The OG/Homage Conundrum!
This is the snapshot of my Invicta Pro Diver. I got this at the starting phase of my watch collection! I had read a lot about the hate these watches get because of the unoriginal design and was continuously in 2 minds about getting one!
However, then practicality set in and I took a decision based on 3 parameters that were crucial for me to buy a watch at that moment -
- Reliable Automatic Movement
- Decent Build Quality
- Value for Money
And this watch somehow fulfilled these fully (Mine has a NH 35A). I decided to this take the plunge and got it. Frankly, I have never regretted my decision.
This watch works and feels brilliant to me. Most importantly, it helped me to continue to pursue my passion for collecting watches. And I think, this is one of the most beautiful thing about these watches, they help you to start somewhere, not give up and aim for better.
I have now moved on to the likes of Seiko and Tissot and maybe one day reach the OG.
But I'll always be proud of this Invicta. It's still one of my go to watches for a lot of occasions.
Have been buying watches for few years now but have recently started taking watch collection as a serious activity. Have been reading and learning a lot about different types and brands of watches and...
We do all have to start somewhere, and an homage to your Grail is not a bad place at all to do so.
😂 I get your point. Wouldn't go anywhere near these for sure :P
I have an original diver, and yes, they are good starter watches and deliver a lot of value. Homage? Borrowed designs comprise at least 75% of the watch market, including many luxury products.
Two objections include: (1) the bracelet is sharp-edged and it tends to scratch my wrist. I suppose the edges could be ground down and polished. (2) The case is thick and the back is cone shaped. It thereby raises the watch off the wrist and makes the fit tippy.
My solution to both issues was to switch to a single-pass strap:
The only thing I haven't resolved is its extremely stiff rotating bezel -- mine requires two hands and is almost impossible to move while on the wrist.
I have an original diver, and yes, they are good starter watches and deliver a lot of value. Homage? Borrowed designs comprise at least 75% of the watch market, including many luxury products.
Two objections include: (1) the bracelet is sharp-edged and it tends to scratch my wrist. I suppose the edges could be ground down and polished. (2) The case is thick and the back is cone shaped. It thereby raises the watch off the wrist and makes the fit tippy.
My solution to both issues was to switch to a single-pass strap:
The only thing I haven't resolved is its extremely stiff rotating bezel -- mine requires two hands and is almost impossible to move while on the wrist.
My bracelet till now has been quite comfortable. But would be surely looking to replace it somewhere in near future. This nato on your watch looks really good👍
Agree on the bezel though. Takes a lot of effort to rotate 😓
Interesting statistic on the % of borrowed designs though. I guess anyways for dive watches, the submariner seems to be the go to design for a lot of them
Mine looks like this these days. Why borrow from only one design? 😉 My bezel works fine, but I've seen of YouTube video of somebody pulling an Invicta bezel: The setup looks fairly rudimentary, and is a far cry from the ring with the springs I've seen on a Seiko.
My open heart diver bring all the bois to yard.
I went all "high class" on the Pro Diver thing and picked up this watch - the bezel action is great and no "INVICTA" carved into the case. The lume and crystal aren't as nice as the 200m Seiko (Prospex) divers with the same movement (at $500+), but I paid 1/6th of that for the Invicta.
I went all "high class" on the Pro Diver thing and picked up this watch - the bezel action is great and no "INVICTA" carved into the case. The lume and crystal aren't as nice as the 200m Seiko (Prospex) divers with the same movement (at $500+), but I paid 1/6th of that for the Invicta.
This looks really good!
I have one too. I think it's a great watch. Movement is by Seiko so it's "good enough". I always felt like this watch was built really well. I never did understand all the hate directed at Invicta. It's not my favorite watch in my collection...but I don't think anyone could argue that it is of poor quality.
My bracelet till now has been quite comfortable. But would be surely looking to replace it somewhere in near future. This nato on your watch looks really good👍
Agree on the bezel though. Takes a lot of effort to rotate 😓
Interesting statistic on the % of borrowed designs though. I guess anyways for dive watches, the submariner seems to be the go to design for a lot of them
I'm guessing about the percentage of homage and semi-homage watches on the market, but it's a lot. A huge percentage are divers, many dress watches look alike, and many chronos follow from the 1970s or before. Some common designs are so old that the homage origins have been lost in time. Rolex itself borrowed heavily from the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms for the Submariner.
I'm using a SINGLE PASS strap not a NATO. NATO straps pass under the watch twice and lifts it up very high. You can buy single pass strap (like mine), cut off the short keeper portion of a NATO, or loop the NATO keeper down on the back of your wrist.
I'm guessing about the percentage of homage and semi-homage watches on the market, but it's a lot. A huge percentage are divers, many dress watches look alike, and many chronos follow from the 1970s or before. Some common designs are so old that the homage origins have been lost in time. Rolex itself borrowed heavily from the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms for the Submariner.
I'm using a SINGLE PASS strap not a NATO. NATO straps pass under the watch twice and lifts it up very high. You can buy single pass strap (like mine), cut off the short keeper portion of a NATO, or loop the NATO keeper down on the back of your wrist.
Oh okay. Thanks for letting me know. Will try and get one of those 👍
I have one too. I think it's a great watch. Movement is by Seiko so it's "good enough". I always felt like this watch was built really well. I never did understand all the hate directed at Invicta. It's not my favorite watch in my collection...but I don't think anyone could argue that it is of poor quality.
I feel like my particular SII NH35A movement is better than "good enough"... out of the box it was a little fast (less than ten seconds per day, usually around 7 or 8 seconds fast). After about 3 or 4 weeks, it settled down to about 3 seconds fast per day on the wrist or stored flat, and storing it "12-up" overnight brings it back to the correct time. I have not reset the watch since June and it is currently 1 second behind the atomic clock. This is essentially a 4R35 movement that Seiko puts in the Samurai, Baby Turtle, and the Presage Cocktail Time watches costing hundreds more.
I did, however, take the bracelet off the watch a few times last week, and now the hollow end links are rattling like crazy - I may have to stuff them with some foam tape to keep the noise down since I'm unaware of any solid end links being available.
I recently picked up the Timex MK1 mechanical 36mm field watch, and the hand winding Seagull movement (a ladies TY6DSK-1 without the winding rotor?) was also a little fast out of the box but has settled down to an excellent +3spd. However, it seems to stay a little fast regardless of position, so it can't be "position regulated" like the Invicta. At 40g, it is super comfortable and makes me notice the 138g weight of the Invicta 1953 in comparison when I switch watches.
Invicta has a vintage line that I discovered via another post by @barcelet And some of them are great looking watches. I couldn't resist this one for 60.00. Here's a few others that are worth a look