The best watches to give for Christmas 2026, for him and for her

A watch is one of the few Christmas presents that gets used every day for years. It's also easy to get wrong: too big, too flashy, or a style they'd never choose. This guide picks watches that are hard to go wrong with, at every budget, for men and women.

Every watch here is sold new by Goldsmiths, a UK authorised retailer, and was in stock when we checked. Prices are Goldsmiths' own on the date shown, and they update when we re-check them.

How we chose

Each watch had to be available new from a UK authorised retailer, from a brand that offers a manufacturer's guarantee, and in a style that suits a wide range of tastes. We avoided anything so fashion-led it might date in a year. Where a watch comes in a choice of sizes or colours, we picked the one we'd give, and mention the others.

Christmas watches under £100

Small budgets don't mean cheap-looking watches. These all make good stocking fillers.

Best gift under £100Accurist Classic Brown Leather White Dial 73005 · 37mm · Quartz · 50 m water resistant £89Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

A gift that looks far more expensive than it is. Goldsmiths describes Accurist as a British watchmaker with over 75 years behind it, and the Classic is exactly that: a 37mm watch on a brown leather strap, water resistant to 50 metres, smart enough for the office or a night out. Goldsmiths lists a 2-year guarantee, plus 3 more years when you register it on Accurist's website.

For a fun, retro stocking filler, Casio's Vintage range is the easy win: this one, £44.90, has hands and a digital display, and according to Goldsmiths, dual time, a stopwatch and an alarm.

Discover Accurist 39 watches at Goldsmiths, £89 to £219. Discover all 39

Sekonda Octaire 40724 · 30mm · Quartz · 30 m water resistant £54.99Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

For her, Sekonda's Octaire has a rounded octagonal case, a sunray dial and a stone-set bezel (Goldsmiths' description), on a steel bracelet. It's 30mm across, a classic size for a women's watch, and at £54.99 it's a lot of look for the money.

Browse all 54 Sekonda watches£49.99 to £99.99 at Goldsmiths→

Casio G-Shock DW-5900 DW-5900U-1ER · 46.8mm · Quartz · 200 m water resistant £80Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

For anyone who's hard on their things, the G-Shock is tough, water resistant to 200 metres and light on the wrist. It's not a smart watch for a dinner out, but it will survive anything else.

Browse all 81 Casio watches£34.90 to £919 at Goldsmiths→

Christmas watches under £250

For him: the Casio G-Shock GA-2100 (£99.90) is the slim, eight-sided G-Shock that's become a modern classic. It's tough, light and rated to 200 metres. For something smarter, Timex's Marlin Moon Phase (£175) has a small dial that follows the phases of the moon, on a steel bracelet. It's a charming gift for anyone who likes things with a story.

For her: Rotary's 1895 (£149) pairs a 28mm case with a mother-of-pearl dial and a textured "bark" steel bracelet. The BOSS Graceful (£179) has a brushed-pink dial with a pearlescent inlay and is a larger 36mm. And Citizen's Eco-Drive Classic is a 29mm steel watch with Roman numerals, powered by light, so it never needs a battery. When we checked, it was on sale at Goldsmiths for £190.

Designer watches for her

If she loves a fashion label, these are the names people ask for. Olivia Burton's Classic (£99) has a 30mm pale gold case, a mother-of-pearl dial and an adjustable mesh strap, according to Goldsmiths, so there's no bracelet to resize. Vivienne Westwood's Bloomsbury (£95) is a 34mm steel watch with a champagne dial and the brand's orb logo, and was heavily reduced when we checked. Michael Kors' Lexington (£239) is a 32mm gold-dial watch on a steel bracelet.

Good to know: fashion-brand watches are about the look, not the watchmaking. They're quartz, usually water resistant to only 30 to 50 metres (Goldsmiths' figures), and come with a two-year guarantee. For something that will last decades, look at the Tissot, Seiko and Citizen picks.

Watch gift sets

A gift set comes ready to give, with something extra in the box.

• Emporio Armani watch and bracelet set (£199): for him, a 42mm steel watch with a green sunray dial and a date, plus a steel curb-link bracelet with an Emporio Armani logo plaque (Goldsmiths' description).
• Sekonda Secret Rose gift set (£99.99): for her, a 24mm rose-gold-plated watch set with clear stones, a matching stone-set bracelet and a heart-shaped locket. Goldsmiths lists it as not water resistant, so it's one to keep dry.

Christmas watches under £500

This is the sweet spot for a watch gift: proper watches from respected brands, made to last.

Best gift under £500 for himTissot PRX T1374101104100 · 40mm · Quartz · 100 m water resistant £335Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

The Tissot PRX is the watch we'd buy for almost anyone. It has a 1970s-style steel case flowing into an integrated bracelet, a Swiss quartz movement and, according to Tissot, a sapphire crystal and a case just 10.4mm thick. Blue is the classic dial colour, but there are several others.

Best gift under £500 for herTissot PRX T1370101111100 · 25mm · Quartz · 100 m water resistant £305Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

The 25mm PRX gives her the same design in a smaller, more delicate size, with a white mother-of-pearl dial. Tissot lists a sapphire crystal and 100-metre water resistance, so it's practical as well as pretty.

Seiko Presage Cocktail Time SRPE19J1 · 40.5mm · Automatic · 50 m water resistant £400Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

For the person who likes something special to look at, Seiko's Presage Cocktail Time has a deep, textured dial inspired by cocktails. It's an automatic, so it needs no battery, and Seiko's page lists the 4R35 movement with about 41 hours of power reserve and a box-shaped Hardlex crystal. Water resistance is 5 bar (50 metres), so it's a watch for dinners out, not the swimming pool. There's a 33.8mm pink version for her, the Cosmopolitan, at £360.

Browse all 92 Seiko watches£260 to £3,550 at Goldsmiths→

Also good under £500: Hamilton's Jazzmaster in a 32mm case with a deep blue dial (£390), and Citizen's Tsuyosa automatic in 37mm, which suits both men and women and comes in bright colours, including purple.

Christmas watches under £1,000

Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 T1374071105101 · 40mm · Automatic · 100 m water resistant £640Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

If they'd love the PRX but you'd like to give something more special, the Powermatic 80 version is automatic, with an 80-hour power reserve (Tissot). It means the watch will still be running after a weekend off the wrist. It has a sapphire crystal and 100-metre water resistance.

Hamilton Khaki Field Auto H70455533 · 38mm · Automatic · 100 m water resistant £640Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

The Khaki Field Auto is a military-style watch that goes with jeans as well as a jacket. Hamilton's page lists its H-10 automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve, a sapphire crystal and 100-metre water resistance, in a 38mm case on a leather strap.

Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB155J1 · 38mm · Automatic · 200 m water resistant £670Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

The Alpinist is a 38mm automatic with a green dial, designed for the outdoors. Goldsmiths' description notes a 70-hour power reserve and sapphire glass, and it's rated to 200 metres. Watch enthusiasts love it, so it's a good gift for someone who already knows a bit about watches.

Certina DS Action Diver C0488071105100 · 38mm · Automatic · 300 m water resistant £790Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

Certina's DS Action Diver is a Swiss automatic dive watch in a compact 38mm that suits men and women. Goldsmiths lists it as water resistant to 300 metres.

Luxury Christmas watches

For a significant Christmas, such as a first one married or a retirement year, these are watches to keep for life.

Best luxury giftLongines Conquest L37504926 · 38mm · Quartz · 100 m water resistant £1,300Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

The Conquest is Longines' everyday sports watch, and, according to Goldsmiths, the first Longines collection to have its name protected, back in 1954. This 38mm version has a blue dial, a quartz movement, 100-metre water resistance and, according to Longines, a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. For her, the 30mm Conquest in green is the same price.

Browse all 287 Longines watches£1,050 to £22,850 at Goldsmiths→

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph (£1,750): a sporty 38mm watch powered by light, using TAG Heuer's Calibre TH50-00 (Goldsmiths' description). There's no battery to change.

Longines Spirit 40mm (£2,350): a simple, tough steel pilot's watch with a 72-hour automatic movement and 100 metres of water resistance (Goldsmiths). A classic for someone who'll wear one watch every day.

Longines PrimaLuna Automatic 34mm (£2,400): an automatic for her with a 72-hour power reserve and Longines' 5-year guarantee (Goldsmiths).

Cartier Tank Must (£3,500): one of the most famous watch designs in the world. This version has a solar-powered movement under the silver dial, with Cartier's signature Roman numerals and blued steel hands (Goldsmiths' description).

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 38mm (£6,200): a blue-dial steel automatic that suits him or her, with Omega's 8800 Master Chronometer movement and 150 metres of water resistance (Goldsmiths' description).

Omega Constellation 28mm (£3,000): for her, a blue dial with diamond hour markers on a steel bracelet, with Omega's 4061 quartz movement and a five-year guarantee (Goldsmiths' description).

Longines HydroConquest 39mm (£1,925): a Swiss automatic diver with up to 72 hours of power reserve (Longines' figure). If they've always wanted a Rolex, our Rolex alternatives guide has more ideas like this.

Christmas watches for teenagers, and the hard to buy for

For a teenage boy or girl, a G-Shock, a Casio Vintage or a Tissot PRX are safe bets: our best watches for teenagers guide goes through them by age and budget. For someone who works with their hands, plays sport or breaks everything, see our toughest watches guide. And for a man who already has a few watches, a GMT watch for travel is something he may not own yet.

Side by side: our top picks

Tips for buying a watch as a gift

Get the size roughly right

Most men's watches are 38 to 42mm across and most women's are 25 to 36mm, but these days many people wear whatever size they like. If you're not sure, choose a middle size: 38 to 40mm for him or 30 to 34mm for her. Our teenagers' guide has more on sizing.

Bracelet or strap?

A steel bracelet is the safest gift: it suits everything and can be adjusted. Leather straps feel dressier and are easy to change later.

Quartz, solar or automatic?

Quartz and solar watches are accurate and always ready to wear. An automatic is more of a treat: no battery, a sweeping seconds hand and a little machine on the wrist. If you're unsure which they'd prefer, our guide Automatic, quartz or solar? explains the difference.

Order in time, and know the returns

Goldsmiths' delivery page (read in October 2026) says in-stock items ordered by 9pm, any day, arrive the next day, though that isn't guaranteed at its busiest times, such as Christmas. Its extended Christmas returns cover items bought between 1 October 2026 and 3 January 2027, if unused and in their original packaging, with proof of purchase. Check Goldsmiths' own page before you order.

Keep the paperwork

Keep the receipt (or ask for a gift receipt) and the guarantee card together. The manufacturer's guarantee usually needs proof of purchase, and you'll want it if the bracelet needs adjusting or the watch needs to go back. If you'd like it engraved, wait until you're sure it's the right watch: engraved watches usually can't be returned. Our wedding watch guide has engraving ideas.

More gift ideas

Buying for one person? See our watch gifts for him and watch gifts for her, chosen by relationship and budget. For a really special present, our best Cartier watches and best Omega watches.