FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - FAQ

Elka Watch Co. is an independent Swiss watch brand, relaunched in 2022 by Hakim El Kadiri, who previously held development management positions at several Swatch Group brands, including Rado, Hamilton, Endura, and Swatch. The brand builds on a rich watchmaking heritage, as Elka was originally founded in 1877 by Edouard Louis Kiek in Amsterdam (from which Elka is an acronym). Notably, Kiek was the watchmaker to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Elka Watch distinguishes itself with its neo-vintage, elegant, and minimalist Swiss-made watches, drawing inspiration from this long history and a product philosophy focused on creating objects designed to last a lifetime.

Elka Watch Co. is an independent Swiss watch brand, re-launched in 2022 by Hakim El Kadiri, who previously held senior development positions at several Swatch Group brands, including Rado, Hamilton, Endura, and Swatch.

Elka Watch Co. is based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Rue du Musée 4, 2000 Neuchâtel).

Elka Watch's motto today is "Form Follows Function," reflecting a design approach where aesthetics serve utility and durability. The brand aims to create high-quality, unique, and timeless watches, reminiscent of the pure and colorful aesthetic of the 1960s. The case shapes of several models are inspired by pocket watches, seeking to create an "organic" object that is pleasant to the touch.

Yes, Elka Watch Co. is a Swiss brand, respecting Swiss watchmaking standards.

Founded in 1877 in Amsterdam by Eliazer Kiek, inventor of the tactile watch for the blind and watchmaker to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. In 1949, the Elka Watch opened its Swiss branch in La Chaux-de-Fonds (it produced wristwatches of course but also pocket watches, braille watches, chronographs, chess and signal clocks). Then, in the mid-1970s, the brand disappeared along with Ernst Louis Kiek, grandson and last heir.

Elka watches are equipped with quality Swiss movements, notably the Manufacture La Joux-Perret SA (MLJP) LJP-G100 caliber, offering a 68-hour power reserve. They are recognized for their excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Water-resistance varies from model to model. Precise information for each watch is available on its respective product page. (Arinis: 20 bar / 200 metres and X, S, and D Series : 5 bar / 50 metres)

Elka watches are available for purchase through several channels:

• Official Online Store: Explore and buy collections directly on the official Elka Watch Co. website: elkawatch.ch/watches-straps
• Authorized Retailers: Elka Watch has a network of physical and online retailers in Switzerland and internationally, including:
  • In Switzerland: Jewelers and watchmakers in Neuchâtel (e.g., Bernhard Muller Bijoutiers), La Chaux-de-Fonds, Geneva, Luzern, Nyon, Monthey, and more.
  • International: Online platforms and specialized boutiques in France (e.g., Utinam in Besançon and Freret-Roy in Paris), Germany (e.g., Roth Juwelier in Ulm and Chronofactum), Austria in Vienna at UhrWerk and in Krems at Kalteis, the Netherlands (e.g., Ace Jewelers, Mr Watchief), Canada (e.g., Watch DNA), and the United States (at Devries Jewelers in Grand Rapids).

 https://www.elkawatch.ch/find-us

Founded in 1877 by Edouard Louis Kiek in Amsterdam, the Elka brand boasts a long history, including its role as watchmaker to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.

All Elka Watch Co. watches have a standard warranty of  2 years from the date of purchase

It is recommended that a service be carried out every 3-5 years by a qualified watchmaker or authorised service centre

Yes, we offer a 14 days returns policy under certain conditions (see our returns policy).

You can contact us by email at info@elkawatch.com

1. Pull out the crown C to position (P1)
2. Turn the crown clockwise to set the date
3. Push the crown back in to position (P0)

Setting the time
1. Pull out the crown C completely to position (P2): the seconds hand stops
2. Set the time by turning the crown in the desired direction.
3. Push the crown back in to position (P0): the seconds hand starts again, allowing perfect synchronisation with a time signal.

Maintenance

Please note that as with any micromechanical precision instrument, ELKA watches require regular maintenance. This keeps your watch in perfect working order and makes it last longer. The frequency with which this maintenance work needs to be carried out depends on the model, as well as climatic conditions and the owner’s care of the watch.
Therefore we cannot give a specific time interval for servicing. We generally recommend that a complete maintenance service should be carried out every 3 to 5 years.
To ensure that the service is carried out professionally, kindly take your watch to a professional service Center.
Water resistance During the final check,
ELKA watches are checked for water-resistance – ELKA D, S and X series are Water Resistant up to 5 bar, Arinis 20 Bar but the water-resistance of a watch is not permanent.
The water resistance of a watch can be impaired by the natural aging process of the gaskets (case back gasket, crown gasket, crystal gasket etc.) or accidental knocks to the watch case. Additionally, external influences like perspiration, chlorine- or saltwater, ultraviolet rays and cosmetic products can compromise the sealing over time. Therefore, always rinse your watch with clear water, when it comes in contact with chlorine- or saltwater. Basic advice for safeguarding the water resistance of your watch: The water resistance should be checked once a year by a professional watch maker.
Please ensure that the crown is pressed back into position 0 so that water cannot get into the mechanism.
Do not use crown under water.

Leather Straps

Please note that leather is a natural material subject to natural ageing. Depending on your wearing habit, the strap should be replaced regularly for reasons of safety (security of the watch on your wrist), as well as aesthetic and hygiene reasons. In normal, daily wearing conditions it has an average life of six to twelve months. To keep your leather strap in good condition for as long as possible, ELKA recommends the following:
• Protect your leather strap from heavy and long exposure to sunlight to prevent discoloration.
• Leather is permeable, contact with oily substances and cosmetics can damage it.
• To prevent deformation and fading of color, avoid contact with any kind of water.
• Clean your leather strap with a soft dry cloth, chemical substances can damage it. Bathing in the sea and swimming pools Always rinse your watch with clear water after use in, or contact with salt or chlorine water.
Cleaning All ELKA watches can be cleaned with a soft, dry cloth periodically. Water resistant watch cases, bracelets and rubber straps can be cleaned by using a small brush (e.g. a toothbrush) and soapy water. Rinse it with clear water afterwards and use a soft cloth to dry it. Chemical products Direct contact with solvents, detergents, perfumes, cosmetic products etc. can damage your strap/bracelet and case. Further, such chemical liquids impair the function of the gaskets affecting the water resistance of your watch.


Magnetic Fields

Whenever possible keep your watch away from magnetic fields like speakers, electric devices, security gates at airports or other electromagnetic appliances.
Such devices produce strong magnetic fields that may affect the functions of your watch, influence the accuracy of time keeping or even completely stop it.

Temperatures

ELKA recommends not to expose your watch to extreme climatic changes (exposure to sunlight followed by immersion in cold water) or extreme temperatures over 60°C (140°F) or under than 0°C (32°F).
ELKA Watches are equipped with Automatic movements
the mechanism of the watch includes an oscillating rotor that winds the mainspring via the motion of your wrist. If necessary, the watch may be rewound manually. 5 5. Settings 5.1 Standard settings for all watches Important: in order to guarantee the water-resistance of your watch, always return the crown to its normal position (p0) after any adjustment has been made.

•ELKA watches are warranted for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of purchase under the terms and conditions of this warranty.
ELKA Watch Co. warrants that the internal movement, mechanisms and the case of your ELKA watch are free from defects.
The international ELKA warranty covers material and manufacturing defects existing at the time of delivery of the purchased ELKA watch (“defects”).
The warranty only comes into force if the warranty certificate is dated, fully and correctly completed and accepted by us
During the warranty period and by presenting the valid warranty certificate, you will have the right to have any defect serviced free of charge. In the event that the service is unable to restore the normal conditions of use of your ELKA watch, ELKA Watch Co. guarantees its replacement by a ELKA watch of identical or similar characteristics. The warranty for the replacement watch ends twenty-four (24) months after the invoice date of the replaced watch.
This manufacturer’s warranty does not cover:
non-metallic straps and chains (e.g. leather, textile, rubber)
•normal wear and tear and aging (e.g. scratched crystal; alteration of the colour and/or material; peeling of the plating);
•any damage on any part of the watch resulting from abnormal/abusive use, lack of care, negligence, accidents (knocks, dents, crushing, broken crystal, etc.), incorrect use of the watch and non-observance of the use directions provided by ELKA Watch Co.
•indirect or consequential damages of any kind resulting from e.g. the use, the non-functioning, the defects or the inaccuracy of the ELKA watch;
•ELKA watches handled by non-authorized persons or which has been altered in its original condition beyond ELKA Watch Co’s control.
•Any further claim against ELKA International Ltd. e.g. for damages additional to the above described warranty is expressly excluded, except mandatory statutory rights the purchaser may have against the manufacturer.
The above manufacturer’s warranty:
is independent of any warranty that may be provided by the seller, for which he carries sole responsibility.

1 Unless we have agreed otherwise on the time of delivery, we shall deliver the products by transferring the physical possession or control of the products and/or commence provision of services to you without undue delay, and in any event within 30 days from the date of our written confirmation of order & shipment.

2 If delivery of products is delayed by an event outside our control, we will inform you as soon as possible and will use reasonable efforts to minimise the effect of the delay. If we do not deliver within thirty (30) days from the date of the written confirmation of order & shipment or any other time limit as indicated by us, you may contact Elka Watch Co.’s Customer Service to cancel the relevant order and get a refund of any sums you prepaid us for any products which you have not received.

3 Upon termination of the contract in accordance with clause 6.2, we shall reimburse you all sums paid under the contract. In any event, your sole remedy for any failure by us to deliver the order to you shall be your right to cancel the relevant order and receive a refund of sums you prepaid us for any products which you have not received.

4 When estimating your delivery time, please allow time for credit approval, address verification, security checks and order processing. Please note that delivery is always subject to receiving your full payment.

5 Orders are shipped during working hours are from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00, excluding public holidays. If any products in your shopping cart indicate “Pre-Order“ as the status, your entire order will be delayed until all of the items in your order are in stock. You will receive a shipment confirmation email with carrier tracking information on the day that your order ships. When an order is placed, it will be shipped to the shipping address designated by you as long as that shipping address is complete and compliant with the shipping restrictions contained on the website www.elkawatch.com.

All shipments are made by an independent third party carrier indicated on the website www.elkawatch.ch .We will inform you by email upon shipment of a product.

6 The title, risk of loss of or damage to the products shall pass to you when you or a third party indicated by you and other than the carrier has acquired the physical possession of the products.

7 Title to all products shall only pass to you when we have received final payment in full.

1 The payment is carried out online by bank card either via PayPal or via the Elka Watch Co. partner bank. Delivery documents will be placed inside the package containing the products ordered.

An order will only be considered definitive once the buyer has confirmed it by paying the corresponding price.
For bank card payments made via the website, Elka Watch Co. uses the secure payment service provided by our banking partners. All information transmitted from the www.elkawatch.ch to the payment system is systematically encrypted in order to ensure confidentiality. All payments made by bank card via the website are processed immediately.

2 Sales, use or other taxes will vary based on the location to which products are being shipped.

3 We reserve the right to modify prices and delivery costs at any time without prior notice.

4 We take reasonable care that the prices of products and delivery costs are correct at the time when the relevant information was entered into the system. However, it is always possible that, despite our reasonable efforts, some of the products offered through our website www.elkawatch.ch or delivery costs may be incorrectly priced. If any of the products you place an order for or any delivery costs are incorrectly priced, we will contact you as soon as possible to inform you of this error. If we are unable to contact you using the contact details you have provided during the order process, we will cancel the order and notify you in writing. If we mistakenly accept and process your order where a pricing or delivery cost error occurs, we may cancel supply of the product and refund you any sums you have paid.

5 The delivered product remains the property of Elka Watch Co. until full and actual payment is received from the Customer. If clients fail to pay for their orders, Elka Watch Co. will be entitled to demand the return of the products in question.
The transfer of risks of loss or deterioration to the Customer occurs on the delivery date of the product, meaning the reception of the product by the Customer.

Please note that international orders placed from outside Switzerland are shipped under INCOTERM DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid), which means that your order may be subject to local taxes and duties at the time of delivery. Please note that taxes and duties may not be refunded to customers wishing to return items. All orders will be shipped via DHL and will also be insured. If you have any questions regarding delivery, please contact us at info@Elkawatch.com.

Once products are in stock, items are shipped immediately after purchase.
ELKA Watch Co. strives to ship in-stock items within 24 hours of receiving your order during business hours.
Shipping time depends on the exact destination of your order and your country's customs procedures, but generally varies between 2 and 10 days. However, specific shipping times cannot be guaranteed. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@elkawatch.com

ACCESS TO YOUR WARRANTY
If your Elka watch needs to be repaired, please contact your original retailer or directly ELKA Watch Co. (only in case you purchased it on www.elkawatch.ch). A confirmation RMA (Return Material Authorization) will be sent to you by e-mail.
The watch must be carefully packed in its original packaging.
Any watch received in return, without prior agreement from us notified by an acknowledgement of receipt by email, will not be taken in charge, nor refunded, nor exchanged.
You are responsible for the return postage costs and we recommend that you insure your parcel to cover any damage or loss during transport as ELKA Watch Co. does not accept responsibility for loss or damage to the parcel during transport.

For decades, the design world was ruled by the maxim: "Form Follows Function." It’s a powerful principle that gave us clarity, efficiency, and engineering excellence. It’s a principle we respect.
But in modern luxury, a watch is no longer just a tool for telling time. It’s a piece of personal history, an extension of self, and an emotional comfort.
This is why, at Elka Watch Co., we’ve adopted a new mantra: "Form Follows Feeling."
We believe that a great timepiece must be technically precise (function), but its ultimate purpose is to bring you joy, warmth, and connection (feeling). Our rounded, organic cases are inspired by the comforting presence of a smooth pebble—something you want to touch and handle.
Our goal is simple: to create a technically reliable watch that you will love to wear for a lifetime.

Elka Watch Co. was honored to be named the 'Best Start-up Watch Brand' at the prestigious 2025 Temporis International Awards in Zurich.