Two recent Fears Watch purchases and why I keep coming back LEs in general

After buying one of the recent Fears X Topper LEs, I recently found myself enraptured by the newest Fears relief...the special edition of the new Redcliff with the Onyx dial done for Collective Horology. I did not anticipate myself buying another Fears watch anytime soon, but I had recently sold a couple of nice watches without any specific purchase in mind (a rarity for me), so I had the funds waiting and this just ticked the right boxes for me.

The watch feels exquisite in the hand and the dial is quite stunning. While I thought the regular Redcliff's look nice (and based on my in-hand experience with this one, I have no doubt they are), they didn't do much for me for a couple of reasons, I don't really like dates and I generally like a bit more "interest" to a dial. They are certainly pretty, but not quite what I want from a watch.

I feel somewhat similar about the current Brunswick 40 design, very pretty, but something about them doesn't work for me (though I will point out I did have the 38mm copper Brunswick before and felt it worked much better in that execution). However, these two different takes on LEs captured my imagination in ways that their standard models did not and while I like the brand and have enjoyed following them over the years, I was not going to be a customer without these two LE.

Regardless, 7 or my 9 watches at this point are an LE of some sort, from as little as 5 pieces to as large as 800pcs. Sometimes its a matter of just being from small batch manufactures, but also a lot to do with just one proper use of a color or material really making a design pop to me in a way it doesn't in other colors. But a lot of it is just an aspect of my personality that has an affinity for a bit of contrarianism. Even the two watches I have that aren't LEs are a bit of oddballs within their collection.

Regardless, any time Fears comes up, there are always questions about the value proposition they offer. I'm not hear to convince anybody of that, but what I can add is that when I compare these to other watches within the same price range and a bit above that I own, have owned or have handled, I personally don't feel like I'm missing anything.