Best Products UK
In-depth review · 10 products ranked

Best Wrist Watches of 2026

Last reviewed 19 May 2026 by Best Products UK Editorial Team

Wrist watch buying for under £100 isn't about Swiss heritage — that's a different market entirely. It's about the case material (stainless steel resists daily knocks better than plated brass), the movement (quartz: accurate and cheap to repair; automatic: heritage feel but more service-heavy), and whether the strap will last. This ranking sorts watches by what they actually offer at the Amazon UK price tier.

BP
Best Products UK Editorial Team
Editorial team
Published 30 April 2026
7 min read
Advertisement. As an Amazon Associate, Best Products UK earns from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links. If you buy a product through one of these links, we earn a commission from the retailer at no extra cost to you. Our ranked picks are made independently of these commercial arrangements — read how we rank and our full affiliate disclosure. Prices on Amazon change frequently — always click through to verify the current price before buying.
At a glance

The 3 picks worth skipping ahead for

Best Choice
Timex Classic Quartz Wrist Watch
Score 9.5 / 10
Premium Pick
BENYAR Classic Chronograph Watch
Score 9.1 / 10
Best Budget
LENQIN Mid-Tier Wrist Watch
Score 7 / 10
How we tested

Best Products UK is a review aggregator, not a test lab. For this guide we read Amazon UK customer reviews focused on case durability after 12 months of wear, strap longevity (leather cracking, metal links breaking) and crystal scratch resistance; cross-referenced against Watches of Switzerland, Hodinkee and Worn & Wound budget-watch testing. Quartz movements are weighted favourably at this price tier because they're more accurate and cheaper to repair than mechanical movements. Brand heritage (Timex, Sekonda, Casio) is treated as meaningful because the brands' UK service networks make repairs viable.

Jump to a pick
01Timex02BENYAR03Sekonda04LENQIN05LENQIN06OLEVS07LIGE08LENQIN09LENQIN10Timex
Best Choice
01
Timex Classic Quartz Wrist Watch
Timex

Classic Quartz Wrist Watch

9.5
/ 10
Exceptional

Timex classic quartz — American heritage budget-watch brand. Reliable quartz movement, Indiglo backlight (Timex's signature feature), stainless-steel case, simple dial. The reference 'first proper watch' choice.

Why we love it
  • Timex 50+ year heritage
  • Indiglo backlight
  • Reliable quartz movement
  • Stainless-steel case
Watch out for
  • Strap quality varies by model
  • Crystal can scratch (acrylic on some)
  • Dial design polarises tastes
Movement
Quartz
Case
Stainless steel
Backlight
Indiglo
Brand
Timex (US heritage)
Price
~£43
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Premium Pick
02
BENYAR Classic Chronograph Watch
BENYAR

Classic Chronograph Watch

9.1
/ 10
Excellent

BENYAR Chinese-brand chronograph at sub-£50. Looks much more expensive than it costs — multi-dial design, leather strap, stainless-steel case. The trade-off is limited brand-service network.

Why we love it
  • Premium aesthetic at sub-£50
  • Chronograph multi-dial
  • Leather strap
  • Stainless steel case
Watch out for
  • Chinese brand — limited UK service
  • Chronograph sub-dials sometimes decorative-only
  • Strap leather quality basic
Movement
Quartz (chronograph)
Case
Stainless steel
Strap
Leather
Brand
BENYAR
Price
~£43
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03
Sekonda Classic Quartz Watch
Sekonda

Classic Quartz Watch

8.7
/ 10
Very Good

Sekonda — UK-stocked watch brand with high-street service availability (Argos, H. Samuel, Goldsmiths). Quartz movement, simple dial, affordable. The default 'UK budget watch' brand for over 50 years.

Why we love it
  • UK high-street service network
  • Sekonda heritage
  • Battery replacement easy
  • Affordable everyday pick
Watch out for
  • Simple aesthetic
  • Plated cases on some models
  • Lower brand prestige
Movement
Quartz
Brand
Sekonda (UK retail)
Service
Argos / H. Samuel
Price
~£26
Use case
Everyday UK pick
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04
LENQIN Fashion Wrist Watch (Mid-Tier)
LENQIN

Fashion Wrist Watch (Mid-Tier)

8.5
/ 10
Very Good

LENQIN — Chinese-brand fashion watch at sub-£15. Multiple dial colours, quartz movement, basic stainless case. Aesthetic-first; treat as a fashion accessory rather than a heritage watch.

Why we love it
  • Sub-£15 fashion entry
  • Multiple colour variants
  • Quartz movement
  • Lightweight
Watch out for
  • LENQIN brand limited support
  • Case plating may wear
  • Strap quality basic
Movement
Quartz
Brand
LENQIN
Price
~£13
Use case
Fashion accessory
Lifespan
1-2 years typical
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Best Value
05
LENQIN Wrist Watch (Budget)
LENQIN

Wrist Watch (Budget)

8.2
/ 10
Good

LENQIN budget variant at sub-£10. Same fashion-watch caveats as #4 in a different style or colour. Pick by current price and design preference.

Why we love it
  • Sub-£10 cheapest entry
  • Quartz reliability
  • Multiple styles
  • Lightweight
Watch out for
  • Same brand caveats as #4
  • Limited support
  • Fashion-tool lifespan
Movement
Quartz
Brand
LENQIN
Price
Sub-£10
Variant
Budget alt of #4
Use case
Cheap fashion accessory
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How to choose

Quartz vs automatic, case size and strap material

Three considerations cover wrist watch buying at the sub-£100 tier.

1.
Quartz vs automatic movement

Quartz: battery-powered, accurate to ~15 seconds/month, battery lasts 2-5 years, cheap to service. Best for daily wear, work watches, gifts. Automatic: self-winding (no battery), heritage feel, less accurate (~30 seconds/day typical at this price tier), service every 5-7 years (£80-£200). Best for collectors or 'forever watch' purchases. At sub-£100, quartz is the smarter pick — automatic at this price tier uses cheap unbranded movements that don't last as long as quartz.

2.
Case size: 38-42 mm is the sweet spot

Case diameter affects wrist look and proportions. 36-38 mm: classic dress-watch size, suits smaller wrists, vintage aesthetic. 39-42 mm: modern standard, fits most wrist sizes, the sweet spot for daily wear. 44-46 mm: oversized 'statement' watches, only suit larger wrists (18+ cm circumference). Measure your wrist before buying online — many sub-£50 watches advertise '45 mm' which can dwarf a smaller wrist.

3.
Strap material: leather, metal, NATO or rubber

Leather (genuine, not PU): formal look, ages well, scratches casually, lasts 2-3 years before cracking. Metal bracelet (stainless steel): durable, sweat-resistant, formal+casual versatility, can pinch arm hair. NATO/nylon strap: casual, swappable, sub-£10 spares. Rubber: sport / water-sport, durable but informal. Most watches let you swap straps in 5 minutes with a £4 spring-bar tool — buying one watch with two straps is the smart customisation move.

For daily-wear classic: Timex or Sekonda at sub-£50. For fashion variety: BENYAR / OLEVS / LIGE as cheap-and-cheerful accessories. For serious watch collecting: outside this list — start with Seiko 5 Sport, Citizen Eco-Drive, or pre-owned Swiss.

06
OLEVS Classic Dress Watch
OLEVS

Classic Dress Watch

8.1
/ 10
Good

OLEVS — Chinese fashion watch with dress-watch styling. Slim case, leather strap, quartz movement. Looks expensive at sub-£40. Same brand caveats as other Chinese-brand picks.

Why we love it
  • Dress-watch aesthetic
  • Slim case profile
  • Leather strap
  • Sub-£40 dress-watch pricing
Watch out for
  • OLEVS brand UK presence limited
  • Leather strap basic quality
  • Plating may wear
Movement
Quartz
Style
Dress
Brand
OLEVS
Price
~£38
Strap
Leather
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07
LIGE Multi-Function Wrist Watch
LIGE

Multi-Function Wrist Watch

7.5
/ 10
Good

LIGE — Chinese chronograph/multi-function watch at sub-£20. Aesthetic competes with watches 3-4× the price. Treat as a fashion accessory.

Why we love it
  • Sub-£20 multi-function
  • Chronograph dial aesthetic
  • Stainless case
  • Quartz reliability
Watch out for
  • LIGE brand limited support
  • Chronograph functions may be decorative
  • Lifespan typical 1-2 years
Movement
Quartz (multi-function)
Brand
LIGE
Price
~£16
Style
Chronograph
Use case
Fashion + statement
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08
LENQIN Wrist Watch (Alt Style)
LENQIN

Wrist Watch (Alt Style)

7.3
/ 10
Fair

Alternative LENQIN variant — sub-£10. Different colour/style from #4 and #5; same LENQIN budget tier.

Why we love it
  • Sub-£10
  • Quartz reliability
  • Style variety
  • Lightweight
Watch out for
  • Same LENQIN caveats
  • Cheap leather strap
  • Limited durability
Movement
Quartz
Brand
LENQIN
Price
Sub-£10
Variant
Alt LENQIN
Use case
Cheap fashion
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Best Budget
09
LENQIN Mid-Tier Wrist Watch
LENQIN

Mid-Tier Wrist Watch

7
/ 10
Fair

LENQIN at ~£19 — slightly higher-tier than #4/5/8. Similar quality, slightly nicer aesthetic. Same brand caveats apply.

Why we love it
  • Slight upgrade from base LENQIN
  • Quartz
  • Mid-style design
  • Affordable
Watch out for
  • Same LENQIN brand caveats
  • Strap basic
  • Lifespan 1-2 years
Movement
Quartz
Brand
LENQIN
Price
~£19
Tier
Mid LENQIN
Use case
Fashion accessory
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10
Timex Classic Watch (Premium Variant)
Timex

Classic Watch (Premium Variant)

6.9
/ 10
Fair

Timex classic at the ~£49 tier — slightly higher than #1. Same Timex quality with a different style/dial. Functionally similar to #1 — pick by design preference.

Why we love it
  • Same Timex heritage
  • Alternative dial style
  • Reliable quartz
  • Standard Timex build
Watch out for
  • Similar to #1 in performance
  • Higher price for similar quality
  • Strap quality varies
Movement
Quartz
Brand
Timex
Variant
Alt of #1
Price
~£49
Use case
Alt Timex design
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The verdict

Timex wins on heritage; Sekonda is the smarter UK-brand pick.

The Timex watch at #1 takes the top spot because Timex has been the value-watch reference brand for 50+ years. American heritage, simple quartz movements (5-7 year battery life), classic dial designs, and Indiglo backlight on most models. The £40-£50 range gets you a watch that'll outlast multiple cheap fashion watches.

For UK-specific heritage, Sekonda is the smarter buy. Sekonda is technically Russian-heritage but has been UK-stocked for decades through high-street jewellers; service and battery replacement is the most accessible of any brand on this list. Simpler dials than Timex, lower prices.

Below the £30 line, the picture is honest: BENYAR, LENQIN, OLEVS, LIGE — Chinese-brand watches with surprisingly capable specs (chronograph dials, automatic movements at sub-£50 sometimes) but limited brand support. They look more expensive than they are; treat as 1-2 year fashion accessories rather than long-term investments. For everyday daily-wear watches, a Timex or Sekonda is the smarter choice.

Frequently asked

Common questions

Quartz or automatic at this price?
Quartz. Automatic watches at sub-£100 use cheap unbranded movements (Sea-Gull, Miyota 8-series budget tier) that lose accuracy fast and need service every 3-4 years. Quartz watches at this price use reliable Japanese movements (Hattori, Miyota quartz) that keep accurate time for 5-10 years on the same battery. Automatic only makes sense above £200 where the movements get serious.
How do I know what wrist size suits which watch?
Measure your wrist circumference at the bone. Small (under 16 cm): 36-39 mm cases. Medium (16-18 cm): 39-42 mm. Large (18+ cm): 42-46 mm. A watch case that's too large for the wrist looks like a serving plate; too small looks like a children's watch. Most Amazon UK listings include case dimensions in the specs.
Are sub-£20 watches actually any good?
Functionally yes — they tell time accurately because quartz movements at any price keep time well. Cosmetically: yes for 1-2 years before plating wears and straps fail. Treat them as fashion accessories rather than long-term investments. For a watch you'll wear daily for 5+ years, spend £40+ on a Timex, Sekonda or step up to Seiko/Citizen.
How often do watch batteries need replacing?
Quartz watch batteries last 2-5 years typically. The watch will start stopping for a few seconds at a time before failing entirely — that's your warning. Battery replacement is £10-£20 at most jewellers, including water-resistance reseal. Self-replacing batteries voids water-resistance ratings and risks damaging the movement; pay a jeweller.
Should I avoid Chinese-brand watches?
For long-term daily wear: yes, because brand-service networks matter when straps break or batteries fail. For fashion accessories or trying styles: no — BENYAR, OLEVS, LIGE deliver aesthetic value at low prices. Just treat them as 1-2 year tools, not heritage purchases.
BP
About the editor

Best Products UK Editorial Team

Best Products UK is an independent UK product-review aggregator. Our editorial team synthesises hands-on reviews from leading UK consumer publications — Which?, Wired UK, T3, Tom's Guide UK, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar, Good Housekeeping, Expert Reviews, Stuff and others — into clear, ranked top-ten guides for UK shoppers. We do not run a physical test lab. We tell you which products UK reviewers agree on, where they disagree, and which the data says is right for your budget. Our methodology is published openly at /about/#methodology.

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