Uhrinstinkt Magazine
Whether classic cars, jewels or wines: The allure of the rare captivates us in various areas of life and does not stop at fine timepieces. We have analyzed the immense selection of rarities for you and present ten of the most exciting limited edition watches available from the entry-level to the luxury class of the men’s segment.
Oris Artelier Art Blakey Limited Edition
Inspired by US drummer and bandleader Art Blakey, each of the 1,000 pieces catches the eye with its elegant simplicity. With its white center and eight claws, the dial of the 38-millimeter slim dresswatch, which is powered by the 733 automatic movement, is reminiscent of Blakey’s indispensable bass drum. The caseback of the Oris Artelier Art Blakey also references the music legend by mimicking the look of a bronze hi-hat cymbal. Under domed sapphire crystal, the luminous coated hands follow a clean, minimalist style that is continued in the distinguished leather strap. The latter is attached to an extremely valuable folding clasp.
Junghans Form A Edition 160 Limited Edition
Two limited edition watches of 600 pieces each create an impressive symbiosis of tradition and modernity: while the color design of the 160th anniversary models is inspired by Junghans’ Black Forest homeland (which is reminiscent of either the red and gray capercaillie or the brown Black Forest fir), the Bauhaus-inspired clarity of the dial and the black PVD coating of the 39.3-millimeter stainless steel case bear witness to modern influences. In addition to the slim line of the Junghans Form A Edition, a special feature is the cupped curvature of the dial. We are also thrilled by the creativity of the men’s models: leather straps with tree bark texture or woolly loden fabric straps are not found every day.
Scalfaro LM917 Hans Mezger
An exotic for people with gasoline in their blood: Inspired by the Porsche 917 race car of the century and its engine developer Hans Mezger, the luxury watches are built – you guessed it – only 917 times and inspire with an almost endless love of detail. A fan wheel as the second hand is just the beginning: real metal from the Porsche 917 has been incorporated into the 43-millimeter steel case, and you’ll find the original signature of Hans Mezger, who died in 2020, on the sapphire crystal of the limited edition watches. These men’s watches are monuments to a motorsport era that has fascinated generations. 100 meters of water resistance and a Swiss automatic movement are included with the Scalfaro Limited Edition.
MIDO Commander Chronograph Limited Edition
Prefer a picture-perfect chronograph with architectural inspiration? The 999-watch MIDO Commander small series offers the full package: a masculine 42 millimeters in size and powered by the legendary Valjoux 7750 automatic movement, they elegantly stand out from the crowd with their panda dial. Our favorite detail is the orange accents that add a zesty nuance to the Limited Edition. From a functional point of view, no wishes are left unfulfilled with a Day-Date complication, sapphire crystal, a robust stainless steel bracelet and a fine luminous coating. Incidentally, the design of the Mido Commander is inspired by the Eiffel Tower, as its sharp-edged details demonstrate.
Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic Skeleton Limited Edition
These elegant watches from Geneva demonstrate how timeless complexity can be packaged: at 41 millimeters in diameter, the Highlife combines a beautiful, integrated case design with midnight blue magic and spectacular insights in the dial. Its center opens up a clear view of the mechanics of the self-winding caliber FC-310 under domed sapphire crystal, as does the glass case back. The absence of additional functions gives the watches a perfect symmetry with twelve rectilinear, luminous-coated indices. The aesthetic appeal of the Frederique Constant Highlife is enhanced by the alternating polished and satin-finished components of the stainless steel case. Only 888 pieces will be produced, which is why it’s worth grabbing quickly.
Hamilton American Classic Chrono-Matic 50 Auto Chrono
Anyone with weak nerves should skip this watch. With a whopping 48 millimeters of case diameter, the 1,972 examples of this monstrous Hamilton catapult us back to the Seventies. In addition to the brawny shape of the stainless steel colossus, numerous bright red accents and the fastening of the leather strap underneath the case cause a stir. These limited edition watches do not have classic lugs. An exciting mix of functionality and exoticism prevails on the dial: the tachymeter scale, the chronograph’s clear bicompax layout and a date display at six o’clock harmoniously share the generous space. 100-meter water resistance and 60-hour power reserve of the H-31 automatic movement round out the overall package of the Hamilton American Classic Chrono-Matic 50 Auto Chrono.
Maurice Lacroix Pontos Jours/Date Limited Edition
A powerful appearance that combines noble facets with aesthetic dominance, this Maurice Lacroix is dedicated to the combination of black and khaki, as demonstrated in particular by the captivating sunburst dial. Paired with a symmetrical Day-Date complication, the 1,000 pieces of the 41-millimeter ML Pontos make for a confident unisex look. There’s no shortage of ruggedness with 100-meter water resistance and the black DLC coating on the stainless steel case. The look of the automatic watches is rounded off by a matching nylon strap in green.
Chopard L.U.C XP II Sarto Kiton
Ultra-thin, ultra-luxurious: in partnership with prominent bespoke tailor Kiton, Chopard is creating just 100 examples of this high-flyer, which houses a lavishly decorated manufacture movement including a darkened see-through caseback at 7.2 millimeters in case height. The dial is dominated by golden indices and dauphine hands, as well as the red Kiton logo on an exciting houndstooth pattern with a lacquered surface. A particular highlight of the Limited Edition watches from the Chopard L.U.C XP series is their fastening of the 40-millimeter slim DLC-coated stainless steel case on the arm: a handmade strap of Mongolian cashmere, wool and flannel, to which a pinch of spandex has been added for increased comfort.
U-Boat Classico 47 1001 SS BLU Limited Edition
A monster without limits: With the 300 Limited Edition watches of this 47-millimeter Goliath, U-Boat impressively demonstrates its extravagant brand essence. In addition to the engraved bezel of the titanium case, the left-hand crown including the special crown protector is particularly eye-catching. If you can stand the 16.6-millimeter case height and are receptive to the special sympathy of the blue-and-white mixed indices, you’ll be putting a statement of robustness on your wrist: the Italian masterpiece U-Boat Classico, a limited edition by star designer Italo Fontana, can easily withstand a water depth of 1,000 meters.
Grand Seiko Heritage Kollektion Mechanik Hi-Beat 36.000 GMT 44GS 55th Anniversary
Long name, short sense: absolute perfection. To mark the brand’s 55th anniversary, Japan’s ultimate luxury forge is launching two limited editions of 550 pieces each, their 40-millimeter cases boasting a majestic shine thanks to the in-house “Ever-Brilliant Steel.” The Ref. SLGH009 from the Grand Seiko Heritage Collection shown here attracts our gaze almost magnetically with its blue surface reminiscent of the orbit of the planets in the night sky. Inside, craftsmanship at its finest slumbers: the Hi-Beat 36000 caliber 9SA5, which was only introduced in 2020, ticks ten times per second, is extremely precise, and has an 80-hour power reserve.
