The Edox Super Limited Edition 1884
Edox Super Limited Edition 1884
Ref. 92001 Commemorating the 125th anniversary of the brand’s founding
Introduced in 2009
Features:
• Venus 203 movement made in 1952
• 18,000 vibrations per hour
• 15 jewels
• Between 36 and 38 hours power reserve
• Month, day and date displays
• Moon phase display
• 18K gold bezel
• 41mm diameter case in 316L stainless steel, 13mm thick
• Water-resistant to 100m / 330 feet
Limited to 125 pieces
It is extremely easy to scoff at non-Swiss branded mechanical watches with less than exemplary timekeeping precision. However, one should first consider at what stage of the development process the movements sourced from are at.
Chinese mechanical movement makers for example,are still somewhat at their “infancy” stages. Though Chinese mechanical movements in general may not be as reliable and precise as those from Europe for now, there is always the possibility of these Asian producers catching up. They can improve and it will only be a matter of time.
Just imagine, in one day alone in June 2012, China achieved two phenomenal feats: the very first manual docking in orbit by a Chinese spacecraft and a national deepsea dive to depths of more than 7,000 metres into the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.
Never mind if the Americans and Russians mastered manual docking in orbit way back in the 1960s; the manoeuvre is part of the China’s ambitious plans to build their own space station by 2020. Both accomplishments are symbolic of China’s status as a super economic and technical powerhouse in the 21st century.
With regards to timekeeping, it must also be noted that early European mechanical watch movements weren’t exactly reliable nor precise in the beginning as well.
Even Venus SA movements from its workshops in Moutier, Switzerland in the 1950s were not exactly precise. It is even said that adjustments to the month display have to be performed manually.
However, such a fact did not stop watch brand Edox from using such a movement for a new watch in the 21st century.
Yes, when Edox celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2009, the brand showcased its Super Limited Edition 1884 which is powered by the Venus 203 calibre made in 1952.
We were pleasantly surprised when Laurence Wiedmer of Edox allowed us the pleasure to view it in Basel during the annual watch fair in 2009. Even more surprised when she conceded that, “The accuracy of the movement is not perfect” and that it is priced at 10,000 euros.
There were definitely takers for this special piece, one reason being that the movement is symbolic of an era in Swiss watchmaking history. “I do hope that it [the anniversary timepieces] went only to watch collectors. I would be ashamed if the watch is wrongly used,” adds Wiedmer.