A Fresh Look at Invicta Watches
It's been fashionable among many watch collectors to sneer at Invicta watches. Over the years, they've come under ridicule as a staple of various home shopping television channels and late night infomercials. However, when I look into my Invicta watch case, I see that it is filled with interesting watches from mild to wild that have a real presence on my wrist and that get noticed.
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| My case full of Invicta watches |
Why Some Collectors Sneer At Invicta
There are plenty of good reasons for all that ridicule. After all, Invicta was an old Swiss brand that was bought by an entrepreneur and lost a bit of connection to its history. They've been known to have suggested sky high retail prices for their watches so that every "sale price" offered seems like the bargain of the century. They've gone over the top with many of their styling choices with huge, thick, dials, metal ropes, and hatches and other accoutrements dedicated to form rather than function. They have enough gold toned watches to make New Jersey blush. Many of them are manufactured in China. But, still, there is something about Invicta watches that captures your attention. There is something about them that makes people stop and say, "Hey, nice watch!" I think it might be time to stop making fun of Invicta watches and just enjoy them with a sense of joy, fun, and glee.
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An Invicta DNA Watch in front of the Apollo 16 Command Module
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Why Collectors Should Give Invicta A Second Look
If you watch the watch industry and you watch the rise of the Microbrand watches, you'll see that many of them are using the exact same strategies and tactics as Invicta. The upstarts just lack the dockside chats from Miami. Let's look at some of the reasons people cite to sneer at Invicta and why they should stop sneering and have fun collecting.Chinese Manufacturing. If you look at many of the microbrands and many of the established brands, many are manufacturing watches in Asia. It's been difficult for US companies to achieve "Made in USA" standards to use that label here in the US. The standards for "Swiss Made" are lower and allow many of the fabled manufacturers to use components sourced from Asia. Many new brands are named to resemble old brands and evoke that old world watchmaker charm. Some like Boderry are unabashedly Chinese. Invicta offers many "Swiss Made" watches and many more watches with Swiss or Japanese made movements. I've never had a quality issue with one of my Invicta watches even going back to my circa 2012 Invicta 1460 Vintage Collection watch.
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| My Invicta Men's 1460 Vintage Collection Watch |
Watch Brand Revival. As a Swiss company founded in 1837, Invicta went bankrupt in the 1980s. According to Wikipedia, they were revived by a European company called Onix S.A. and that also went bankrupt. The company was bought again out of bankruptcy by American investors and the company was re-established in 1991. While Invicta may have been one of the first, and most radical, of brand revivals, today there are many other revival brands including Nivada-Grenchen, Universal Genève, and Vulcain. Keeping an established brand alive and reviving it through innovation and marketing is just good business.
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| My Invicta Sub Aqua Noma III commands attention |
Deep Price Discounting. Sometimes it seems like the world is literally awash in watches that are 48% off. On Amazon, I've seen deep discounts on brands like Bulova that have run for quite a long time. New brands like Lilienthal Berlin regularly have deep discounts that bring their watches down to affordable price points. When you see the low prices people pay for Asian-sourced watches on sights like alibaba or aliexpress, it's not surprising. You can find your own cheap prices on Invicta watches at retailers like TJ Maxx or Ross or online at Amazon, or at invictastores.com
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| My Invicta Pro Diver (Model 6981) |
Tacky styling. Some Invicta designs are definitely out there, but they get noticed. There is a place for staid and serious watch designs. Invicta even has some low key designs and even a low key professional-looking brand or two. But, the interesting watches are the ones that make collecting fun. I won't wear a crazy huge Invicta when I need to project executive presence, attend a church, or attend a funeral. But, as a long-time work-from-home technology worker, I can wear watches that please me. On a typical day, my watch choices are just for me, my wife, the barista, and the internet. I have the freedom to wear any watch that I find fun. If the barista can afford the same watch, that's even more fun.
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| My Invicta Specialty Pro Diver swims with the ducks |
Ultimately, if Invicta has a design you like, just buy it and enjoy it. Life and watch collecting is much more fun that way. To see Invicta watches and make your own judgments, visit Invicta watches for men on Amazon here.
[Thinking about Stuhrling Original? Check out my post: TGIF--Should we Still Hate Stuhrling Original?]
. It has a lot of nice details and an exhibition caseback!
