Alternatives to the Television Infomercial Watch Brands

Unusual Watch Brands that Make for Unique Collections 

Since some watch brands are constantly being advertised via infomercial, some of the novelty and exclusivity of owning a fine timepiece has been diminished. Here are some unique alternatives to the watch brands constantly seen on TV shopping networks. 

[This article is reprinted from the now defunct Yahoo Contributors Network, but it is still relevant today!]

If you like watches, then you've undoubtedly watched some of the home shopping television shows dedicated to selling watches. Brands like Invicta, Sturhling Original, Android, and Renato have become household names by making it possible for middle class consumers to afford sophisticated timepieces with mechanical movements, European design features, and a combination of Asian and Swiss components. However, since these brands are constantly being advertised via infomercial, some of the novelty and exclusivity of owning a fine timepiece has been diminished.

Just as Rolex owners might be plagued by questions about the authenticity of their watches, the owner of a television brand watch might be questioned about the ubiquitous "easy pay" arrangements of the home shopping channels. Plus, it seems that almost everyone who is into watches has at least one Invicta now. As cool as these TV brand watches are, the human drive to be unique has some collectors looking to find watches that few others own. Since there are literally hundreds of watch brands, words like unique, exclusive, rare, and exotic are not necessarily synonymous with expensive. Here are some alternatives to the television watch brands:

AVI-8 Watches.

When a watch is going to be strapped to your wrist all day, it will catch your eye and capture moments of attention throughout your day. Inspired by the great Hawker aircraft of British aviation history, AVI-8 brand watches will capture your eyes and ignite daydreams. With collections like Hawker Hurricane, Hawker Hunter, Hawker Harrier II, Lancaster Bomber and Flyboy your imagination will soar with every glance at your wrist. Many of these aviation inspired watches have features inspired aircraft features like the bubble turrets of the famed Lancaster bomber. ($270 and up, avi-8.co.uk)

AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane Chronograph

Diesel watches.

If you want to zig when everyone else is zagging, you can go big with a Diesel watch. Diesel is the king of big watches. The case diameter of a Diesel watch usually ranges from 58 to 65 millimeters. But, Flava-Flav alarm clock dimensions aside, Diesel watches are readable, sharp looking, timepieces with a variety of innovative case designs. These watches will be noticed. ($70 and up, DieselTimeFrames.com)

A Big Diesel Watch

Insignum watches.

German design and quality control meets with Asian sourcing and premium Japanese movements to bring a fine line of innovative premium watches to market at affordable price points. Styles range from traditional dive watches like the Insignum Subwave to bold designs like the Insignum Activa and Campus models. Unfortunately, Insignum watches has withdrawn from North America.  The watches are becoming rare in the United States as the company focuses on Europe. If you snatch one up while supplies last, it's unlikely that your neighbors will find one without traveling to Europe. This guarantees that you'll have a unique timepiece for many years to come.

My Insignum Dive Watch

Modify watches. 

In the eighties, Swatch watches came on the scene with all kinds of cool color combinations and unusual faces. At one point, they became the horological equivalent of beanie babies. Today, Modify watches has a similarly hip and affordable option for casual watch collectors. They make colorful watch bands and interchangeable watch face modules. Collectors can mix and match these fun watches to suit their mood and make a statement. You can even build your watch collection on-line to get the straps and faces that fit your sense of style. (Watch Faces from $20, Watch Straps from $10, modifywatches.com)

My Modify Watch

NFW watches. 

If you are looking for a square watch, but don't want a Bell & Ross imitator, NFW builds very tough, waterproof, watches in their own unique style. Even the round-faced watches from this small, uncompromising, watch company convey strength and quality. ($279 to $479, ZuluTimeZone. com)

Orient watches. 

 In a world full of Asian-sourced watches that intimate quasi-European origins, Orient watches proudly proclaims their Asian heritage. They have built a quality brand that delivers a wide variety of well-designed watches that can go toe-to-toe with long established names in the watch business. Orient also covers the full spectrum of fashion needs from the Diver to Dress watch. ($205 and up, orientwatchusa.com)

These are but a few of the different watch brands that you'll find with a little searching. When it comes to watch collecting, it is still very possible to follow your own road. You can find a unique watch that perfectly expresses your sense of style. When it comes to holiday gift giving, you can also find a watch that is unique, unusual, and shows that you spent a little time and thought in finding the perfect watch for the recipient.

Wristwatch Review: Insignum Subwave Dive Watch

Examining a Dive Watch from Germany's Insignum Brand 

[This is a reprint of my review of the Insignum Subwave Dive Watch.  Insignum arrived on American shores a couple of years ago, but then withdrew from our market.  It's too bad because they made nice watches.  You can still find some Insignum models clearance priced at ZuluTimeZone.com]  

Diving is a serious endeavor and demands a serious watch. The new Insignum Subwave Dive Watch might fit the bill for divers and other adventurers. Dive watches have always represented adventure to me. Real dive watches are built to take pressure and they have a rotating bezel to help a diver keep track of his remaining air supply. These watches are the watches of real and fictional heroes like Jacques Cousteau and James Bond. Divers are functional manly, action-oriented, watches. That's why I was excited to receive the new Insignum Subwave Dive Watch in Black, Red, and Steel. Just looking at the timepiece evokes images of exotic locales and underwater adventures. When you put it on, you feel ready for any adventure.

Style. Form follows function on a dive watch and this Insignum is no exception. Each watch in the Insignum Subwave series has the look, feel, and functionality of a classic diver with a large contemporary dial and case size. It has the uni-directional rotating bezel and a magnifier (called a cyclops) over the date window. The bezel follows traditional dive watch conventions with tick marks for the first 15 minutes, then a red sector for the next 30 minutes, and is black for the last 15 minutes of the hour. My aging eyes appreciate the assistance of the 2x magnification, but it is only helpful when you look at the date window directly from above. At night, luminous hands and luminous dot and stick markers make it easy to read the watch in low light conditions. The red and black bezel rotates with satisfying clicks. The watch looks and feels like quality with details like a small "i" on the crown and an etched caseback.

Size. I was a little concerned about the size of the Insignum Subwave, but I'm a big guy and I found the watch well proportioned and comfortable. The watch is a generous 48 millimeters in diameter and a hearty 13.5 millimeters thick. It is a bit heavier than the thinner watches that I normally wear. However, the edges of the watch are smooth and the band doesn't dig into my wrist or forearm anywhere. The Subwave is substantial watch, but comfortable and not overly heavy or overly thick. Under the sea, the large size should make the watch easy to read in all conditions and the bezel can be manipulated with gloved hands. On land, the watch fits under the cuff of a long-sleeved shirt and looks great at the office.

Construction. The insignum Subwave is built to look and be tough. 316L stainless steel is used for the case and the broad 26 millimeter wide bracelet. The push-button dual deployant clasp has a safety latch to keep the watch solidly on your wrist. The watch has a tough sapphire-coated glass crystal. Thanks to a screw-down crown, tight manufacturing tolerances, high quality materials, and strict quality control, the Insignum Subwave is water resistant up to 200 meters. This degree of water resistance allows the watch to be worn for recreational swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling.

Price. Insignum combines German design and quality control with global sourcing to bring premium watches to market at affordable prices. This allows the Insignum Subwave in Black, Red, and Steel to sell for $248 at ZuluTimeZone.com. There are a number of color combinations for the Subwave starting at sale price as low as $198. [ZuluTimeZone has been clearing out their inventory of Insignum watches.  They probably don't have any Subwaves, but they have the rest of their inventory priced to move!  You can get a great looking Insignum for less than $80!]


Ultimately, I found the Insignum Subwave Dive watch to be an impressive watch that doesn't have to stay in your shoes at the beach. It is suitable for all sorts of aquatic and terrestrial adventures.

Sources:
Insignum watches
www.zulutimezone.com

Note:  My friends over at ZuluTimeZone provided me with this Insignum Subwave watch. 

Great Watch Deals: ZuluTimeZone Insignum

My friends over at ZuluTimeZone are still blowing out there remaining inventory of Insignum watches at bargain clearance prices!  You can get a $250 Insignum watch for less than $75 + shipping.  All of the watches feature contemporary German design and quality control. 

Insignum is a fledgling brand from Germany.  They combine German engineering and Asian manufacturing to bring an affordable high quality watch to your wrist.  However, as I understand it, the brand seems to have withdrawn from the American market to focus on Europe.  That means you get a European designed watch that NO ONE in your office will be wearing.

The Insignum Forum Black 3 Eye Sports Chronograph shown below looks great.  But, the ZTZ clearance sale is a no returns, all sales final, while supplies last kind of deal.  If you want a great deal, you need to jump on it.

Insignum Forum Sports Chronograph

If you peruse the rest of the ZTZ website, you'll notice a couple of great buys.

First they have a pre-sale going for Android Parma 200 Automatic Dive watches.  These are limited edition watches that can be ordered with a free kit.  The Android Parma 200 offers 200-meter water resistance and a traditional dive watch look with a bit of Android flare that looks really good.

Second, you might notice another interesting brand at affordable prices: Techne. They've got some really sharp looking aviation inspired watches like the Techne Merlin at prices that compete with the department store watches that everyone wears.

[Update 2025: ZuluTimeZone.com was a cool watch retailer. However, they are no longer in business.]

The Perils of Searching For Fine European Watches

I've been researching high end watches lately with searches for brands like Towson Watch Company, Rolex, and Tudor.  Now, according to the ads I'm seeing, the Internet thinks that I may want to buy a Mercedes or borrow up to a million dollars.  I guess that is just one of the perils of searching for watches that I can't really afford.

Aaaah, but, it is nice to dream of European engineering and design. 

Of course, if you look hard enough, you'll also discover some wonderful brands that bring European design to your wrist at affordable prices.  While the manufacturing may be handled in Asia, the heart and soul of some of these brands is European.

ADNA.  The watch I'm wearing right now came to me courtesy of a Belgian firm called ADNA. ADNA XXL watches combine diver-style practicality with innovative interchangeable straps and fun color combinations.  The ADNA XXL collection was designed by one of the best watch design minds in Europe!

Insignum.  Germany's Insignum brand also brings teutonic design sensibilities to your wrist at a reasonable price point.   When the brand was first launched in the U.S. my friends at ZuluTimeZone.com sent me a really cool example to review.

Neither ADNA or Insignum watches are overly expensive.  They fit most wrists and they fit most budgets.  If you aspire to own a product with fine European design, these watches cost considerably less than a Mercedes or Maserati!

Alternatives to the Television Watch Brands

Happy Thanksgiving!  By now you are probably finishing your turkey and getting ready for Christmas shopping.

If you are shopping for a watch this Holiday Season, it is easy to succumb to the lure of the television shopping networks and their non-stop infomercials about watches.  They are often fun to watch and you can find some truly great deals.  However, everyone knows about them.  Every watch collector has an Invicta or two or three.

Sometimes, it is more fun to give a truly unusual watch from a brand that is not so commonplace.  If you want to leave some of the more common brands behind, my newest article lays out a few alternatives to the TV watch brands:


Alternatives to the Television Infomercial Watch Brands

One very cool watch brand is AVI-8.  They make watches inspired by aviation history.  This is the AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane.  Inspired by the fighter planes that saved the United Kingdom from Hitler's Luftwaffe, this Hurricane watch captures the colors of the original aircraft.  It features a aircraft silhouette on the front and a line drawing of the famed fighter on the back.  The complete AVI-8 line of watches has just been brought to Amazon.com where they are priced very reasonably with many priced under $100.

AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane Watch

Watches can't be more different in personality than AVI-8 and Modify.  This alternative watch takes you from the stiff upper lip of the indomitable British pilots to the relentless techno beats of Atlanta night clubs.  Modify watches have interchangeable faces and straps.  You can mix and match until you perfectly match your wardrobe.  They bring a young, fresh, vibe to the world of horology!

A Modify Watch

From the night clubs of America it's another big leap to the precise designs of Germany's Insignum brand.  As American supplies dwindle, the Insignum mix of German design and Asian sourcing is sure to become rare.  Insignums like this Insignum Campus are still available at ZuluTimeZone.com.

Insignum Campus

Finally, if you demand uncompromising performance from your watch, you might want to check out NFW watches at ZuluTimeZone.com.



Sample watches provided courtesy of AVI-8, Modify, and ZuluTimeZone.com

Insignum Watches for Christmas

In my collection, "I" stands for Insignum.  If you are looking for something a little different from the watches that are so commonly advertised in late night infomercials, you might see if you can find a watch from Germany's Insignum brand. 
An Insignum watch would make an unusual and unexpected Christmas Gift for the watch enthusiast.  Unfortunately, supplies of Insignum watches in the U.S. are dwindling.
 
The company makes a number of attractive sport and dive models.  For example, the Insignum Activa 3-Eye'd Black Blue Sports Chronograph shown below is waterproof to 100 meters and shows the day and date.

 

Insignum Activa

Insignum watches are offered in a wide variety of colors such as shown in this orange Campus Date, Day, Chronograph watch.  These watches can be as bold as you want to be.

Insignum Campus

While I love the more creative Insignum designs, I was also drawn to their classic diver style watches.  For example, this Insignum Subwave is a fantastic looking watch.  With 200 meter water resistance and a screw down crown, it has the fortitude for any underwater mission.

Insignum Subwave

Since I didn't have a real dive watch, when ZuluTimeZone.com offered me a chance at a  Subwave I jumped at it.  The Subwave is a 48 mm diameter watch so it brings a little heft to the wrist.

Unfortunately, Insignum watches are now in short supply here in America.  If you'd like to buy an Insignum watches, your best online source is ZuluTimeZone.com.  Since these watches are becoming rather rare here, you may find yourself with a rather exclusive timepiece.

The New Insignum Subwave

My watch collection recently grew with the addition of a brand new Insignum Subwave Dive Watch from my friends at ZuluTimeZone.com.  They are now carrying the full line of watches from this German brand that combines German design and quality control with global sourcing and affordability.

I'm really excited about this Insignum watch because it is a real dive watch rated for 200-meters of water resistance.  With this rugged watch, I'm all set for serious underwater adventures.  It's made with 316L stainless steel for the case and the bracelet.  It also has a sapphire-coated glass crystal.

The Insignum Subwave Dive Watch

It has a unidirectional rotating bezel for timing your dive (or my pizza).  Most importantly for water resistance, it has the screw down crown to keep water out of the Japanese quartz movement.

An Impromptu Test of the screw down crown on the Insignum Subwave

 If you'd like to read my full review of this watch, you can find it here -

Wristwatch Review:  Insignum Subwave Dive Watch

Once you've got a watch like this one, you'll have to gear up!

Attention Commandos, Cat Burglars and Art Thieves - Here are Your Watches!

If you are a commando, a jewel thief, or a late night art collector, you need a watch that will work well in the dark. As movie goers know every good raid or exciting heist begins with synchronizing watches.

Jaubert commandos demonstrating a mock seaborne assault on the support vessel Alcyon during the Brest sea show of 2004 (July 2004).

I really like this Timex Military Classic because it embodies both military style and the covert style.  For less than $100, it's a good deal.

Timex Military Classic Expedition Watch

Most of us will never have a cool code name like Sea Ninja.  But, we can still get cool watches that would look perfect on a SCUBA commando.  I like the Insignum Subwave Black IP Dive Watch with a black dial and bezel.   It's a German-designed watch with all the expected dive watch features in a stealthy black package.  For capabilities like 200 meter water resistance, stainless steel construction, screw down crown, and 2x cyclops, it was a good deal at $248.00.  But, alas, the brand is no longer available in the U.S.

Insignum Subwave (photo courtesy of ZuluTimeZone.com)

Perhaps you like a Picasso for your living room?  There's sure to be one in any big city museum.  This Movado BOLD Fusion watch looks like the perfect watch for the cunning art thieves of this world.  It would be the perfect watch for a gallery reception or a late night visit.

Movado Bold Fusion Watch

My guide takes you from these into the realm of even more expensive watches.  But, the basics of stealth and capability stay the same.

[This article was updated in July 2024 to provide an updated Movado watch from Amazon.  Unfortunately, the Insignum has faded from the US marketplace and the Timex model is no longer available on Amazon.]