What were your favorite acquisitions in 2025 (watches)?

This thread is kinda becoming a tradition for me.

I produced the same topic the last years and loved to see which arrivals 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 top 3 picks in no particular order:

1. Condition, condition, condition

While the configuration of this bumper Connie is well-known, the condition absolutely blows me away:




2. Condition, condition, condition and a sprinkle of rarity

This one only came to me a few days ago and I still can’t quite get over the combination of incredible condition, a dial that’s very lovely and yet was unknown to me until I saw it at auction a few weeks ago. Also the first 2577 I own that comes with this sticker on the case back. I suppose I won’t be able to actually wear it, will I…




3. The gold nugget

Another one I haven’t shared here yet, and another one that’s in a configuration I’ve failed to find another example of so far. Meet this 14381/2 solid gold Connie with a rare structured dial:



And now, let’s see yours!

Here are mine ….

Constellation 2652:


Seamaster 2577:


And this spectacular Seamaster:


As always, thanks for MtV’s many contributions to help make OF a special place.

My buying activity has slowed to a crawl, but I couldn't resist a few that stood out during my surfing. This small Eterna was originally sold through a shop in the charming Swiss town of Vevey, and is remarkably well-preserved.



I also stumbled across a screaming auction bargain on this ref. 2364 Chronometre, which completes my small, "mirror-dial" 30T2Rg collection (the other is the 2365 center-second version).

This thread is like a gift each end of year. I've bought a few pieces, some of which I may keep and some I may pass on. Photos are from past posts here in OF.

A 14k pocket Omega


A Longines 8229-1. Not exactly my style, but it's a Valjoux 72 and the price was quite decent, so had to take it.


Omega Admiralty. Love the dial. Don't love the fact that it looks small on my wrist.


Finally, a 166.020 De Ville, which is still on my bench for a cleaning and inspection. Couldn't pass the condition of this dial.

One of the first days in January, I bought this beauty from a private seller. The dial is practically flawless, which was more than you could say about the rest: The 30T2 movement was not salvageable. It was without Incabloc and was never supposed to work in a Spider Lug case, and to top it off, the back case is from a central seconds reference. I had a spare cal. 265 so all ended sort of well.


Of all places, I stumbled over this unusual dial on another spider lug case on Chrono24. I have had speculations about dial cleaning but ended up keeping the dial in its original state.

In February, this little gem came to me. What can I say? I'm in love.


A few days ago in December, I finally got a tank as a replacement for my granddad's watch that I lost as teenager.
The tank seller gave me an offer I couldn't resist, and so I left with this as well!

2025 has been a strange collecting year for me.

Despite my reasonable efforts, I’ve lacked focus (again) and been too indisciplined, which has meant too many watches have come in and gone back out again reasonably quickly as they didn’t align with my goals (see https://omegaforums.net/threads/what-are-you-watch-collecting-aims-for-2025.179443/).

Despite this I had a couple of notable acquisitions this year.

Firstly, this almost mint Carrera 2447S.
Although I wasn’t actually looking for one, the opportunity presented itself and this is one of the most enjoyable ways to buys watches imo (possibly also a reason why I seem to lack focus as I can’t resist a good opportunity, whether I’m looking for the actual watch or not!). The condition is so good that I just couldn’t say no. I thought it would push its way into my collection and it did for several months. However, my passion is Camaros and although I probably have room for a 60’s Carrera, I’d prefer a black dial, so even with the condition being so good, this arrived and left in 2025.



Another two that followed a similar path were these two 70’s Datejusts. Both landed in 2025 and in an ideal world I’d have kept both of these but in an effort to regain some focus, I realised that a 70’s-90’s GMT was what was actually on my list, so I made the decision to sell one of these. In the end I sold both and miss them as the dials were both wonderful.



So, the one buy in 2025 that is still with me, was actually on my list of watches to buy in 2025 and I plan to keep in my collection is this Rolex 1675
GMT from c.1977.
In barn find condition from the estate of the original owner, covered in gunk and now currently away for a full service with Rolex accredited independent watchmaker. I’ve also got a red back Pepsi insert on the way.

Only one acquisition this year, due to gold skyrocketing and tariff concerns:



This was an eBay auction at an absurdly low price where I decided that if anyone was going to buy it for melt value, it was going to be me.

Not in pristine condition but it keeps excellent time.

More info here:


Happy New Year and to all, a better 2026!
gatorcpa

Well, compared to the lovely gems you folks have posted, my only acquisition this year - a green dial Aqua Terra 41 - seems positively pedestrian. It was a happy accident, really, the result of a trading in a disappointment of a watch I was desperate to offload. A local AD took it on trade for the AT; I fortunately got every penny out of the damned thing. The AT had never been on my radar. Until it was. I love it (yes, PCLs and all).