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The 2022 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC).

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The 2022 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC).

Welcome to the 2022 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club, otherwise known as WPAC. This is the 6th year of WPAC, which was started at the beginning of 2017 to try and get myself and some other addicts out of a crazy buying/flipping cycle with watches, we were buying for the sake of it rather than for the appreciation of the watch itself, constantly chasing the next, new shiny watch or searching endlessly, fixated on some watch; generally, IMHO, a rather unhealthy behaviour.

So, what is the point of WPAC? Well, the aim is to abstain from purchasing watches. But that's a bit blunt really, the abstinence is a tool or a method to break the cycle of buying/flipping and become a discerning consumer of horology. Learning to appreciate what you have, understand what works for you with watches and think rationally about purchases, rather than emotionally. Or the ethos of less is more, as some have suggested the philosophy is here. Yes we still love watches, but as we all know we can be weak, so WPAC is a place to get help; here you can take solace from like minded people and get support and encouragement to stop impulse buying.

With those that stick around and make some commitment WPAC has been successful; for me it's certainly helped me break the buy/flip cycle and stop obsessing, so maybe it can help you.

In previous years we've had some rules, but this year there aren't going to be, there seems little point when we all have subtly (sometimes massively) different goals. If you are in serious horological trouble with buying then look back at the OP in previous WPAC threads, the rules should be a useful starting point if you want to get things under control or just shout out here to get some advice, it's what we're good at. Think of it like a clubhouse or a WUS subforum dedicated to being friendly, chatting about everything and anything and where you can find like minded watch fans.

Having said that, there is one rule I'd like everyone to adhere to; first post should be an intro with a SOTC picture (include everything, don't cheat) and some goals/aims for 2022. Whether you want to abstain completely, want to save for a special watch, just need to take control, slow things down or whatever, we'll be happy to have everyone. Just as long as you're clear on what your aims are.

Please participate in the thread, it's what makes it what it is. Any reasonable topic of conversation is acceptable and in fact welcomed.

Bashing of any potential purchases should still be a mandatory element, but let's keep it funny. Nuclear level bashing is required for any actual purchases.
Expect to be challenged by others if you're suggesting a purchase, whatever your personal goals/aims and expect to need to defend yourself.

.....and one last thing, we do occasionally get some trolls visiting, let's agree to not feed them.

Edit - clarification on enabling: this is a difficult one to deal with as WPAC has evolved such that we discuss watches, post pictures, etc., previously we tried not doing that but it didn't really work and as well despite the temptation provided by this individuals need to develop the control to not be tempted every 5 minutes by something. However, this year we seem to have a mixture of regulars and new participants, and some the latter are wanting to abstain. Hence please don't directly enable by suggesting watches......
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Trinkets or not, they bring a lot of enjoyment and that has a lot of value in itself.
Curious to understand, for you, how that enjoyment manifests itself?


....from a personal perspective, I'm not at all sure that watches bring a huge amount of enjoyment to my life. More of an unhealthy obsession. I'd say that there have been some watches that have delighted me for a while (honeymoon period....) but then it's just a tool to wear.
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Curious to understand, for you, how that enjoyment manifests itself?


....from a personal perspective, I'm not at all sure that watches bring a huge amount of enjoyment to my life. More of an unhealthy obsession. I'd say that there have been some watches that have delighted me for a while (honeymoon period....) but then it's just a tool to wear.
In several ways - the research, the browsing, the hunt. Finding that deal and then finally having it arrive and be part of the collection. It’s an enjoyable pastime for me. I won’t be buying and selling as I have in the past. If something really cool shows up at a price I’m happy with, then I’ll take a chance on it.
Curious to understand, for you, how that enjoyment manifests itself?


....from a personal perspective, I'm not at all sure that watches bring a huge amount of enjoyment to my life. More of an unhealthy obsession. I'd say that there have been some watches that have delighted me for a while (honeymoon period....) but then it's just a tool to wear.
Watches become mildly enjoyable, if you stop obsessing about new ones and when you start wearing the one you got for just its intended purpose: telling the time.

The Vostok is just that for me, and looks good while doing it. But I can only enjoy that if I'm not constantly looking for "better" watches to replace it/add to the collection.
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What has always motivated me in the pursuit of this hobby is curiosity. "I wonder what it would be like to own a Breitling?" or "Maybe the Submariner really is the greatest watch ever made?", and so forth. Combined with the fact that watches can be sold off relatively easily with a minimal financial loss made it too easy for me to keep exploring that innate curiosity I have about the hobby. It led to a couple of dozen Seikos, three dozen micro-brand watches (NTH, Borealis, Karlskrona, Deep Blue, Armida, Heitis, Steinhart, Scurfa, others), and a smattering of entry-level Swiss (Certina, Hamilton, Oris) that ultimately satisfied that curiosity through ownership. But because access to watches is so easily achieved it makes one reject a watch for relatively minuscule reasons: too big/small, not enough lume, not accurate enough, lousy bracelet, don't like the hands, etc. Before I knew about watches, I would have simply lived with these minor issues. In fact I did, owning just one watch at a time for over forty years, replacing them only when one quit working.

There is no perfect watch. We all have to live with some kind of compromise. The question is, can we resist letting those compromises become justification to flip the watch and repeat the cycle?
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Curious to understand, for you, how that enjoyment manifests itself?


....from a personal perspective, I'm not at all sure that watches bring a huge amount of enjoyment to my life. More of an unhealthy obsession. I'd say that there have been some watches that have delighted me for a while (honeymoon period....) but then it's just a tool to wear.
You're revealing a hidden truth about our hobby, Hornet. One that many of us aren't comfortable admitting, imo.

It's the online research, the comparisons, looking at dozens or hundreds of glossy photos, trying them on at stores, the ordering, the waiting (and obsessively tracking the shipment), and the unboxing that many of us love more than anything else. The Chase is our obsession. After the honeymoon, it's just a tool on our wrist, at best, and mere jewelry at worst.

I am no exception. Although my watch purchases each year in WPAC have been slightly better in control than the previous, I fall off the wagon several times a year. I fall victim to the temptation of The Chase, and I give into the compulsion that drives so much of us on WUS.
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Controversial opinion: Ali watches are for consumers, not collectors. ;)
Well... I bought a Baltany 36mm field watch off AliX, which I modded, and it turned into one of my favorite, most worn watches.

Collectibility? Outside my life, not so much. Consumer good? Sure, that too.

But like some few other inanimate objects in my life, it's definitely attained more precious status than it's raw value - what I paid for it, or what I could sell it for.
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I'll double you down on the controversial opinions.

Patek and AliX watches are both mere trinkets that add equally insignificant value to life.
Depending on the Patek there's a beauty to the science and craftsmanship that adds value; but other than that you are correct. ;)
You're revealing a hidden truth about our hobby, Hornet. One that many of us aren't comfortable admitting, imo.

It's the online research, the comparisons, looking at dozens or hundreds of glossy photos, trying them on at stores, the ordering, the waiting (and obsessively tracking the shipment), and the unboxing that many of us love more than anything else. The Chase is our obsession. After the honeymoon, it's just a tool on our wrist, at best, and mere jewelry at worst.

I am no exception. Although my watch purchases each year in WPAC have been slightly better in control than the previous, I fall off the wagon several times a year. I fall victim to the temptation of The Chase, and I give into the compulsion that drives so much of us on WUS.
This bit about the online research is really something that struck me not too long ago: I (and probably most of us) spend more time engaged with unreal representations of watches, than with actual watches- and that as I sit not 10 feet from a box full of them, ones that are arguably my favorites!
I suspect if I spent most of my time with my real watches instead of endlessly engaging with unreal ones, I would get bored pretty quickly- and that may be all the attention it deserves.
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Well... I bought a Baltany 36mm field watch off AliX, which I modded, and it turned into one of my favorite, most worn watches.

Collectibility? Outside my life, not so much. Consumer good? Sure, that too.

But like some few other inanimate objects in my life, it's definitely attained more precious status than it's raw value - what I paid for it, or what I could sell it for.
There are exceptions to every rule- you buying one, and it becoming one of your favorites, is way different from buying 15 and flipping 14 in a year!
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There are exceptions to every rule- you buying one, and it becoming one of your favorites, is way different from buying 15 and flipping 14 in a year!
True. Not quite sure how I avoided it, but just never went through that cycle.

Part of it is that most of the available watches homage designs which don't really appeal to me. The other part was that the few I did like, I purchased Ebay or direct from the brand.

Probably best that I really only started looking at AliX after finding WPAC...
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True. Not quite sure how I avoided it, but just never went through that cycle.

Part of it is that most of the available watches homage designs which don't really appeal to me. The other part was that the few I did like, I purchased Ebay or direct from the brand.

Probably best that I really only started looking at AliX after finding WPAC...
And really I should give @walpow a break, as I was guilty of very similar behavior this last year. We're all learning together, I suppose!
I'm not at all sure that watches bring a huge amount of enjoyment to my life. More of an unhealthy obsession.
That is a very fine line though, right? If the pendulum swung too far towards unhealthy obsession then it can swing back to a more healthy place - at least that’s why I’m here. 😉
The Chase is our obsession. After the honeymoon, it's just a tool on our wrist, at best, and mere jewelry at worst.
True, true. But what’s next after that, well after the honeymoon? Does it then become just a familiar face? A trusty companion? Maybe many, many years later a cherished memento?

Someone earlier made the point of wanting to enjoy the watches they already have more, that’s my goal too for the year and a new watch would only dilute that goal.
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Please bash the Farer Carnegie for me.

Please bash the Farer Carnegie for me.

My initial thoughts:

1. Teal and blue, nuh-uh. Too close to green and blue. It just clashes.
2. Farer is definitely up there with offering the most Pantones-for-your-dollar. I know that's their thing and people like it, but do you really need a red seconds hand, an orange running seconds, and white and red for everything else? Color is a wonderful thing and I am the last person to prescribe a collection of boring all-black dial watches, but there's such thing as a balance of color and I think this watch rather upsets it.
3. Case is not particularly thick but slab sided as all get out with zero relief along the bottom edge to allow it to conform to the wrist. It's probably going to wear like a coffee cup.
4. Watches in review photos are duller than they appear.
5. From the Worn & Wound review- " This was my first experience with a Farer watch in the metal, and I can say that I’m surprised with how nice the watch is. ". Talk about damning with faint praise, lol.
6. $2000 is a serious amount of cash for what honestly is a novelty watch.
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Please bash the Farer Carnegie for me.
Way too blue and not in a good way. The orange and red hands clash too.
And really I should give @walpow a break, as I was guilty of very similar behavior this last year. We're all learning together, I suppose!
I didn't feel like you were giving me a hard time. No break needed. Like you said, all learning together. And I have to say, I'm already feeling fewer impulses to buy things, just from hanging out with people in the same boat.
Please bash the Farer Carnegie for me.
It's got a tachymeter. Tachymeters are annoying. Though at least they didn't spell it tachymetre.
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My initial thoughts:

1. Teal and blue, nuh-uh. Too close to green and blue. It just clashes.
2. Farer is definitely up there with offering the most Pantones-for-your-dollar. I know that's their thing and people like it, but do you really need a red seconds hand, an orange running seconds, and white and red for everything else? Color is a wonderful thing and I am the last person to prescribe a collection of boring all-black dial watches, but there's such thing as a balance of color and I think this watch rather upsets it.
3. Case is not particularly thick but slab sided as all get out with zero relief along the bottom edge to allow it to conform to the wrist. It's probably going to wear like a coffee cup.
4. Watches in review photos are duller than they appear.
5. From the Worn & Wound review- " This was my first experience with a Farer watch in the metal, and I can say that I’m surprised with how nice the watch is. ". Talk about damning with faint praise, lol.
6. $2000 is a serious amount of cash for what honestly is a novelty watch.
Thank you, that’s very fair and really helped, especially the last point ! I will put it off for now and revisit with this group later.
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I didn't feel like you were giving me a hard time. No break needed. Like you said, all learning together. And I have to say, I'm already feeling fewer impulses to buy things, just from hanging out with people in the same boat.

It's got a tachymeter. Tachymeters are annoying. Though at least they didn't spell it tachymetre.
Interesting, I never liked the tachy scale either but I would actually prefer the tachymetré spelling.
Watches become mildly enjoyable, if you stop obsessing about new ones and when you start wearing the one you got for just its intended purpose: telling the time.

The Vostok is just that for me, and looks good while doing it. But I can only enjoy that if I'm not constantly looking for "better" watches to replace it/add to the collection.
I agree with your statement 95%... with the 5% remaining for me changing the word mildly to 'very'. My favorite watch of 2022 is the Mk1 and variants. Along the cheaper watches in my collection as far as price paid. But highly enjoyable every time I wear them. Everything else is spot 'on' on my WUS book!

TX Mk1 Camper by Wolfsatz, on Flickr

TX Mk1 Camper by Wolfsatz, on Flickr

TX Mk1 Chrono by Wolfsatz, on Flickr
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Just wanted to report in that I made it through 2 days of 2022 without buying any watches!
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