Patek Philippe

akitaishi
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which is sad...

because the label "Limited Edition" is gradually losing its meaning. Not like it had a great deal of meaning to begin with.

Through the responses, the LE tag is open to perceptions and interpretation. And watch collectors inevitably gets attracted to watches that come as "Limited edition" don't we ? Since companies make watches that are limited edition and then impose a premium on these watches. I think ethically, it should not produce more copies of it. If they do, it's like a company dividing amongst itself, overriding their previous decisions to make a piece exclusive.

Thus the emphasis is more on what follows after a "discontinuation".
It's brought up that companies are not legally bounded by anything that prohibits them from producing watches they previously called limited edition.
I do notice this with Swatch, having paid attention to these plastic pieces in the past. Their model "Jellyfish" saw a few series.

Is discontinuation PERMANENT for pieces like Ref 2499 Series, 5055, 5054 and the soon to be discontinued watches like 5960 etc ?, just to name a few.
I hope so for Patek.

For myself, I would not be happy to see new release of discontinued watches. At least not with exactly the same features because it reeks fickle-mindedness on the company's part. Not to mention that it also causes confusion.

Casio did that with their calculator watch CA-53W and CA-53 which has its roots in CA-50. (These watches are now common.)
If they had not done so, technically the CA-50 (1984) would have been a very collectible vintage digital. The re-releases ruined it. It is not wrong, just distasteful.
Apologies for lack of a better example to express my thoughts but I think the Casio example sufficiently illustrates; albeit being a company that produces mass market timepieces.








How many of us here can say that we can always be emotionally detached from this phase "Limited Edition" that comes with a watch ? That for a release of a watch reference, we do not place a greater value at versions labelled "Limited Edition" and the regular versions? The recent MB&F LM2 is a relevant example. The platinum and the WG versions. It is a mixed feeling that I grapple with. Is the blue dial platinum more appealing than the other 2 versions because of how it looks or because it is more exclusive (limited to 18 pieces) ? Sometimes it's hard to tell. Even if they are equally appealing, a "break-tie" factor may many a times be how exclusive the version is. Yet, whether we like it, one cost a premium over the other, and to some, the rational mind finds it hard to make sense whether it's worth paying the premium.  (especially when you like both equally well and it's just the LE issue)  
  Regards.

 

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