http://junkjewelry.blogspot.com might have some ideas

How about using them for tying plants or small trees to a stake. You can set the time on the hands to tell you which month you planted it by aligning the hour and minute hand. Wacky but will probably work.

They might not handle the weather being outside but I love the idea - could certainly use it for houseplants (stick the watch to your planeter) or for other things around the home.

When the strap on my watch was getting a bit tatty I cut it off and replaced with a beaded bracelet that I didn’t wear anymore…

You can make some pretty awesome jewelry with old watches. If you like the band, try opening it up and removing the hands, gluing a tiny cut-to-fit photograph on the face and putting it back together. This looks especially cool using vintage watches and black and white pics. Or remove the workings of the watch and use them to make pins (brooch-type) or earrings. Or use all or parts in a mixed-media collage.

Here is a link that shows a cool way to turn watches into junk jewelry!

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/12/howto-make-a-nontime.html

I know the discussion is for non working watching, but I’m in desperate need of a working watch face appropriate for an adolescent boy. I’ve been looking for months for one for months. I can’t bear to buy a brand new watch just to cut off the straps.

I’m making this:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTboogietime.html

It’s easy to find girl watch faces, but not for a young boy. So if anyone has one that functions but has a broken strap, contact me. I’ll pay for postage.

I was just looking for the same thing!

Apparently ‘Guide Dogs for the Blind’ will take any old watches, old keys, coins, etc. Marie Curie takes broken jewellery too but I don’t know if that includes watches.

http://www.gdba.org.uk/index.php?id=2696