The WristWatchReview 2025 Gift Guide: Part 3
We’ve covered dress watches, beaters, travel pieces, and “what should I get her” panic buys. For the last part of this gift guide, we’re getting a little more practical. This round is all about the stuff people actually wear and use every day. Smartwatches for the friend who lives on notifications and step counts. Hard use fitness watches for the person who treats a rest day like a personal insult. And, for the mechanical nerd in your life, a few thoughts on watch winders and small accessories that make owning a watch collection a little more fun.
BTW if you love that Simpsons watch as much as we do, you can grab it here.
The WristWatchReview 2025 Gift Guide: Part 1
Watch lovers are the worst. They know exactly what they want, and most of the time it costs more than rent. That is a rough mix when the holidays show up and someone tells you they are “into watches now.”
The WristWatchReview 2025 Gift Guide: Part 2
Part two of this gift guide covers two groups that are hard to shop for and worth getting right. The traveler, who lives in airports and time zones. And the women in your life, who have to deal with brands that think “shrink it and paint it pink” is a design plan.
Best Smart Watch
The Apple Watch is still the default choice for iPhone users. It handles notifications, calls, music, Apple Pay, fitness tracking, and basic health data like heart rate and sleep. If the person you are buying for lives inside the Apple ecosystem, this is the watch that will feel the most natural.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic fills the same role for Android users, especially on Samsung phones. It has a traditional round case, a rotating bezel for quick navigation, and strong support for fitness tracking, notifications, and calls. It is a good pick if they want a smartwatch that still looks a bit like a regular watch.
The Garmin fēnix 8 in 43mm with the Whitestone silicone band at $749 is built for people who treat workouts like a second job. It tracks running, hiking, cycling, strength work, and more, with deep data and long battery life. The AMOLED screen is bright and clear, and the watch is meant to survive sweat, rain, and rough use on trails or in the gym.
The Garmin Forerunner line, at 149, 199, or 249 dollars depending on model, is aimed at runners first. These watches track pace, distance, heart rate, and training load, with GPS that locks on fast. They are lighter than the fēnix, simpler to use, and a better fit if the main goal is running rather than multi sport training.
Looking for a barebones exercise watch with some smart features? Check out the Casio GBD200-7 or the Amazfit Bip line. Both offer loads of great features for about $100.
Best Watch Winder
A watch winder slowly turns an automatic watch so the rotor keeps the mainspring wound. That means the watch stays set, the date is correct, and it is ready to wear at any time. The downside is simple: the more the movement runs, the more lubrication it uses and the sooner it will need a service. You are trading convenience for extra wear on the inside of the watch. That said, winders are fun.
Wolf1834 makes some of the nicest winders on the market. They use good motors, solid cases, and let you set turns per day and direction, so you can match the winder to the movement. They look like proper watch boxes, not plastic toys, and they are quiet enough to keep on a dresser or in an office.
Dukwin sits a bit lower on the price ladder but still offers decent quality. Their winders often hold multiple watches, have simple controls, and are good if you want something that just works without paying luxury prices. They are a sensible choice if you must keep a few automatics running at once.
There are also plenty of interesting “Amazon” brands out there including this one by Smith. At $169 it’s a nice mix of style and quality. Our recommendation is to find one that looks great and fits your decor and spend a little more than you’d expect. Because these things have to run for a long time, you don’t want them to break and start making annoying noises overnight. While you don’t have to spend a mint, quality is key when it comes to winders.
Best Watch Accessories
To round things out, you can always surprise your gift recipient with a lower-cost and high value product like a travel case ($37 on Amazon) or a watch box.
Some watch wearers like to accessorize with bracelets and we recommend wooden beads instead of metal. You don’t want anything scratching your watch case! You can get them fairly cheaply on Amazon or Etsy and we particularly like this one from Forge and Foundry.
