[Personal rambling] "The model after" effect

[sbyted]

Been in the watch game a while, observed this pattern.

The "upgrade"/version 2 model after a really popular watershed model generally tends to ring hollow a bit.

Examples:

- Patek 5070, came out in black and gold, harkoning back to a pocket chrono from Patek from way back and instantly became a favourate. Subsequently, 5070 were made in other variants and 5070 eventually got succeeded by 5170. But the 5070 in black and gold is always the fan favourate.

- 116500 panda. Instantly was the most difficult to get watch from AD. Fans were enthused about the ceramic bezel, the subdials and the black and white look. 126500 came after and is nice, but did not come out with the same "punch" as 116500. I suspect 126500 will become the "2nd child" and 116500 will eventually become more valuable.

- Rolex Hulk: Ceramic green bezel and all green. Succeeded by starbucks. Already worth more than starbucks that came after on grey market.


It seems the first watch was always the one that "captured lightning in a bottle"; and the ones after are just a shadow of the original magic.