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10 Best Watches for Kids
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I remember my first watch as a child. It was a Princess and the Frog-themed quartz on a shiny red faux leather strap. It cost very little, but that didn’t matter. The little green frog would rock back and forth majestically as the seconds hand made its way across the whimsical dial, and I absolutely loved it.
I loved it so much that I hardly ever dared to wear it. I didn’t want to get the glass all scratched up, or the strap scuffed. Luckily, watches for kids are made much better than that these days.
A blend of quality materials and strong glass will protect a quartz movement, whether that child is going in for a scrum on a rugby pitch, scaling a wall at the park, or rock pooling on holiday. Still, there are some parameters to explore before heading into the task of buying your child their first wristwatch.
As well as ensuring you’re opting for a brand name you can trust, selecting the right materials is paramount in ensuring a watch will hold up on the wrist whilst scrapping with a sibling or shooting down a water slide.
You also need to consider factors like style and price. In this guide, I’ll list ten of the best kids’ watches on the market right now. But before we delve in, let’s look at some basic guidelines on how to pick the right kind of wristwatch for your child.
What To Look For in Kids Watches
Whether your child is starting first grade, switching schools, or celebrating a special birthday, their first watch must be special, and in a world where digital technology is never any further than a finger swipe away, it can be tempting to do away with the concept of the wristwatch altogether.
But watches, whether the traditional analog type or the digital, have truly stood the test of time and can make for the ideal gateway into affordable watch collecting.
It’s entirely possible, of course, to miss the boat completely when buying a child their first watch. Christmas and birthday lists often feature at least one techy gadget.
Seldom will it include a watch. So, it doesn’t matter whether you’re late to the party to get your child a solid, robust watch or hoping to start them young on their watch-collecting journey. Here are a few factors to consider.
Quality
Never skimp on quality when buying a children’s watch. Sure, that watch will probably be replaced in a year or two. But you shouldn’t underestimate the sheer number of knocks, bumps, and drops the watch will have to endure in that short time. Invest in materials that won’t let you down after a few weeks, including the strap.
Today, the market is vast, and there are nickel-free alloys and watches with high-quality steel casebacks, not to mention allergen-free strap materials that you can opt for if your child suffers from sensitive skin.
Two great strap materials to shop for when buying kids’ watches are silicone due to its light, quick-drying, and easy-cleaning nature and textile for comfort. Avoiding plastic case fronts and opting for the more scratch-resistant mineral glass is not always possible on a budget, but it’s great if you can.
Water Resistance
Water resistance is an important one. A child won’t think twice about hopping into the bath while wearing their watch before considering whether it should be submerged.
For swimming lessons, afternoons dipping in the sea, and showers, look for a watch with a water-resistant rating of at least 100 meters.
If you’re not too concerned about buying a sports watch, don’t worry. Most manufacturers offer a basic water resistance of around 30 or 50 meters, but it’s always best to err on the side of caution and go as high as your budget allows.
Size
If you don’t want to risk your child’s watch sitting on the bedside table for the best part of the year, ensure you find a watch size right for his or her wrist. For small children, look to brands like Flik Flak. Flik Flak creates a range of durable plastic watches with thin textile straps that aren’t too clunky.
A plastic glass ensures it won’t smash like a mineral glass if exposed to impact, either. Generally speaking, the smallest watches measure around 23mm in diameter, while larger wrists can carry off a broader 30-35mm diameter.
Price
Only you know what budget you’re working with when buying a watch for your child. The watch’s price should, of course, reflect the materials used and its build quality. Similar to investing in a timepiece as an adult, a reputable name in the industry that you can trust for quality and reliability is best.
The cost of the watch should also reflect the occasion. You may want to spend a little more if you’re marking a graduation.
Likewise, watches designed to last several years and require a simple battery replacement will cost more than a cheap gift shop watch. Either way, setting a budget before you shop for a child’s watch will ensure you don’t get carried away and spend more than you initially intended.
To round up, when choosing a watch, opt for a model built from a selection of robust materials and choose a brand name you can trust.
Consider size and features, ensure your watch has suitable water resistance, and always set a budget. With those factors in mind, let’s look at what we’ve rounded up as some of the best kids’ watches on the market right now.
Top 10 Best Kids Watches
From Japanese giant Casio to household names like Swatch and Timex, this list provides various designs, sizes, materials, and price ranges for you to explore when buying your child his or her first watch. Let’s go!
Casio F-91W
First up is a watch from Casio that comes in various flavors and colorways! It’s the Casio F-91W. It happens to be the world’s best-selling digital watch, with around 3 million manufactured annually. That point alone stands for a lot if you’re looking for a watch and a brand you can trust.
The fact that it’s made from resin makes it incredibly lightweight on a child’s wrist, and its 34mm diameter makes it relatively compact for a small wrist. Its basic strap leaves room for stacks of mods, plus the F-91W would even look good on a NATO strap.
Feature-wise, you get an alarm, an annual calendar, an hourly chime feature, and chronograph functions. You can also choose between a 12-hour or 24-hour display to read the time.
Timex Kids Digital 35mm Double Layer Fabri Strap Watch
Dressed in bright colors, the fabric strap of this Timex digital watch is perfect for kids, adding a pop to the wrist with its blue, green, and black striped band.
Timex is one of the most reputable names within the industry’s affordable watch sector and has made considerable contributions to watch design since its founding in 1854. Above all. Timex is known worldwide for its functionality and affordability.
This Timex Time Machines 35mm Double Layer Fabric Strap Watch measures a diameter of 35mm and is crafted from blue and black resin.
The standout features of this Timex kid’s watch are its 50-meter water resistance and its patented Indiglo night light technology, which enables full-screen illumination in the dark with the simple push of a button. What kids wouldn’t love a light-up watch?
Swatch Once Again
Swatch is known for its funky designs, so finding a fun analog watch should be no problem when checking out this brand.
That said, the Once Again watch by Swatch is probably one of the brand’s more reserved designs, with a plain back and white dial design, and due to its 34mm size, it may be better suited to an older child’s wrist.
The Swatch Once Again watch strap is crafted from bio-sourced material, while the black-colored plastic case is resistant to the odd knock and bump for those prone to the odd stumble or bump. Powered by a quartz movement, the Swatch is a simple, striking design with a legible day-date feature to track the passing days of each month.
Overall, this Swatch Once Again watch is a great first-time buy to introduce any young adult or child into the world of watch collecting.
Flik Flak Your Take Off
If Swatch is the brand most people associate with children’s watches, Flik Flak has to be the gateway to complete childhood wonder.
The designs are quirky and slightly whimsical, and with fun designs that span from dinosaurs to transparent cases, you can never say the watches from this brand lack the fun element. This Flik Flak watch for kids is a children’s version of a pilot’s watch.
The aviation-themed timepiece combines bright blue shades on the dial with legible white Arabic numerals that are easy to read, as are the 60-minute numerals on the bezel. This blue-colored bio-sourced plastic case is fitted on a matching blue-striped recycled PET strap, making it one of this list’s most environmentally friendly watches!
Timex Kids Analogue 32mm Fabric Strap Watch
The Times Machines watch collection is developed exclusively by Timex for children and offers a range of colors and styles for all ages. First and foremost, this model has an easy-to-read dial thanks to a pale blue hour and minute hand and a lilac central seconds hand.
The latter perfectly matches the color of the watch’s purple colored resin case, measuring 32mm in diameter.
No need to worry about the watch falling in a bowl of water or getting caught in a rain shower, either. Timex equips the watch with an acrylic glass with a 30-meter water resistance and a quick-drying purple fabric strap.
Casio G-Shock Baby-G BGD10L-7
If you’re going to get your child a Casio watch, some of the most fun and colorful options come from the brand’s extra robust G-Shock Baby-G collection. This Casio G-Shock Baby-G is the ultimate watch for customization, enabling your child to express their personality through several colored band loops.
Your child can switch up their look in seconds by accessorizing with the six different loops and two translucent shades. In addition to these loop accessories, the white resin Baby-G watch offers a plethora of additional features for kids to have fun with.
These include five daily alarms, a 100-meter water resistance, 1/10th of a second timer, an LED light, and a 1/100th of a second measuring unit.
Flik Flak Lavendology
Another one from Flik Flak, this time the Lavendology watch, and, as you’ll already have guessed, it presents the time in lavender tones. This is a slightly larger watch than many others on this list, measuring a broad 36mm.
But for those who like the funky, chunky, minimalist look, the Flik Flak Lavendology watch packs a whole load of character onto the wrist.
Its purple plastic case is solid and lightweight, while the dial itself features a shimmery purple surface adorned with legible dark purple Arabic numerals and matching sword-shaped hands.
Easy to tell the time, this Flik Flak watch is fun and noticeable and features a plastic strap fashioned in the style of a metal bracelet but without the clunkiness.
Swatch Sir Blue
Arguably one of the most sophisticated designs on this list – the Swatch Sir Blue looks good enough to be an adult watch and oozes class and a modern yet timeless style.
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It features a sunray blue dial, the kind you would see in an adult’s watch, along with highly visible white Arabic numerals and green luminous material applied to its central hands for timekeeping during the night.
The deep blue strap is another cool feature. While it’s certainly robust enough to sustain all the kinds of physical activity a child is likely to be involved in.
It also features this really nice debossed pattern on its surface for added texture. This is a 34mm watch made from Swatch’s bio-sourced material. It imparts an original look thanks to its smooth tapering profile, making it a perfect accessory with smart party wear.
Marathon GP Quartz 34mm
A tool for reliability and precision – the Marathon GPQ watch is a 34mm model that sits nicely on a small wrist and is powered by a Swiss quartz movement for unwavering accuracy. For those children who like the army look, this field watch features a military-inspired 24-hour inner ring and a larger outer scale for the 12 Arabic numerals.
This isn’t one of the cheapest options on this list, but if you’re looking to invest in a kid’s watch that will last a few years without them growing out of it, the Marathon GP Quartz watch is great. This model packs in a load of features that you’d expect of an adult watch, including luminosity robustness and even an end-of-life battery indicator on the back to monitor battery life as you go.
The black case, crafted from composite fibreshell, promises 30 meters of water resistance and even features a superior glass front crafted from scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Perfect for den-building, cave exploring, and everything in between, the watch features superior luminosity thanks to its tritium gas tubes for a constant, rich glow.
Timex Time Machines 29mm Green Gecko Elastic Fabric Kids Watch
The great thing about the Timex Time Machines range is that you can get a good quality wristwatch without spending too much, which is great when you have children who change their minds on what’s cool and not cool overnight.
However, I can’t see a watch like this Green Gecko being uncool anytime soon. The design has a funky green translucent case, which affords a view into the battery, while the strap is super cool, featuring a gecko print.
On the dial, the numerals for the hour track are presented in Comis Sans, with orange and blue detailing that pops against a white background. Ideally suited towards younger children, this kid’s Timex watch measures a 29mm diameter and offers a basic but suitable 30mm water resistance.
Conclusion
You can’t force a child to like watches, but by buying them a decent first watch, you can at least stand a good chance of planting the watch-collecting seed.
That initial watch is more important than you think. It will teach your child what to look for in a quality watch and help them decide what they do and don’t want in their next one.
Hopefully, with the options we’ve shared in this guide to the best watches for kids, you’ll now have plenty of inspiration to go on the hunt and find the right design for him or her. Good luck!
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