While it’s true there are certain classic sailing watches every superyacht owner should have in his collection, sometimes you can’t beat the wow factor of a true limited edition timepiece. With high-tech functions and impeccable design credentials, here’s our pick of the best limited edition watches to get your hands on this summer.
Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Ibiza
Is your yacht moored at Marina d’Eivissa? Then make sure you pay a visit to Hublot’s brand new pop-boutique. To celebrate the opening, the watchmaker released a blue and white limited edition of its 45 mm Classic Fusion Chronograph inspired by the colours of Ibiza. Water resistant up to 50mt, it features a blue ceramic bezel with a white alligator and blue rubber strap, and a peace & love symbol on the seconds counter to pay tribute to the island’s spirit. Only 50 pieces are available, so you better act fast.
Case: Polished and satin ceramic, 45mm
Strap: White alligator and blue rubber
Movement: HUB1143, self-winding
Limited edition: 50
Price: £12,000, hublot.com
TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Chronograph
The Tag Heuer Monaco (famously worn by Steve McQueen in 1971 film Le Mans) turns 50 this year, and 5 limited editions are being released to mark the occasion - each watch celebrating a specific decade from 1969 to 2019. The 1989-1999 edition, pictured above, is the latest one to be unveiled. Limited to 169 pieces, it has a 39mm stainless steel case, blue leather strap and is water resistant to 100 metres.
Case: Stainless steel, 39mm
Strap: Blue leather
Movement: Omega Calibre 12 Swiss Made, automatic
Limited edition: 169
Price: £5,350, tagheuer.com
Zenith Defy Classic Farfetch Edition
To mark a year since Zenith joined forces with global fashion ecommerce platform Farfetch, The Defy classic has been given a summer makeover in white ceramic with a beige rubber strap. With a 41mm case, 50 hour power reserve and 10 atm (100 metre) water resistance, it’s the perfect summer watch - only 25 examples are available.
Case: Ceramic, 41mm
Strap: Rubber
Movement: Elite 670-SK automatic
Limited edition: 25
Price: £6,100, farfetch.com
Monsieur de Chanel Édition Noire
The only men's watch in a series of four limited Édition Noire timepieces launched by Chanel at Baselworld 2019, the Monsieur de Chanel Édition Noire features the same in-house Calibre 1 movement as its main line counterparts powering an instant jumping hour, small seconds sub-dial, date window and 240° retrograde minute. This special edition, however, offers a matte black ceramic case with a matte black dial and crystal sapphire caseback for the ultimate in understated style.
Case: Black ceramic and steel, 42mm
Strap: Alligator
Movement: Calibre 1 manual-wound
Limited edition: 55
Price: POA (Available from September), chanel.com
Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary
Omega's connection to numerous space missions is well known and has inspired many of the brand's timepieces over the years. For 2019 it returns with a special timepiece marking the 50th anniversary of the watch gifted to the astronauts involved in the first moon landing in 1969. Aesthetically the new Speedmaster Apollo 11 is an almost exact replica of the original timepiece with its burgundy bezel, gold case and onyx hour markers. Inside it's powered by a Calibre 3861 master chronometer while the sapphire caseback features a map of the American continent and a domed lunar meteorite inlay representing the true proportions of the earth and the moon.
Case: 18k Moonshine gold, 42mm
Strap: Moonshine gold
Movement: Omega Calibre 3861
Waterproof: 50 metres
Limited edition: 1,014
Price: £25,600, omegawatches.com