What were your favorite acquisitions in 2022 (watches)?

Shabbaz · Dec 25, 2022

Dan S
Congrats! Any story behind it? My father gave me a PW for my college graduation, and I also inherited several from him.

Yes. Yesterday he gave three pocketwatches to me and my two brothers. One was from his father (my oldest brother got this one), one my mother bought for him around 1960 (middle brother) and the Antoine Freres my mother bought around 1970 in a street called the spiegelgracht in Amsterdam. That street leads to the Rijksmuseum (Nightwatch) and was/is full of antique dealers.

I found this about Antoine Freres on the web:

This company was managed by Ernest and Jules Antoine from 1880 until the beginning of the 20th century. In 1890 Ernest published a Study on watchmaking, adjustment and in 1897 he published an article on the angular velocity of balances. In 1897 he obtained a patent for a winding indicator mechanism.
https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/depatisnet?action=pdf&docid=CH000000013340A&xxxfull=1
https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/depatisnet?action=pdf&docid=CH000000013047A&xxxfull=1
In 1889, the brothers were honorably mentioned and won numerous medals including the gold medal for the excellence and precision of their watches at the Paris Exhibition.

The company was based in Besancon where France's most famous watch brand, LIP watches, was founded in 1867. Several of Antoine Freres were delivered to royal houses in Europe. So that's quite interesting.

Larry S · Dec 25, 2022

So I gave this to my Bauhaus loving, saving for a Nomos son. He freaked when he unwrapped it. Right decision!

vintage hab · Dec 25, 2022

Four watches this year.

IWC Ingenieur 666 which took 2 years to find. Don't know if it's my grail, but close:

Love the ladder bracelet.

Wanted a watch made in Lancaster PA (near me)

Finally a watch on a whim thanks to the great enabler thread on OF. Gift to myself for Christmas.

Thanks to the OF community for your online friendship. May you all wear your beautiful watches in good health!

JwRosenthal · Dec 25, 2022

vintage hab
Four watches this year.

IWC Ingenieur 666 which took 2 years to find. Don't know if it's my grail, but close:

Love the ladder bracelet.

Wanted a watch made in Lancaster PA (near me)

Finally a watch on a whim thanks to the great enabler thread on OF. Gift to myself for Christmas.

Thanks to the OF community for your online friendship. May you all wear your beautiful watches in good health!

Finally a snorkel in this thread!

gatorcpa · Dec 25, 2022

Only 2 arrivals in 2022. I think these watches found me, more than the other way around.

The first one is special. As in Grand Seiko Special.

Not pristine but not bad either.

Second one is an Omega Centenary, Ref. 2499:

The crystal is shot, looks like OEM Omega replacement is made of unobtainium. The dial underneath is perfect. I will try to find a proper generic when I put this one in for service in the new year.
gatorcpa

gbesq · Dec 25, 2022

SOG53
What a stellar years work! Congrats and wear them all in good health and proudly. !

Thanks very much!

SkunkPrince · Dec 25, 2022

gatorcpa
The crystal is shot, looks like OEM Omega replacement is made of unobtainium.

PN1045, currently available.

Pascal S · Dec 26, 2022

I only bought 3 watches this year, which shockingly is still a hell of an improvement over the last decade during which I bought none.

Two were stopwatches that I managed to get for a song, so the highlight of my year by far was the return of the birth year Speedmaster events had forced me to sell 9 years previously. I've posted the whole story of this extraordinary watch in this separate thread (warning: long read).

duffy7 · Dec 26, 2022

Added 2 more watches in 2022

Omega Constellation 2852 with arrowhead indices

Closing the year with a
Omega Geneve 14702

Kraal90 · Dec 26, 2022

It’s been a great horological year for me. A few outgoings and two incomings.

2767:
A fatlug bumper has been on my list for some time. Was able to purchase this example via a Swedish watch forum. The specific watch has been owned by a few members of that forum.

The second incoming was a 1501 from 1974 with blue dial. Purchased from a pawn shop. The watch came on a 62510 20mm width, so too wide. It works for now but the hunt is in for an oyster or jubilee bracelet of the correct width.
This watch is also one I’ve been wanting for some time.

Very satisfied with this year.
/K

Kraal90 · Dec 26, 2022

👍

duffy7
Added 2 more watches in 2022

Omega Constellation 2852 with arrowhead indices

Closing the year with a
Omega Geneve 14702

Wow that Connie! 👍

Pahawi · Dec 26, 2022

Only this Certina DS 5801-113 for me this year:

JwRosenthal · Dec 26, 2022

Pahawi
Only this Certina DS 5801-113 for me this year:

Dibs

iamvr · Dec 26, 2022

Still pleeeenty of time to buy watches in 2022. Will report later 😁.

Tony C. · Dec 26, 2022

A couple of uncommon variations...

Davidt · Dec 26, 2022

It’s been a funny year for my watch collection in 2022. Due to an ever expanding family and hectic work life I feel I’ve lacked a bit of clarity when it comes to my collection this year. I’ve bought quite a few pieces around the £500-1000 mark then ended up selling a few as they simply didn’t get worn. Basically, too much noise and not enough focus.

A couple of my favourite acquisitions that I expect to stick around are below.

My aim for 2023 is to have a proper reassessment of my current collection and where I want it to go, finish selling some pieces that don’t fit in, highlight a concise list of watches to be on the look out for and avoid of the cuff, reactionary purchases that don’t fit in with this approach.

SM120 (currently away for service)

Seamaster DeVille (unusual grey dial)

Seamaster 165.002 (Uncommon SM300 companion or military style dial)

Vantage Poor Mans Heuer Chronograph

Honorary mention to my 7220T Camaro.
Circumstances dictate I need to list this for sale but if I can sell some others to offset the cost I may try and keep it.

RevZMan123 · Dec 26, 2022

JwRosenthal
Finally a snorkel in this thread!

Thanks to this guy, I presented this one to my wife. She absolutely loves it ... Bracelet and all. Whodathunkit? Not her or me.

Kraal90 · Dec 26, 2022

Davidt
It’s been a funny year for my watch collection in 2022. Due to an ever expanding family and hectic work life I feel I’ve lacked a bit of clarity when it comes to my collection this year. I’ve bought quite a few pieces around the £500-1000 mark then ended up selling a few as they simply didn’t get worn. Basically, too much noise and not enough focus.

A couple of my favourite acquisitions that I expect to stick around are below.

My aim for 2023 is to have a proper reassessment of my current collection and where I want it to go, finish selling some pieces that don’t fit in, highlight a concise list of watches to be on the look out for and avoid of the cuff, reactionary purchases that don’t fit in with this approach.

SM120 (currently away for service)

Seamaster DeVille (unusual grey dial)

Seamaster 165.002 (Uncommon SM300 companion or military style dial)

Vantage Poor Mans Heuer Chronograph

Honorary mention to my 7220T Camaro.
Circumstances dictate I need to list this for sale but if I can sell some others to offset the cost I may try and keep it.

Nice seamaster 120!

SOG53 · Dec 26, 2022

Pascal S
I only bought 3 watches this year, which shockingly is still a hell of an improvement over the last decade during which I bought none.

Two were stopwatches that I managed to get from a song, so the highlight of my year by far was the return of the birth year Speedmaster events had forced me to sell 9 years previously. I've posted the whole story of this extraordinary watch in this separate thread (warning: long read).

I enjoyed you previous post and I think this should get an award for most passionate re-acquisition of the year.

bgrisso · Dec 26, 2022

cristos71
My top 6 of this year in order of acquisition...

I was very happy to score this full set Flightmaster in March

Then came a 33.3, a reference that I'd been wanting to add for years and years

Up next came this lovely CK 2381

And soon after a CK 2186 with galvanic guilloche dial

This early 1940's Unver chrono with flat bezel, olive pushers and multi-coloured dial is not something often seen and amazing on the wrist.

Finished the year of with a bang and this beautiful CK 2486 Cosmic moon phase 😀