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The 2023 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC).

132778 Views 2721 Replies 96 Participants Last post by  bth1234
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:


.....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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Dune Collection came from the Dune du Pilat in Aquitaine, France -- Europe’s tallest sand dune. No association to Frank Herbert, but that evidently didn't stop a legion of WPACers from making the cross-reference.
My first holiday romance was at the campsite at Dune du Pilat. I was 15, she was Dutch. True story.
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My first holiday romance was at the campsite at Dune du Pilat. I was 15, she was Dutch. True story.
The Christopher Ward looks nothing like her, so I should be OK.
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Jack and Jill went up the hill, eh? :D
What year was that, the summer of ....? What was the big tune?
'97 if my maths isn't failing me. So it was likely Oasis to go with the sandy theme.
Various members of WPAC are having quite a clearout... And I've also gone from 9 down to 4 within January.

Having never done a full year's WPAC or lurked for a full year, I was wondering if this is unusual? Or is it just a case of people starting a new year with good intentions / clearing the decks before collection creep later in the year?

My goals stated there would likely be some incoming for me but I'm wondering about the group as a whole.
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Can I ask a stupid question? I've searched briefly and looked for stickies... How do you do as Weetabix has above and just insert quotes or specific parts of someone's post? I just seem to reply to everything and the 'quote' button seems to try adding something to all my posts like a footnote.

Is there a 'how to post on WUS for idiots' guide?
If I want to quote just a portion of a person's post, then I highlight just that section with my mouse, and then hit the right button of the mouse.
Definitely a lot easier on the Desktop!
Select the part of text you want to quote. A pop-up will appear next to your cursor to quote / reply to that specific part of text. Works on both desktop and mobile, as long as you are just using the WUS website and not something like tapatalk.
Yet more evidence of what a delightful, helpful bunch of heretics people the WPACers are
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At least with other interest forums, like bicycling for example, one can argue that the bike has more options or the gear can help performance or something. There is at least generally speaking a connection with reality.
I fully agree with the ridiculousness of every behaviour you highlighted but I'm not so sure about the above.

I've witnessed my fair share of people, normally men, with BMIs above the healthy norm who are obsessing about which bicycle frame is half a kilo lighter... DRINK LESS BEER / EAT LESS CHOCOLATE!

And the rules of diminishing returns apply to nearly all non-essential products.
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Well I'm not a stoic Wimads riding round on a 50yr old, 20+ kg Gazelle with no gears! A bicycle equivalent to his Bostok? (Said with respect for both brands and the no-nonsense approach)

My road bike is steel because for my cycling a bit of stability and comfort makes more sense than some carbon race bike and the most lightness possible. It was more money than I'd spent on a bike before but still comfortably within the vague criteria for the affordables forum here.

A good friend who was a cycle courier at the time advised me on what to get. Generally it was along the lines of spend a little more to access the good quality stuff and you'll be more likely to cycle places and less likely to need to buy another in a few years time. That's exactly how it has played out over the last 6 years or so... Fortunately I have no known weakness for obsessing about bicycles.

As with watches, cameras, motorbikes, cars etc the trick is honest assessment of your needs, your desires, an eye for spotting marketing BS vs genuine quality improvements and awareness of your personal finances before taking a considered decision. Not something I always manage!
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The worst thing really is that WPAC rules apply equally to a £60 trinket from the House of Pagani to a £10000 waste of money on expensive ateliers. The first is pocket change. There should be a minimum cost for bashing (note that my opinions are often discredited)
Errrr, there are no rules? Well, other than a first post with SOTC and your aims...

Your aim could be to buy endless £60 trinkets all year but never to buy a £10000 watch from an established atelier.
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Will be interesting to hear if having the Day / Date at a jaunty angle makes it more or less legible when one is chained to a wall.
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I’ve always found that association a bit perplexing as McQueen only wore the Heuer as a movie prop and was a dedicated Rolex wearer in real life. In my association with auto racing in the early 2000s, I never ever saw a Monaco on anyone’s wrist, but that’s probably because amateur racers are usually broke because all their money goes into the car and the fearsome costs associated with the sport.
Did he like Hanhart too? I feel like he wore one on his trials bike.
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We just watched The Adam Project, a movie about time travel, in which the protagonist IDs himself to a younger him, with his dad's watch... a Speedmaster. Disappointing. So cliche. Although dude was a pilot...

McQueen is purported to have beat women. I'm not real keen on associations with the guy, even though he was OK in movies, an avid motorcyclist, and I loved On Any Sunday, which I believe might have been produced by him? In any case, he was in it, with product placement for some visor mirrors on an offroad motorcycle helmet, which never caught on.

There's a specific variation of the Exp2 which is called the McQueen style. Supposedly worn by him, but there are no reference pix to confirm.
From what I've read he was a pretty troubled and messed up individual. Raised by a sex worker, physically beaten by her clients and abandoned by his dad. Then idolised and hugely wealthy with various substance misuse issues.

No excuse for violence and abuse to women. Obviously. But his story is complicated and a cycle of abuse. Going back to Bond, Connery had some pretty reprehensible views on women and what was acceptable... That didn't get much focus when he died.

Generally, celebrity endorsements are fraught with these contradictions and a risky strategy that must pay off, otherwise brands would stop pursuing them.

Probably not chat for a watch forum but this thread is somewhere where we go off on the odd tangent!
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The only way you'll know that those two watches aren't for you is if you buy them and test them out.
This seems a fairly flawed piece of logic.

I really dont like peanut butter... The only way I'll know for certain that I don't like all peanut butter, is to buy and taste every variety?

Edit - ^ that's a bad analogy from me but you get my point (it's late here)

If there are things you know you don't like about something, buying it anyway is definitely not the best solution... There's thousands of watches - you have to disregard some based on experience and knowledge of your own likes / dislikes.
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My troll radar has obviously turned in for the night before I have. I'll buy some crunchy and some smooth tomorrow. ;)
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A profound depiction of how power corrupts. He starts the show in a much better place horologically.
Communication Device Gadget Machine Composite material Multimedia
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The 1957 trilogy Railmaster puts the arrow on the hour hand and has no date to mess things up...

I'm also not a fan of the Aqua Terra. I couldn't get excited about it to the tune of £5k... I think if I was looking for a watch in that vague niche, I'd end up with a pre-owned Zenith Captain / Elite and a chunk of change.
The 1957 trilogy Railmaster puts the arrow on the hour hand and has no date to mess things up...

I'm also not a fan of the Aqua Terra. I couldn't get excited about it to the tune of £5k... I think if I was looking for a watch in that vague niche, I'd end up with a pre-owned Zenith Captain / Elite and a chunk of change.
But, I wouldn't do either of those things... I'd enjoy what I already have and so should you! All of you!
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I'm not sure how often I'll get a chance to post but I like this thread so here's my application. SOTC:


Casio MQ-24 - this gets the most wrist time because I wear it to work as a stonemason (veneer installer; not a structural guy, yet). Cheap, legible, fits under my work gloves, unkillable. Is it the Toyota Echo of watches?

Momentum Atlas - for several years this covered my evenings and weekends, giving me no cause to want anything else. Light and easy to wear. Goes with every garment I own. I'm a big fan. Doesn't that ti look nice against the green Barton?

Escapement Time quartz diver - I saw a drywall guy on a site wearing some other midsized dive watch, and fell to researching immediately. Two weeks later this was on its way from China. I think it's a fantastic watch for the $140 CAD and don't regret dipping my toe into the homage waters. Clearly however, this could be habit-forming and it's worth setting a WPAC style goal.

My goal for this year is to buy no more than one more watch. It must be unique from what I already have, and could go a couple of ways at the moment - my first auto, or something to fill the work watch role with more style. I have also set myself a personal finance goal as a prerequisite.

Thanks for having me, and let's do this.
Love this first post and your collection. Good luck with your goal.
Let the group bash this year's potential purchase before you take the plunge. It keeps us entertained and hopefully helps you buy something that will have staying power.
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Comrade Wim will print out appropriate posts onto tissue paper each day for your perusal over a bowl of gruel.
I've never referred to it as 'printing one out'. I might use that going forwards.
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