Are Invicta Watches Good?

Are you wondering whether you’ll regret buying a watch from this brand or not? Here’s a detailed answer to the question, “Are Invicta watches good?”

I like the history of Invicta watches because it bucks the trend a little. So many non-Swiss heritage brands follow a similar pattern. They may originate from another country but move to 

It’s one of the oldest watch brands. It began its story in La Chaux de Fonds and later moved to Hollywood, Florida, where it now has its headquarters. 

Controversially, you could say that Invicta has a place among American watch brands, but its roots are Swiss. As you can imagine, that combination makes for some pretty interesting watch designs. Even so, the brand receives mixed reviews.

Today, we’re going to weigh the question, “Are Invicta watches any good?”

A Brief Introduction to Invicta Watches

Are Invicta watches any good? Many want to know the answer. The brand has been around for so long, but mixed reviews online are enough to put anyone off making a purchase.

Before making the decision yourself, you need to know what the brand offers and what to expect. 

Invicta was an exclusively Swiss watch brand created in 1837 by Raphael Picard. It remained in Switzerland until the 1970s. During the quartz revolution, the family decided to sell the brand to an American company and change its concept. 

A commitment to high quality enabled Invicta watches to continue offering features like sapphire crystal glass and reliable automatic movements. The brand joined the Invicta Watch Group in 2004 and even won the Red Dot Award for Product Design.

Despite these accomplishments, Invicta watches meet with very mixed views. Its most popular design is the Pro-Diver. This looks very similar to a popular dive watch (ahem…you know the one!) 

Other popular models include the Speedway, which appeals to athletes. These models feature tachymeter scales to measure speed against distance and 24-hour indicators for travel needs. The luminous hands on the watch benefit from a coating of Tritnite.

Their cases offer a water resistance of 200 meters. The brand’s “Speciality” watches collection also offers a wide variety of designs. These models appeal to the fashion-conscious and include two-tone designs and sporty bracelet models. 

Invicta also mass-produces its watches, resulting in more affordable prices than high-end watch brands. Whereas brands like Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre pride themselves on artisanal, hand-finished designs, Invicta is different.

It manufactures watches faster and in larger quantities to feed demand, which is why they don’t hold their value well. Because they’re in abundance on the market, there is less demand and, therefore, no high pricing structure. 

Are Invicta Watches Good?

If you’re asking yourself, “Does Invicta make good watches?” we should break down this part of the discussion. Let’s look at why someone may or may not like these watches.  

The Pro’s

There are over 4000 different Invicta watch designs available on the market. If you like your watch to be a topic of conversation, they’re also pretty fun to wear. 

Firstly, some look like the highly coveted Rolex Submariner, so expect onlookers to do a double-take. They can also make for good conversation starters.

The brand has partnered with some interesting names over the years, including Spongebob, Marvel, and Southpark.

Homage watches like the Pro-Diver are some of the best Invicta watches. They come with a reliable Seiko movement and uphold water resistant ratings of 200 meters.

Even those who wear TAGs and Omegas may consider something like an Invicta watch for a daily runner. They might wear one to work or while doing jobs around the house.

Think about it: if you’re a luxury watch collector, scratching up your daily runaround watch is not so devastating. Especially when you can afford to replace it readily. 

Above all, Invicta watches make great entry-level options in various models and styles.  It’s all about choosing the right design for you. 

The Cons

Invicta makes many timepieces that horologists consider to be homage watches.

An homage watch is when a brand recreates a popular design to make it look almost exactly like an industry icon. Usually, homage watches are much more affordable, but that comes with a cut in the quality of materials and features. 

All in all, homage watches are popular with some watch-collecting types, especially those sticking to a budget.

On the other hand, many feel they are nothing more than a cheap knock-off. It’s important to remember here, however, that homage watches are not the same as fake or counterfeit watches. 

Invicta is not alone in creating watches that look similar to industry icons. Many brands develop watches that clearly take inspiration from popular sports watches or dive watches from the past. It doesn’t mean they are doing anything wrong. 

It’s a general case of watch snobbery going on here. For some enthusiasts, the Invicta Pro-Diver is the closest they’ll ever get to owning a Rolex Submariner. For others, the term “homage watch” is blasphemy. 

Invicta used to have an excellent reputation, but that was before it changed hands. Many horologists felt the brand lost its way after that. The company sold its assets to Ondix S.A. in 1987 before an American company took over the 1990s.

Invicta designs are overly large and bold these days, so they’re not to everyone’s tastes. Many watch collectors also feel some models are overpriced for what they offer. 

Although a traditional Swiss watchmaker many years ago, some people see Invicta watches as a fashion brand today.

They believe these watches appeal to consumers who don’t have a special interest or preference for luxury watch designs. Whether that’s a fair comment is open to debate. 

FAQs 

Here are a few commonly asked questions about Invicta watches to help you decide if the brand suits you.

Is Invicta a reliable watch brand?

Invicta watches do not promise the same quality as Rolex watches. But the brand uses Seiko movements and durable materials for its watch designs, ensuring reliability. 

Is Invicta considered a luxury watch?

Invicta watches are mid to low-priced. They are not on par with high-end manufacturers like Patek Philippe and Cartier. But, they can be an entry-level option in the world of luxury watch collecting. 

Is Invicta owned by Rolex?

No, Rolex does not own Invicta. An American company owns the brand, and its headquarters reside in Florida.  

The Takeaway

Those who tend to shop in the price range that Invicta falls into really enjoy these designs. For some collectors, they are the closest thing to owning a coveted design that is otherwise out of their financial reach. 

Whether snobby collectors like the brand or not, it has a presence in the mid-to-low luxury watch range.

Those said collectors should also be aware that the brand has Swiss origins and an exciting backstory to tell. Maybe Invicta was even a gateway to luxury watch collecting for them?

Ultimately, if you want a cheap Rolex Sub alternative, you could do a lot worse than Invicta. Watches like the Pro-Driver feature Seiko movements and a 200-meter water resistance. For under $100, you can’t turn your nose up at that, surely?

So, are Invicta watches good? The answer simply lies in whether you consider them affordable and stylish enough or just overpriced knock-offs. 

Invicta is no longer the family-owned business it once was and does seem to suffer from the condition of “inflation-price-itis.” But if you’re a collector with champagne tastes on a lemonade budget, bag yourself the Rolex Sub homage. You probably won’t regret it. 

Have you just bought your first Invicta watch? If so, please tell us what you think of it in the comments below.