Some Christmas gifts get a delighted squeal on the festive day, then quietly migrates to the back of a drawer by January. The second is the kind that gets worn every single day, until the strap gives up and you have to buy a replacement. These two gifts firmly belong to the second kind.
The best gifts for mums are the ones that are both lovely to receive and genuinely useful. Something that makes you feel put-together on the school run, keeps track of your steps, and doesn’t require a degree in engineering to set up. Something precious, but practical with it.
Here are two that fit the bill beautifully.
Sekonda Motion Go Smart Watch – £49.99
The one that does everything without making a fuss.
I have a complicated relationship with smart watches. I love the idea of them. I love the idea of knowing my step count and my sleep quality. What I don’t love is feeling like I’m wearing a small computer on my wrist that needs charging every five minutes and interrupting me with notifications I didn’t ask for.
The Motion Go is not that watch. It’s the sensible, lovely, genuinely wearable version.
What I liked:
It’s slim, just 8.5mm, and light, which means it sits comfortably on the wrist rather than announcing itself. The 1.9-inch touchscreen is bright and easy to read, and I like the “turn to activate” feature (you rotate your wrist and the screen wakes up, which feels far more natural than prodding at it).
The strap is a 20mm interchangeable silicone number, so you can swap it out to match your mood or your outfit. It comes in black with a black case, and there’s a rose gold and pink option if that’s more your thing. I tried the pink, and it’s understated enough to wear with anything, school run, gym, supermarket, the lot.
What it actually does:
- Step, distance, calorie and heart rate tracking
- Sleep monitoring
- Over 20 sports modes (walking, running, climbing, HIIT and more)
- Phone notifications so you can see messages without digging your phone out of your bag
- Bluetooth calling
- Music control
Battery life is 5–7 days, which is the sweet spot. You charge it once a week, roughly, and forget about it. It’s water-resistant to 68 metres, so no panic if you’re caught in the rain or wearing it in the shower.
The verdict: This is the smart watch for people who want the useful bits without the faff. It’s not trying to be a fitness tracker for athletes; it’s trying to be a genuinely helpful everyday companion, and it succeeds. At £49.99, it’s also the kind of gift you can give without feeling guilty about the price tag, which, in December, matters.
Where to buy: Sekonda Motion Go Smart Watch
Bellamy Watch & Jewellery Giftset – from £69.99
The one that feels properly special.
Now, this is the other end of the spectrum and I mean that in the best way.
The Bellamy collection is Sekonda’s feminine, understated range, and this giftset is the kind of thing that makes you go “oh, that’s lovely” when you open the box. You get a gold-tone watch with a stone-set case and a white Roman numeral dial, a gold bangle bracelet, a stone-set necklace and a pair of matching earrings. It all comes presented as a set, ready to give.
What I liked:
The watch itself is small, 23mm case width, 10mm strap, so it’s delicate on the wrist rather than chunky. It’s analogue, which I love: there’s something satisfying about a proper watch face, especially one with Roman numerals. It feels traditional and timeless in a way that a smart watch, however lovely, never quite does.
The matching jewellery is the clever bit. You’re not just buying a watch; you’re buying an outfit. Everything coordinates, everything feels considered, and the whole thing looks far more expensive than it is. It’s the kind of gift that would work beautifully for a mum, a grandmother, a sister or a friend and it’s the kind of thing you’d be genuinely pleased to receive yourself.
The practical bit: The watch is analogue, so there’s no charging, no app, no setup. It just tells the time. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want. It’s NOT water-resistant, so it’s one to take off before the washing-up, but that’s a small caveat in an otherwise lovely package.
The verdict: This is the “precious” gift of the two, the one that feels like a proper present, the one you’d wrap in nice paper and hand over with a bit of ceremony. It’s £69.99 for the full giftset, which is genuinely good value for a watch and three pieces of matching jewellery. If you’re buying for someone who likes things that feel special, this is it.
Where to buy: Sekonda Bellamy Watch & Jewellery Giftset
The verdict
Two very different gifts, both genuinely lovely.
If you’re buying for someone practical, someone who’d love a watch that tracks their steps, nudges them about their sleep and saves them digging their phone out of their bag, the Motion Go is a brilliant, affordable choice.
If you’re buying for someone who loves a bit of sparkle, or if you simply want a gift that feels properly special without breaking the bank, the Bellamy Giftset is the one.
Either way, you’re giving something that will actually be worn and in a season full of forgotten novelty gifts, that’s worth its weight in gold.
Both available from Sekonda.
This post is part of the London Mums Christmas Gift Guide series. We’ll be sharing more precious and practical picks throughout November and December follow along for ideas for everyone on your list.
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
