Jewellery & Watch News
Whether you’re an avid collector or a newbie starting their collection, you can’t go far wrong with a limited edition watch. However, with so many luxury watch brands releasing their own limited edition instalments, it can be difficult to know where to start. This is where C W Sellors comes in. In this handy guide, we’ll be looking at the best limited edition watches released so far in 2021, pieces from some of the industry’s biggest Swiss houses to models from smaller names destined to become incredibly rare and valuable to collectors in the long-term.
If you’re interested in making an investment in a limited edition watch, you can shop these and more 2021 limited edition watches on the C W Sellors website here. You can also get in touch with the C W Sellors team on 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
IWC Pilots Timezoner Le Petit Prince Limited Edition
One of the top pieces on our list for the Best 2021 Limited Edition watches is this IWC Pilots Timezoner Le Petit Prince Edition. In all honesty, pretty much all of IWC’s limited edition collection deserves to here but their patented timezoner function takes the cake. First revealed back in 2016, the complication allows the wearer to effortlessly change between time zones without having to pull out the crown, stop the movement and lose out on accuracy. How does it work? Well, in short, the bezel directly impacts the IWC manufactured 82760 calibre within. You simply turn the bezel in either direction to your desired location, based on the cities on the ceramic insert, and release. The hour hand for local time will then adjust itself to the position. This limited edition of 1,500 pieces also marks the first time the complication is used within one of the brand’s Le Petit Prince models, a series dedicated to the literary work of the author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Like all models in the collection, the IWC Pilots Timezoner Le Petit Prince Limited Edition features a deep blue dial and comes complete with a 46mm case, 60 metre water resistant rating, luminous hands and numerals and a brown calfskin leather strap.
Bremont Jaguar E-Type 60th Anniversary Limited Editions
In celebration of the launch of the original Jaguar E-Type at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, British watch manufacturer Bremont have unveiled two limited edition Jaguar E-Type 60th Anniversary watches for 2021. Attired in the colours of “Flat Out Grey” and “Drop Everything Green”, the watches beautifully commemorate the historic cars with screw down pushers and a winding crown inspired by very Dunlop racing tyres fitted to the supercars on the day of its release and a unique oscillating rotor that has been engineered into the shape of an alloy-spoked E-type steering wheel. The oscillating rotor is equipped to the BE-50AE automatic winding movement which delivers a power reserve of 38 hours and chronograph complication presented on subsidiary dials designed to evoke the gauges on the Jaguar’s dashboard. Finally, the 42mm stainless steel cases of the Bremont Jaguar E-Type 60th Anniversary Limited Editions are fitted with bi-directional rotating aluminium bezels and leather straps in green or grey. The sale of each 60 piece limited edition also comes with a unique rally timer and a driving experience where you can drive three different Jaguar E-Type cars at Jaguar’s exclusive Fen End facility.
Breitling Premier Top Time Deus Limited Edition
Next up on our list of the best limited edition watches of 2021 is a piece from Swiss watch giants Breitling. The Breitling Premier Top Time Dues Limited Edition has been designed in collaboration with Deus Ex Machina, an Australian lifestyle brand associated with the Deus Swank Rally, an epic motorcycle championship of which Breitling is now the official timekeeper for. While this new partnership helps bring value to the limited edition, it is its design inspired by the original Breitling Top Time watch that makes it so valuable. Since its release in 1960, the Breitling Top Time has been a classic among watch collectors, especially after it was worn by Sean Connery as James Bond in the 1965 film Thunderball. The new limited edition of 1,500 pieces honours this history with a distinctive black on white panda bi-compax layout dial and a 41mm stainless steel case resolutely faithful in form to the 60’s original. Hidden behind the snapped case back decorated with a special engraving designed by Deus creative director Carby Tuckwell is the COSC certified Breitling Calibre 23 with a power reserve of 48 hours. At the centre, the movement delivers chronograph complication on black subsidiary dials detailed with vivid orange accents. The central chronograph seconds hand is also in orange, moulded into a lightning bolt and paired with the Dues logo at 6 o’clock.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Tribute Limited Edition
For 2021, one of TAG Heuer’s biggest releases was their Aquaracer Professional 300 watch collection. The series features seven non-limited pieces and one limited edition watch designed as tribute to the Ref.844 diver’s watch first introduced by TAG Heuer back in 1978. Featuring a black dial and bezel, 24 hour time, cathedral shaped hands and powered by the French automatic FE 4611A calibre, the 844 ultimately formed the basis of what would become the TAG Heuer 1000 Professional Series which would eventually transform into today’s modern Aquaracer. The new limited edition of 844 pieces maintains the original’s flat black dial and black bezel, vintage coloured lume, and red 24 hour scale alongside a newly improved 43mm stainless steel case, screw down crown with a 300 metre water resistant rating and the Calibre 5 automatic winding movement. Based on the SW 200-1 architecture, the Calibre 5 delivers central hands for hours, minutes and seconds and angled date window with magnifying lens at 6 o’clock. To complete the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Tribute Limited Edition, a screw down case back is detailed with the image of a scaphander and the black rubber strap includes unique octagonal perforated holes to match the indexes on the dial.
Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Edition Collection
In 1881, a 21 year old entrepreneur named Hattori Kintaro opened a shop selling and repairing watches and clocks in central Tokyo. 140 years later and that shop is now a global phenomenon otherwise known as Seiko. In celebration of their birthday, the Japanese watch manufacturer have launched an exclusive series of watches including four limited edition Seiko 140th Anniversary Prospex, Presage, Astron and 5 Sports models dressed in the same white and blue livery. First model in the collection is the Prospex SPB213 watch limited to 6,000 pieces. Its design takes inspiration from Seiko’s first ever divers watch released in 1965 with a 40.5mm stainless steel case, pure white dial with Lumibrite accents, a blue bezel and a 70 hour power reserve powered by the automatic Calibre 6R35. Second in line is the Seiko Astron SSH093 which also comes with a smooth silver dial and blue bezel but with a larger 42.7mm stainless steel case and the GPS Dual-Time 5X53 Calibre allowing you to adjust to the exact time anywhere in the world with just a simple touch of a button. This piece is limited to 1,400 pieces. Next is the Seiko Presage SPB223, a limited to 3,500 pieces with a 42.4mm stainless steel case, unique Asanoha or hemp leaf embossed dial, a centrally mounted 24-hour GMT hand and the Calibre 6R64 automatic movement. Lastly, the Seiko 5 Sports 140th Anniversary SRPG47 watch revives a historic Seiko collection first released in 1963 known as the Seiko Sportmatic 5. In similar fashion, the Seiko 5 Sports 140th Anniversary watch boasts incredible robustness and durability owing to the 42.5mm stainless steel case, steel bracelet, Hardlex crystal, 100 metre water resistant case and dazzling blue 60 minute bezel. This piece is powered by the 4R36 automatic winding calibre and is limited to 11,000 pieces.
Oris Carl Brashear Calibre 401 Limited Edition
Oris’ 2021 watch collection is one of the best spots to look for limited edition watches, but one particular model that has stood out to many this year is the Oris Carl Brashear Cal. 401 Limited Edition. This is the third piece from the Swiss watch manufacturer designed as tribute to U.S. Navy master diver Carl Brashear. Once again, the design is dressed entirely in bronze, a material that will develop its own unique patina, but for the first time showcases the brand’s new Calibre 401 in-house automatic movement with a remarkable 10 year warranty, a 5 day power reserve, highly anti-magnetic properties and a small seconds dial at 6 o’clock. The case measures to 40mm in diameter and is equipped with a bronze 60 minute scale bezel, domed scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass and a bronze screw in crown water resistant to 100 metres. At the centre, the navy blue dial commemorates naval traditions with vintage-lume Superluminova and bronze-effect hands and indexes. Completing the look of the new Oris Carl Brashear Cal.401 Limited Edition is an all new strap custom-designed and hand-crafted by Erika’s Originals. Like all of Oris’ Carl Brashear watches, this piece will raise funds for the Carl Brashear Foundation, a charity that works towards helping countless veterans and vulnerable people, giving them hope and helping them to achieve their goals.
Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Nightlum Limited Edition
One of the biggest releases from Bell & Ross over the last few years was the introduction of their BR 05 collection, a series of luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets and the iconic circle-within-square design. The original Bell and Ross BR 05 Skeleton was the first limited edition in the collection paired with silver skeleton dial and later there was the BR 05 Skeleton Blue with blue smoked sapphire crystal. Now, the same aesthetics are revealed but paired with Bell & Ross’ Nightlum dial. The Nightlum dial is characterised by its green-coloured C3 Superluminova which is richly applied across the hour markers and hands, ensuring exceptional legibility of the otherwise complex skeletonised dial. The case of the 500-piece limited is engineered from stainless and measures to 40mm diameter with an integrated black rubber strap or stainless steel bracelet. Similarly, to how the BR 05 Skeleton Blue was topped by blue-tinted glass, the new Nightlum Limited Edition watch is protected by black smoked sapphire crystal offering a shadowy view of the BR-CAL.322 automatic winding movement beneath. The movement impresses with classic central hands for hours and minutes, a 42 hour power reserve and frequency of 28,800vph. The movement can also be spotted through the exhibition case back.
Chronoswiss Open Gear ReSec Paraiba Limited Edition
Last up on our list of Best 2021 Limited Edition watches is the Chronoswiss Watch Open Gear ReSec Paraiba. If there’s one luxury watch design that Chronoswiss have mastered, it’s the Regulator, a design which sees the three main indicators of hours, minutes and seconds delivered off-centre on their own unique subsidiary dials. This very display is brought to life in this limited edition of 50 pieces but on a unique handmade guilloche dial captivating in shades of turquoise, petrol blue, jungle green and deep purple. This array of iridescent colours is inspired by the rare Paraiba tourmaline, a gemstone of which the watch takes its name. In contrast to the dial, matte black and Superluminova coated elements display the hours, minutes and seconds. Powering each of these functions is the automatic Calibre C.301 which promises a 42 hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. You can also witness the movement through the exhibition case back alongside a polished pallet lever, perlage decorated bridges and plates with a skeletonised and CVD coated turquoise coloured rotor. The Chronoswiss Open Gear ReSec Paraiba Limited Edition is completed by a 44mm stainless steel case and a traditional Hornback crocodile leather strap in black.
