Invicta
- Founded
- 1837 (modern company since 1991)
- Based in
- Hollywood, Florida, USA
- In our catalog
- 1 watch from $80 to $130
Invicta divides opinion more than almost any brand. It sells huge numbers of inexpensive watches, often oversized and flashy, through TV shopping channels and online marketplaces, and it leans on a Swiss heritage story. Collectors tend to sneer, but one model, the Pro Diver, is a fair deal and has introduced plenty of people to mechanical watches.
History
Invicta says its history goes back to a watch company founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 1837. The modern business is the Invicta Watch Group, based in Florida, which took over the name in the early 1990s under Eyal Lalo. It grew through TV shopping, especially in the US, and later through online retailers. It has since bought other brands, including Glycine and TechnoMarine.
Signature models
- Pro Diver 8926OB: A clear homage to the Rolex Submariner, with a reliable Japanese automatic movement, a rotating bezel and a steel bracelet, for under $100.
What it's known for
Low prices, endless variety and some questionable pricing. Invicta often lists watches at high "suggested" prices and then sells them at what look like huge discounts. Many models are very large and busy. The Pro Diver is the exception: simple and solid.
Price and positioning
Most Invicta watches actually sell for $50 to $200. At those prices Seiko, Orient and Citizen offer more watchmaking heritage, and Casio offers better build quality for quartz. If you want a Submariner look for very little money, the Pro Diver does the job.
Invicta watches in our library
- Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB ($80 to $130)