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The 2023 Watch Purchasing Abstinence Club (WPAC).

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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:

www.watchuseek.com

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...
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.
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Lee_K
Sugman said:
So, I’m on the wagon and hopefully ready for the bumpy road ahead.
Click to expand...
Welcome, Sug.

A couple of suggestions:

1. Unsubscribe to AAFES. Those "deal of a lifetime" offers have tripped up several other WPAC members and can be hard to resist.
2. Continue to be a brand ambassador for Hirsch straps, but this time, buy the strap to fit the watch rather than buy a watch to fit the strap.

Note: both above are in benign jest. ;) Welcome to WPAC.
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Sugman
Hornet99 said:
Welcome to WPAC Sug 👍😁
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Thank you, sir!
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Aquavette
Devro said:
Although I haven't done my SOTC post yet... Could I still request a bash? Everyone loves a bash right?

www.bausele.com

BAUSELE® Official Store | Crafted with care since 2011

Bausele is an Australian watch brand proposing unique and vintage inspired watches with an extreme care for details. Official supplier to the US Army™. Straightforward but ultra-precise and ultra-robust watches. #Takethetime.
www.bausele.com www.bausele.com
View attachment 17120747

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 Mkiv (a watch I've long loved but exists beyond my comfort zone price-wise).

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...
1.) The movement is the best thing about this watch, but not at that price.
2.) Boring design.
3.) Invisible inner number track.
4.) Don't buy the watch to fit the straps. Buy the straps to fit the watch.
5.) Should have 20mm lug width. Out of proportion.
6.) It costs HOW much??? Seriously???
7.) And finally: it puts me £600 further away from an IWC Mkiv

;)
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Sugman
Lee_K said:
Welcome, Sug.

A couple of suggestions:

1. Unsubscribe to AAFES. Those "deal of a lifetime" offers have tripped up several other WPAC members and can be hard to resist.
2. Continue to be a brand ambassador for Hirsch straps, but this time, buy the strap to fit the watch rather than buy a watch to fit the strap.

Note: both above are in benign jest. ;) Welcome to WPAC.
Click to expand...
Thanks!

Yeah…the AAFES deals have bitten me twice! And I’ve found the Artem RM-style clasp works really well with the Hirsch Performance straps. 😉
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Wimads
Devro said:
Although I haven't done my SOTC post yet... Could I still request a bash? Everyone loves a bash right?

www.bausele.com

BAUSELE® Official Store | Crafted with care since 2011

Bausele is an Australian watch brand proposing unique and vintage inspired watches with an extreme care for details. Official supplier to the US Army™. Straightforward but ultra-precise and ultra-robust watches. #Takethetime.
www.bausele.com www.bausele.com
View attachment 17120747

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 Mkiv (a watch I've long loved but exists beyond my comfort zone price-wise).

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...
That dial is a mess.... why print the number outlines on a sandwich dial? It's ugly and unnecessary. It just emphasizes the stencil design of the 0 6 8 9 numerals. And then the 24h track, why in gray? Like, make them legible, or don't print them at all....

Oh, and this is 600 bucks?! Looks like 300 bucks at most to me....
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M
Devro said:
Although I haven't done my SOTC post yet... Could I still request a bash? Everyone loves a bash right?

/[/URL]
View attachment 17120747

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 Mkiv (a watch I've long loved but exists beyond my comfort zone price-wise).

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...
The NH38 is a true no-date movement so I think it is actually a good choice because it has no ghost date crown position or ghost date click-over whenever it thinks it is close to midnight. However, it is an open-heart movement where the front aperture showing the balance is hidden for the sake of having a no-date format. I do not know why but knowing the movement is not living its best life irks me a little. Maybe mechanical movements do have a soul, after all!

Anyway, here is my bash attempt:
  1. It certainly does not look like a direct homage but maybe it should look more like one.
  2. At a passing glance, the bright white railroad seconds track is more noticeable than the lumed hour markers—I think it is a bit ham-fisted design decision.
  3. Were this a sterile dial, I would have given this a pass. Instead, it insists on printing its no-heritage brand on the dial...well kinda.
  4. 22mm lug width is a little much, at least 2mm too much for a watch head of that size.
  5. That shade of gray 24-hour track on the inner dial and brand logo tells me it is afraid of commitment. I hear the ladies do not like that.

Aquavette said:
7.) And finally: it puts me £600 further away from an IWC Mkiv

;)
Click to expand...
Hell, I was thinking how £600 gets one much closer to a Laco or Stowa which has real flieger heritage and I believe both brands are small enough to be completely hand-assembled but with drop-in movements.
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Lee_K
I don't usually weigh in on these bashes but I always turn a quizzical eye towards the claims about connections to military organizations, in this case with the United States Army. This Australian company seems to be trying just a little too hard to tell the story of how they have employed US veterans in the design. Nothing wrong with that at all, but from experience with other watch suppliers having a rather inflated importance of that procurement relationship (Luminox and their very tenuous link to the US Navy comes to mind first and foremost), I have to be quite skeptical of Bausele. I would be surprised if these watches weren't wholly manufactured in China. Again, nothing wrong with that, but the tone set on the website tugs at a patriotism that may or may not be deserved.
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W
Wimads said:
That dial is a mess.... why print the number outlines on a sandwich dial? It's ugly and unnecessary. It just emphasizes the stencil design of the 0 6 8 9 numerals. And then the 24h track, why in gray? Like, make them legible, or don't print them at all....

Oh, and this is 600 bucks?! Looks like 300 bucks at most to me....
Click to expand...
The outlines make it look like the lume is raggedly applied or like it has frayed.
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Hornet99
Devro said:
Although I haven't done my SOTC post yet... Could I still request a bash? Everyone loves a bash right?

www.bausele.com

BAUSELE® Official Store | Crafted with care since 2011

Bausele is an Australian watch brand proposing unique and vintage inspired watches with an extreme care for details. Official supplier to the US Army™. Straightforward but ultra-precise and ultra-robust watches. #Takethetime.
www.bausele.com www.bausele.com
View attachment 17120747

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 :)
Click to expand...
Isn't this just yet another field watch that takes the dirty dozen as a reference? I'm not that knowledgeable on the theme, but it certainly looks like that and I've seen cleaner and better attempts at this.......

......its a distraction from your goal, stick with that; quick hit on this one is just going to last week's.
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sinner777
Hornet99 said:
Official warn for you sinner777. First Post infraction......
Click to expand...
Sorry. Will do ASAP.

I apologize.
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Munchie
Devro said:
Although I haven't done my SOTC post yet... Could I still request a bash? Everyone loves a bash right?

www.bausele.com

BAUSELE® Official Store | Crafted with care since 2011

Bausele is an Australian watch brand proposing unique and vintage inspired watches with an extreme care for details. Official supplier to the US Army™. Straightforward but ultra-precise and ultra-robust watches. #Takethetime.
www.bausele.com www.bausele.com
View attachment 17120747

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 :)
Click to expand...
Not a full on bash but the minute track is way out at 12 O'clock or else the inverted triangle is way off.

It could be the angle of the picture but the 1, 2 and 3 numerals look further away from the minute track than the 9, 10 and 11 numerals.
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lo_scrivano
I am very serious about joining WPAC for 2023. There is an economic recession ahead of us!

I shall return with a SOTC photo.
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AMM1959
SOTC

2022: As the year wraps up I have a collection of six. I purchased and subsequently sold one, received one as a gift, and found one stashed in my camping gear that was revived with a fresh battery.

My 2023 objectives are simple; I will be on the lookout for a field style chronometer at a price point of $1,250 or less, ideally a Series 1 CW Sandhurst with remaining warranty. Otherwise I intend to make no purchases of either watches or straps/bracelets in the coming year.

Cheers all

Automotive lighting Gauge Audio equipment Automotive design Electronic instrument
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Radharc
2
Somehow I missed the prior incarnations of this thread, but I'd like to join if you'll have me.

Unlike some, not buying watches is pretty easy for me. I am much more of a watch user than a watch collector, and my small collection has been static for a couple of years now. Which brings me to:

SOTC:

Four watches, one beater/stealth, one dress, and two GADA:

Watch Analog watch Clock Font Wrist

Watch Photograph Analog watch Light Black


Not pictured is an old Victorinox chrono (Valjoux 7750) which is currently inoperative and hasn't been worn in years.

Plan for 2023:

Hold the course for most of the year, but pick up one new piece in the Fall to commemorate a major birthday. Probably a chrono, but not necessarily...
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D
Devro said:
Although I haven't done my SOTC post yet... Could I still request a bash? Everyone loves a bash right?

www.bausele.com

BAUSELE® Official Store | Crafted with care since 2011

Bausele is an Australian watch brand proposing unique and vintage inspired watches with an extreme care for details. Official supplier to the US Army™. Straightforward but ultra-precise and ultra-robust watches. #Takethetime.
www.bausele.com www.bausele.com
View attachment 17120747

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 :)
Click to expand...
Thank you to all those who bashed! The urge has passed.

It's interesting to get multiple viewpoints and realise what you don't see for yourself when something peaks your interest.

Most bothering was how misaligned the dial and chapter ring were. Possibly a prototype, possibly the photography... But it worries me that a brand didn't get that right for all their marketing, in case it speaks of further lack of attention to detail.

Then the other things that bother me are the chapter ring being stark white and the lume being faux-aged. I'd prefer it to all be stark white. And the side profile of the case is slab-like, I'd prefer some visual interest or shaping to reduce the perceived thickness.

I'm sure I'll request another bash or two in 2023!
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D
I'm in for 2023 (although not aiming for complete abstinence).

SOTC

Watch Watch accessory Jewellery Clock Font


I got the G-Shock bug in a big way in 2021 and embarrassingly, the above is the result of already significant culling through 2022. A few non G-Shocks also came and went, including some forum favourites like Seiko SARB etc.

Since my father made me the gold face-plate for the 6900 (front left), I haven't really worn anything else, aside from the Timex when I'm in shirt-sleeves or the orange one when I'm doing something that might mess up a watch.

Goals for 2023

Sell any watch that isn't regularly worn. Which means all the back row and probably the Gulfman front right.
Avoid impulse purchasing G-Shocks. Which requires some control during their anniversary year.
End the year with 5 or less.
End the year with a more focused and diverse collection. I could imagine a watch on bracelet coming in and maybe a vintage piece to serve as my dress watch.
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Wimads
Devro said:
I'm in for 2023 (although not aiming for complete abstinence).

SOTC

View attachment 17122109

I got the G-Shock bug in a big way in 2021 and embarrassingly, the above is the result of already significant culling through 2022. A few non G-Shocks also came and went, including some forum favourites like Seiko SARB etc.

Since my father made me the gold face-plate for the 6900 (front left), I haven't really worn anything else, aside from the Timex when I'm in shirt-sleeves or the orange one when I'm doing something that might mess up a watch.

Goals for 2023

Sell any watch that isn't regularly worn. Which means all the back row and probably the Gulfman front right.
Avoid impulse purchasing G-Shocks. Which requires some control during their anniversary year.
End the year with 5 or less.
End the year with a more focused and diverse collection. I could imagine a watch on bracelet coming in and maybe a vintage piece to serve as my dress watch.
Click to expand...
Welcome! Sounds like you've got a plan 👍

Just some tips to avoid impulse buying:
  1. Take your time! Time is the single most instrumental tool to avoid impulse buying. Wait at minimum one month from the moment you would have normally pulled the trigger, before buying anything. 90% you'll have lost interest by then.
  2. Reduce your exposure. Unsubscribe from mailing lists and other services that promote deals. Depending on the tenacity of your problem, WRUW threads may also be good to avoid.
  3. Deals, limited editions, discounts, etc. are the enemy - they promote the false idea that a product is scarce and that there is a limited time frame to get in on it. There is always the secondary market you know... (yes that will require more time, but that's a good thing!)
  4. Don't buy into the hype. The forums are nuts. If you need a sanity check, post it here for bashing, or ask your wife...
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JJ312
JJ312 said:
Okay, I’ll throw my hat in this ring too - love the idea! I will get around to posting a collection pic when I have some time, but there are 19 in my “active” rotation, a mix of Omega, Tudor, Sinn, Seiko, Doxa, and then another four or five outside of that.

The last few years have been really active with buying and selling so it’s time to hit a big pause button. I have one purchase planned, a Garmin Fenix 7, but going to really try and limit it to just that and who knows - maybe I’ll even sell a watch or two. Good luck everyone!!
Click to expand...
Thought it might be fun to quote myself from almost exactly a year ago in the WPAC 2022 thread and take a look back.

If I were grading myself, I guess it would be a C+… definitely room for improvement. I did buy that Fenix 7 and used it for hikes, bike rides, the gym, etc. and it’s been great for that. Honestly, when camping/hiking I wear it on the right wrist with a mechanical still on the left, although I’ll wear the Garmin on the left wrist at the house sometimes if I need to get notifications for work but don’t want my phone on me.

Otherwise last year, I almost managed a self-imposed one-in, one-out policy. There was a good bit of churn in the collection and in the end I added a net of one watch (Seiko SSK001). That’s the relatively good part, the bad news is that I had four catch and releases that were basically impulse buys and ended up getting sold some weeks or months later (Casioak blue solar, green dial Seiko MM200, Sinn EZM2, Seiko SSK005), so that was really stupid on my part. Lesson learned to take much more time when I do decide to make a purchase. I was actually doing really good the first half of the year and all those happened the latter half. More good news… I managed to sell a number of watches and it felt really good and were all pretty smooth and easy sales. I actually have 18 now that I consider “core collection” which is down one and then of course the Seiko 5s, G-Shock, and Garmin that tend to get worn less or for really specific purposes.

I did add a heavy hitter, an Omega ‘57 Speedy. I purchased this a couple weeks ago but this is going to be my wedding watch - we picked a date in November 2023. I haven’t really worn it yet, but figured that I’d rather wear the hell out of it all of 2023 leading up to and including the wedding and make some memories with it this coming year rather than wait and just wear it on the wedding day.

Anyway… because of that, I really don’t want to add anything in 2023 and my new goal is to not even make an exception with a one-in, one-out rule. I plan to wear that speedy all year and besides they’ll be some expenses for the wedding that take priority.

That’s my plan, I’ll make a point to check in here more often when I need some support. Good luck all!
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mjwatch
17
Happy anniversary Hornet and happy holidays to fellow WPAC members. As some know, I'm a reformed watchoholic. Sold one watch in 2022 and acquired one, same stats as 2021. Also sold Sinn bracelet.

SOLD - White Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Shironeri (SARX075)
Watch Brown Analog watch Light Clock

SOLD - Sinn 101 Jubilee bracelet (Kept Sinn 101)
Watch Natural material Rectangle Silver Material property

ACQUIRED - Ocean 39 Black Ceramic Premium - 904L Steel
Watch Analog watch Clock Watch accessory Font

2023 SOTC
Watch Analog watch Product Rectangle Silver

Watch White Analog watch Clock Watch accessory

Watch Analog watch Clock Gesture Gadget

Ball Original currently listed for sale
Watch Analog watch Gesture Clock Font

Watch Analog watch Clock Font Rectangle

Watch Analog watch Arm Gesture Clock

Watch Analog watch Product Clock Font

Watch Analog watch Clock Watch accessory Material property

New strap made Lum-Tec M84 a 2022 favorite.
Watch Brown Analog watch Clock Font

Most worn watch in 2022 - Steinhart Ghost LE
Watch Analog watch Clock Rectangle Font

Apple watch - worn daily - An apple a day keeps doctor away ;)
Watch Analog watch Light Clock Rectangle

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Radharc
JJ312 said:
I did add a heavy hitter, an Omega ‘57 Speedy. I purchased this a couple weeks ago but this is going to be my wedding watch - we picked a date in November 2023. I haven’t really worn it yet, but figured that I’d rather wear the hell out of it all of 2023 leading up to and including the wedding and make some memories with it this coming year rather than wait and just wear it on the wedding day.
Click to expand...
Those '57 speedies are, IMO, some of the absolute nicest watches released by any brand in the last 5 years or so. Congratulations! What color did you get?
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