Limited Edition...what is the magic number?

[subtona]

The merits of limited edition pieces are often discussed with passion in threads here on the forum, we can likely find the majority of them in the panerai section. I believe most recently, rolex made a very exclusive run of the cameron deepsea and the sea dweller for the italian navy. Patek is no stranger to LE as well, but i wonder what is the number when over production sets in?

Im curious to hear, what quantity do the members feel constitute value in a limited edition run of a watch? Please post your thoughts and any examples and numbers if you happen to know them.

Also what do members believe the production of vintage watches has been to catapult them into frenzy status?

I am thinking the number may be anywhere from 10-2000?
Is the number the same for each watch?

[Syed117]

One for every AD

[b06tmm]

Hi Gus,

the "limited edition" craze has prevented me from buying a SpeedMaster. As nice as they are, I find it hard to take them seriously when they dilute the brand like that.

Although, I was seriously tempted by the Bullhead reissue recently posted in the for sale section.

[joli160]

The new Deepsea is not a limited edition, it's here to stay and available at every AD throughout the world. The Rolex limited editions i.e. Panama Canal are only a few hundred at most. Numbers reaching thousands are not very limited I would say.

[GB-man]

Not too fond of limited editions unless the watch itself is very attractive ala the 5396 NYC patek boutique piece

I'd say 100 would be limited to my eyes.

[bdex75]

500 or less worldwide.


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[Tools]

Originally Posted by joli160

The new Deepsea is not a limited edition, it's here to stay and available at every AD throughout the world. The Rolex limited editions i.e. Panama Canal are only a few hundred at most. Numbers reaching thousands are not very limited I would say.

Indeed, the Deepsea D is not a Limited Edition watch, it is a commemorative watch that will be alongside the original Deepsea. Nobody knows how long it will be offered, but, the last "commemorative" watch was the 16610LV.

As to "Limited Edition", Rolex seldom has such things. The Panama Canal and others are not LE watches; they were made specifically for presentation to members of the group for whom they are intended, and not available to the general public. They are commissioned presentation models.

[landroverking]

IMHO no Rolex for sale to the general public would be LE

[subtona]

Originally Posted by joli160

The new Deepsea is not a limited edition, it's here to stay and available at every AD throughout the world. The Rolex limited editions i.e. Panama Canal are only a few hundred at most. Numbers reaching thousands are not very limited I would say.

I was referring to the model Cameron took down into the Mariana trench, not the deep blue distributed to the public, my bad, but manufactured none the less

Originally Posted by Tools

Indeed, the Deepsea D is not a Limited Edition watch, it is a commemorative watch that will be alongside the original Deepsea. Nobody knows how long it will be offered, but, the last "commemorative" watch was the 16610LV.

As to "Limited Edition", Rolex seldom has such things. The Panama Canal and others are not LE watches; they were made specifically for presentation to members of the group for whom they are intended, and not available to the general public. They are commissioned presentation models.

Good point, I would speculate that the commissioned presentation models may eventually  come to market , could we accept the similarity between the odd piece available from the commissioned offering vs the LE as far as  their collectible appeal?

This comes to mind: Rolex Sea Dweller Polizia Di Stato "Octopus":


"These special edition Rolexes were created in 2008 for the 50th anniversary of the Sommozzatori and only 78 examples were created. 28 of the 78 feature the Military Brevet number on the back while all 78 feature a special case back that looks like this.

With only 78 of these watches in existence, all of which were given to Italian State Divers, the speculated value of the Octopus Sea Dwellers is extraordinary. Rumor has it that one recently sold for around $26,000 on the Italian market and Guido Mondani himself has issued a recommendation to all collectors basically saying "If you can get your hands on one, buy it". COMEX, you've finally met your match."

[Racerdj]

100-200 would fit my criteria for a LE.

[Wesley Crusher]

It depends on how many watches the company produces on an annual basis. Rolex, for example, makes a ton of watches. 1000 would be very limited by Rolex standards. 1000 would not be limited by FP Journe standards.

[nick c]

Ya 500-1000

[Duey]

What about the TT TOG for Japan that was a recent Rolex LE I believe. I think we need Otto to chime in on this one.

For myself I'm not to keen on the LE because they truly never go up in value on the flip end, and most of us flip our collections from time to time.
Current models go up with each price increase where as a LE stays the same.
I've got a Omega Cosmic museum piece that's LE and it's not even worth any more than it's msrp, but it is one of my favorite pieces.

[Alfredo.]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

It depends on how many watches the company produces on an annual basis. Rolex, for example, makes a ton of watches. 1000 would be very limited by Rolex standards. 1000 would not be limited by FP Journe standards.

Exactly!

[FTX I]

Gus, I don't have a number but more than 1k is just silly. To be honest I never cared about any LE watch.

[springbar]

Originally Posted by subtona

Im curious to hear, what quantity do the members feel constitute value in a limited edition run of a watch? Please post your thoughts and any examples and numbers if you happen to know them.

Also what do members believe the production of vintage watches has been to catapult them into frenzy status?

I am thinking the number may be anywhere from 10-2000?
Is the number the same for each watch?

The only thing required for a "limited edition" is the run have an explicit production limit, and that the watches be numbered in order to confirm. You could have a limited edition of 2 or a limited edition of two million.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by springbar

The only thing required for a "limited edition" is the run have an explicit production limit, and that the watches be numbered in order to confirm. You could have a limited edition of 2 or a limited edition of two million.

Exactly..

Many of these companies that make "Limited Editions" make them in numbers that equal their annual sales - or more, and come out with a new LE of the same watch every year..

[Johny]

uk special forces supplied limited edition rolex explorer for sale on VRF.

[Art 1]

Had this interesting discussion a few years ago with some other watch guys. We decided that number to be 50 or less.

[beshannon]

20 or less

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Art 1

Had this interesting discussion a few years ago with some other watch guys. We decided that number to be 50 or less.

So my two 9630's #504 & #876 were not limited editions?

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by MonBK

So my two 9630's #504 & #876 were not limited editions?

Well, for Rolex the Midas was very limited at 1000. But I'll still stand by my 50 or less.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Art 1

Well, for Rolex the Midas was very limited at 1000. But I'll still stand by my 50 or less.

Ok, I better find #37 then.

[Chewbacca]

ltd means little these days. everyone does "ltd" watches. the quantity doesn;t matter.

if you're invited and vetted to be an owner of a special item, its exclusive - which trumps ltd. my 2¢

[joe100]

Originally Posted by Johny

uk special forces supplied limited edition rolex explorer for sale on VRF.

Yeah sorta. You can contact Rolex and they'll do this sort of thing for anyone and I really don't see how that should warrant the huge premiums asked for these watches. I could have a special run of Joe100 GMT Master made if I realllly wanted to.

[venom43]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Ok, I better find #37 then.

I'd be happy with number 343....

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by venom43

I'd be happy with number 343....

You would have to break in to the basement in Graceland for that one and it's in such terrible condition I wouldn't want it

[Johny]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Ok, I better find #37 then.

limited edition absolut.

[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by joe100

Yeah sorta. You can contact Rolex and they'll do this sort of thing for anyone and I really don't see how that should warrant the huge premiums asked for these watches. I could have a special run of Joe100 GMT Master made if I realllly wanted to.

could you put a helicopter on the back ,,,, lol ,,,,

guess id say its to do with the % of overall sales,,, if its less than 1% its limited.
but with rolex , and coke etc it gets crazy.
so im in the sub 1000 for a mass produced product ,,, but all in all , limited editions hold little draw for me ... rather own something that was un common in the first place i think.

[Johny]

[QUOTE=dysondiver;5227849]could you put a helicopter on the back ,,,, lol ,,,,