The attitude of enthusiasts towards limited series is twofold. Those who think that there are too many of them, especially when only one brand is offering them in large numbers, and those who would only buy special or celebratory models, the production of which is planned in a few, usually numbered, examples.
I know a great watchmaking customer who only buys limited editions, for the pleasure of owning the exclusive piece, which certifies him as a great customer of one brand or another.
Others opt instead for limited editions hoping for a more likely future revaluation. A hypothesis not always confirmed by auction results.
In fact, absurdly, the most highly valued models are rare watches. One thinks of Rolex and Patek Philippe. Rolex, in particular, is a company which, on principle, does not offer watches in limited series. In the past, it has made custom models for important customers, such as the Sultan of Oman, which are highly sought-after.
While among the Patek Philippe models customised with the name of this or that retailer reach very high prices (the ones made for Tiffany are very famous). So what is the appeal of limited editions? In addition to exclusivity (which has to be weighed against the number of pieces), the attraction for these watches depends on the interest in the motivation behind the production in a limited number.
Often this is an anniversary, a collaboration with an artist or a sportsman, a car brand... Names chosen to give meaning to the watch and reach a segment of the public that shares a passion other than that for watches. But do all the limited editions on offer today make sense? Do you think they are too many or too few?
Finally, what passion of yours is not yet represented by a special edition watch?
Dody Giussani
