[Miklos86]

Trolls and newbies posting here just because it happened to be a new post, understand that WPAC is more than a thread- WPAC is a committment; WPAC is a way of life. Think carefully before assuming you're ready for WPAC.

For me, WPAC is like a second wife. Before WPAC the wife was the only thing stopping me from buying and flipping and repeating. Ever since I joined in 2021, WPAC is a second "reality check" or "control point" when considering a new watch.

Will gather the troops for a photo and write up my intentions later today for a proper 1st post.

 

[Miklos86]

Same as in 2021 and 2022 I hereby respectfully submit my application for WPAC.

In 2022 I allowed myself one purchase, but made two (the second one replaced the first one). Gifted away another, so two in two out. Not great, not terrible.

This year my goal is to diversify and close my collection. The plan is to purchase at most two watches. First, a chronograph for my birthday in May. Having something to look forward to in the middle of the year should help with impulses. I have rather specific ideas and will submit the model for bashing in due course. Then I will have one slot in the watch-box, which I may or may not fill. That's the goal for this year.

Last but not least, I intend to cut back on watch-related content. I am unfollowing watch brands and related pages on FB/IG/YT. Will frequent WUS less, although I don't intend to disappear altogether. Maybe I'll only visit WPAC. My favourite F17 Casio thread is dangerous, now that 2023 is the 40th anniversary of the birth of G-Shocks, with surely lots of limited celebratory models.

My collection, left to right. One could say I have a thing for dive watches.
- Seiko Samurai Save the Ocean Great White Shark SRPD23K1: on the fence about this one. I like what this watch represents - carefree times, good memories, a joy to look at with its unique dial and dive watch aesthetic. Typically wear it while on vacation. Not accurate enough for me for regular wear (around +20spd), I only grab it a handful of times per year but if I sold it I'd miss it.

- Casio Oceanus OCW-P2000C: Bought it last year for everyday wear and it has performed admirably. Always accurate because of radio/bluetooth time sync, great readability, good lume, LED light, stopwatch and lovely Pepsi bezel made of sapphire. The fact that whenever I look at it I know its perfectly accurate made me forgive the quarz seconds-hand. My only gripe with it is that it's a tad large, but that's a price to pay for all this awesomeness.

- Omega Planet Ocean 39.5: Watch for working from the office, going out, formal wear, etc. Always feels special when I wear it and that bracelet is amazing. The 8800 movement is something else, when worn regularly the watch gains ~0.7spd.

- Casio G-Shock GW-5000: riding watch, slim, small and indestructible, a reliable and versatile workhorse of a watch.

 

[Miklos86]

Did you sneak in that Cauny under the WPAC radar?? I don't recall having seen that before -- and looking through your WPAC'22 posts, it doesn't seem you ever posted a '22 SOTC, so no way to check either..

I think I'll need you to report to @Hornet99 to explain your lack of transparency!

I sense some signature 'Hard Love' incoming...

 

[Miklos86]

For me it is. Have you ever noticed drug dealers always have funny names like Cookiehead, Doc Rock, Lil Smokey, and Jomashop?

Or the most telling of all, 'Authorized Dealer'.

 

[Miklos86]

Apparently Momentum is reissuing the original "Magnum PI watch." Never watched the show, and I don't care about getting watches from shows or movies. But the watch itself is pretty nice. Only thing is, Momentum being Canadian, I'd probably have to pay almost 20% import fees on any watch sent to me from there.

That's always enough to dampen the purchase impulse.

Thanks for the heads up. Loved the show, like the watch. However, Momentum is the name of a rather sketchy political party here, so I obviously can't wear that. I consider this a divine intervention from the WPAC gods.

...what, we have a yearly renewed constitution, a dictator, a justice system called Hard Love, our very own gulag, you say we can't have our religion too?

 

[Miklos86]

Bribing the guards gets you a longer sentence.....

...not bribing the guards with a walrus might cause them to fix your watch problem. Permanently.

 

[Miklos86]

Yeah that was my fear re blood pressure, not really possible. And I'm just 27, will talk with my GP on Monday again but it's likely it's from high renal function. Heart rate would be more of a curiosity specially when running, for that alone I'll probably not bother...

First criteria would be decent quality, then smallest size and price. But as hornet says, the sensors take space.

Cheers my dudes.

Edit: found a few smartwatch/wrist things that state they can measure BP but look a bit dodgy, will check with my doc

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 I had was approved for blood pressure monitoring.

How to Measure Blood Pressure with Galaxy Watch Active2 and Watch3

FAQ for Samsung Mobile Devices. Find out more about 'How to Measure Blood Pressure with Galaxy Watch Active2 and Watch3' with Samsung Support.

www.samsung.com

Out of curiosity I tested it against a cuff BP monitor and the two were close. Didn't need it, didn't use this function anymore and sold the watch not long thereafter in December 2020. My point is that in 2020 there were smartwatches with this function, there should be now (currently Samsung is at Galaxy Watch 4 I think), it may be worth it to check out the smartwatches instead of health bands. Typically pricier though.

 

[Miklos86]

Good evening, gentleman. Without knowing until this evening what the WPAC is, it seems I have unintentionally made myself a member. Thought I should go ahead and make it official. I never had a large collection (I think I maxed out at 7 or 8 watches) but even that amount kind of stressed me out. For 2023 I wanted to simplify things. Long story short (you can read more here: 2023: The Year of the Three Watch Collection) I bought a Hamilton Murph 38, sold/am in the process of selling all my collection except two (a vintage Universal Geneve and a Vaer) and going with a three watch collection for 2023. Well, there's technically four (F-91W) that I don't consider part of the collection but will list it to keep in the spirit of the WPAC.

The Four and Their Purpose
Hamilton Murph 38: my every day watch. Currently on a leather band from ColaReb but will need something more summer-friendly eventually.
Universal Geneve Ferrovie dello Stato: my vintage piece which can double as a dress watch. On a cork strap from Martu Leather.
Vaer S5: my beater/adventure watch. I do a lot of backpacking, hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. I needed a thin and light watch, and this one fits the bill. On a MN-style strap from The Watch Steward.
Casio F-91W: what I wear at the gym. On a two-piece NATO from Clockwork Synergy. I need a new one that matches the watch better.

Pictures!
View attachment 17145740
View attachment 17145741

Welcome to WPAC! I think it's safe to say you like watches with Arabic numerals, all three are fine examples. It's great that you match and re-dress your existing watches with different straps, for even when one gets the itch to buy a new watch, a well-chosen new strap on an already owned watch can give a lot of satisfaction.

 

[Miklos86]

Okay, I'll bite and join this for the first time, because I've been purging a lot over the last few months and want to keep my collection limited and stable this year.

I'll start with my collection:
Seiko Alpinist SARB017 - Bought this about a year into this hobby, and it has countless scratches. This one is never going away.
Orient Speedtech Auto - A cool watch I own for sentimental reasons because I own a Subaru BRZ. My car hobby is another money pit, but I'll be diving deeper into that one this year via track days.
Seiko SNE593 Solar Diver - Everything you need to actually get wet. After owning a terribly inaccurate Seiko King Turtle, I realized the importance of having an accurate movement.
Hamilton KFA 38 mm - On the bracelet. Kind of a rebuy because I owned the silver one and then sold that earlier last year before picking this one up in December. Also, very accurate.

GShock Corner:
DW5600 - Bought it for $38 after I lost my first one. My beater of beaters.
GW6900 - First one with MB6. I wear this to the track.
GA-B2100 in yellow - Received it for Christmas! So light and yellow!

On the chopping block:
Citizen Promaster BN0150 - Haven't worn it since I received the SNE593. I have the OEM bracelet too.
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time SRPB77 - I don't wear pure dress watches, so I needlessly picked this one up last year as a kind of rebuy after owning the blue one.

Goals for the year:
Be more measured in my purchases, because I definitely went off the rails buying and flipping close to 10 watches last year trying to figure out what I actually like. I want to purchase a watch after I've successfully gotten my PMP (Project Management Professional) certification this first half. It's most likely going to be a Certina - not sure if it's going to be a DS-2 or Ph200m, but it will be black and on a bracelet. I'm trying to avoid buying another Seiko auto as much as possible, because I have so much bad luck with their accuracy but I keep eyeing the SPB243 Alpinist 1959 Reinterpretation. Current grail is an Omega AT 38 mm, but I'll probably afford that in another 5 years.

Whew. That's a lot to type out on the phone.

You didn't seriously think you can post about a BRZ and not show a photo of it? Please. You can also include the Orient if you must.

 

[Miklos86]

What's the punishment for taking a watch that I thought I was selling, putting it on a strap I already own, and wearing it again? Do I end up in the gulag?

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

Quite the opposite. Re-vitalizing and enjoying what you already have instead of flipping it like a buffoon is commendable WPAC behaviour.

 

[Miklos86]

Status report: I'm good. Earlier this week I had to pick up a few things, so I went to a mall that happened to have many watch shops. Obviously I checked them out, they had many of my current favourites - like the Longines Spirit and the Seiko Speedtimer - in stock. I looked at them, liked them, but it didn't even cross my mind to buy any of them. In my WPAC pledge I allowed myself two purchases this year, but only after my birthday. Not exactly the best solution, but seems to help keeping the impulse in check for the time being.

I also learned that in May I'm due to appear in court in Prague, Czech Republic in professional capacity. I like this, because I can add a day to my stay there and explore the area a little. I'm not that interested in Prague itself, already visitied it a few times, but prefer to roam a bit in the Northern part of the country where I've never been. Intend to cross the German border to visit Glashütte as well. I've never been to a town with that much watchmaking history and presence. I'm also looking forward to having a go on the Authobahn, the no-limit sections should be a blast on a fully faired sportbike. So far the only time I've driven it was 15+ years ago with a newish license in a small car and it was terrifying.

 

[Miklos86]

No, contrary to common perception, WPAC is not primarily focused on watch collection reduction. It is a method that many members have employed over the years to allow them to better appreciate what they already own and reduce the temptation to buy more, but again WPAC has one foundation: Stop buying watches indiscriminately. A corollary is to carefully consider any purchases that you do happen to make and above all avoid impulse buying because you are depressed/drunk/bored/dopamine-deprived/whatever.

You bought no watch, so you are safe from the gulag. That's good, because it's pretty miserable here.

Well worded. We can also underline that this is Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club, not We Hate Every Watch (however good that sounds). Flipping is bad, because it inherently causes a stir in the collection, excess cash and a "hole to be filled", that serve as means and justification for a possibly impulsive new purchase.

 

[Miklos86]

That is wonderful! I have heard great things about Prague, particularly its architecture and cafes. Will you be there around the time of your birthday? If you pick up an A. Lange & Söhne or G.O. while in Glashütte, I would not hold it against you even if could be, though not necessarily, counter to the WPAC philosophy. I think a positive association with a rare watch purchase can be a way to rewire, per se, your brain and rebuild a healthy relationship with watches with respect to your life outside of watches.

Careful, that's borderline enabling and Comrade Hard Love is always watching. If somehow he doesn't, the secret service, the stool pigeons or the voluntary informers surely do.

In more seriousness, thank you for the kind words. Luckily the trip will be a week before my birthday, so no watch for me. The design language of ALS, GO and especially Nomos don't speak to me, which is for the best. Although there are a dozen more watchmakers there...

Drive safely.... I never understood the pleasure of going fast on the German autobahn, especially on a motorcycle. Isn't the fun in making corners, rather than just going fast?

Up to 150kmh in a car is all I did, and that was plenty fast for me. Not for pleasure also, just to get to the alps more quickly At speeds of 180-200kmh you are going 100kmh relative to traffic on the right lane, which (esp. on a bike) is insanely risky imho; like going 100kmh right past a row of parked cars, but which aren't actually stationary.
On my motorcycle, 100kmh on the highway was plenty fast. Any faster than that it's just tiring on the arms. But I rode a chopper, so not exactly the kind of bike you'd want to do 200 on. Still, on a sportsbike I also wouldn't understand the joy of going 200 in a straight line, but I guess that's why my choice was a chopper.

Don't get me wrong, I also prefer the twisties over the highway. Sitting like a bag of potato for extended periods of time is no fun on any kind of bike. The ones built for the highway, like Goldwings, would be better off with 4 wheels. I'd like to try it, that is all. Kind of a bucket list thing.

I hope the trip goes well and is enjoyable.

Whenever I have the opportunity to revisit Prague there are only two mandatory in-town activities for me. 1) Visit Kepler's statue (yes really). 2) Stroll back across the bridge to have a pilsner and nice meal while gazing at the astronomical clock. I love that it was state-of-art in the 15th century, AND a true symbol of technological superiority. To me it also reinforces that our very notion of time is the byproduct of millennia of naked eye astronomy by many ancestral cultures.

I hope we can get a report back on the visit to Glashütte! That one makes me just a tiny bit envious...

The astronomical clock is marvelous indeed. I've been to Prague a couple of times and always visited that, right before an hour change. The thing is more than 600 years old... older than most countries. Let that sink in.
My happy place in Prague is Vysehrad, the fort, the cemetery and especially the surrounding park. Legend has it that it was the place where they founded the city in the 8th (!) century.

What bike do you ride? The last time I was on the autobahn on a bike it was a Moto Guzzi Breva 1100... Fun to max it out briefly but not the ideal tool for the job. I have an MT-09 now, which would be miserable flat-out for any significant length of time!

Corners are still where the most fun lies but there is definitely something thrilling about going fast in a straight line. Objects on the horizon hurtling towards you etc. Yes, you need to be careful but you can still enjoy the autobahn on a bike.

Have a great trip

Thank you! I ride a 2021 Suzuki GSX 1300 R, also known as gen3 Hayabusa. The thing is great in a straight line, but even better on the winding roads, thanks to its stability, power and perfect balance. Last summer it was simply amazing in the Dolomites. It can go blisteringly fast, being electronically limited to 300km/h, I want to experience it once on the highway, then I'll go back to my law-abiding self and book some trackdays.

 

[Miklos86]

Large capacity in-line 4s are an endangered species and I think Suzuki did a great job bringing the styling up to date whilst keeping it unmistakably a Hayabusa. I want to try one some day soon.

Rallyemenz treated us to a photo of his BRZ, perhaps once you're there you can ping us a pic that combines Hayabusa and Horology from Glashutte!?

The most horologically relevant on-board shot. I used my Garmin Instinct as GPS-assisted speedometer, to measure the difference of speedo reading from actual speed. Mostly to avoid hefty tickets. It also records maximum speed, but most importantly the whole route, same as it was a run, complete with time, altitude, weather etc data. Looking at the map is a great way to re-live the trip on winter evenings.

This specific photo was taken to record the lean angles, probably the lowest I'll ever go on the street with this bike, especially with the huge stock exhausts and switching to ST tires.

Will make a point of taking a photo at Glashütte when I get there.

 

[Miklos86]

Isn't that whay footpeg feelers are for?

On the Hayabusa.org forum there is a whole thread about lean angles... you know how competitive these characteristically masculine forums get

 

[Miklos86]

15 watches, since I ceased to be a one watch man in July 2017. Beyond these there is a Citizen and a Hamilton I don't have photo of on this phone, two Garmins that I returned in a few days and one rare Casio that I sold on without wearing. Right now I own 4 of the watches below.

There are only 3 of the 11 goners I don't regret selling to some degree. The Samsung smartwatch because it was useless. The Garmin Fenix because the Instinct fit my needs better. The Longines Hydroconquest, because while it was a great watch, the Omega PO was the perfect upgrade. All the others have qualities I miss and this is a testament against flipping.

 

[Miklos86]

Out of curiosity, what sent the PRW-50 to the chopping block?

Two things. First, the Garmin Instinct that does all ABC functions better. Second, I was on a mechanical streak and I thought the quartz second hand bothered me.

It was stupid, I should have given it more time before selling. I like its impeccable field watch style. Actually I sold it in December 2020 and seller's regret was so great that it made me re-think the buying-flipping cycle and joined WPAC January 2021.

Nowadays I'm considering the just-released PRW-51FC. However, don't want to make the same mistake again, I'm waiting a couple of months to see if the urge persists.

 

[Miklos86]

Dear @Hornet99 , I wish you all the best in recovering, finally climbing out of this rabbit hole. It was a long time coming, especially after the break you took last year from WUS, preceded by a message of similar tone to this one.

I think it's progress that you made a permanent commitment now, even passed on the mantel of WPAC chief. The last thing you need is a mental bind (excuse?) to frequent WUS again because of WPAC.

Again, I wish you all the best in life. Now we know that if we don't hear about you here, that is a good thing. Unless Comrade @Wimads fed you to the bears of course

 

[Miklos86]

I'm sorry, I think I didn't state my question well. I did understand that the intent of the "bash" was not to insult but instead to give often comedic, leaning-toward-exaggerated criticism of a watch, for the purposes of giving a seller reason to pause and reconsider a purchase. I was trying to ask what kind of bashing does one deal out to something without obvious "polarizing" features (odd colors, fonts, bracelet design, etc.). E.g., for fun, bash this:

View attachment 17165582

EDIT: @atvar already responded well (above), I just hadn't read through the thread to it when I started my response.

EDIT#2: For clarification, I am not considering a purchase of this watch. While I could afford it, I'm not close to the point where I could justify such a purchase, and I'm pretty happy with the watches in my box currently.

Seiko is taking the piss. It just deploys monthly watches with dials from the litter bin of the nearest stationery kiosk. The marketing team has to commit seppuku if they don't come up with a new BS story each time, but luckily they are good. They have one ready in about five minutes.

"Hey, people, we like time, so we make watches"

THE NATURE OF TIME | Grand Seiko

“THE NATURE OF TIME” is Grand Seiko's brand philosophy.The brand celebrates the Japanese spirituality of time that is deeply inspired by nature and her seasons and brought to life by Takumi,the dedicated seekers of mastery.

www.grand-seiko.com

"We looked out our window and saw a thing."

SBGA407G | Grand Seiko

In the Shinshu area of Japan, winter has its own special beauty. During the Shōkan "sekki" or season, the lakes are covered with ice, the air is sharp and dry and the sky takes on a deep blue hue that colors the snow that covers the mountains.<br /> The magic of Shinshu in Shōkan is captured in...

www.grand-seiko.com

So the dial everybody raves about, I don't buy that it's so special to warrant the price hike and the reverence. I had the luck to try it, the assistant at the Seiko boutique handed it to me like they were the king's testicles preserved in cognac. Underwhelmed.

Otherwise it a great watch. I love the movement and the PR indicator (one day I'll get a spring drive), could tolerate the lumeless hands, but it's more like a good Presage dressed in about $4000 worth of marketing.

 

[Miklos86]

I don't think there has been or will be a GS model that excited me enough to part thousands of dollars to own one. Aside from the couple of divers they make, they all look almost the same with different dial designs. I'd rather own an Omega.

This seems to be a consensus here. In 2021 I have put up for a bash an Omega PO39.5 against a GS SBGE257 GMT. Comparable models in terms of size and price, I liked both. The Omega received some flak for its thickness and HE valve, but GS was despised for everything else. Subsequently I got the Omega, so you can say I abused the bash system a bit, but it was in line with my vow for 2021.