Almost everyone has a smartwatch, but ordinary wristwatches sell just as well on AliExpress. People buy them as everyday spares, for sport and fishing where an expensive gadget would be a worry, as gifts, or simply to match a mood or an outfit. We picked eight models that buyers order by the thousand, from electronic sports watches at around £2 to a watch with a barometer and compass.
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How we chose
Only quartz and electronic watches made the list, with no smartphone features: they never need charging, and a battery lasts a long time. We looked first at the number of sales and the share of positive reviews, which is 98% for every model chosen. Prices are correct as of 22 October. They change on AliExpress almost daily.
A quick note on water resistance. When a listing simply says “waterproof” with no figure, expect splashes and hand washing at most. You can swim in watches that state WR50M, meaning 5 atmospheres, or higher, and even then avoid diving in and hot saunas.
Electronic and sports watches
YIKAZE electronic sports watch
The best seller in the list and one of the cheapest, at £2.26. It has a large LED dial, a multifunction electronic module and a military-style case. Watches like this are usually bought for training, manual work or hiking, where scratching them is no great loss.
Price on 22 October: £2.26
Sold: 17700+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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Military-style analogue-digital watch
This model has more than 21 thousand sales. It combines hands with an electronic display and backlight, plus an alarm and a water-resistant case. The seller positions it as a universal watch for men, women and children, so it is a good gift option if you do not know the person’s taste. It costs £2.02.
Price on 22 October: £2.02
Sold: 21184+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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SYNOKE digital watch with chronograph
Another inexpensive electronic watch, this time with a chronograph and a backlight in several colours. It suits running and the outdoors. In looks it is more youthful than formal. The price is £3.34.
Price on 22 October: £3.34
Sold: 5266+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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NORTH EDGE APACHE-46
The most expensive and most serious watch here, at £29.49. It has an altimeter, barometer and compass, and WR50M water resistance. This is a tool for mountains and hiking: the barometer can show a change in weather, and the altimeter is handy on a climb. Well-known brands ask several times more for this level of features.
Price on 22 October: £29.49
Sold: 2318+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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Classic quartz watches
NIBOSI Luxury men’s watch with steel bracelet
A classic for the office and nights out: stainless steel case and bracelet, backlight, and a date and day indicator. It comes in a box, so it works as a gift without extra wrapping. NIBOSI is one of the best-known budget watch brands on AliExpress. It costs £7.12.
Price on 22 October: £7.12
Sold: 9017+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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CURREN 8452 ultra-thin watch
A minimalist thin stainless steel watch for £7.99. The slim case slides easily under a shirt cuff, and the model suits anyone who finds bulky chronographs too loud. CURREN, like NIBOSI, has long been familiar to AliExpress shoppers.
Price on 22 October: £7.99
Sold: 1016+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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Women’s watches
Women’s watch set with bracelets
The leader among women’s models, with more than 12 thousand sales. It is a set of 2 or 4 pieces: a watch with an Arabic-numeral dial and matching bracelets, with the option chosen on the product page. It costs £2.31. There is no box, which is worth remembering if you are buying a gift.
Price on 22 October: £2.31
Sold: 12340+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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Women’s rectangular watch with steel strap
A neat rectangular case and a steel strap, at £2.92. It looks good with both office and casual clothes. A good choice if you want an inexpensive everyday watch that does not look sporty.
Price on 22 October: £2.92
Sold: 5012+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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Quartz or electronic
Quartz watches with hands look more formal and go better with a shirt or a dress. Electronic ones are more practical day to day: an alarm, a stopwatch, a backlight and large digits that are easy to read on a run or in the dark. Many people buy two, a classic one for going out and a cheap electronic one for sport, the garden or fishing. Together they cost less than a single fitness band.
The battery in these watches is usually a standard button cell that any repair shop can replace. Sometimes a watch that arrives from AliExpress has a nearly flat battery after a long time in a warehouse, so do not be surprised if it needs replacing within a few months.
What to check before buying
- Case size. Sellers almost always list the diameter in the specifications. On a slim wrist a case larger than 45 mm looks bulky, so compare it with a watch you already own.
- Strap length. Steel bracelets are adjusted by removing links. A tool is sometimes included and sometimes not, and a repair shop will do it in a couple of minutes.
- Listing variant. One listing often sells different colours, sets and even models. The price shown on the card is for the cheapest variant, and the one you want may cost more.
- Box. If the title says “no box”, the watch will arrive in a bag. For a gift that matters.
- Reviews with photos. Look at buyers’ pictures: they show the real colour and how the watch sits on the wrist.
Verdict
If you want an inexpensive watch for sport and every day, start with the YIKAZE or the analogue-digital model: they are the best sellers and both cost around £2. For the office, NIBOSI or CURREN make more sense, and for hiking, the NORTH EDGE APACHE-46 with its barometer and compass. Among the women’s models the simplest choice is the set with bracelets, and if you want one neat accessory, the rectangular watch with a steel strap fits.