2025 Arbitrage Andy Watch Guide
397: New 2025 Drops & Classic Models
Alright gents and gals — the weather is warming up, Spring is upon us, and that means two things — it is now socially acceptable to wear loafers without socks (veiny style) and it’s time for the Arbitrage Andy watch review. I’d have to check the archive for specifics but I have tried to do one of these each year. I definitely skipped a year or two here and there because of the lack of new watch models being released, but so far in 2025 many brands have new offerings flooding the market.
For those of you are new to Arb Letter - the annual watch review is meant to be a buyer’s guide to the luxury watch market, covering the latest models launched from top known brands as well as some more affordable and classic time pieces that everyone can indulge in. Watches have always been a staple of my wardrobe — in an era defined by crocs, uggs, sweatpants, apple watches, and gaudy fashion — watches remain a traditional and classic fashion accessory that can tell you a good deal about the wearer.
2024 Arbitrage Andy Watch Review
Within the watch world you will find many stories and personas, along with different motivations by the wearer — some go for pure flash, some like understated and sleek time pieces.
Some superficially (in my opinion) focus ONLY on the cost of a watch, as opposed to personal preference or if a model or brand speaks to them personally. I wear my Seiko SKX007 2X as much as my Rolex. Why?
Because it’s functional, I can beat it to shit, and it means a lot to me as my first watch I had before upgrading to one that put an actual dent in my bank account.
Some received a Panda Daytona from daddy for their 18th birthday, while others grinded for years in the corporate world to buy their first luxury watch on bonus day. Others might have a gorgeous rare Omega that was passed down from their Grandfather who was busy liberating Europe, while others might go straight for a brand new Patek after a killer year on the buyside. Whatever the story — watches represent far more than just a piece of metal on your wrist. They speak to history, your style, your personality, and your journey.
Today we’re covering the following watch brands:
Rolex
Tudor
Cartier
Omega
Seiko
Vostok
Audemars
Patek Phillip
Breitling
JLC
IWC
Today’s guide includes price ranges, reference numbers, my top classic models of choice for buyers, as well as new releases in 2025 — I have included some classic brands with affordable options as well for those of you on a budget. It features the most popular models released to date along with features included in the new releases in 2025 (which we haven’t looked at yet).
If you are a first time watch buyer or someone just looking to potentially add another fine timepiece to your collection today’s guide is a comprehensive look at the state of the market in 2025. We’ll list watches at $200 today and watches over $100,000.
The info in this guide took over 12 hours to compile hence why it’s for premium Arb Letter subs — if you’re on the fence regarding paying $5 to make an informed and educated opinion on a luxury watch purchase, probably not ready to buy one.
Between this year’s guide and past years in the Arb Letter archive there’s 3-4 highly detailed guides on selecting the best watch, all of the information is centralized in a single place to allow you to quickly start searching for the next time piece you want to cop based on what your preference, budget, and style is.
Let’s start with the king.
“A gentlemen’s choice of timepiece says as much about him as does his Saville Row suit”
— Ian Fleming