Many watch manufacturers release special edition watches; some rather regularly, others just on occasion. Sometimes brands create special editions just for the sake of it, but more commonly, the watches are designed and released to commemorate a special occasion or mark a collaboration between partner companies. Several interesting special edition watches were launched in 2019. Let’s take a closer look at some of these unique timepieces.
Certina DS-1 Big Date Powermatic 80
It’s not just the big Swiss brands that create special editions, numerous smaller names have followed suit. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the brand Certina, it was founded by Adolf and Alfred Kurth in 1888 in the Swiss town of Grenchen. In 1959, they came up with the “double security” concept, called “DS” for short. Double security refers to the watch’s high levels of water resistance and shock protection, both of which have been key features of the Certina DS collection since it was launched 60 years ago.
To celebrate this anniversary, Certina launched the DS-1 Big Date Powermatic 80. This model doesn’t stray far from the original timeless design from 60 years ago. It still features their double security concept and also has some new impressive features that signal their forward-thinking approach. One of the biggest novelties is their new anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring. With the ever-increasing presence of magnetic fields around us, this balance spring will no longer leave you worrying about your watch getting magnetized. When a watch is magnetized, the coils of the metal balance spring stick together, making the spring shorter and resulting in a dramatic shift in the movement’s running speed. The Nivachron balance spring was introduced earlier this year with the launch of the Swatch Sistem51 Flymagic. Interestingly, the component is developed by the Swatch group in collaboration with non-member Audemars Piguet.
The special edition DS-1 Big Date Powermatic 80 has a 41-mm stainless steel case and matching mesh, or Milanese, bracelet. The stunning green sunburst dial has a smoked effect towards the outside edge and changes in appearance depending on the light and angle. At 6 o’clock you’ll find a large date window. The Powermatic 80 comes, as the name suggests, with an 80-hour power reserve and automatic winding. The words “Double Security 60th Anniversary” are engraved on the case back. All together, it is a nice watch with an attractive price tag around 1,000 USD.
Junghans FORM A 100 Jahre Bauhaus
Moving over to Germany, we have Junghans, one of several brands (like NOMOS) that have many Bauhaus-inspired designs. This style originates from a German art school called “Staatliches Bauhaus,” also known simply as “Bauhaus.” Literally translated to English it means “building house.” Founded in 1919, the school sought to teach a combination of craft and fine arts. The iconic style is well known for its unique approach to design, where form follows function. Bauhaus is considered one of the most influential movements in modern design, architecture, and art. To find out more, make sure you read our article “What is Bauhaus.”
The FORM A 100 Jahre Bauhaus model is limited to 1,000 pieces. Though most Bauhaus designs are quite modest, the style itself was more colorful. In addition to form and function, the relationship between form and color was an important pilar in Bauhaus designs. As a nod to this fact, Junghans has used 12 different colors to mark the hours.
This watch comes with a 39.3-mm stainless steel case and mesh bracelet. The white dial takes up most of the face as the bezel is very slim. There is a small date window at 3 o’clock, and the slim hands are plated in matte silver. This watch is powered by caliber J800.2, which is based on the ETA 2824-2. Priced around 950 USD, this watch is the most affordable option of these three 2019 special editions.
Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th anniversary
Without further ado, 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and the first Moon landing. The historic event brought the world to a standstill, as people across the globe tried to get a glimpse of the live footage. It was an unbelievable achievement that is unmistakably linked to the Omega Speedmaster. To commemorate this special occasion, Omega launched two Apollo 11 50th anniversary special editions. The first comes in Moonshine gold, which resembles the 1969 gold Speedmaster. The other is a steel watch featuring some interesting details.
When looking at the Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th anniversary, it’s easy to recognize the iconic Speedmaster case. The biggest difference is the new bracelet which resembles the original flat link bracelet from the 1960s. However, that isn’t the only novelty as the watch also comes with the new caliber 3861. This movement has a Co-Axial escapement, is anti-magnetic up to 15,000 Gauss, comes with a 50-hour power reserve, and has a Master Chronometer certification, meaning the watch is extensively tested by an independent party and guaranteed to comply with strict specifications. The watch comes with an extra Master Chronometer certificate card that can be used to look up the actual test results of your individual watch.
Most of the watch face, including the bezel, indices, and hands, are made of Moonshine gold. This new type of gold has less of a yellow hue than standard 18K gold. It is also meant to better resist tarnishing over time. Several details link the watch to the Apollo 11 mission such as the use of an 11 numeral instead of a normal index. There is also a laser-engraved image at 9 o’clock showing Buzz Aldrin climbing down from the lunar lander. On the case back you will find a laser-engraved image of the first step on the Moon. The Moonshine gold case back has been treated with a black coating, which allows the golden footprint to shine through.
The details of this timepiece are simply incredible, as is the box that comes with a watch stand. Shaped like the base of the lunar lander module, it stands on a 3D lunar surface. It also contains an additional strap made of blackened cork with gold details. All in all, this is a truly stunning timepiece.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few examples of the special editions that were launched in 2019. It’s always nice to see special editions being released, especially when they are as well designed as these three picks. Due to the limited runs, chances are many special edition watches will also become more desirable over time. That said, not every limited edition is truly limited. Whatever the case, you should always primarily buy a watch to enjoy it. Owning a fine timepiece doesn’t bring much pleasure if it’s just hidden away in a bank safe.
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3 Special Editions Celebrating 100 Years of Bauhaus
