What do you all think about Invicta watches..

[NCC-1701]

:bigears::bigears:

[Kerrmudgeon]

I've been looking at one for a while now, a gold plated divers with black dial....BUT, read the comments of people who have bought one....not that good on the reviews on that model anyway. Only a hundred but if it's junk, it's junk. :bilmem:

http://www.discountwatchstore.com/assets/images/Invicta/8936.jpg

[99 pewtercoupe]

I have a couple of Invicta watches. The original Pro Diver(mechanical automatic version) is a pretty decent watch. It has a good Japanese made movement that is basically bullet proof. Had it for probably 7-8 years and while I don't wear it every day it has never been a problem or issue. They have since come out with multiple versions in both automatic and quartz.

I also have a Grand Lupah in quartz that is fairly decent but I'm just not crazy about that look so much anymore

Invicta did go through a period where their customer service was notoriously bad and they pissed off a lot of customers. Sounds like they have improved in the last couple of years.

The biggest joke about them is their pricing. If you ever see anyone wanting even half their suggested retail price its laughable. The EVine TV network is always running Invicta specials where you can end up paying $200 for a watch they claim has an MSRP of almost $1000. You can also go out to their wewbsite

[Thunder22]

i bought one a few years ago, i'll never buy another one, they're cheaply made.

For the money, Citizen watches are much better made.

[NCC-1701]

I understand that these watches also come with a Swiss movement which is better the Japanese movement or the Swiss.

[StaticCling]

I generally dislike watches that copy design elements of existing classic watches. Many Invicta watches try hard to copy Rolex, and it's just disingenuous or poserish to me.

In that price point, buy a Seiko, at least their designs are original.

[StaticCling]

I understand that these watches also come with a Swiss movement which is better the Japanese movement or the Swiss.

You are opening a big can of worms with that, because it's up for debate.

There is a tremendous amount of information on this subject, but most less expensive watches fitted with Swiss mechanical movements will have an entry level grade (or Ebauche) of the ubiquitous ETA 2824, which is a 25 jewel Automatic that runs at 28,800 beats per hour (bph). It's a very good movement, and basically a general workhorse. As of late, Swatch Group (who manufactures the movement), are not providing movements anymore to boutique and smaller watch manufacturers so enter Sellita, a new Swiss movement company that makes a basic direct copy of the ETA movement. Also, Ronda, which traditionally made Swiss Quartz movements, is entering the game with mechanical movements that are (most likely) ETA copies.

The Japanese movements are excellent as well. Most watches in this price point will have a Miyota (Citizen) automatic movements, which are a 21 Jewel general workhorse which goes along at 21,600bph. They beat less than their Swiss counterparts, and they don't hack. (well at least the 8215 series doesn't, the newer 9 series does I believe) - the lower tiered Miyota movements have a tendency to stutter, but it doesn't affect time keeping.

Seiko's general workhorse these days is the 7S series of movements, and they are bullet proof. They don't hack and handwind however, and the rotor is uni-directional (unlike their Swiss counterpart) - you have to get into the 4r and 6r series of Seiko movements (JDM watches) to get the handwinding and hack feature (those are 23 jeweled movements with Seiko's shock protection) - Seiko's general workhorse movements are also 21,600bph movements.

Went off on a tangent, but the Swiss movements are generally 'better' in that they have a higher beat, they hack and handwind...but it could be argued that they will require more maintenance in the long term. The basic Japanese autos are probably more robust, require less long term maintenance, but they don't have a hack feature unless you get into their more expensive offerings, which are usually relegated to the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market).

So, they are both good. Just different.

[Thunder22]

just my .02 but I doubt that people who are looking at invictas, care about a hack :) and if they do, then (broken record) a Citizen Eco Drive AT (time is set from clock in Denver) is probably a better idea.

btw- Amazon has great deals on Citizen's this week, I bought 2 new Citizens just yesterday because the flash deals were too good to pass up. (both around $200 after the deep discounts)

All of that being said, I've been buying a few Citizens lately because my Breitling was taking a beating and I want it to last. The last service I had done on it really showed how much of a beating it was taking, so I'm giving it a well needed rest and rotating between the citizens for daily wear, with the Breitling getting worn once or twice a week instead of 7 days.

[StaticCling]

just my .02 but I doubt that people who are looking at invictas, care about a hack :) and if they do, then (broken record) a Citizen Eco Drive AT (time is set from clock in Denver) is probably a better idea.



He asked about the difference between Swiss movements and Japanese, so I told him, because that (hack) is one of the key differences between the *most* common Japanese mechanical movements and their Swiss counterparts. That and beats per hour.

You have to get into the higher end Seiko's that are mostly reserved for JDM to get those key features (6r15 movement etc. See my earlier thread on my new watch)

Will most people care about hacking? Probably not. They probably won't care that the watch vibrates 8 times per second instead of 6 either, but he asked so I told him what I know.

[Thunder22]

He asked about the difference between Swiss movements and Japanese, so I told him, because that (hack) is one of the key differences between the *most* common Japanese mechanical movements and their Swiss counterparts. That and beats per hour.

You have to get into the higher end Seiko's that are mostly reserved for JDM to get those key features (6r15 movement etc. See my earlier thread on my new watch)

udnerstood, i was just following on from your great info. I learned something new :cert::cert:

[StaticCling]

udnerstood, i was just following on from your great info. I learned something new :cert::cert:

Cool. Yeah, there is a bunch of shit going on with Swatch Group and providing movements outside of their own 'Brands' - somebody like Nox would be able to provide more insight than me on that. But it's basically Swatch Group trying to stifle the competition with other brands.

So it's Sellita, Soprod and now Ronda that are ramping up to provide movements to the 'boutique' companies. I believe Soprod is relatively high end though, I'm not sure.

Of course higher end brands and companies like Rolex and Patek Phillipe as well as many others (Vacheron, LeCoultre) produce their own movements in house...so it's a moot point with them.

[Thunder22]

Where's a good place to buy authentic Hamiltons from with a warranty for a good price? (other than ebay, i don't do ebay)

[Stangkiller]

I had one, a nice knock off of the Rolex submariner. It started losing time after a year, but I found I enjoyed wearing it so I went and bought a Citizen watch. I've worn the citizen everyday for 5.5 years without a single issue or scratch.

[Fasglas]

Where's a good place to buy authentic Hamiltons from with a warranty for a good price? (other than ebay, i don't do ebay)

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hamilton+watches+for+men&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=153698255452&hvpos=1t3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8717790378014063996&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013184&hvtargid=kwd-897436350&ref=pd_sl_7tzns6qd7w_b

[Stangkiller]

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hamilton+watches+for+men&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=153698255452&hvpos=1t3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8717790378014063996&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013184&hvtargid=kwd-897436350&ref=pd_sl_7tzns6qd7w_b

Be careful on Amazon you're not guaranteed to get an honored warranty card. I didn't on my wife's Movado I bought from them years ago.

[StaticCling]

Where's a good place to buy authentic Hamiltons from with a warranty for a good price? (other than ebay, i don't do ebay)

Jomashop.com is legit, and they provide a waranty. :yesnod:

[Thunder22]

Jomashop.com is legit, and they provide a waranty. :yesnod:

it's a jomashop warranty correct? or Hamilton?

[StaticCling]

it's a jomashop warranty correct? or Hamilton?

I think it is thru them, not the manufacturer. They are a gray market dealer. :yesnod:

Bernard Watch is another reputable gray market dealer of watches, but their focus is on more High End stuff, but you may check to see if they have anything...I bought a Rolex from them years ago, don't have that watch anymore, but they are legit.

[Fasglas]

I generally dislike watches that copy design elements of existing classic watches. Many Invicta watches try hard to copy Rolex, and it's just disingenuous or poserish to me.

In that price point, buy a Seiko, at least their designs are original.


Well said. Invicta always makes me think of something else, even their name reminds me of:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Buick_Invicta_Convertible_1961.jpg/280px-Buick_Invicta_Convertible_1961.jpg
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Here is some info that's worth a look.

THE SEIKO 5 STORY | SEIKO 5 SPORTS (http://www.seikowatches.com/5sports/seiko5story/index.html)

My 1st Seiko 5 was bought in VietNam, 1966. I still own it and it still runs. I've acquired a few more, eBay, at ridiculously low prices. All of them run as they should. No complaints, and they look good. All are stainless though a couple have been machine polished.

Highly recommend.