💰Tax Refund = Out of Character Watch Purchases?

My wife and I reached an agreement regarding our tax refund; if she gets her long-awaited backyard landscaping projects, and there’s still a bit left over, I’m free to feed my addiction— yet another reason why I love her.

Long story short, after totaling up the Home Depot receipts, I now have 2 new affordable watches on the way! A Brew and <gasp> another PRX?!!?

I can hear the indignant cries of “J’accuse!! Android, You swore off integrated bracelet watches in a long winded and perhaps ill-advised post not but 6 months ago!!” … yes. I did that. And now, I’m giving them another try. Sue me.

But this time, I’m not expecting an integrated bracelet watch to be some grail status, all-situation, centerpiece of the collection. I think that was my mistake last time around. These inbound watches are about fun and smiles-per-dollar.

My collection has a mostly tooly, functional, and somewhat vintage-inspired mix of black and blue dial watches. Along with some interesting (but still pretty reserved) dress watches. And I love them all. But lately I’ve been wanting something— different.

So, I embraced “different”.

Perhaps it’s the remnants of the intentionally esoteric tastes I cultivated during my early 20s “hipster phase” (complete with the requisite plaid shirts, skinny jeans, and obnoxiously complex coffee order 🤦‍♂️) but I find myself drawn to the Brew Metric.

Yes, it has an integrated bracelet, but that’s more of a footnote in its design dossier. It’s really all about that offbeat, retro-kitsch-cool tv case shape, unorthodox dial layout, and very 70’s color scheme. Which I was into before it was cool, man…

Second, I bought another PRX.

“How is buying one of the most hyped, publicized, and reviewed, big name, Swiss watch releases of the last decade, “different”? You ask?

Well, not only did I opt for the more slim, economical (and technically period-accurate) quartz, I also embraced my inner mafia don, by springing for the full gold PVD version 🤌

Maybe it’s the rapidly approaching middle age talking, but after seeing some gorgeous photos of the Vacheron 222, something was awakened in me, something I never anticipated, a tiny voice in the back of my brain… “You need a yellow gold watch.” The 222 seemed like the perfect candidate, obviously. But I didn’t feel like going through the hassle of selling the cars, taking out that second mortgage, and finding a black market buyer for one of my kidneys. Oh well 🤷‍♂️. I settled for the Tissot.

I don’t know why, but I also find something hilariously satisfying about the juxtaposition of this $300 quartz watch sharing at least some of the Gentian DNA of a nearly six-figure, unobtanium watch like the VC. I mean, Usain Bolt may be the fastest man alive and I get winded taking the garbage cans to the curb… but hey, he and I are both Homo sapiens. Same concept.

Also, yellow gold is making a comeback… apparently 🤷‍♂️

How about you, Crunchers? Did your tax refund go towards any new purchases? Particularly of the shiny, wearable, time-telling variety? 🍻