $143 20% of $699 |
Not offered |
| Series 9 41mm |
$90 18% of $499 |
$101 14% of $699 |
Not offered | Not offered |
| Series 8 41mm |
$65 13% of $499 |
$73 10% of $699 |
Not offered | Not offered |
| Series 7 41mm |
$50 10% of $499 |
$48 7% of $699 |
$48 6% of $799 |
Not offered |
| Series 6 40mm |
$35 7% of $499 |
$34 5% of $699 |
$34 4% of $799 |
Not offered |
| Series 5 40mm |
$27 5% of $499 |
$18 3% of $699 |
$23 3% of $799 |
$18 1% of $1,299 |
The model pages linked above have every size, connectivity and condition, with each model's price history.
What does a premium case cost you to own?
The same numbers, read another way: what each watch has cost its owner so far, Apple's price minus what Techtree pays for it today (larger case, GPS + Cellular, Good, as of September 30, 2026).
| Model | Aluminum has lost | The premium case has lost |
|---|---|---|
| Series 12 | $352 of $549 | titanium $358 of $749; ceramic $428 of $949 |
| Series 11 | $358 of $529 | titanium $472 of $749 |
| Series 10 | $398 of $529 | titanium $599 of $749 |
| Series 9 | $423 of $529 | stainless steel $641 of $749 |
| Series 8 | $456 of $529 | stainless steel $671 of $749 |
Our reading: on a new Series 12, most of the extra you paid for titanium or ceramic is still in the price. From the Series 11 back, the premium case has lost more dollars than the aluminum one in every generation, and by the Series 10 the difference is most of the extra it cost. A premium case is worth buying for itself, not as a way to hold value.
Which generations came in which materials?
Of the generations we buy, only the Series 5 came in all four case materials. From Apple's identification guide and launch announcements, with each material's finishes:
| Generation | Released | Aluminum | Stainless steel | Titanium | Ceramic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 12 | 2026 | Space Gray, Black, Light Gold, Dark Bronze | Not offered | Natural, Radiant Gold | Pearl White, Night Blue |
| Series 11 | 2025 | Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Jet Black | Not offered | Natural, Gold, Slate | Not offered |
| Series 10 | 2024 | Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver | Not offered | Natural, Slate, Gold | Not offered |
| Series 9 | 2023 | Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Pink, (PRODUCT)RED | Silver, Graphite, Gold | Not offered | Not offered |
| Series 8 | 2022 | Midnight, Starlight, Silver, (PRODUCT)RED | Silver, Graphite, Gold | Not offered | Not offered |
| Series 7 | 2021 | Midnight, Starlight, Green, Blue, (PRODUCT)RED | Silver, Graphite, Gold | Natural, Space Black (Edition) | Not offered |
| Series 6 | 2020 | Space Gray, Gold, Silver, Blue, (PRODUCT)RED | Silver, Graphite, Gold | Natural, Space Black (Edition) | Not offered |
| Series 5 | 2019 | Space Gray, Gold, Silver | Silver, Space Black, Gold | Natural, Space Black (Edition) | White (Edition) |
- Edition, Hermès and Nike are not materials. Apple sold the titanium Series 5, 6 and 7 and the ceramic Series 5 as Apple Watch Edition. Apple Watch Hermès used a stainless steel case through the Series 9 and titanium from the Series 10, and Nike models were aluminum. In our quote, choose the case material.
- The Series 10 swapped steel for titanium. Apple introduced it in "an aerospace-grade polished titanium that replaces the stainless steel of previous generations." The Series 12 then added a ceramic case, the first in the Series since the Series 5.
- The SE has only ever been aluminum, and every Ultra is titanium. An Apple Watch Ultra always has a 49mm titanium case with GPS + Cellular, so there is no material choice to compare. Apple Watch Ultra 1 vs 2 vs 3 vs 4 compares the four generations instead.
How can you tell which case you have?
Start with connectivity. For the Series 5 to 12, Apple lists every stainless steel, titanium and ceramic model as GPS + Cellular and every GPS-only model in aluminum, so a GPS-only watch from these generations is aluminum. What cellular itself adds is its own question, covered in GPS vs Cellular Apple Watch.
For a cellular watch, the model number will not settle it. In every one of these generations, Apple gives the aluminum and premium cellular versions of each size the same model number: A2984, for example, is a 45mm Series 9 GPS + Cellular in aluminum and in stainless steel alike. The model number still confirms the generation and size. On the paired iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, then My Watch, General, About, and tap Model Number until it shows a number that starts with "A". Then check the watch itself:
- Look at the finish. Some colors only ever came in one material. Graphite was always stainless steel; Slate and Natural were always titanium; Pearl White, Night Blue and the Series 5's white were ceramic. Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray and Jet Black were always aluminum. Silver and gold came in more than one material, so check the case back as well.
- Read the case back. Apple's identification guide says to check the engraving on the back of the watch to find the case size "and more information."
- Still unsure? Choose the material you believe it is. If the case turns out to be a different one, we send a revised offer before paying anything; you can accept or decline it within 7 days, and no reply counts as accepting.
Not sure which Series you have in the first place? Apple Watch Series 5 to Series 12 shows how to tell them apart.
What to buy, and when to sell
Our reading of the price book, for buyers and sellers:
- Buying a new Apple Watch? Choose the case for how it looks and wears, not as a store of value. Apple lists a sapphire crystal on every stainless steel, titanium and ceramic model, and calls the sapphire front crystal on the titanium Series 11 "the most scratch-resistant and crack-resistant material covering a display." That, and the finish, is what the extra buys. On today's numbers, the aluminum watch has lost fewer dollars than the premium one in every generation from the Series 11 back.
- Selling a titanium Series 11, or a titanium or ceramic Series 12? This is when the premium is most likely to still be in the price, though that is a reading, not a promise. As of September 30, 2026, the titanium Series 11 pays $106 more than the aluminum one; on the Series 10, the two pay $150 and $131. If you already plan to replace yours, selling before another generation arrives is the safer bet.
- Selling an aluminum Series 10 or older? The case is not holding you back: from the Series 10 back to the Series 6, aluminum keeps a larger share of its Apple price than steel or titanium does.
- Selling stainless steel, or titanium from the Series 10 or earlier? There is little premium left to wait for. Sell when you are ready, and choose the grade honestly.
How fast each generation loses value overall is in Apple Watch depreciation. If yours is still sealed in its box, see selling an unopened Apple Watch.
How to sell your Apple Watch
- Pick the exact configuration in the quote: generation, size, case material, and GPS or GPS + Cellular. Get your Apple Watch quote.
- Unpair it from your iPhone. In Apple's words, "Unpairing erases your Apple Watch, restores it to factory settings, and removes Activation Lock." Your iPhone tries to back up the watch as it unpairs. The full walkthrough, including a passcode-locked watch, is in how to reset an Apple Watch.
- Check Find My. Make sure the watch no longer appears under your devices at iCloud.com/find.
- Cellular model? Remove the plan, then call your carrier. Removing the plan on the watch does not cancel the line; Apple reminds you to contact your carrier to cancel the subscription. A watch still on a payment plan must be paid off before we can buy it.
- Send the band and charger. The price assumes a complete watch. The quote asks what you are including, and the offer it shows already accounts for anything you leave out.
- Choose the condition honestly and ship it as it is. Light scratches that do not catch a fingernail are Good. Fingernail-deep scratches or dents are Fair, which pays $189 for a titanium Series 11 at 46mm as of September 30, 2026. A cracked display that still works is Minor Damage, and so is battery health below 80%. Do not polish or repair it first; our grading criteria list every check.
- Ship within the price lock. Your quote is locked for 21 days and comes with a free prepaid shipping label. Once the watch clears inspection, we pay by PayPal, Zelle, Venmo or Cash App, typically within 1 to 2 business days.
Techtree cannot buy a watch with Activation Lock still on, one reported lost or stolen, or one with a balance still owed. A scratched or cracked watch is fine: we quote it as it is. Every model we buy is also in our trade-in price index, with its best Brand New, Good and Fair prices.
Frequently asked questions
Does a titanium Apple Watch hold its value better than aluminum? Only in its first year or so. As of September 30, 2026, Techtree pays 52% of Apple's $749 price for a titanium Series 12 and 36% of $549 for an aluminum one (46mm, Good, GPS + Cellular); on the two-year-old Series 10, aluminum keeps the larger share, 25% against 20% for titanium.
Is a stainless steel Apple Watch worth more than an aluminum one? Not by much, if at all. Apple last offered stainless steel on the Series 9, and as of September 30, 2026 a stainless steel Series 9 pays $108 against $106 for aluminum (45mm, Good, GPS + Cellular), after costing $220 more new. On the Series 6 (44mm), stainless steel pays $31 and aluminum $43.
Which Apple Watch case holds its value best? On Techtree's prices, aluminum, except on the newest watches. As a share of what it cost new, a titanium Series 12 keeps 52% and a ceramic one 55%, against 36% for aluminum (46mm, Good, as of September 30, 2026), but from the Series 10 back aluminum keeps the larger share in every generation. Measured in dollars lost since new, the premium case has lost more than aluminum in every generation from the Series 11 back.
Is a ceramic Apple Watch worth more when you sell? Yes while it is new. A ceramic Series 12 pays $521, 55% of its $949 price (46mm, Good, as of September 30, 2026), while the Series 5 ceramic Edition, which cost $1,349 at 44mm, pays $23.
How do I tell if my Apple Watch is titanium, stainless steel or aluminum? Check the finish and the case back. Some colors only came in one material (Graphite was stainless steel; Slate and Natural were titanium), Apple points to the engraving on the back for the case size and more information, and a GPS-only Series 5 or later is always aluminum. The model number alone will not settle it, because Apple uses the same one for the aluminum and premium cellular versions of each size.
Is there a GPS-only titanium or stainless steel Apple Watch? Not from the Series 5 onward. Apple sold every titanium, stainless steel and ceramic Series 5 to 12 as GPS + Cellular; only the aluminum models came in GPS-only versions.
Is the Apple Watch Ultra titanium? Yes. Every Apple Watch Ultra has a 49mm titanium case with GPS + Cellular, so there is no material choice to compare; Apple Watch Ultra 1 vs 2 vs 3 vs 4 covers what each generation is worth.
Can I sell a scratched titanium or stainless steel Apple Watch? Yes, as it is. Fingernail-deep scratches or dents are Fair condition, which pays $189 for a titanium Series 11 at 46mm as of September 30, 2026; light scratches are Good. Do not polish it first.
Will Techtree buy an Apple Watch with Activation Lock on? No. Unpair it from your iPhone first, which erases it and removes Activation Lock, or remove it from your account at iCloud.com/find. We also cannot buy a watch reported lost or stolen, or one with a balance still owed.
Sources
- Techtree prices: trade-in price index and the model pages linked above, as of the date shown at the top of this page. Figures are for a complete, working watch with GPS + Cellular, in Good condition unless the text says otherwise; prices are reviewed daily and your quote is the authority.
- Identify your Apple Watch, Apple Support (case materials and finishes by generation, display crystal, GPS and cellular models, model numbers, the case back engraving)
- Apple Newsroom: Apple Watch Series 5 (September 2019), Series 6 (September 2020), Series 7 (September 2021) and its availability (October 2021), Series 8 (September 2022), Series 9 (September 2023), Series 10 (September 2024), Series 11 (September 2025), Series 12 (September 2026)
- Apple's US prices for each case: the Apple Store for the Series 12 (checked September 30, 2026). For earlier generations, Apple Store pages as archived by the Internet Archive: Series 5 (October 16, 2019); Series 6 (October 15, 2020) and its 44mm GPS + Cellular aluminum (February 5, 2021); Series 7 (October 21, 2021) and its 41mm and 45mm GPS + Cellular aluminum; Series 8 (October 16, 2022) and its 41mm and 45mm GPS + Cellular aluminum; Series 9 (October 15, 2023); Series 10 (October 16, 2024); Series 11 (October 15, 2025). The Series 5 and 6 GPS + Cellular starting price of $499 is also in Apple's announcements above.
- Unpair and erase your Apple Watch, Apple Support
- What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Apple Watch, Apple Support
Apple facts checked against the pages above on September 30, 2026.
