SOTC 2024 + 2025 goals
2024 has been a busy year for me and my collection. I have downsized and will continue to downsize in 2025 till I get to about 15 watches which will be the mainstays of my collection.
I added the following watches to my collection in 2024 along with their order of addition this year:
Milus Archimedes 666 Super Compressor
A true compressor and a faithful reissue to its namesake from the 1960s, the Milus Archimedes is often overlooked as the brand has, like many other resurrected Swiss brands, revamped itself under the new management (now owned by a member of the Tissot family). It is perfectly proportioned and wears well. The movement is an ETA 2892 Top grade. I have thoroughly enjoyed wearing this one.
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Omega Seamaster 300 Ceramic Bezel (SMPC) – Reference number 212.30.41.20.01.003
Omega is my favourite brand and I have a few of them in my collect. However, this variant of the Seamaster with a ceramic bezel and a black lacquer dial was extremely appealing to me in many ways. I bought it as NOS (new old stock with box papers and warranty) from a dealer who had this piece lying in his inventory. I got a good deal on it. The Seamaster in its latest iteration is very different from the previous generations. It’s a shame because its such a storied family of watches and the new one (barring the 007 editions) completely butchers the watch in every way. Although this is Omega fanboy purist in me speaking and doesn’t have a bearing on the latest Seamaster variant introduced in 2018.
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Seiko 5 SKZ255 Frankenmonster
I had two of these earlier and I regretted selling them. While on a trip to an obscure shop in my city I found the “all black PVD Frankenmonster” and I bought it instantly. I love the heft, the crazy lume and the everything about it. Seiko watches are my weakness as one can see the inordinate number of Seiko watches s I tend to buy.
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Seiko Turtle Tropical Lagoon Special Edition (called as the Turtle Sprite) SRPJ35J1
Another Seiko! I didn’t have the turtle in my collection yet and this brightly coloured special edition with a black day and date window made the decision to buy it a lot easier.
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Seiko 6138 UFO
The legendary Seiko 6138 UFO. I got this UFO in decent condition from an exhibition for vintage watches in my city earlier this year. Everything on it is original and the seller had it in his family for 4 decades now. It functions properly, keeps good time and the chronograph functions and resets properly. I have got a period correct strap since and this is the only proper vintage watch in my collection. I haven’t been the luckiest with vintage watches and but this once, my luck did shine.
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Seiko SARX069/SPB127
This one is a brilliant GADA watch. This is a reissue limited edition numbered to 1964 pieces launched by Seiko just when the COVID pandemic started in 2020. I have black dialled variant which I sold recently and kept this gorgeous Champagne dial variant.
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HMT Kohinoor Automatic
Being an Indian, I have owned a couple of HMTs in my collection but the small size and my aversion towards watches which are less than 39 mm in size (which the HMTs are) always made me avoid them as a brand. HMT was rescued from closure a couple of years back and they’ve sort of upped their game to bring watches which are more appealing to a wider audience. The case is now larger (43mm with a short lug distance of 49mm) and with a more updated hacking and hand-winding Miyota 8211 movement. The packaging which is really good probably cost HMT 20% of its asking price of 100-110 USD. This amount could have been utilized to provide a better bracelet!
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Citizen Promaster Fujitsobo NB6021
I had the 150 m variant of the same watch many years back when I started collecting watches. It is popularly called the Fujitsobo or barnacle diver with an interesting backstory of a surfer losing it in Australia and then it being found after years of spending time under the sea. It’s a very well made watch with excellent specs and a brilliant duratect coated scratch resistant titanium case. Apparently it’s a direct competitor to the Seiko SPB143 (a watch I’ve owned for a few years now before selling it earlier this year). This however won’t be a permanent resident in my collection as I have way too many watches now!
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Citizen Promaster NY0040
This one will however stay in the collection. A brilliant watch now with an updated Miyota Hacking movement screams 1990s retro. I bought it brand new from a seller online earlier this year and I have worn it a lot this year.
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Vostok Mod
I made this modded Vostok from two different Vostoks from Meranom. It has a nice bezel insert and a no date dial which is a blessing because setting the date on a Vostok is a pain. This one has nice lume and is a fun watch!
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Casio G-Shock Mudman (g9000)
I finally found the Mudman again in a small obscure shop in the bylanes of my city. I was hunting for it locally for years. The Mudman is a G-shock which I always wanted and couldn’t have been happier with the purchase. Its perfectly proportioned and well sized, reliable, practical and it has been one of the top three most worn watches this year for me.
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Casio Promaster PRG550
I picked this watch in new old stock condition. I wear it on weekends while I go motorcycling. It is a relatively large watch.
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Seiko Marinemaster SLA077.
I bough this watch a couple of weeks ago. I wanted a white dial Seiko Diver and this variant of the newer Marinemaster (some purists will frown at it) ticks all the boxes. Zaratsu polishing, a peach of a movement (8L36), brilliant wearable proportions and heft, torch like lume and a brilliant whitish silver textured dial. It is Seiko’s answer to some of the best, most popular Swiss divers out there. I absolutely adore this watch.
![Image]()
Here’s a collage of some of the other watches in my collection from over 14 years that I’ve spent in this hobby.
![Image]()
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2024 has been a busy year for me and my collection. I have downsized and will continue to downsize in 2025 till I get to about 15 watches which will be the mainstays of my collection.
I added the following watches to my collection in 2024 along with their order of addition this year:
Milus Archimedes 666 Super Compressor
A true compressor and a faithful reissue to its namesake from the 1960s, the Milus Archimedes is often overlooked as the brand has, like many other resurrected Swiss brands, revamped itself under the new management (now owned by a member of the Tissot family). It is perfectly proportioned and wears well. The movement is an ETA 2892 Top grade. I have thoroughly enjoyed wearing this one.
Omega Seamaster 300 Ceramic Bezel (SMPC) – Reference number 212.30.41.20.01.003
Omega is my favourite brand and I have a few of them in my collect. However, this variant of the Seamaster with a ceramic bezel and a black lacquer dial was extremely appealing to me in many ways. I bought it as NOS (new old stock with box papers and warranty) from a dealer who had this piece lying in his inventory. I got a good deal on it. The Seamaster in its latest iteration is very different from the previous generations. It’s a shame because its such a storied family of watches and the new one (barring the 007 editions) completely butchers the watch in every way. Although this is Omega fanboy purist in me speaking and doesn’t have a bearing on the latest Seamaster variant introduced in 2018.
Seiko 5 SKZ255 Frankenmonster
I had two of these earlier and I regretted selling them. While on a trip to an obscure shop in my city I found the “all black PVD Frankenmonster” and I bought it instantly. I love the heft, the crazy lume and the everything about it. Seiko watches are my weakness as one can see the inordinate number of Seiko watches s I tend to buy.
Seiko Turtle Tropical Lagoon Special Edition (called as the Turtle Sprite) SRPJ35J1
Another Seiko! I didn’t have the turtle in my collection yet and this brightly coloured special edition with a black day and date window made the decision to buy it a lot easier.
Seiko 6138 UFO
The legendary Seiko 6138 UFO. I got this UFO in decent condition from an exhibition for vintage watches in my city earlier this year. Everything on it is original and the seller had it in his family for 4 decades now. It functions properly, keeps good time and the chronograph functions and resets properly. I have got a period correct strap since and this is the only proper vintage watch in my collection. I haven’t been the luckiest with vintage watches and but this once, my luck did shine.
Seiko SARX069/SPB127
This one is a brilliant GADA watch. This is a reissue limited edition numbered to 1964 pieces launched by Seiko just when the COVID pandemic started in 2020. I have black dialled variant which I sold recently and kept this gorgeous Champagne dial variant.
HMT Kohinoor Automatic
Being an Indian, I have owned a couple of HMTs in my collection but the small size and my aversion towards watches which are less than 39 mm in size (which the HMTs are) always made me avoid them as a brand. HMT was rescued from closure a couple of years back and they’ve sort of upped their game to bring watches which are more appealing to a wider audience. The case is now larger (43mm with a short lug distance of 49mm) and with a more updated hacking and hand-winding Miyota 8211 movement. The packaging which is really good probably cost HMT 20% of its asking price of 100-110 USD. This amount could have been utilized to provide a better bracelet!
Citizen Promaster Fujitsobo NB6021
I had the 150 m variant of the same watch many years back when I started collecting watches. It is popularly called the Fujitsobo or barnacle diver with an interesting backstory of a surfer losing it in Australia and then it being found after years of spending time under the sea. It’s a very well made watch with excellent specs and a brilliant duratect coated scratch resistant titanium case. Apparently it’s a direct competitor to the Seiko SPB143 (a watch I’ve owned for a few years now before selling it earlier this year). This however won’t be a permanent resident in my collection as I have way too many watches now!
Citizen Promaster NY0040
This one will however stay in the collection. A brilliant watch now with an updated Miyota Hacking movement screams 1990s retro. I bought it brand new from a seller online earlier this year and I have worn it a lot this year.
Vostok Mod
I made this modded Vostok from two different Vostoks from Meranom. It has a nice bezel insert and a no date dial which is a blessing because setting the date on a Vostok is a pain. This one has nice lume and is a fun watch!
Casio G-Shock Mudman (g9000)
I finally found the Mudman again in a small obscure shop in the bylanes of my city. I was hunting for it locally for years. The Mudman is a G-shock which I always wanted and couldn’t have been happier with the purchase. Its perfectly proportioned and well sized, reliable, practical and it has been one of the top three most worn watches this year for me.
Casio Promaster PRG550
I picked this watch in new old stock condition. I wear it on weekends while I go motorcycling. It is a relatively large watch.
Seiko Marinemaster SLA077.
I bough this watch a couple of weeks ago. I wanted a white dial Seiko Diver and this variant of the newer Marinemaster (some purists will frown at it) ticks all the boxes. Zaratsu polishing, a peach of a movement (8L36), brilliant wearable proportions and heft, torch like lume and a brilliant whitish silver textured dial. It is Seiko’s answer to some of the best, most popular Swiss divers out there. I absolutely adore this watch.
Here’s a collage of some of the other watches in my collection from over 14 years that I’ve spent in this hobby.
