Watches that surprised you, bad edition
Like the other thread (https://www.watchcrunch.com/Fiatjeepdriver/posts/watches-that-surprised-you-good-edition-28254) let's see the not so good surprises. You don't have to hate the watch; maybe it just didn't live up to your expectations, maybe you got a lemon, or maybe there's a fatal flaw on an otherwise perfect watch.
For me it was a Vostok amphibia. I know they are kind of quirky but even getting one with that in mind I was really underwhelmed. I think I wore it maybe a total of an hour before selling it.
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Kellan
Stay at home dad with a coffee addiction. Amateur watch builder, bicycle collector, and former restaurateur.
Rhode Island, USA
Member since
Last active: 2 hrs ago
20.96 cm
Every Invicta I ever purchased. Early in my collecting journey, I fell for the Invicta trap, as I like to call it. While not every model appealed to me, the Pro Diver and some of their other homages did. I added about six Invicta watches to my collection over just a few months, and was waiting for the last one to arrive when the first one broke; the entire movement broke loose in the case. Three others broke down fairly rapidly. Of the four, only one was covered by their limited warranty, and they sent me a quartz replacement for an automatic watch. Even with the two that did not break down completely, one has a loose bezel that constantly pops off, and the other one has a loose crown and stem. Neither is worth fixing or replacing. Completely underwhelmed by Invicta.
Every Invicta I ever purchased. Early in my collecting journey, I fell for the Invicta trap, as I like to call it. While not every model appealed to me, the Pro Diver and some of their other homages did. I added about six Invicta watches to my collection over just a few months, and was waiting for the last one to arrive when the first one broke; the entire movement broke loose in the case. Three others broke down fairly rapidly. Of the four, only one was covered by their limited warranty, and they sent me a quartz replacement for an automatic watch. Even with the two that did not break down completely, one has a loose bezel that constantly pops off, and the other one has a loose crown and stem. Neither is worth fixing or replacing. Completely underwhelmed by Invicta.
I had a pro diver I hated but I decided to use the nh35 out of it to try building my own watch so that was the only thing good that came of it.
I had a pro diver I hated but I decided to use the nh35 out of it to try building my own watch so that was the only thing good that came of it.
Glad to see some good come out of it.
Following TGV and other YouTubers, I picked up a Dan Henry 1963 and was immediately disappointed in the watch. Just didn't feel great quality, though I did like the beads of rice bracelet.
I had a friend, who did show me an almost new Rolex about 20 years ago, where some of the gold plating had began to wear off at the turnable divers bezel - after just 4 months (!!!) and he was slowly steaming furious...
He did naturally try to return the garbage, to the (rather famous) watch shop... But they told him that it was only normal wear & tear and refused... They instructed him instead - that he never should wear it when he sleep, wash his hands, shower or even under s shirt!!
I guess it might be possible that this shop (who have a very high reputation) was selling a fake, but I actually don't think so and my friend did even show me the reciept, so it could not be a private scam...
But gold plating are hopefully much much better today!!
-o-
Otherwise have I been amazingly lucky with my watches... My three extra fine Casio's look still as brand new after 30 years (!!) except that the two I was wearing all the time for 22 years, has naturally many micro scrathes on the stainless and some (almost not visible) loss of gold plating...
Okay, I bought a lovely Orient Chandor for ladies on eBay and when I was setting the time, did the hair thin axle to the crown break (!) and my friend & pro clock repairman, could not fix that without replacing the movement and I will only use it on girls I photograph, so I don't care...
And when I bought a second Skagen Titanium (very cheap and it did also look as new) was the movement broken in some strange way - but my friend did change to a new Seiko for just 26 euro... And since then is that delicious watch (below and click for the details) impossible to find on eBay...
Every Invicta I ever purchased. Early in my collecting journey, I fell for the Invicta trap, as I like to call it. While not every model appealed to me, the Pro Diver and some of their other homages did. I added about six Invicta watches to my collection over just a few months, and was waiting for the last one to arrive when the first one broke; the entire movement broke loose in the case. Three others broke down fairly rapidly. Of the four, only one was covered by their limited warranty, and they sent me a quartz replacement for an automatic watch. Even with the two that did not break down completely, one has a loose bezel that constantly pops off, and the other one has a loose crown and stem. Neither is worth fixing or replacing. Completely underwhelmed by Invicta.
My Invicta 1953 was my first automatic watch and is in the other thread (good surprise), but it is only 1 year old... so time will tell.
As far as I'm concerned, I've already gotten $88 worth of enjoyment out of it (which is what I paid for the watch). I'm sorry to hear that you've essentially had issues with 6 out of 6 of them 😕. Other than possibly a vintage one, I don't plan to buy another Invicta based on their shady marketing and designs (homages or ugly).
I would not recommend it! 😜
I had a friend, who did show me an almost new Rolex about 20 years ago, where some of the gold plating had began to wear off at the turnable divers bezel - after just 4 months (!!!) and he was slowly steaming furious...
He did naturally try to return the garbage, to the (rather famous) watch shop... But they told him that it was only normal wear & tear and refused... They instructed him instead - that he never should wear it when he sleep, wash his hands, shower or even under s shirt!!
I guess it might be possible that this shop (who have a very high reputation) was selling a fake, but I actually don't think so and my friend did even show me the reciept, so it could not be a private scam...
But gold plating are hopefully much much better today!!
-o-
Otherwise have I been amazingly lucky with my watches... My three extra fine Casio's look still as brand new after 30 years (!!) except that the two I was wearing all the time for 22 years, has naturally many micro scrathes on the stainless and some (almost not visible) loss of gold plating...
Okay, I bought a lovely Orient Chandor for ladies on eBay and when I was setting the time, did the hair thin axle to the crown break (!) and my friend & pro clock repairman, could not fix that without replacing the movement and I will only use it on girls I photograph, so I don't care...
And when I bought a second Skagen Titanium (very cheap and it did also look as new) was the movement broken in some strange way - but my friend did change to a new Seiko for just 26 euro... And since then is that delicious watch (below and click for the details) impossible to find on eBay...
Does Rolex do gold plating? I am pretty sure a gold divers bezel should be solid.
Does Rolex do gold plating? I am pretty sure a gold divers bezel should be solid.
I did never really trust that man, but he didn't try to sell the watch to me and he had the papers and why should the shop intruct him to be that careful, if it was solid?!
It's also highly possible that he bought the absolute cheapest version, with gold on it... But I don't remember if it has quartz or mechanic movement... And I know very little about Rolex, so I don't even know if they had (or have) a cheaper quartz serie...
But I will never forget how steamy angry he was!
Ball Marvelight Caring Edition. Movement issues. Flipped.
Gold plated timex as a young teen got smashed in a bicycle crash 💥. I was so pissed off 😤, not the watch’s fault at all , just that my Uncle Allan gave it to me and I felt terrible about destroying it . He only lived til he was 36 . He died of cancer so that bit me hard that I didn’t get to have a memento of him .