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The 2023 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC).

137699 Views 2783 Replies 99 Participants Last post by  Wimads, 
Hornet99
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:

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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 www.watchuseek.com
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 www.watchuseek.com
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...
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.....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.
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jmariorebelo
Wimads said:
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!
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It's ok you don't remember, loads of people we interact with.

The Cauny is from the 80s, belonged to my dad and was my first watch. Wore it daily interchanged with the Casio for almost two years, before getting the Farer in 2020. Haven't worn it since, but keep it around.
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jmariorebelo
mconlonx said:
View attachment 17115354

View attachment 17115353

2022 = unmitigated failure; zero goals met.
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Godayum that's a lot of em. I remember you wanted to end 2022 in the tens...

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.
Click to expand...
Did you have any planned purchases in 2022? If not, how did you end up with 31 watches, and how will you keep the same from happening in 2023?

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.
Click to expand...
This alone should be enough incentive not to buy any flip fodder and keep working towards a greater goal. Good luck.
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mconlonx
jmariorebelo said:
Godayum that's a lot of em. I remember you wanted to end 2022 in the tens...



Did you have any planned purchases in 2022? If not, how did you end up with 31 watches, and how will you keep the same from happening in 2023?



This alone should be enough incentive not to buy any flip fodder and keep working towards a greater goal. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Planned purchases: Plus one Endgame Collection watch. Check - Glycine Airman No. 1. Unexpected: a need to sell a Sinn 656, only to pick up another one.

Otherwise... a Seiko 5 I know will not be available, cheap, OEM for too much longer. A Pagani Design which borrows heavy on the Longines Spirit with NH35 - solid watch, but largely superfluous. Stupid cheap deals on the Armitron digital ($10.00!), and Casio.

And then a whole lot of mod-builds. There comes some inevitable tipping point where I feel a need to put ideas into metal. Most lately, that involves the NH34. Like this one, a 24hr, single hand version...

Watch Analog watch Clock Material property Wrist


I've come to peace with the thought that I may only ever have dozens of watches at a time.

31 watches, 22 of which are anywhere from scratch-built from disparate parts, to lightly modded.

There was also the odd purchase which led to a miss-ship on the part of a Chinese company, a custom-dial watch to rectify the situation, and then me managing a run of 20 watches with custom dial and caseback, signed crown and buckle.
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Wimads
jmariorebelo said:
It's ok you don't remember, loads of people we interact with.

The Cauny is from the 80s, belonged to my dad and was my first watch. Wore it daily interchanged with the Casio for almost two years, before getting the Farer in 2020. Haven't worn it since, but keep it around.
Click to expand...
Ah, right, think I remember something like that. Difficult to keep track :p (hence the usefulness of sotc posts)
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LargeCrab
dive-wach-fan said:
I've just received my first Russian watch, a Vostok Amphibian "Sniper" - is there any way to determine year of manufacture from the serial number?

507503

I'd like to learn more about Vostok watches, can you suggest some resources?

Thanks!
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The Russian Watches forum on here is the best place to start. Manufacture dates are pretty much impossible to narrow down exactly.
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Hornet99
dive-wach-fan said:
I've just received my first Russian watch, a Vostok Amphibian "Sniper" - is there any way to determine year of manufacture from the serial number?

507503

I'd like to learn more about Vostok watches, can you suggest some resources?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
This thread isn't probably the best place to ask, try (as well as the other suggestion...) a new thread in the affordables section asking the question.....
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Miklos86
Wimads said:
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!
Click to expand...
I sense some signature 'Hard Love' incoming...
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Hornet99
Miklos86 said:
I sense some signature 'Hard Love' incoming...
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I'm closing my eyes then....... 🫣
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jmariorebelo
Wimads said:
Ah, right, think I remember something like that. Difficult to keep track :p (hence the usefulness of sotc posts)
Click to expand...
Yeah I wasn't planning on sticking around the 2022 thread as often, so no SOTC. I did do one for 2021, 2022 was the same plus the Fears as stated in the 2021 intentions.

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 www.watchuseek.com
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Aquavette
My wife surprised me with a watch for Christmas.
(Which she has NEVER done before.)
Really like this one, and never expected it.
2023 goals remain the same, with 2 more planned to sell. Hope Christmas was good to all here.

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Wimads
mconlonx said:
Planned purchases: Plus one Endgame Collection watch. Check - Glycine Airman No. 1. Unexpected: a need to sell a Sinn 656, only to pick up another one.

Otherwise... a Seiko 5 I know will not be available, cheap, OEM for too much longer. A Pagani Design which borrows heavy on the Longines Spirit with NH35 - solid watch, but largely superfluous. Stupid cheap deals on the Armitron digital ($10.00!), and Casio.

And then a whole lot of mod-builds. There comes some inevitable tipping point where I feel a need to put ideas into metal. Most lately, that involves the NH34. Like this one, a 24hr, single hand version...

View attachment 17117543

I've come to peace with the thought that I may only ever have dozens of watches at a time.

31 watches, 22 of which are anywhere from scratch-built from disparate parts, to lightly modded.

There was also the odd purchase which led to a miss-ship on the part of a Chinese company, a custom-dial watch to rectify the situation, and then me managing a run of 20 watches with custom dial and caseback, signed crown and buckle.
Click to expand...
I know you're not here to abstain, but I'm still tempted to send you to the Gulag..... But I fear re-education will be useless, and at some point you'll figure out a way to mod a watch from the IKEA set you were supposed to build your accommodation from...
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mconlonx
[wife-ish, dragging me through IKEA]
Me:...
Wife-ish: Isn't there anything you want to browse.
Me: Naw, I'm good, I don't think we really need anyth... Ooo, look! Clocks!
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Hornet99
mconlonx said:
[wife-ish, dragging me through IKEA]
Me:...
Wife-ish: Isn't there anything you want to browse.
Me: Naw, I'm good, I don't think we really need anyth... Ooo, look! Clocks!
Click to expand...
Every time we, as a family, go through duty-free I get some comments about the watches. I don't mention that the ones on display are rubbish fashion watches and that they are beneath me...... 🤣🤣🤣
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Wimads
Hornet99 said:
Every time we, as a family, go through duty-free I get some comments about the watches. I don't mention that the ones on display are rubbish fashion watches and that they are beneath me...... 🤣🤣🤣
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I bet you don't dare walking into the duty free High end Tudor/omega/rolex/etc AD, for risk of your family piecing together what kind of cash you are actually spending on your trinkets... :oops:
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Hornet99
Wimads said:
I bet you don't dare walking into the duty free High end Tudor/omega/rolex/etc AD, for risk of your family piecing together what kind of cash you are actually spending on your trinkets... :oops:
Click to expand...
Thankfully we're talking about small regional airports, so no chance for that issue...... 😊
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M
mconlonx said:
[wife-ish, dragging me through IKEA]
Me:...
Wife-ish: Isn't there anything you want to browse.
Me: Naw, I'm good, I don't think we really need anyth... Ooo, look! Clocks!
Click to expand...
Same here except I do not have a wife and it's: "Ooh, cheap meatballs and hot dogs!"
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Sugman
Hi. You can call me Sug, and I have a watch problem. One day I’ll put all my watches together into one pic, although I find this akin to asking an alcoholic to take a picture of his/her liquor cabinet. Suffice to say, I have too many watches…I’m guessing around 25. That’s way too many. Unfortunately, I’m not a flipper, so that number isn’t likely to lessen by a whole lot. I’ll occasionally give one away. I just sent a flieger that’s too big for my wrist to a friend in Canada. I’ve given a couple to a nephew in Colombia. Another to a nephew here in my hometown. 3 to my dad and 1 to my brother…and yeah, still close to 25 left.

There are probably 10 that get 90% of the available wrist time. I’m diver heavy. My idea of a dress watch is my Aqua Terra. A Damasko DA-46 is the closest thing to a pilot watch I have. Field watch? Does the Glycine Combat Sub count, or is that more of a dive watch? Oris Aquis? Check. SMP? Check. You get the idea.

In any case, I’ve got what I consider a nice collection. I have no need for another watch. Of course, I could have said the same thing for 15 (or more) of my other watches. My goal is to make it through 2023 without a net gain to my collection. IF I find a watch I love at a price I can’t pass us, 2 must go away.

So, I’m on the wagon and hopefully ready for the bumpy road ahead.
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Hornet99
Sugman said:
Hi. You can call me Sug, and I have a watch problem. One day I’ll put all my watches together into one pic, although I find this akin to asking an alcoholic to take a picture of his/her liquor cabinet. Suffice to say, I have too many watches…I’m guessing around 25. That’s way too many. Unfortunately, I’m not a flipper, so that number isn’t likely to lessen by a whole lot. I’ll occasionally give one away. I just sent a flieger that’s too big for my wrist to a friend in Canada. I’ve given a couple to a nephew in Colombia. Another to a nephew here in my hometown. 3 to my dad and 1 to my brother…and yeah, still close to 25 left.

There are probably 10 that get 90% of the available wrist time. I’m diver heavy. My idea of a dress watch is my Aqua Terra. A Damasko DA-46 is the closest thing to a pilot watch I have. Field watch? Does the Glycine Combat Sub count, or is that more of a dive watch? Oris Aquis? Check. SMP? Check. You get the idea.

In any case, I’ve got what I consider a nice collection. I have no need for another watch. Of course, I could have said the same thing for 15 (or more) of my other watches. My goal is to make it through 2023 without a net gain to my collection. IF I find a watch I love at a price I can’t pass us, 2 must go away.

So, I’m on the wagon and hopefully ready for the bumpy road ahead.
View attachment 17120582
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Welcome to WPAC Sug 👍😁
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Earthjade
2023 will be a purchaseless year for me. It won't be hard.
I bought 4 watches in 2022 after whittling down my collection to 1 watch. For all the mathematicians out there, that means I have 5 watches.
3 are end-collection keepers, one is a beater and one will get sold (eventually).
My watch goal now is to save for a Zenith chronograph and that's going to take more than a year, for sure. But once I have that, I can draw a line under my collection, because that will be the last piece of my watch-collecting puzzle. I'm glad that I have an end-goal, to be honest.
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D
Although I haven't done my SOTC post yet... Could I still request a bash? Everyone loves a bash right?

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Watch Analog watch Clock Watch accessory Silver


I need some help. This ticks lots of boxes for me...

I love IWC / JLC chopped pilot baton hands. It uses them without feeling like a rip-off homage watch. I like 22mm straps, as long as they don't result in skinny lugs - this avoids that and I have some expensive straps in that size sitting unused.
I don't tend towards date windows and it should be durable. And I don't own a watch that overlaps with this in any way.

The best bash I've come up with on my own is the movement... Seiko NH38, accuracy likely to be poor. But on the flip side, likely durable and replaceable. Oh and it puts me £600 further away from an IWC Mk xv (a watch I've long loved but exists beyond my comfort zone price-wise).

Thanks in advance :)
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