Limited Edition is one term that gets thrown around a lot in the watch world, but what is limited really? What makes a watch exclusive and desirable?
In the world of haute horlogerie, the idea of exclusivity is one entertained by many and humoured by few. After all, if you’re going to be forking over exorbitant amounts of money to express your status or personality, would it not be best to have a timepiece that stands out from the rest?
This is just one reason why some collectors go after limited-edition watches. A distinctive watch produced in restricted quantities is bound to further the ultimate goal: A perfect collection, one that symbolises both the collector’s personality, preferences, and attitudes to horology.
Not all limited-editions are made the same, so of course, not all limited-editions are equally lucrative. So what makes a limited-edition so attractive to the average customer, and what timepieces out there mark the standard of what it means to be a ‘piece unique?’ Let’s find out.
The Power of Branding: Limited-edition vs Limited Production
Before we get started, though, I thought I’d throw in a quick disclaimer concerning how I’m going to be assessing these timepieces: Though there are plenty of factors that can make a limited-edition watch appealing, it is important to understand that the power of a brand name, reputation and marketing strategies almost always reigns supreme.
There are many watch brands out there that create ‘limited production’ runs of certain collections that become insanely popular due to how scarce they are/how scarce they are perceived.
Take Rolex, for example. They don’t make limited-edition watches per se but instead limit their production and distribution, thus boosting overall demand. In my opinion, this isn’t what a true limited-edition watch is, and the idea of marketing artificial exclusivity isn’t something I’m attracted to.
To me, a ‘true’ limited-edition is in the literal sense: One of fifty, or one of two hundred or two thousand, where after the last watch is sold the piece is never made again. This is the hallmark of exclusivity, and thus the timepieces that I mention in this article are all examples of such. This is also why I won’t be looking too much at resale value; On the secondary market, how much any watch is worth is equal to what it’s worth to someone else, and the market is adapting and changing almost everyday. It would be impossible to justify buying a limited-edition watch for the resale value alone (though it helps), as what could be extremely popular one minute could be considered basic in the next.
Unique Designs & Materials
As previously mentioned, if you’re a part of the limited-edition collector’s community it’s likely that you want to own a distinctive timepiece. The easiest way to do this would be to get a watch with a singular approach to either its overall design or creative process. For a watch brand, creating a timepiece with either a unique design or materials is a surefire way to draw eyes, ears, and eventually wallets towards limited-edition pieces.
I’m not just talking about changing the colour, painting the case back, and then calling it a day. To make an excellent limited-edition timepiece, the changes to the watch must be transformative enough for it to stand out amongst its peers by brand or collection.
Of course, it’s hard to view a subjective topic such as transformational change objectively, but elements such as dial design, finishing, engravings and the innovative use of materials must all be considered in the creation of a limited-edition.
One example of a limited-edition done right contextually is the Hublot x Nespresso collaboration. Hublot is no stranger to using new and unusual materials to create some of their standout timepieces, and the Nespresso collab is no exception, employing disruptive design elements to create a truly special rendition of the Big Bang Unico. This 1/200 timepiece expresses itself through the use of Nespresso coffee capsules, which have been recycled to create the watch; The leftover coffee grounds were used to make the rubber and nylon straps, whilst the capsules themselves have been transformed into the lime-green aluminium case housing the movement.
Another brand that exemplifies itself in this field is Grand Seiko, albeit done to more conservative tastes. The 1/50 SBGZ009 takes elements previously seen on the SLGH005 “White Birch” and dials them up to 11. Whilst the immaculate dial design remains, Grand Seiko instead opts for a manual-wind, time-only movement encased in mirror-polished platinum, a metal as decadent as it is dense. If that wasn’t enough, the case is then further painstakingly hand-engraved at their Micro Artist Studio in Shiojiri to extend the texture of the dial. The engraving process has been undertaken on just three Grand Seiko models to the time of writing, ensuring that, despite their understated nature, they remain highly iconic and recognisable. Do yourself a favour and watch the video of it below!
New & Innovative Features
If you are one of the collectors who believe looks aren’t exactly everything, then perhaps what attracts you to a limited-edition is the propensity for a brand to flex its technical excellence. Thankfully, the debut of new and innovative features in a limited-edition timepiece is yet another way to be drawn to these special watches.
Some can argue that room for innovation in this industry is few and far between, given the Quartz Crisis and the rise of wearable tech. However, I firmly believe that the range of innovations available to watchmakers of the modern day is only limited by their imagination. If you look closely, never-before-seen complications, new in-house movements and feats of ruthless mechanical engineering can still be found in the horological sphere. As a result, these all reinforce the air of exclusivity around a new timepiece.
One company that has risen biblically on this reputation over the last couple of years is MB&F, where the joyfully twisted mind of Max Büsser and his friends wake up every morning to create a brand new mechanical masterpiece. The venerable ‘Willy Wonka’ of watchmaking exemplified this through the creation of the HM11 ‘Architect’ in 2023. The main concept behind this watch was not to be a traditional time-telling piece, but to simulate the golden era of 60s neo-futuristic architecture by asking one ridiculous question: “What if that house is a watch?” A centrally mounted tourbillon, rotating tri-faced case including power reserve and thermometer dials, assembled inside a Jetsons-esque case would be the resounding answer.
One of Max’s friends, Edouard Meylan, is also highly praised for having a similar reputation with his own company, H. Moser & Cie. Ever the trolls of the horological world, H. Moser has established itself as the most non-serious, yet hardcore Swiss watchmaker around. The easiest example of this is the 1/50 Swiss Alp Final Upgrade, which was built from the ground up, ‘coincidentally’ resembling a certain smartwatch first released in 2015. However, perhaps you are looking for something more familiar and iconic. H. Moser has you covered there, too, with the Swiss Icons, a timepiece packed with so many ‘innovative’ features that it received several cease-and-desist orders and had to be destroyed before it could even hit store shelves. Can you spot them all?
Even traditionalist watchmakers Cartier had gotten into the fun as of late – look no further than their 2022 release, the Masse Mystérieuse, which houses a movement that is not only visible from both sides, but also acts as the rotor for the watch to be wound; A feat not many people thought possible, but was executed masterfully by the watchmakers of Cartier and parent company Richemont.
Return of a Classic
Let’s say that you are neither of these kinds of collectors. New materials and unique designs? Yawn. Mechanics and technical specs? Don’t really care for it. However, you love a good story. As a collector, you are enamoured with the narrative-rich heritage and values behind the brands that interest you. You’re deeply invested in the stories behind certain models, or perhaps you’re simply obsessed with the idea of capturing an iconic moment in history on your wrist!
In that case, the dominant factor that results in you pursuing a limited-edition timepiece is when a watch brand dives back into its heritage, resulting in an inspired timepiece brimming with nostalgia and thematic storytelling.
One of the most distinct companies engaged in this practice is none other than Omega. Those who know of Omega as a brand most likely know their two proudest (and most advertised) associations with the 1969 Moon Landing and their ongoing appearances in the James Bond film series. Whilst there is much to say concerning their leveraging of the former, Omega also delights in exploring limited-editions concerning the latter.
The Omega Seamaster Ref. 212.30.41.20.01.005 was a 1/11,007 limited-edition sold in 2012 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the suave British spy. This commemorative piece is emblazoned with the signature ‘007’ graphic across the entirety of the dial, with the 50-minute marker on the bezel also coloured red to celebrate the special occasion.
Another company has also recently reveled in anniversary celebrations, only this time it’s less of a matter of pop culture and more of a commemoration of the collection itself. In 2023, the 60th birthday of the TAG Heuer Carrera, the Swiss brand held nothing back. The 1/600 TAG Heuer Carrera “Panda” paid homage to the highly regarded 2447 SN model whilst integrating the Heuer02, their latest in-house movement at the time. It’s changes like these that appeal to me the most personally, where iconic, heritage-inspired design meets modern technology, and thus serves its purpose as a lucrative limited-edition piece.
Interestingly, this hardly covers all of the other limited-edition watches out there that adhere to some of these conventional ‘rules,’ so to speak. However, the principle still stays the same: if you, as a collector, can find a limited-edition piece that speaks to you on any of these three levels (or perhaps, all of them), then it is truly something worth pursuing.
Feel free to leave me a comment if you agree or disagree with me…
