These 3-D-printed Apple Watch stands will show off your shiny smartwatch

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Tossing your Apple Watch on the table just doesn't feel right.

After spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your new Apple Watch, it’s hard to justify tossing the device on the table to charge like discarded jewelry. If you’ve got a 3-D printer, it’s easy to class things up by printing out an Apple Watch stand.

These 3-D-printed Apple Watch stands will protect your high-tech timepiece from scratches and, more importantly, provide a platform to show off your new smartwatch to friends and family — even when you aren’t using it.

A variety of 3-D printing files are available to download completely free of charge, and they get the job done just fine. Take a look at some of the best designs out there — all of which cost nothing to download.

Apple Watch Charging Stand by evancli

This stand discreetly holds your Apple Watch while it charges.
This stand discreetly holds your Apple Watch while it charges.
Photo: evancli/Thingiverse

User evancli submitted the design for this Apple Watch charging stand to MakerBot’s Thingiverse. The stand allows one strap to rest on top and curls the other one underneath. Slip your charger through the circular hole so the Apple Watch can magnetically clasp and stay on the stand. This stand is a nice way to showcase your Apple wearable and charge it while remaining somewhat discreet.

The Growth Watch Stand by Gothampixel

A tall, curvy approach to charging your Apple Watch.
A tall, curvy approach to charging your Apple Watch.
Photo: GothamPixel/Thingiverse

The Growth is probably the most unique printable stand on this list. It’s tall and curvy, oddly resembling the liquid inside a lava lamp. The slot for the Apple Watch charging cable is brilliantly designed so that the cable is on the front, which means it’s easy to quickly attach or detach the cable from the stand when you want to use it elsewhere.

Compact Charger Watch Stand by FoolsDelight

This stand is super compact and travel-friendly.
This stand is super-compact and travel-friendly.
Photo: FoolsDelight/Thingiverse

The Compact Charger Stand on Thingiverse is a small triangle with the charger hole on the side facing up. One of the watch straps tucks underneath against the surface. It’s by far the smallest stand on this list, so it’s the best option for being inconspicuous and would even make a nice travel companion.

Apple Watch Folding Dock by Teece

An upright Apple Watch stand that folds for easy traveling.
This upright Apple Watch stand folds for easy traveling.
Photo: Teece/Thingiverse

This Apple Watch Folding Dock looks like one of the most conventional watch stands you might find in someone’s home, but there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s designed in such a way that, when connected to the charger, the Apple Watch sits on the stand at almost a 90-degree angle and the straps wrap virtually around the dock. Plus, the stand folds flat to be compact when traveling. The designer, Teece, mentions that one screw is required to connect the two parts, which print out separately.

Apple Watch and iPhone 6 Dock by Ferdinand128

A great docking solution for Apple Watch and iPhone owners.
A great docking solution for Apple Watch and iPhone owners.
Photo: Ferdinand128/Thingiverse

This multi-device dock is wide, with a tall docking area for the Apple Watch to charge, straps hanging freely, and an iPhone docking area right next to that. Apple’s Lightning cable can slip through the back to charge the iPhone while it stands upright, though the stability of the Lightning cable in this stand is questionable. Designer Ferdinand128 says he printed the dual stand in about 30 hours.

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