Who invited the trolls?
Be gone, foul heathen! Climb back under your bridge!
The 2023 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC).
Welcome to the 2023 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club, otherwise known as WPAC. This is the 7th year of WPAC, which gives me pause to stop and think that I'm surprised it has lasted this long. We might just be onto a good thing?
I'm not intending to repeat the usual opening remarks, but if you're coming to this thread wondering what this is all about have a gander at the last couple of years WPAC threads:
www.watchuseek.com
www.watchuseek.com
www.watchuseek.com
.....obviously don't read them all, but the original, opening posts should give you a good idea. In short this is a thread for a like minded group of watch obsessed individuals who are generally trying to improve their watch buying habits. Anyone is welcome to join, but if you join we want participation and contribution!
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 2023. 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 with that I declare WPAC 2023 open for business. Yes, it's a little premature but I reckon I'll be quite busy after Xmas and between NY, so a little forward planning is required.
I'm not intending to repeat the usual opening remarks, but if you're coming to this thread wondering what this is all about have a gander at the last couple of years WPAC threads:
The 2022 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC).
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...
www.watchuseek.com
The 2021 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC).
The 2021 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC). Welcome to the 2021 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club, otherwise known as WPAC. This is the 5th 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...
www.watchuseek.com
The 2020 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC).
The 2020 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC) Welcome to the 2020 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club, otherwise known as WPAC. This is the 4th year of WPAC, which was started at the beginning of 2017 as I was in a spiral of buying, flipping and buying again. Sometimes I was looking at the...
www.watchuseek.com
.....obviously don't read them all, but the original, opening posts should give you a good idea. In short this is a thread for a like minded group of watch obsessed individuals who are generally trying to improve their watch buying habits. Anyone is welcome to join, but if you join we want participation and contribution!
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 2023. 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 with that I declare WPAC 2023 open for business. Yes, it's a little premature but I reckon I'll be quite busy after Xmas and between NY, so a little forward planning is required.
21 - 40 of 2728 Posts
This is not a place for the watch unenthusiasts, we will not I repeat not have any of it. Buy more watches, you will comply 🤑🤑🤑🤑Who invited the trolls?
Be gone, foul heathen! Climb back under your bridge!
Bye Felicia.This is not a place for the watch unenthusiasts, we will not I repeat not have any of it. Buy more watches, you will comply
The block feature is now engaged.
Here's the state of my Russian collection. Sold three last week, still feel like I have too many. Yes, this may be a cheap and crappy collection to some, but I love Russian watches and as a college student I've put a lot of money into my collection over the last couple years, so it means a lot to me.
Bottom row left to right:
-Pierce Chrono, heirloom, never selling.
-Poljot Signal Alarm: One crown fell out, need to get repaired and then sold this year.
-Zim Moscow Olympics Bear watch: Cute watch that I'm on the fence about. Inexpensive and cute but feel like I don't really need it.
-Kirovskie Crab: Favorite watch ever. Not going anywhere.
-Poljot Signal Alarm: Really like this one. Probably staying
-Zvezda Tank: Also really love it and can't see me getting bored of it anytime soon.
Winder left to right:
-Slava Tank: Not getting as much wear as it used to. Also fogged up on me the other day so I'm less keen to wear it.
-Vostok Amphibia: My beater that I wear to work. Only watch I can swim with. But at the end of the day I don't want to keep a watch I don't love all that much just to tick a box. I can just buy a Casio for being a beater.
Watch purchase goals: I want one reliable, almost every day watch that I don't have to think about and will always like. I'm leaning towards an older Tag Heuer professional 2000. I feel like quartz is the way to go for an everyday that you don't want to worry about. The one thing I also don't like about a mostly vintage collection is being hyper-aware of bumping your hand into things or being really careful when washing your hands.
Bottom row left to right:
-Pierce Chrono, heirloom, never selling.
-Poljot Signal Alarm: One crown fell out, need to get repaired and then sold this year.
-Zim Moscow Olympics Bear watch: Cute watch that I'm on the fence about. Inexpensive and cute but feel like I don't really need it.
-Kirovskie Crab: Favorite watch ever. Not going anywhere.
-Poljot Signal Alarm: Really like this one. Probably staying
-Zvezda Tank: Also really love it and can't see me getting bored of it anytime soon.
Winder left to right:
-Slava Tank: Not getting as much wear as it used to. Also fogged up on me the other day so I'm less keen to wear it.
-Vostok Amphibia: My beater that I wear to work. Only watch I can swim with. But at the end of the day I don't want to keep a watch I don't love all that much just to tick a box. I can just buy a Casio for being a beater.
Watch purchase goals: I want one reliable, almost every day watch that I don't have to think about and will always like. I'm leaning towards an older Tag Heuer professional 2000. I feel like quartz is the way to go for an everyday that you don't want to worry about. The one thing I also don't like about a mostly vintage collection is being hyper-aware of bumping your hand into things or being really careful when washing your hands.
Attachments
2022 = unmitigated failure; zero goals met.
31 watches. Dang. But only 9 unmodded....
I think at one point, I was under 16 watches... but things needed modding, and a few other watches were purchased.
2023 = no goals. I'd still like to try an online watchmaking course. Especially since my Vostok 710 handwind diver build is stopping intermittently.
I feel a purge coming on, soon. Not really any quantity goal at this point, but I could stand to shed a few.
No planned purchases, immediately, although there are maybe even three different mod builds I'm considering for the NH34 movement.
Bottom picture, bottom row, first three on the left - these are now the core of an endgame collection. I recently tried on a Longines Spirit 37mm... that may be a fourth addition. Others include a Citizen Chronomaster AQ4020-54Y, and a GS SBGN005.
None of those are happening any time soon, will be lucky to pick up even one in 2023.
The one watch tempting me in the near future is the pending Zelos Mako GMT release. Not even pix to post yet, but I like the Mako design, fits great, and will feature the new Miyota 9075] "traveler" GMT movement, which does fascinate me. We'll see if the design resonates.
I don't hang out here for the abstinence (obviously...) - y'all are just fantastic people to hang with. This thread, like another that moved offsite, is more like, "it's not about the watches."
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.
![Watch Rectangle Plant Wood Funeral]()
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.
Here's where I'm at, and my plan for 2023.
FINAL SOTC 2022
Haven't got them all with me at the moment so a collage will have to do. Not pictured the Armida and Farer I'll sell once I'm back in the UK and take some photos. The ? is there just to fill the empty space, damn prime numbers.
![Watch Analog watch Photograph White Light]()
THE PLAN FOR 2023
Another point is the soon-to-be-gone Armida, and my long debated plan of a zerographe mod with a NH35. That might happen, I'd give it a 50% chance. I've also been looking into Baltany for a few months now, specifically the quartz 1926 Oyster. Something cheap and fun.
Might also invest in some Crown & Buckle Chevron straps, and haven't completely ruled out a steel case mod for the Royale.
THE PLAN FOR 2023: RISK ASSESSMENT
Is there something that may put the aforementioned plan, or lack thereof, in danger? Nothing worthy of note. The selling bits are 100% going to happen, the buying bit too... Unless I win the lottery (which is difficult considering I don't play), or something spectacular and affordable comes out next year (possible but unlikely), or I hit some financial difficulties which would force me to sell (extremely unlikely).
FINAL SOTC 2022
Haven't got them all with me at the moment so a collage will have to do. Not pictured the Armida and Farer I'll sell once I'm back in the UK and take some photos. The ? is there just to fill the empty space, damn prime numbers.
THE PLAN FOR 2023
- Sell two watches.
- Finally stop procrastinating and sell/gift a number of straps.
- Buy... nothing? Something?
Another point is the soon-to-be-gone Armida, and my long debated plan of a zerographe mod with a NH35. That might happen, I'd give it a 50% chance. I've also been looking into Baltany for a few months now, specifically the quartz 1926 Oyster. Something cheap and fun.
Might also invest in some Crown & Buckle Chevron straps, and haven't completely ruled out a steel case mod for the Royale.
THE PLAN FOR 2023: RISK ASSESSMENT
Is there something that may put the aforementioned plan, or lack thereof, in danger? Nothing worthy of note. The selling bits are 100% going to happen, the buying bit too... Unless I win the lottery (which is difficult considering I don't play), or something spectacular and affordable comes out next year (possible but unlikely), or I hit some financial difficulties which would force me to sell (extremely unlikely).
Allright, WPAC2023 it is then!
SOTC
![Watch Analog watch Clock Everyday carry Watch accessory]()
Unchanged since last year. Left to right: Vostok komandirskie; Hamilton viewmatic open heart; Union noramis gangreserve; Raketa alarm clock.
Intentions
No watches for 2023. There's been a small urge on and off the past year to add a Botta UNO quartz, but if that is going to happen it will not be before 2024. So basically if I can maintain my 2022 trackrecord for another year I'm happy
For more detailed intentions I'll refer to my '22 SOTC and updated intentions
SOTC
Unchanged since last year. Left to right: Vostok komandirskie; Hamilton viewmatic open heart; Union noramis gangreserve; Raketa alarm clock.
Intentions
No watches for 2023. There's been a small urge on and off the past year to add a Botta UNO quartz, but if that is going to happen it will not be before 2024. So basically if I can maintain my 2022 trackrecord for another year I'm happy
For more detailed intentions I'll refer to my '22 SOTC and updated intentions
21 - 40 of 2728 Posts
