The State of My Watch Collection at the End of 2025

I used to think a state of the watch collection needed a point to prove. An argument about taste, restraint, value, and growth. Over time, that way of thinking stopped feeling useful. What mattered more was paying attention to what remained once I stopped trying to force the hobby to feel a certain way.

This watch collection came together through a gradual process of reduction. Watches came in, others went out, and what remains reflects what I actually wore over time. These pieces stayed because they fit into my day-to-day life without friction and continued to feel relevant through repeated use.

What has changed most is how much mental energy I spend on collecting. I pay closer attention to what I reach for, what I enjoy wearing, and what continues to feel worth keeping without requiring explanation. The collection reflects those habits rather than any broader framework. This is the state of the collection at the end of 2025. It’s an honest snapshot of where things landed after a year of wearing watches more than thinking about them. These are ten watches that made it through a year of ownership, wear, and reconsideration.

Timex Expedition Field Post Solar

The Expedition Field Post Solar became part of my rotation during a period when simplicity carried real appeal. It’s lightweight, legible, and comfortable across long days, which made it easy to wear without thinking much about it. The solar movement removed the need for ongoing upkeep, and accuracy remained steady enough to stay out of focus. Over time, it became a frequent choice for errands, travel days, and situations where convenience mattered most. Its place in the watch collection reflects consistency of use rather than emotional attachment.

Seiko 5 GMT SSK003

The Seiko 5 GMT entered the collection around the time I fully accepted that a travel GMT didn’t need to be expensive to be useful. I honestly feel like I wasted so much time wresting with watches like the Tudor Black Bay GMT and Rolex Explorer II. Tracking a second time zone had become part of my regular routine, and this watch handled that role without complication. The GMT function integrated easily into daily wear, the movement behaved predictably, and the case wore comfortably over long days. It became a practical option for travel and everyday use. Its place here reflects a shift in perspective toward function and accessibility. I love pairing it with a Watches of Espionage Glomar Explorer strap.

Seiko “Turtle” SRPE93

The Seiko Turtle has remained in the watch collection through extended ownership and steady wear. Let’s face it, I’ve purchased and sold so many of these and I’ve finally accepted that one will always stay in the collection. The case shape distributes its size well on the wrist, making it comfortable over long periods, and legibility has remained reliable in a range of settings. It became part of regular rotation without requiring adjustment or reevaluation. Over time, it established itself as a familiar reference point for what I expect from a traditional dive watch. Bezel alignment can be a little better on this SRPE93 but hey, it’s a modern Seiko. Whatever.

Sangin Professional GMT Triple Aught Design Limited Edition

The Sangin Professional GMT also entered the collection during a period when tracking multiple time zones was genuinely useful. The quartz GMT function proved reliable during travel, and the secondary time zone saw regular use staying connected with home. During a family trip to Iceland, the watch was worn continuously and handled long days, cold weather, and varied conditions without issue. It also became one of the few watches shared between wrists in the household, which added personal significance over time. Its place in the collection reflects repeated use and shared experience. I still love that my wife enjoyed reaching for something that was literally battle-tested before making its way onto the market.

Halios Seaforth IV Titanium

The Seaforth IV Titanium became part of my daily wear through repetition rather than evaluation. I wore it through regular days and gradually found myself choosing it more often than anything else in 2025. The proportions, light weight of the titanium case, and overall balance made it comfortable for long stretches of wear. Using the 12-hour bezel to track family in another time zone became part of my routine. The pastel blue dial carried a sense of continuity with earlier Seaforths I had admired for years. Scratches accumulated with wear, and that reality became part of living with the watch. By the end of the year, it clearly reflected how my approach to collecting had settled.

CWC 1980 Royal Navy Diver Reissue

I’ve said it before. This is “my mil-sub”. The CWC Royal Navy Diver occupies a role defined by context rather than frequency of wear. Time spent with it has been intentional, often during moments when I want to reconnect with watches as issued tools. The fixed bars, matte dial, and straightforward case design communicate purpose clearly, and the reliable movement reflects the period it came from. Its presence in the collection adds perspective and historical grounding. I love this thing and don’t see it ever going anywhere.

DOXA SUB 300 Aqua Lung Limited Edition

The DOXA SUB 300 Aqua Lung limited edition holds the most emotional weight in the collection. It connects directly to the period when my interest in watches became lasting and personal. It marked a few big steps in my life when I bought it and has been with me through so many adventures at this point. The case shape, dial color, and overall presence remain immediately recognizable, and wearing it carries a strong sense of engagement. Time spent with the DOXA is deliberate and rooted in appreciation. I think it represents a continuous thread in my collecting life and serves as the central reference point around which the rest of the watch collection exists. This is the crown jewel. You can read my full review here.

Panerai Luminor Marina PAM00777

The Panerai Luminor Marina is tied to a trip to Italy in the summer of 2019 to celebrate my fifth wedding anniversary, and specifically to Florence. Our arrival began with a mistake that turned the day into a frantic search after I left a backpack in a taxi containing everything we needed to travel. Recovering it reshaped the experience, and the following day my wife and I visited the Panerai flagship boutique. With her encouragement, I bought the Luminor Marina. Wearing it now brings that trip back with clarity, and its place in the collection remains anchored to that experience.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire

The IWC Spitfire Chronograph is tied to a long road trip through Arizona, with a stop in Scottsdale that finally turned years of interest into ownership. I had talked about owning an IWC often enough that my wife encouraged me to follow through (and maybe finally shut up about getting an IWC). Walking into the boutique during that trip felt decisive. Wearing it now brings back that stretch of road and the sense of committing to something I had considered for a long time. Its place in the watch collection reflects that moment of follow-through. I still drool over the newer Big Pilot 43mm but … why?

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch (3861, Sapphire)

This Speedmaster represents the longest arc in my collecting life. I first came to the Speedmaster in 2017, during a period of change that made ownership feel meaningful. That early hesalite version defined my understanding of the watch through daily wear. Years later, the 3861 Moonwatch refined that experience in ways that mattered over time. The stepped dial, updated bracelet, and visible movement brought clarity and cohesion. Living with it has connected past and present in a way that feels complete. This is the Speedmaster that remained. This is my Speedmaster.

The Watch Collection Today

Looking at the watch collection now as we close out 2025, the common thread is familiarity built through time and use. Each watch carries its own role, whether rooted in memory, routine, or long-term wear. Together, they form a record of what continued to feel relevant as my approach to collecting settled. This collection reflects where things stand now and what still feels worth wearing as the hobby continues to evolve. Please, please pray that I don’t take this crazy hobby any further from here.