While I'm Selling Half of My Invicta Collection, I'm Still a Defender of the Brand

I am neither a cheerleader for Invicta or a hater. Overall, I believe they make excellent product at their price point. I especially think their Ocean Reef , Offshore Russian Divers,and Subaqua Specialty models celebrate watch fashion in a way that should make Invicta proud and provide excellent value.

However, I find that Seiko brands, in the $200-$400 range, compared to Invictas of the same price offer better build quality, lume, and classiness. Also, all the money I spent accumlating over 50 Invictas could have gone to a used Breitling or a Tag. Now that would be something. 

So I'm selling about two dozen Invictas and hope to get some more Seikos into the picture, perhaps a Tag or two. We'll see. 

Meanwhile, I'm wearing my Seiko Black Monster most of the time. As Angelo says, I'm having an affair with Seiko. 

Comments

[Angelo]

Think of it this way----Invicta is like a current day version of what Heather Locklear was in the 80s or Pamela Anderson was in the 90s----yes, rock star guys left them----but there were other guys standing in line to try to have them. With the Invicta line, it's not quite that drastic----you will still have Invictas as you're not "walking out on them" completely. But the point is that Invicta is still very much in the game for most of us. I love the two Invictas I have (including one I purchased from you). In my opinion, Invicta is far and away the style leader in their price/quality category. They are an excellent value (particularly the Reserve collection when you find it on sale). People NOTICE Invictas, in a positive way. And when they pry them off your wrist to have a closer look, the "feel" of the watches presents a high perceived value. In short, people think you paid a lot more for your Invicta than you probably did. Yes, from a technical standpoint, Seiko probably makes a slightly more precision timepiece----and maybe they put their money into materials instead of marketing and a broader product line/merchandising. Both brands have their place. And I'm still having fun with my Tauchmeister/Aeromatic watches----maritime/pilot watches respectively----also great values when "bang for the buck" is in the equation.

[tomWc]

Try a fling with the Citizens. I've developed an infatuation with their go-go-go eco-drive and flirting with the atomic babes. I guess you could have problems with girls that never stop and are always right, but I don't.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

Well put, Angelo.

Tom I own and love two Eco Drive Divers.

[Bubba Gordo]

Hello there Jeff! Been reading your blog for a couple of years now. Keep up the good work!

Why not buy one Breitling or Rolex, and a couple of
Invictas or Seikos (for knocking around)?

Be well.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

I'd love a Breitling but on my budget I'll probably have to do with a Seiko and pretend it's a Breitling or maybe a Citizen Skyhawk.

[herculodge]

Seiko Flightmaster and Citizen Skyhawk or poor man's Breitlings.

[jonnybardo]

Nice rap, Angelo. Invictas are what they are, no more or less. I agree that Seiko and Citizen are generally both slightly higher quality, but neither make watches quite as fun.

Jeff, I love my Citizen Black Eagle, which is a Skyhawk. You can find them for about $150 on Ebay. A really nice watch, although I wish it was a tad bigger. As we've discussed, I'll eventually buy one of the BJ2115s when I have the cash and I find one that is cheap enough.

I look forward to seeing which Seikos you buy.

[herculodge]

Johnny, I love the BJ2115, but is it different from the BJ2121?

[herculodge]

My mistake. I meant the BJ2110 and the 2115: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CITIZEN-MEN-ECO-DRIVE-PROMASTER-CHRONOGRAPH-DIVER-200M-BJ2110-01E-/130763988310?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item1e72241d56

[jonnybardo]

To make matters worse there's also the BJ2117 and then an orange variation ,the BJ2118. I know that one version has a metric dial and another imperial, but I thought those were both within BJ2115. So I can't answer your question - as to what the difference is between the BJ2110, BJ2115, and the BJ2117.

[Bubba Gordo]

Oris makes some beautiful divers with excellent movements. The prices are quite reasonable compared to the other "better" Swiss watches.

I like the "Diver's Titan" myself.

[herculodge]

Check out this stunning solar/radio Casio: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Casio-Edifice-Wave-Ceptor-Chrono-Watch-EQW-M1100DB-1AER-/130757479561?pt=UK_Jewelery_Watches_Watches_MensWatches_GL&hash=item1e71c0cc89

[jonnybardo]

That's pretty sweet. I really like Casio's Edifice line - I saw a bunch of them at Tourneau and would consider getting one.

[herculodge]

So many watches appeal to me now, I can't decide on one, so I continue to sell my chunky ones and wait to be drawn to just one. No rush. I like to sit back and research.