What were your favorite acquisitions in 2022 (watches)?

MtV · Dec 24, 2022

Another year is about to end, and having finished my last workday for 2022 I’ve started to reminisce about how the year has gone. With an on-going pandemic, new wars and whatnot there’s plenty material for a subdued mood, but let’s focus on the horological side of life for this thread.

I produced the same topic last year and loved to see what the members here were excited about, so with another year gone, let’s see what’s new.

Which ones are your favorite new arrivals? Have you found a grail, either new or vintage? What was your surprise-of-the-year purchase? Share as many as you like.

My personal choice:

The tool-watch

By coincidence, I stumbled upon a wonderful Ed White this year that I can now call my own. Won’t loose to many words on it, as I’ve done this here:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/int...er-105-003-63-ed-white-asymmetrical-t.151065/

The dress-watch(es)

Couldn’t limit myself on one here. 😁 I have a severe weakness for rose gold and both a ref. 2500 Centenary and a 2799 deluxe Constellation found there way to me in 2022.

The funky one

It’s just a little 2577 Seamaster, but the dial is just absurd. Have been hunting one for a few years, this year it finally happened and it gets more time on the wrist than I expected. A lot more. What a cool thing.

Curious to see your favorites and happy Christmas, Hanukkah or just a happy Saturday to you all.

texasmade · Dec 24, 2022

No new arrivals for me in 2022. Last new arrival was my Snoopy 50th in Q4 2021.

I’m patiently waiting for the call for an EW321 or JB 60th anniversary in 2023. I don’t really have my hopes up that I’ll get a call for either one next year. Since 2023 is a milestone bday for me, if neither comes in then I’m thinking of going completely different getting a manual wind Cartier Tank LC or Tank Cintrée

YY77 · Dec 24, 2022

Only one this year and don't think I could have topped it:

YYTIN · Dec 24, 2022

Superbe add-on to your collection Matt !!!
Dibs please on your golf omega and deluxe ;-)

I’ve been busy again this year… I will add the pictures later on.

But from the top of my mind:
- my 1st speedy from 1985 (really happy to get this one, I just hear the call for an older version now)
- my Mark II racing
- my 176.007 full blue
- my 146.017
- my first Rolex DJ 16014 in very nice condition
- my first IWC calibre 83 with nice bombe lugs
- my second CASD V23 (need to decide which one to keep and which one to sell).
- And a few more : Tissot PR516 GL and chrono, etc

Now I would love to find a Constellation Deluxe, a 30T2RG and maybe a seamaster 300… I also find myself more and more vulnerable to 40s chrono…

Aroxx · Dec 24, 2022

I just joined the club this year and reacquired the sickness. Thanks for having me. Got the Constellation as a hand-me-down around May and then bought my grail watch not too long after. Now starting to eyeball Seamaster 300s.

JwRosenthal · Dec 24, 2022

Had a lot go out this year and tried to keep the purchasing to a minimum- but c’mon- a watch collector has needs.

I am ending the year with this one and is probably one of my fav’s.

Peekaboo

airansun · Dec 24, 2022

During the year I swore I wouldn’t buy another watch, I bought these five.

SkunkPrince · Dec 24, 2022

While I can't say all of the work was done in 2022, the last pieces came together...

A case swap got the good movement and dial into a much better case and I just recently got lucky sourcing a crystal with the original slightly-domed profile. The Ω symbol in the original was the taller, skinnier version and the Ω symbol in the replacement was more rounded, but I'm fine with that. It's the profile that matters. The caseback with the original movement, dial etc, was carried forward to the replacement case.

This one was received in 2022 and I am quite pleased with it, and after service it runs quite well too.

Scarecrow Boat · Dec 24, 2022

These three were my favorite for this year. The first was purchased from a friend and is my daily. Love the matte textured dial, the faded bezel, and the alternating red & blue date wheel.

This next one was more of a heart breaker of a favorite. I spent some time learning about this one and the more I looked into it, the more I loved it. It has a El Primero movement 👍. Found this one with original ladder bracelet in excellent condition. It was a heart breaker because it had a significant and undisclosed dent on the dial (hidden by the minute hand in the pic). I will find another one to replace it.

And lastly, this early Mk1 “chronograph” CASD. Spent a while learning about the many nuances of this and the later “chronomaster” references and missed out on many. Thought I had missed my chances of finding a mk1 until I found this one. Currently at my watchmaker as it was dead on arrival. But, totally worth it for this condition.

RevZMan123 · Dec 24, 2022

Oldest

Newest

Goldest

Bluest

Favorite modern

Favorite Vintage

Favorite Project (Seiko 7006a)

Togri v. 2.0 · Dec 24, 2022

I believe I only bought one watch in 2022 (perhaps two but can’t remember exactly when I bought the other one) and it was the Vertex M60 Aqualion. Pretty damn cool watch and Vertex has the best customer service I have experienced from any company watches or other.

Love the watch and have worn it most days of the week since picking it up in July.

Alex Cheers · Dec 24, 2022

Easy to answer: from my three new watches in 2022 only one really matters and that would be my birth year Speedmaster

Evitzee · Dec 24, 2022

Five came in in 2022, but six left the stable. Best acquistition would have to be the 321 Ed White, Omega did everything right with this release. Hard to find, but worth the hunt.

STANDY · Dec 24, 2022

Finally got a Submariner

ghce · Dec 24, 2022

I've slowed down buying watches, probably only 30 to 35 this year and I love most of them but the one that I have worn consistently the most since purchase is this one.
Just to add some thread drift as I only bought this other one a couple of weeks ago I better add that in to as one of 2022 favourite purchases.

Canuck · Dec 24, 2022

I added this one to my active rotation, earlier this year. Truth to tell, it had been buried in a bunch of discards/parts watches/donors/project watches for probably ten years, and I had given it little thought. I was the beneficiary about 10 years ago, when the previous owners widow wanted to find a home for it. It went to someone else, first, then it came to me. It ran lousy, so it was ignored until several months ago when I needed a project. ‘Taint purty, but now that it is reliable, I wear it regularly. The movement is a two-register Landeron calibre 48, manual winder. The case is a “clam-shell” style. Likely 60-65 years old.

Dan S · Dec 24, 2022

My favorite is a Rolex 6298 "pre-Explorer" that I was finally able to purchase from a local seller after more than two years of trying.

Honorable mention goes to an Eterna Valjoux 22 chronograph previously (and originally) owned by a longtime member of our local NAWCC chapter and a Seikomatic Silver Wave, which I had been hunting for several years.

And the surprise of the year is that I fell in love with vintage Citizen watches and bought at least a dozen of them, including 8 Challenge Divers (so far).