Best Sekonda watches in the UK (2026)

Sekonda is a British watch brand founded in the 1960s. It began by importing Soviet-made mechanical watches and today sells affordable quartz watches with Japanese movements, sold widely across UK high streets and online. Its early reputation came from offering mechanical watches at very low prices; today it's known for affordable, well-styled quartz watches that are easy to find in shops and online.

Sekonda watches are good value for a fashionable quartz watch that gets worn and knocked about. The movements are reliable and accurate; the compromises are in materials, with cases often alloy or plated rather than solid steel, and mineral glass rather than sapphire. For a watch worn for work, nights out or as a gift, that's a reasonable trade. If you're hard on watches or want something to last decades, steel cases and sapphire glass from a maker like Citizen or Tissot cost more but wear better.

Sekonda sells men's dress watches (Davies, Thomson), sporty chronographs (Jenson, Velocity, 1971 Chronograph, Military Chronograph), ladies' watches (Elizabeth, Clarke, Robinson) and casual styles (Wave, Caspian, Maverick). Names are mostly style rather than technical families. Because names cover styles rather than movements, two Sekondas with different names may share the same quartz movement. Compare case size, material and water resistance rather than the name.

Sekonda's men's watches run from about 38 to 45 mm, and the chronographs tend to be large. Ladies' models run from about 25 to 33 mm. Check the case size on each model, as some sporty models wear very big. The Jenson at 45 mm and Velocity Chronograph at 45 mm are big, sporty watches. The Davies and Wave at 39 mm and the Thomson at 38 mm suit most wrists. The Elizabeth, Clarke and Robinson cover small ladies' sizes from about 25 to 33 mm.

Sekonda's chronographs are quartz with a stopwatch function, which keeps them accurate and affordable. They look busy and technical; if you want a cleaner look, choose a three-hand model like the Wave or Davies. The 1971 Chronograph has a retro look; the Military Chronograph a field-watch style. If you use the stopwatch a lot, the battery won't last as long.

Gold and rose gold finishes are plating over a base metal and wear with time, especially on the edges and clasp. If you'll wear it every day, a silver or steel-look model wears more gracefully. Rose gold models like the Elizabeth are popular as gifts and look good new; just expect some wear on the clasp over time.

Most Sekondas are rated to around 30 to 50 m, which covers hand washing and splashes, and swimming only on the 50 m models. Check before swimming, and don't press the chronograph pushers under water. Leather-strap models should come off before washing up or swimming anyway, as water damages leather.

Sekonda gives a maker's guarantee when bought from an authorised seller, and its quartz movements are easy for any jeweller to put a battery in. Keep the box and paperwork for gifts and warranty claims. Keep the receipt.

Sekonda looks smarter on the high street, Casio and Timex are tougher and more practical. If you want a dressy look for little money, Sekonda; if you want a watch to beat up, Casio or Timex.