Glycine vs Invicta - is there even a contest?

So I was having a little fun lately...

I first saw the Invicta when @Whitesalmon sent me a note about buying one...being a fan of the Bulova Surfboard, I could not resist the temptation once there was a "sale" with additional discounts on top.

I was then reading one of Teddy B's articles on the Seiko Solar Chronograph and when researching it, came across the Glycine Combat Chrono which Ashford was blowing out in a pretty incredible sale.

Both arrived today...so I thought I would do a compare and contrast since they are both from the Invicta Group.

Let's look at some pictures before getting judgmental...

Here are the outer boxes...

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You can already see a quality difference...but let's keep going...

Here is what's inside those outer layers...

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Further evidence of the quality disparity...Glycine has a very nice well made high quality cardboard box and Invicta...a POS lightweight paper-like box...

Let's take a peek inside...

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Very nice signed warranty cards from Glycine in hard plastic and in a nice sealed bag and Invicta...a POS piece of paper (not even cardstock) with a QR code and no warranty card...

OK you say...tell us about the watches...

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words...I say getting a watch in your hands is worth a thousand pictures...

The Glycine is incredibly solid construction, crown and pushers work beautifully and no evidence of any defects in the dial, bezel, etc.

The Invicta...you guessed it...POS. Those pushers...they are only there for decoration...they don't do anything...this looks like a chronograph but it is a time-only three-hander with duplicate 24-hour subdials...WTF!?!?!...why do I need duplicate 24-hour subdials? A chronograph that's not a chronograph with fake pushers!?!?!

And the bezel...it has a Seiko-like alignment (sorry Seiko fans had to take the piss out of Seiko for the commonly misaligned bezels)...

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No that is not a trick of the picture...the triangle does not align with the marker at Noon...

But wait there is more...

Let's take a look at the bracelets...

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Yep...Glycine has a solid well made oyster-style bracelet with milled clasp and Invicta...POS pseudo BOR bracelet with a pressed clasp.

Now you ask...what's the point of all this?

The point is both were on blowout sales...the Invicta was $69 and the Glycine was $199...

So for $130 or just over double the price of the POS Invicta, you can get an incredibly well made proper quartz chronograph with real pushers and excellent WR of 200M because of the screw-down pushers.

Why would anyone purchase the Invicta if provided with the information I just shared...

That's the point of the article...I know some will still buy the Invicta because like me you just can't stay away from the watch equivalent of a Twinkie...you know it's total shite but you have to have it anyway.

But for those with more sense and more careful about their cents...the Glycine is the only rational choice to make.

Your thoughts Crunchers? Which would you choose for the money?

Note: for those who don't know already...POS stands for "piece of s..."

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Reply
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In this case, Glycine. Only Bulova I would consider is the Lunar Pilot.

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I bought the dial! For 50 bucks I enjoy it. Also the pushers are for setting the sub dials. So theoretically you can set 3 different time zones. I bought mine because I think the dial is fun.

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Glycine is NOT from the Invicta group. They are owned by them but they are still (thank God) Glycine.

No contest - not even close.

Glycine every day and twice on Sunday.

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It's all about the Surfboard baby!

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Whitesalmon
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It's all about the Surfboard baby!

Indeed...I already had the quartz versions of the Bulova Surfboard reissues, but I recently added the mechanical limited edition when AZ Fine Time had it for 50% off list...

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ChronoGuy

Indeed...I already had the quartz versions of the Bulova Surfboard reissues, but I recently added the mechanical limited edition when AZ Fine Time had it for 50% off list...

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Love it!

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I went for this one in the quartz on Vario bund strap. pretty close to the mechanical version.

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Haha. The Invicta looks so bad close up that it looks like a “fake” or a very poor replica of an Invicta. Twenty something years ago I had an Invicta diver, for $90 it was a decent mechanical watch.

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MmmmmYeah...dat a ugly child!!! The glycine is nice but to big for me, I saw this the other day...

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MinnKonaMike

MmmmmYeah...dat a ugly child!!! The glycine is nice but to big for me, I saw this the other day...

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Cool - copy of the Tudor "Home Plate"...was that Aliexpress? Who is the brand?

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WMT- Watch Experimental Unit. Saw it on WatchPatrol, had to check it out. Ridiculous pricing on everything.

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I feel like for the price of the glycine, or certainly for the price of the two combined, you coulda went to Jomashop for the actual Bulova Surfboard. That would've been my choice.

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BulovaBill

I feel like for the price of the glycine, or certainly for the price of the two combined, you coulda went to Jomashop for the actual Bulova Surfboard. That would've been my choice.

Since I already have two of the quartz Bulova Surfboards...

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Interesting comparison. Thanks for putting it together.

The Glycine is three times the price of the Invicta. I would feel ripped off if it weren't better quality. Also my hunch is that Invicta has a larger marketing budget to cover than Glycine which will need to be covered by some of that $69 too.

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Like your 1000 picture analogy.Most glycines are nice and decently priced.Most invictas look like cheap gaudy imitations of other nice watch brands.

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MinnKonaMike

WMT- Watch Experimental Unit. Saw it on WatchPatrol, had to check it out. Ridiculous pricing on everything.

Thanks - checked out the site. Whoa...how are they not shut down. I'm surprised at all of the classic designs they are replicating. I use that word as these are more than homages.

I can't see purchasing a Tudor "Home Plate" replica running a VK64. However, $450 is not outrageous if the watch is well made. Most VK63/64 chronographs sell in the $300-600 range.

Look at Furry Murry (Furlan Marri)...they are selling Patek replicas for even more with VK63s running in them.

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Great reviews of both watches, but I fail to see why a watch shouldn’t be much better than another watch less than half its price. Picking on sub-$100 watches is grasping at low-hanging fruit, IMO. If I only had $70 to spend on a watch I would definitely go for the Invicta. Where I live in Canada, even Fossil watches are over $200 dollars. It would be interesting to see a comparison of the Invicta with something else you can get for $70 bucks.

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PREFACE: I understand that some people have it out for Invicta. Any comment that widely generalizes about Invicta quality is simply that person talking out of his hat. I know their Grand Diver line has excellent quality, with milled clasps, precise manufacturing, markers that line up 100%, etc., and I've posted some pics of my Grand Diver Collection.

This is no Grand Diver.

This "Surfboard" looks to be something designed to only to superficially mimic the original, very cheaply made, with idiotic pushers that don't work, and a ridiculous dial. It's a gimmick watch, clearly without quality, and I appreciate Mel @ChronoGuy taking the hit on this so no one else gets burned by this abomination. It's crap like this that doesn't help their name.

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The card says it all. With Invicta, it's about family. 💪

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As the owner of a pair of Glycines, I will simply say this:

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ezpzCA

Great reviews of both watches, but I fail to see why a watch shouldn’t be much better than another watch less than half its price. Picking on sub-$100 watches is grasping at low-hanging fruit, IMO. If I only had $70 to spend on a watch I would definitely go for the Invicta. Where I live in Canada, even Fossil watches are over $200 dollars. It would be interesting to see a comparison of the Invicta with something else you can get for $70 bucks.

OK - up for the challenge!

I will compare the complete shite pile of an Invicta watch with an Aliexpress watch costing the same price.

I've already skewered the Invicta, so let me now provide the details for the Pagani Design Alaska Project...

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Here is a wrist shot...

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Brand: Pagani Design

Model: Moonwatch AK Project

Model Number: PD-1701

Movement Type: MecaQuartz

Movement Engine: Seiko VK63

Power Reserve: N/A

Case Size: 40mm

Case Thickness: 14mm

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Crystal: Sapphire

Luminescence: Hands and Markers

Bezel/Material: Fixed Stainless Steel w/Red Sapphire Insert

Crown: Screw Down

Water Resistance:  100M / 330FT

Band: Stainless Steel Bracelet w/Deployment Clasp

Band Width: 20mm

The watch comes in the normal blue Pagani cardboard box with the typical cleaning cloth, etc. that comes with Pagani Design watches.

The quality of the PD AK Project is so superior to the Invicta they don't even live in the same zip code.

Not only do the pushers function, but you get a properly milled clasp and a fantastic bracelet.

The price for these ranges from $70 to $90 depending on the discounts available when you order them.

Challenge accepted and met successfully. QED.

I don't hate Invicta...I don't even really have an opinion about them as this is the first one I've purchased. However, I will say after purchasing this one, it will certainly be the last one I purchase. Aliexpress watches are significantly better value for the money.

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I’m not a fan of Invicta, but I do like the dial design. Surfboard dial… always cool. But the large six like a pool ball is a little unique. Do any other brands do the combo (surf + pool ball)?

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Nate_Designer

I’m not a fan of Invicta, but I do like the dial design. Surfboard dial… always cool. But the large six like a pool ball is a little unique. Do any other brands do the combo (surf + pool ball)?

I haven't seen the surfboard + pool ball combo previously.

I mostly see the "pool ball" design used on racing watches since it is more the numeral sticker on the car as opposed to a pool ball.

Here are a few I have in my collection...

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Glycine all day long.

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ChronoGuy

I haven't seen the surfboard + pool ball combo previously.

I mostly see the "pool ball" design used on racing watches since it is more the numeral sticker on the car as opposed to a pool ball.

Here are a few I have in my collection...

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Thanks for posting all of these. You’re right — it’s like a numerical sticker not a pool ball 🎱.

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Glycine hands down. I like some modern Bulova (wearing one today), but most aren't my taste. I like vintage Bulova better. But here, I'll have to go with Glycine.

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ChronoGuy

OK - up for the challenge!

I will compare the complete shite pile of an Invicta watch with an Aliexpress watch costing the same price.

I've already skewered the Invicta, so let me now provide the details for the Pagani Design Alaska Project...

Image

Here is a wrist shot...

Image

Brand: Pagani Design

Model: Moonwatch AK Project

Model Number: PD-1701

Movement Type: MecaQuartz

Movement Engine: Seiko VK63

Power Reserve: N/A

Case Size: 40mm

Case Thickness: 14mm

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Crystal: Sapphire

Luminescence: Hands and Markers

Bezel/Material: Fixed Stainless Steel w/Red Sapphire Insert

Crown: Screw Down

Water Resistance:  100M / 330FT

Band: Stainless Steel Bracelet w/Deployment Clasp

Band Width: 20mm

The watch comes in the normal blue Pagani cardboard box with the typical cleaning cloth, etc. that comes with Pagani Design watches.

The quality of the PD AK Project is so superior to the Invicta they don't even live in the same zip code.

Not only do the pushers function, but you get a properly milled clasp and a fantastic bracelet.

The price for these ranges from $70 to $90 depending on the discounts available when you order them.

Challenge accepted and met successfully. QED.

I don't hate Invicta...I don't even really have an opinion about them as this is the first one I've purchased. However, I will say after purchasing this one, it will certainly be the last one I purchase. Aliexpress watches are significantly better value for the money.

Wait a minute. Are you sure that's a genuine Pagani Design? I hear that a new microbrand has just been launched. It's called Pagani Design Design. They make homages of Pagani watches.

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Whitesalmon

I bought the dial! For 50 bucks I enjoy it. Also the pushers are for setting the sub dials. So theoretically you can set 3 different time zones. I bought mine because I think the dial is fun.

I don't like the dial, but if I did, I would have bought it as well. For me, the dial is everything. If a watch runs at all and looks like it will last a least of couple of years and I like the dial, I will forgive pretty much everything else.