THE JOURNAL

Collecting watches is laced with friendly competition. Indeed, collecting anything can induce a degree of one-upmanship over time, as you seek out rare treasures. The thought of owning a watch very few others will ever wear has become a mainstay of modern watch fandom. Limited editions are a chance for collectors to reference a personal area of interest, support a particular cause or simply delight in adding a lesser-known model to their watch box. Often, they’re the fruit of design collaborations and represent a chance for brands to experiment with bolder looks, as something distinctly separate from the “core” design. We’ve rounded up five of the best limited-edition watches currently available at MR PORTER.
01. Jacob & Co. Epic X Skeleton Limited Edition

Known for its partnerships with the likes of Mr Cristiano Ronaldo, Bugatti and Supreme, Jacob & Co. creates watches that command your attention. Newly launched on MR PORTER, the brand specialises in open-worked or skeletonised watches with bold colour schemes, both of which in evidence on this Epic X Skeleton chronograph, a 101-piece limited edition that boasts a 44mm DLC-coated stainless steel case and an eye-catching honeycomb-print rubber strap in bright orange.
02. IWC Schaffhausen Big Pilot 43 MR PORTER Edition

Our very own collaboration with IWC Schaffhausen – the second, in fact, following the sell-out success of the Pilot’s Chronograph in bronze for MR PORTER’s 10th anniversary. This design follows in the same footsteps, specifically the black and bronze colour scheme with standout white luminous hands, with an Alcantara strap – something not found on any other Big Pilot’s references. The 43mm watch features an engraving on the caseback celebrating the partnership, and is limited to 500 pieces.
03. Massena LAB Uni-Racer

Massena LAB deals exclusively in limited editions, tapping into the cult collector mindset to offer interpretations of some of the most cherished and sought-after vintage watches ever made. The Uni-Racer carries echoes of Universal Genève’s Uni-Compax chronograph from the 1960s. Certain choices are faithful to the vintage style, such as the closed caseback and use of acrylic crystal rather than sapphire, but the 39mm case and Sellita movement (albeit hand-wound) are a nod to modern standards of reliability and wearability.
04. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Large Small Seconds

Produced exclusively for MR PORTER as part of an ongoing collaboration celebrating iconic cities around the world, this Reverso looks like any other stainless-steel classic model from the front. But slide the case across and flip it over, and you reveal the detailed engraving of LA’s skyline, complete with palm trees, skyscrapers and the Hollywood hills. This hand-wound Reverso is one of a trio launched this November, alongside references for Singapore and Sydney.
05. H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Perpetual Moon

Everything produced by H. Moser & Cie. is on the exclusive side. In fact, the brand’s tagline is “very rare”. But only 50 of this moonphase reference were ever made. The 42mm rose-gold model is as notable for what it doesn’t have as what it does. The brand’s signature mode: no hour or minute markers, dial text of any kind or even a logo. Just the crisp cutout at six o’clock that shows the phase of the moon, accurately represented to within one day’s deviation in 1,027 years. Inside is the meticulously finished hand-wound Calibre HMC 801.