What were your favorite acquisitions in 2024 (watches)?

I bought no watches in 2024 😮😮 My wild years in that regard is behind me

While 2024 saw some heavy hitting brands enter my collection like Vacheron and AP, it was clearly a heavy year for the Microbrand -- as expected since it seems like almost everyday saw a new model released on facebook groups or kickstarter.

My first watch of 2024 was from this very forum and was the Henry Archer Nordso Meteorite


Citizen finally realized all the money they were leaving on the table by not making watches in the same range of the movements they dole out like candy to micros ...


Zelos really brought it to market this year and I ended up with 3 of theirs. my favorite being the pre-order of the onyx aurora bronze due in 3-4 weeks. So is it my last watch of 2024 or my first watch of 2025?


3 Omega also made it into my collection, 2 from @MtV , 1 being this Grand Luxe he made perfect


It also seemed like the year of the stone dials -- malachite being a hit, and this one from a Pollack living in Wales, was my favorite of the bunch


Honorable mention has to go to the one Bulova I got this year, which are probably one of the most represented in my collection aside from Omega and Hamilton. The Veteran's Watchmaker Initiative version of the Hack.

Here are the fives that I added to my 2024.

2 vintage size watches I had been hunting. A 167.005 I purchased here, and recently a quadrant dial DeVille, with 2 quadrants sunburst, and 2 brushed for an interesting hourglass dial effect that's a little hard to capture.

Three watches that I've acquired this year.
I generally look for 'fixer-uppers' as I enjoy the challenge of mending + repairing.

Starting with the most recent, I've been after this particular Longines for a while, but they always seem pricey. I was lucky to come across one at auction for a reasonable sum. It needed a service, but the cal. 431 now running well and this is one of my favorites.



Next, a Zenith Victorious. This arrived in a sorry state with bits missing from the calendar works and bent pivots, but it went back together thanks to some parts from a donor movement. I've still to try and improve the hands...



Finally, a Grand Seiko 6145 from Japan. I love this watch, but I'm unsure why...perhaps the simplicity of design? I entrusted this to a professional watchmaker, due to scarcity of parts. He did a great job, it is amazingly accurate.


Here's to 2025, wishing everyone on OF a happy and successful year.

Started and ended the year strong. Added a rare 18k Hamilton Astramatic to the collection at the beginning of the year and recently scooped up an 18k hooded lug cal. 352 chronometre Seamaster.

The first eight months nothing but finished with a flurry😊
In order:
14060


16610


16014


16760 and to answer the question which is a tough call, probably this one.

Here are mine:

166.027


14060

Lighting.

Admittedly late to this party, but happy to join. Ironically the one year that I have some significant acquisitions, for myself and my budget and which I have been working towards for some time, I felt quite shy about posting. Not really sure why, but since I owe much of my knowledge in watches to many of you wonderful OF members who have posted here, I feel I must celebrate these purchases with you. As always thanks @MtV for starting this thread each year.

This year came with quite a fee changes, some surprises, a project long in the works, and a couple grails.

I put a bid out on this lovely 2054.50 SMP 300 at a price I could afford knowing full well I would most likely not win. A couple days later, and to my surprise, I received a notification that I won. A lovely surprise.

Not long after I received a call from the watchmaker letting me know my long in the process and long in service Speedmaster 145.022 Mark ii racing dial project was ready to be picked up. It may not be a grail to some but this racing dialed lovely time price is a grail to me.

In July I left the company I was with for 6 years to start a new type of career in my industry. After some time and a couple confirmed successes, I found myself looking to cement the transition of a new chapter in my life with a watch. So I put a few watches up on the block and statred looking around for a grail, a Tudor Submarier 79090. A 1989 serial with a birth year 1988 date stamped bracelet showed up on eBay from a local seller. I met with him in person to see the watch in person and with the help of a few members here along with a local expert on the reference, I decided to purchase. The deal was made even more the sentimental when I was speaking with the seller about it being as close to a birth year watch as I could get with this reference, and we figured out we were born on the same exact day. Inconsequential in the scheme of things but somehow felt like the universe was saying “You gotta get it” and I’m thrilled that I did.

A big more long winded than I expected so thanks for reading along if you made it this far, but I always appreciate a good story about a watch. Hopefully you enjoyed mine. Cheers!