Watch collectors will make any excuse to justify the expense of expanding their collections. One strategy potential strategy is to get your family as addicted to watches as you are – that one’s for free. Jokes aside, the romance of wearing a wristwatch is a passion we all want to pass on to the next generation. You never own a Patek Philippe, after all, you merely look after it for the next generation, right? Well, no. I’m not suggesting we all rush to give toddlers Nautiluses (Nautili?), unless you are DJ Khaled or Nicki Minaj, of course. In that case, go nuts. So to get the watch-wearing ball rolling, with age-appropriate nominations, here are some of what we believe are the best watches for kids that you can buy. And no smartwatch nonsense.
Casio Digital Calculator Watch
Considering it costs just US$30, the Casio Digital Calculator Watch is a timeless and iconic digital design that has been adopted for generations since its inception in the early ’80s. Among a host of digital functionalities, the marque indications are the time, day, and date, with the ability to engage with a calculator touchpad. Whether a tool to learn times tables, 2+2, or simply to type “80085”, at a minimum, the water-resistant time teller gets the child in your life used to wearing a watch on their wrist. Price: US$30, explore the full Casio range in the T+T Shop
G-Shock GMAP2100BB-1A CasiOak
The next hurdle, of course, is teaching kids how to read an analogue time display – sadly, a dying art in a modern, digital age. The G-Shock CasiOak is a great option for a wide variety of reasons. First, it has a hybrid analogue and digital display. Second, it has G-Shock’s legendary level of robustness, and any kid would be hard-pressed to destroy this tough cookie no matter the shenanigans. Third, it plants the seed of addiction to considered design, something that’s been especially popular as of late. But finally, and perhaps most importantly, it’s priced under US$100. Price: US$99, explore the full G-Shock collection in the T+T Shop
Blok 33
You can’t have a list of best watches for kids without mentioning Blok. The only watch designed on this list with kids in mind, Blok has become the go-to destination for analogue watches for kids. Everything about the design has been meticulously crafted to best teach kids how to read the time in a clear and easy-to-grasp way. For example, the hour indices span the full hour sector, so there is no question which numeral the hand is pointing to, and the timing bezel has designated 5, 10, 15, and 30 minute sectors to make tracking those elapsed amounts of time super easy peasy. Also, the 33mm case is kid-wrist-friendly, and the 100-metre depth rating is kid-daily-wearer approved. Price: US$189, available from the T+T Shop
Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch
Considering the MoonSwatch is an authorised Speedmaster homage, and one that brought out the child inside me with its bold and playful colours, it’s a cool way to bring the Moon watch narrative to an approachable level. That is, of course, if MoonSwatch fatigue doesn’t plague the kid’s parents. With dwindling queues, it can be a fun moment where a kid gets to pick out the variant that most speaks to them and their style. Keeping things simpler, what kid doesn’t love the wonder and mystique of outer space? Price: starting at US$270
Seiko 5 Sports SREE003
Up until now, the hurdles have strictly been getting a kid to partake in wearing a wristwatch and being able to tell time. Fortunately, Seiko exists, and makes affordable automatic watches if you want to introduce the kid in your life to the world of mechanical watchmaking. Seiko 5 is touted as an excellent entry into mechanical watches, and references like the SREE003 “dress KX” are perfect for the job. Not only is it an automatic watch, but it’s just 28mm in diameter and would therefore suit tiny wrists very well. It’s also 100 metres water-resistant – so, robust enough for horseplay – and it has a caseback that displays the movement, making learning about watches more interesting. Admittedly, it might be somewhat daunting to teach a kid how to use day-date, automatic watch, but the payoff will be massive. You’ve got a little a WIS for life. Price: US$295
Timex M79 Automatic x Peanuts 40mm
The next step would be introducing the child in question to the concept of integrated bracelet watches and soda-themed bezels. The bait is the beloved Snoopy printed on the dial at 6 o’clock. In this case, the canine adorns a larger watch at 40mm, making this Timex M79 Peanuts better-suited for older kids who have grown out of the 28mm Seikos. Price: US$329
