Limited editions ...

Following up on Michael's idea for the additional CFI's, and some of the comments posted afterwards, I'm trying to get an idea of how collectors feel about limited editions.

• Are limited editions really that important?

• Is the numbering of limited editions important (i.e. would a limited edition that bears no specific numbering other than serial numbers appeal to you as much as one that says ### / ###)?

• What production level truly constitutes a limited edition? I mean, is it 100, 500, 1,000, 10,000 pieces?

Personally, I think limited editions are nice, but not an essential aspect of a watch. I won't go out of my way for a specific number, although, in large part due to the influence of Asian superstitions, there are certain numbers I will avoid.

My hope is that, by clarifying what the issues are around the nature of limited editions, we can find a way to offer the newer, very deserving members of the forum their own CF piece :)

Wishing everyone a great start to the week!

Limited editions ...

Good questions Sean.....

As a watch lover, my answers to Limited Edition are as following:

• limited edition is important to me. However, I buy only what I like not because it's a LE.

-not so important. "Limited Edition 1 of 50" or xx/50 makes no difference to me.

-limited edition of less than 500 pieces makes sense to me.

-as a Chinese, I would avoid any number such as 4, 14 and 24..... :-)

Hope everyone will get a CF something real soon. :-)

Cheers and have a good day.

SC

I agree, limited editions are great if it....

provides an avenue to obtain a watch you like...but not just because it is limited. I purchased several because of a feature or color not otherwise available.
And now I know why # 24 is usually available. That is my lucky number.

Limited editions ...

glad that someone come up the question like urs...
limited edition really gets my attention, why? cause only the few lucky ones who will own them, and if im one of them, i will be very fortunate, don't u think?
as far as limited edition is concern, numbering will be another issue...of course, the lower the number, the better...
i read the collector article once that mention less than 1000 pieces worldwide will consider collectible...
and last, yes, im chinese...specific number mean something different due to our culture background...some avoid 4, but i do not...like the pilot double chronograph DFB limited edition i got, its 494...so what...i like the watch so much, numbering just not so important to me...but if i get to pick the number...that will be something meaningful to me...i got other 2 watches that were limited to 2000 pieces, and both were 1973 in serial number which correspond to my birth year...wouldn't that mean something to u???

Limited editions ... are important (yes)

How important depends on the situation - but a limited edition tag certainly makes a watch more appealing to me. One big difference is whether or not at the start of the production run the total number of watches to be produced over a time (often specified sometimes not) is made public or not. When such a fact is known it is obviously logical that the powers of consumer marketing will try to increase the level of uniqueness (enhance appeal for a large portion of the population) and engrave this for posterity.

Of course: All watches are limited editions - since it is unlikely that a watch will be continued to be produced to eternity/infinity - and it is how we like to be restrictive in our minds-eye that makes this classic link-difference.

I am always very proud to mention in discussion that my Jubilee Portugueser and Aquatimer Cousteau Divers are limited edition pieces.

Which number constitutes a limited edition is the number designed at the beginning. My preference is higher numbers (between 1000-2000) for lower price point pieces in steel, and for more precious metal pieces (numbers between 100-1000). For exceptional pieces below 100 is a good number range.

Just some late Fasnacht morning rambles.

• Andrew

Basel Fasnacht

Limited editions ...

I once tried to get a Limited Edition and succeeded: that gives quite an enjoyable feeling. The reason I did it was that I liked that watch very much: the red gold Saint Exupéry Chrono. In this case the limitation was 250, which was a small amount when compared to the demand: while awaiting the watch I got several calls from my AD with the question if I still really wanted it. The number I got, 198, was high, but of no importance to me whatsoever. For me it is always just the watch and nothing more or less.

Kind regards,
Paul, wearing Portuguese Perpetual Calendar

Limited editions ...

First let me say that after reviewing my 2008 retirement statement this weekend and realizing that I lost 35-40% of my deferred comp retirement stock fund savings, I’m grateful to have this opportunity to ponder something besides all the money I recently lost.

• I like limited editions but I won’t buy one unless I like it. Period.

• I prefer ####/1000 engraving because it makes your watch unique (although SC and I are good friends because we both owned the same model watch with identical numbers at the same time).

I like really low production special editions. (The last one I bought was an IWC with a production run of 50 pieces.)

Tracy (Honolulu)

Limited editions ...

I move more and more into limited editions because they keep their value better than an unlimited edition!
To clarify my standpoint better: I only buy watches that I like and I would never buy a watch to put it into the safe only. But keping the value is a greate side effect for a watch I like to wear.
Urs

I like them...

...but in general its an 'extra', not a requirement. I primarily buy what appeals most to me!

I do require the serial-numbering, otherwise its to 'vague' in my opinion.

The size of the batch.... well, I think upto 100 is ideal and upto 500 is acceptable as a 'limited'. Anything above becomes a bit mass... but still I buy it if I really like it ;-)

Regards,

Bob

Excellent question my friend

IMHO this limited edition ploy is hugely over-played. Put a slightly different dial colour, you got a limited edition run of 50 pieces or more. So for anyone who's blindly going after limited edition pieces, he/she would simply be falling for what the whole industry was trying to capitalize on.

Personally limited edition status would be an added bonus, like icing on the cake. Like everyone else suggested, I would make sure I like the watch the way it was, limited or not.

As for the limited edition production figure, how limited is it when you pump out a production run of say 2000 pieces when the total production for the normal edition probably amount to merely twice or three times of that???

Personally anything over 200 piece-production is marketing talk to me.

Do understand the rationale behind NOT numbering the pieces. PP did that a while back and saved a fair bit of hassle over who's wanting which number and frankly I think it make sense. Again, specific numbering would be icing on the cake but the lack of it would not be a show stopper at all.