FabR
[Senior Patek Moderator]
26166
I don't know whether they are embarrassed, and like you I haven't seen this model on their official website yet (your LE is still up), but I wouldn't expect Piaget to launch a new model and then try to keep it hidden.
It just makes no sense, besides that things would look even more shady than they already are. The best (and probably only) course of action I can see for them is to issue a swift apology for this unintended/regrettable/they-choose-a-credible-term-for mistake, offer the 500 original owners a full refund should they wish to return their watch, and finally pull the latest reference.
This would make them look good in my eyes, and I'm sure it will help regain the trust of their 500 customers (if not of the broader watch community) in an elegant way. Then they can always re-issue this watch down the road with a completely different dial color, for instance, and nobody would feel cheated. If you hear back from Piaget before everybody else does, please keep us posted ;-)
When is a limited edition not limited?
Exhibit A is the Limited editon(500) of the Piaget Polo S with green dial ref GOA44001 released a year ago. Exhibit B is Piaget Polo S with green dial with reference GOA45005 released today. As you will see, apart from the interchangeable straps and brace...
Good point! They cheated!
Too similar! Bad form on Piaget's part! They should commit to being limited and have empathy for their clients who bought a watch with a reasonable expectation that it'd be "limited."
True, but they also need every decent customer to do just that
Clearly this is not how to do it.
Yes, they seem to have only changed the color of the hands, date window and hour markers; if there is any difference in the green dial, it's certainly not noticeable.
I'd just praised Piaget earlier today for the AUC, which I do find an impressive technical achievement. This, to be equally honest, is a very unfortunate move -- a mix of naivete, dishonestly and bad taste that a reputable company simply should not exhibi...
The green dial, which changes colour depending on the light, definitely looks the same in the video, as that on my watch.
As you say, it is just the subtle changes to the hands, hour markers and date window that are ‘different’ I somehow feel Piaget are embarrassed, and this announcement was buried by all the fuss around the Altiplano. Just one video with 87 views on YouTube...
I don't know whether they are embarrassed, and like you I haven't seen this model on their official website yet (your LE is still up), but I wouldn't expect Piaget to launch a new model and then try to keep it hidden.
It just makes no sense, besides that things would look even more shady than they already are. The best (and probably only) course of action I can see for them is to issue a swift apology for this unintended/regrettable/they-choose-a-credible-term-for mist...
It is so common.
Often limited editions are turned into regular editions. The brands can get away with it so they do it. It is terrible. Richemont is the biggest violator. Panerai (everything), JLC (extreme lab, Polaris tribute etc), Lange (pretty much everything above 10...
Totally, almost all the brands do it. This case does seem extra egregious though.
From the million variants of the Omega Speedmaster to the Richard Mille "limited edition" colors it's pretty normal. Some seem worse than others. The answer is to buy limited watches no one likes. If no one buys them they won't get rereleased... Except fo...
Apparently pretty common, Michel...
Here is my Junghans Max Bill 100 Jahre Bauhaus Limited Edition ... and here is the Max Bill 100 Jahre Bauhaus unlimited edition. The PVD case has been changed to a plain steel case, the datewheel red font and background reversed, and a black strap substit...
Why should you keep it limited, when you can sell more?
Money, that's all they want 🤷♂️
With very few exceptions, the words "limited edition" are worth zero nowadays.
So many brands have done so many things to use these words to sell watches and just changing some minor details is a common one. But as long as you've bought a watch because you really like it, it shouldn't be that much of a problem.
Thank you friends.......
I’ve had many helpful replies and now feel better educated ! My conclusion, which was probably my hunch at the beginning, is that the watch manufacturers will always follow the money and the demand, and whilst not technically infringing the ‘limited editi...