Serial numbers limited editions

I visited my AD last week. They had some gorgeous limited edition watches on display. After trying some of them on and generally admiring them, the AD manager was keen to point out that a number of their watches (different models) had either the same or sequential serial numbers I.e. 089/250 090/250 or 077/250 x2 and that there are collectors out there who only collect certain serial numbers. The AD also pointed out that serial numbers with an '8' or a '7' in them are often highly sought after. Is this for real? Does anyone have a perspective on this interesting dimension amongst certain collectors?

Well, I know that certain numbers are frowned upon by certain collectors. For example, in some countries numbers with 4 are not desirable and are avoided.
Shing can probably better elaborate on this.
Lower numbers seem to be in demand by some.
I have two different models with the number 12.
But honestly, I usually could not care less which number I get as long as it is not, for example, "One of 250".

Limited or not, the lowest it is, the better.

If not the limitation, the serial number, the first the watch was born (within the same reference) the more attractive is to me.

I'm not superstitious, all that matters is the watch to be as close as possible to the first ever produced.

But that's just my opinion.

Morning gents, well - my own opinion is that all of the above statements are true someway, to some people:

the numbers '4' and '7' are generally considered inauspicious to most ethnic chinese races due to the connotations from the chinese language or dialect pronunciation -- because they reference inauspicious events. I'm no expert in this regard, so if anyone else can elaborate more accurately on this feel free to do so. conversely '8' and '9' are generally as very good numbers, and '6' too in Mandarin/putonghua and for example, the hokkien/fujian dialect. I am not very hung up about this, only that if such numbers are accessible, why not ? To that end, it was fairly easy to procure '9' and '89' for two of the limiteds I have.

A lot depends on how fair you go - a boutique sales staff was telling me about '20' and '22' which was both in stock and how '22' is a much better number. Given that magnificent piece (hint: a tourby with a date function), personally both numbers are fine to me - small numbers.

Seven is also well-liked in other cultures, i.e. 'lucky seven' etc -- would I be correct to say ?

also, I know of at least a few collectors who seek out specific numbers they personally like, unassociated with any cultural leanings.

and ... I agree with Roberto - who can resist a small number ? I was presented with '9' and '98' - but opted for the '9'. I missed '3' 6 months ago - now that missed opportunity shot through me -- the third of 300 !

also - as has been commented in this forum before, not all of a limited edition are made all at the same time. I am not sure who chooses which numbers to be produced first, but I am sure if demand is high, all numbers will be produced and there will be someone, somewhere who will procure it.

off on a tangent, in Schaffhausen, I saw a few display pieces in the conference showroom numbered 000/XXX.

Hi guys, just to add on to what Shing has written. Chinese avoid '4' because the pronounciation of '4' is analgous to 'die'. Hence numbers like '14' - want to die, '44' - die die(die doubly or tragic death tend to be avoid by the Chinese. When I mention Chinese, it could be a broad spectrum of people who are Chinese, not just mainlanders.

In HK, the Hong Kongers tend to pronounce the numbers using Cantonese which may differ a little from mandarin/putonghua but '4' remains an inauspicious number nonetheless.

My mobile has '444' in the middle and I was told it's a good number for me. So I don't really care. I guess it's all in the mind.

Have a great day guys.

One of these days I'll pick up a watch numbered 666. LOL

On top of what KS and Shing's comment. I just want to use my real life example to illustrate the point

When I purchased my AT, I found out there were two white dial AT in the store. I would look at the serial numbers of the two watches to see which number had more "2", "3", "6", "8", "9" (those are my favorite numbers) and try to avoid "4". If there is only one watch, I would still buy it, no matter there are many "4". The point is if I have choice I'd no doubt go for the auspicious numbers.

@KS, My mobile number has no "4", on the other hand, it has 7 out of 8 of my favorite numbers. LOL

I deal in contemporary art and frequently in limited edition art prints (edition of 50 or 200 or 300) which has numerous parallels. It's definitely a personal preference for the buyer and I can concur with all the observations here. For example I know those that avoid the number '13' (as for western cultures that's a common 'unlucky' tag) but at the same time I also have buyers who love the number '13' as it's personally of interest to them. There are even some Chinese buyers I deal with who shun any numbers which simply add up to '4' like '22'. Perhaps most interesting to me is that some people who even claim they don't care about numbers, still avoid numbers like '13' only because they fear it will affect the resale value in the future (so obviously they do care).

At the end of the day if I can compare this to the contemporary art world - as these limited editions are coveted anyways, numbers over time make very little to no difference to the value except for the very first one (like 001/200). Other than that, it'll be the dealer him or herself who will use whatever argument at the moment suits to make something seem more special... 'this xx/200 is a special number because of this and that...' In other words, some of these limited editions are so rare and coveted anyways - that a buyer who has been looking for years for some say, limited edition of 50 platinum watch, is not going to turn away a chance just because it's not the right number.

best wishes,
vinhthang

Interesting perspectives. Thanks for all the feedback. I'm looking at two watches right now both 1st limited edition. Offered for sale at different ADs. No 037/250 and 089/250. I personally want to go for the cheaper which is 037 although it would seem in Asia 089 might be more desirable...

Just to complete superstition's map :) and because tomorrow is the anniversary.

Despite the rest of western culture, 13 is a good number in Italy, precisely, since 13th February, 1503 (it's a long story about chivalry) while 17 means bad luck.

Italians, anything but banality LOL

No preference as far as I am concerned - of course earlier is IMHO better, so any number one like, 001/200 is nice (we have confirmation that it's a false rumor that IWC keep the first (#1) serial number for the museum) and if not that then the only other "nice to have" would probably be the last in the series, like 250/250. (especially since I now now if its anything over 1000 in the series I need to fight Alan for the 666 :~)

Best regards
Mark

666 Alan should have an alias : Damian. Separately it's my son's Birthay tomorrow so it's always nice to hear of places/ people who like 13th Feb!

It's a story about fierceness, it's a good day to be born.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_of_Barletta

On numbers, my eldest son was born on 6-8-86.

My oldest friend was born 13 March which was a bad day for Julius Caesar. It's done my friend no harm as he retired aged 50.