I Found The Secret... Maybe...
We all have that itch, right? That itch to get another new watch that is just different enough than what we already have. It eats at us, unceasingly. We eventually succumb and buy the watch.
A lot of us tell ourselves, "OK, no new watches for <insert timeframe here>." A few of us make good on that promise. A lot of us do not.
How does one keep this promise to oneself? What is the secret?
Well, it has been 10.5 months since I bought my last watch and I also decided on a 'one or none watch per year' policy. I have been sorely tempted a few times in that span. Five times in the last month, even.
So, how does one keep this 'No new watches for <X amount of time>' promise?
Well, like any standard addiction; for me, it's been multiple things.
Needed to pay for home repairs
Needed to pay for medical bills
Unable to look wife in face when I bought another watch.
Went on a trip I will never be able to go on again.
Somehow, I think disappointing myself if I buy another watch this year would cut me deeper than the look on my wife's face.
And I think most importantly, the next 2 watches I want, do not exist in my price range. Not even as a custom piece from mods.
I really want a bronze Flieger with a coin edge bezel, green sunburst dial, no date (I'm okay with a ghost date for future flexibility), and a sub-seconds at 6 o'clock.
I also would like a titanium field watch, no date, white dial with a bracelet.
Problem is that I can't easily find these.
The bronze cases I've looked at are like 95% diver cases and the rest are the right case, but no coin edge bezel.
The titanium field watch is available, but I'm not loving the looks of the dials, or in some cases, the cases.
So the secret to keeping my promise is... Desire a watch so unique that no one else wants one and as such, is only available if it were to be built from scratch. Like from 'create your own case from a bronze blank' scratch.
That and not be wealthy enough to just buy a new watch whenever I want. 😉🤣
Love to hear about your strategies for curbing the itch.
I try to immerse myself in hobbies or projects that have nothing to do with watches, like building anew my OpenHab smarthome home automation.
My strategy isn’t great, so can’t really contribute much.
one kind of effective strategy I’m accidentally employing is to pay for a watch you won’t receive for many months.
It feels like oh crap - bought another, can’t spend more… then that same feeling stays with you for months since you don’t receive it!
Also dig your “have willpower “ approach, I’m usually good at that, but weak for some things ⏱👙🚴
Honestly, looking at my WRUW feed helps because it made me realize I don’t wear my watches as often as I think. So when I think about another watch, I ask myself “am I going to wear this often”. That and what the economic outlook is going into 2024 has made me pause. Last watch I purchased was 7 months ago, in April 2023.
Must admit I like the sound of that bronze Flieger with coin edge bezel....let us know if you find one!!
My tactic is compare any potential purchases against your favourite watch (owned) as a new watch will be stealing wrist time from your pride and joy.
I try to operate a one in one out policy, not always successfully, and aim for a one in a few out as I slowly upgrade my collection.
As I've said on here previously, it's easier once you have your Grail as then you pretty much become a strap collector.
Now find that flieger 🤞🏻🤞🏻👊🏼
Solid set of helpful rules / guidelines! Like the idea of the almost-unobtainable-watch.
I am now in the ‘baby steps’ phase, having set the following instruction-to-self: do not buy a new watch in December!! I’lltake it from there :-)
I have been on a huge buying spree. I am settling down some now because of mainly 3 things. 1. If I have something that is already similar then the urge is low. ✅ 2. Just getting more particular on what else interests me. ✅ 3. Now I have set a watch buying budget. ✅
That worked for me for a while until you get good at building your own Watch and find your self down another rabbit hole of buying tons of parts to mod even for the future. 🤣 but not everyone will want to keep building there own watches enough to get good or buy as much equipment as I did so you might be in to something my friend.
Solid set of helpful rules / guidelines! Like the idea of the almost-unobtainable-watch.
I am now in the ‘baby steps’ phase, having set the following instruction-to-self: do not buy a new watch in December!! I’lltake it from there :-)
You have another 12 days to find another steal at an auction!!
Have you checked out RZE?
You can choose to have self-control or
Have an outrageously talented daughter who goes to an expensive, world-renowned, vocational ballet school that you can't get student loans for. That's worked for the past few years with me.