Limited Edition Value?

Anything more than what the regular model costs is too much. In fact, it should be even less because it'll become one of two things. It will either be kept hidden in a box unworn until it rots, or if you do ever wear it and damage it, you will never be able to easily buy another one to replace it. Might as well just put your money in a pile and burn it.

This is a limited edition DuFrane collaboration with an artist from Oct 2023. Handpainted dial. #2/16. It's a unique dial 1 of 1. I paid $200 more for it and for me, it was well worth it. I wear it sparingly. It may be worth a bit more - maybe less if I were to sell it. I would never trade or sell it. Limited editions from common brands are cool - but some call limited 3000 pieces. Marketing hype. You pay more for those and you're getting scammed IMO.

You should buy a watch if you like it and think the price is fair. Whether or not it is a limited edition should not factor into your decision (or at least it should be the primary factor).

Depends on the size of the LE. IE, 2000 is not an LE. I would argue 500 is not in most cases. I rarely pay over when buying used, unless it is absolutely extremely limited (25 or less) and even then full price is a hard pill to swallow, never mind 10% above, which is usually my limit if I really want the watch.

And no, they are not better investments, watches are not good investments.

You pay what you think is right for the LE because you like it and then you wear the hell out of it. A watch setting in a safe unworn is a liability not an investment. I pull my LE JLC out of the safe and I wear it whenever I want. It makes me smile a lot. Now that an investment in happiness!!!!

Buy because you like it and not because it’s a limited edition. Watches make poor investments and the vast majority of watches will lose value the moment your payment is processed.

You might be able to make a good profit on your limited edition if you flip it soon after the launch when the demand is still high. Even then, it is depends on the watch. In the long run, there will be little difference. Don’t expect a windfall like the Daytona showcased on The Antiques Roadshow. That was a freak cumulation of a few factors. 1) Daytonas were not popular models, so few were bought and kept in pristine condition 2) He got it at a very good price because of point 1 3) He kept it in pristine condition with box and papers 4) the Paul Newman Daytona sold for crazy money.