Limited editions

[YYR]

I love grand seiko and I am a proud owner! I feel that they are pivoted for success but are they making to many limited editions? I feel like they are going the hublot path with all the LEs

[Chester01]

People take themselves too seriously. LE’s appeal to a wide audience and allow the brand to experiment a bit. Even AP does plenty of LE’s and I have no problem with that. If I like it I buy, if not I don’t.

[ap1]

The real problem is stamping the backside covering up any eye candy

[YYR]

Originally Posted by ap1

The real problem is stamping the backside covering up any eye candy

I agree I’m not sure why they do that, it’s a bit annoying

[Cru Jones]

More watches is more fun.

[Jpccarguy]

It would be nice to see some standard models that are available over the long term. I love my Ti diver, but so many others are LE or discontinued. It's difficult to talk about models between GS fans when many aren't widely available.

Look at Rolex- vast fan bases for Submariners, Daytonas, Datejusts, etc. That production philosophy makes for loyalty over time, which would enhance GS in the long run. I'm not exactly comparing Rolex to GS, and I know the production numbers are vastly different. But it wouldn't hurt to be able to have a sub-forum dedicated to Grand Seiko proponents of certain styles or movements. The more of one style we have, the better for a fraternity/sorority of GS!

YMMV

[dchang81]

AP was ridiculed quite a bit for how many LEs they had. i do think it's nice to see different options but at the same time it's a bit much when they slap on different colored printing and call it an LE.

[1William]

The LE/SE models are nice but really do not register with me anymore. I do not want to play the game for GS or any other brand for that matter. There are enough regular production models to keep me learning and happy.

[42itus]

What's wrong with LE? I think from a value standpoint it might hurt secondary market prices across the board. But from a collector enthusiast standpoint I think it's great. Yes, I understand that value is a part of collecting but if resale value is your thing then you can get that with Rolex.

[dchang81]

I don't find anything inherently wrong with LE's, but kind of dilutes the "specialness" when there's an LE for their 47th anniversary or some nonsense that's not much different than another LE. I mean I got an SLA33 and I know it's got the better movement but now they come out with a regular production model that visually looks the same for a quarter of the price.

[larryccf]

Originally Posted by Chester01

People take themselves too seriously. LE’s appeal to a wide audience and allow the brand to experiment a bit. Even AP does plenty of LE’s and I have no problem with that. If I like it I buy, if not I don’t.

Not sure why the brand can't experiment without issuing them as Limited Editions. I believe they issue them as LEs to justify a premium price. But the problem is they're rapidly approaching the point of their Limited Editions outnumbering their non-limited editions or normal production models, and, in the process, devaluing the use of the "Limited Edition" title.

just my 02

[77T]

Limited Editions do help support buyers when they go to sell the watch later on. Of course, it can be over done.

But the total output of all the recent LE’s pales in volume compared to the regular models produced in the thousands.


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[Psmith]

I don't mind LEs as long as the numbers produced aren't crazy high, so as not to be really 'limited' as such.

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by larryccf

Not sure why the brand can't experiment without issuing them as Limited Editions. I believe they issue them as LEs to justify a premium price. But the problem is they're rapidly approaching the point of their Limited Editions outnumbering their non-limited editions or normal production models, and, in the process, devaluing the use of the "Limited Edition" title.

just my 02

Well let’s play devils advocate. The LE designation allows them to experiment with designs separate them from their core collection and also get the LE’s publicity to see if those designs may be popular enough to be a core watch or move into the core collection. The LE’s also allow them to publicize the brand as well as the new watches. I mean let’s say they don’t use the LE designation and they wish to “try” a watch in the collection but don’t intend to keep it there, should folks not be told that there is no intention to make the given watch part of the collection indefinitely? Not sure what the answer is, but to some degree it would not be done if it did not bring in $$.


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[larryccf]

Originally Posted by Chester01

Well let’s play devils advocate. The LE designation allows them to experiment with designs separate them from their core collection and also get the LE’s publicity to see if those designs may be popular enough to be a core watch or move into the core collection. ..........


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i still don't grasp why an LE designation is necessary - testing to see if they'll be popular in their "core collection" ? why not just test IN the core collection, and if not popular, drop the model.

And sorry to put the last nail in that theory, but how many LE models that were popular (and most have been) have become models in the "core collection"?

Look at the Zimbe models - 999 of each, resellers are asking pretty stiff pricing (and looking like they're getting it) and they still aren't permanent models.

When everything is a "Limited Edition", then in reality nothing is. And I suspect Seiko recognizes this as when we don't have Limited Editions, they're called "Re-Editions" or "Re-Iterations"

again, just one man's 02

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by larryccf

i still don't grasp why an LE designation is necessary - testing to see if they'll be popular in their "core collection" ? why not just test IN the core collection, and if not popular, drop the model.

And sorry to put the last nail in that theory, but how many LE models that were popular (and most have been) have become models in the "core collection"?

Look at the Zimbe models - 999 of each, resellers are asking pretty stiff pricing (and looking like they're getting it) and they still aren't permanent models.

When everything is a "Limited Edition", then in reality nothing is. And I suspect Seiko recognizes this as when we don't have Limited Editions, they're called "Re-Editions" or "Re-Iterations"

again, just one man's 02

I do not disagree, but I am not bothered by the LE designation either. If it’s an LE and I like it, i get it if not I don’t.

All of these watches from PP, VC, Rolex, and GS are not limited even if they say limited and are in reality mass produced items. The fact are if using the LE designation was not leading to an increase in sales, no one would apply that designation. So it must be working with the non-WIS community.


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[Trog]

I feel that GS really jumped the shark when they came out with their Limited Edition Godzilla. A beautiful watch in its own right without the need to attach it to a cartoon character.