If you have looked at enough wristwatches, comparing their price tags to their design and flair, Invicta watches must have shocked you. They look too good to be true at the price point that they come in. All other things considered, why are Invicta watches so cheap at all?
We could say that the minds behind this brand are planning to pull in a larger market share before they start to unveil the luxury picks. We could also argue that they are just doing their thing and will like to keep to this model.
No matter which it could be, it would be nice to know which one it is.
Today, we discuss the history of the veteran watch company and why their watches come at a steep discount. As a bonus, we also drop a recommendation on where to get Invicta watches for the best prices.
In This Article...
How the Invicta Watch Brand Started
There is no way we will make mention of Invicta watches and not have the name "Raphael Picard."
Started in the year 1837, Raphael birthed the company out of a desire to bring nice timepieces to the masses at a modest price range. He figured out that most of the watchmakers of his time were only focusing on the wealthy people in society – leaving the others to have no chance at a decent watch.
His decision to go this way made sense on two fronts.
For one, he would be filling the needs of people who were also interested in completing their outfits with a nice watch but could not afford the hefty price tags that they were seeing on other units. On the other hand, the masses that Richard wants to build his watches for will represent a large market thus, he stands to gain a lot from the volume of sales.
Rather than waiting to make a sale of a thousand-dollar watch like the Rolexes and Omegas of that time, he could average that profit over a thousand sales instead.
This gave rise to the popularity that the company enjoyed and they continued to grow in leaps and bounds.
The Quartz Introduction
If there is any constant in the world of business, it is change.
That change came in the form of a Japanese quartz watch movement system which altered how watchmakers approached their watches. This movement made watches even more functional and appealing to users.
However, that was not what Invicta built its watches on.
The company tried to continue with its founder's model for a while but the market was fast slipping away from them.
For one, the new quartz movement system did not only bring a change to the watch but the entire market. This movement made it easier for more players to get into the watch scene. Having already seen that they are better off competing for the volume rather than high-ticket sales, Invicta’s market share was slowly being washed away from it.
By the time the company’s sales started lagging seriously, they knew that they had to do something about
At this time, Raphael himself was not at the helms of the company anymore. His descendants made the right choice, though. They rebranded the entire company to fit into the modern-day watch needs while staying classy and true to the dreams of their founding father.
That is why, till today, they have not deviated from offering inexpensive watches with nice quality.
Other Factors to Consider
So, why are Invicta watches so cheap again?
If you feel like we have answered it all in the above sections, there is a tiny part left that we are yet to touch.
When the company started, it was a Swiss brand that made its watches out of Switzerland. That is equally evident in the SWISS MADE badge that they had slapped on the front of their watches.
As many corporate manufacturers have come to find out, there are areas of the world where things can be done for cheaper. One such area that these manufacturers flock to is Asia.
Besides the fact that raw materials for production can be sourced easily in these regions, labor is also easy to come by. Thus, Invicta made the choice to move its manufacturing to areas in Asia also. That will allow them to keep their promise of selling at a lower price to consumers instead of hiking the price to meet economic price actions.
That change is reflected in the badge that their watches now carry. They still retain the fact that watches are of swiss heritage, but not swiss made anymore. That bears testament to the area where the watches are being designed – and pays tribute to the region of the world that they are made in also.
We believe this to be an excellent business decision, allowing the company to bridge the gap between staying true to itself and not hurting the business in the same vein.
Should you buy Invicta watches?
Full Disclosure: I have never used an Invicta watch before. I hope to add one to my watch collection soon – maybe as a daily driver or just for the reviews. I will update this page accordingly when I do.
That said, though, I have seen Invicta watches on some acquaintances and other people I do not know.
Is Invicta watch a good brand of wristwatches to purchase at all?
There is one thing we look for when we are about to get a new watch. Besides all of the other bells and whistles, it is the brand name behind it.
Faceless brands have nothing to lose when you have a poor experience with their product. They could easily change their names, slap a new branding on other watches, and go on with business as usual. The same is not true for the brand that has built a reputation over time.
Invicta has been here for more than eighteen (18) decades so they will not want to ruin their good name right now. Likewise, there is no reason to believe that a watch brand that hasn't been doing well will be around for that long. All these points to the fact that they know what they are doing.
We have also seen, with the change in their business model, that they are willing to adapt to the times. Furthermore, their longstanding presence in the market means that they have quite a list of designs and options for you to choose from. In other words, we don’t see why you should not have an Invicta watch of your own too – especially if you have been eyeing one of such.
Criticisms of the Invicta Watch Brand
You cannot be in the market for this long and not have some critics come up. Some of the points that have been shared by these critics are solid and fact-based. Others are simply personal opinions that do not hold any water.
We have chosen the cream of the bunch for you.
Representation
Many people believe that the Invicta watch band is not doing enough to represent itself in the broader wristwatch market out there. Where other watchmakers are trying to stay unique and bring out something that will last a long time, Invicta is more of an in-the-moment brand.
That can explain why they have also been found out to knock off popular wristwatch makers too.
In one of our articles discussing watches like the Rolex Explorer, Invicta watches dominated the lookalikes on that list. We could say that they are paying a nice nod to one of the top watchmakers in the world, but it would be nice if they brought some originality to the table sometimes too.
Pricing Model
Some watch enthusiasts believe that Invicta watches are not being sold at a discount – but the right price.
According to this line of criticism, the company intentionally sets a higher MSRP on the wristwatch so that it can be steeply discounted and buyers can feel like they are getting a good deal.
Of course, this can be largely contested. At the end of the day, it comes down to the users of the watch and what value they feel they are getting for their spent money.
Customer Service
Now, we have to say again that this is one of those things that are subjective to users. Likewise, we have no way to gauge the real results of interactions with the customer care agents, but what we have heard from the critics.
It should be said that many users do not have any issues with the customer service of this brand. For those who claim to have had poor experiences with the customer service, though, the reports are not good.
It ranges from all of the poor knowledge of customer handling to slow response times and almost nonexistent solution provision. Again, it depends on a lot of factors.
Quantity
People want to be able to use a watch that holds its value over time. Given the quantity model that Invicta practices, though, that might not be happening anytime soon.
The company seems to be focusing more on quantity than the quality of the watches that they put out. That is why they have so many models with different names out there. It is almost like they do not take a break to market every new line before they come up with yet another.
If you have been following all that we have been saying since, though, that should not be a problem at all. For example, they have made it clear that they are all about providing inexpensive watches to the masses – so we cannot expect them to have thin lines of products like the big watch brands.
Where to Buy Invicta Watches
Depending on where you are in the world, there is no shortage of places to buy Invicta watches online or offline.
Before you buy, though, we recommend waiting till they go on sale or have a discount offer attached to them. That way, you can always get the best deal for your money rather than having to pay over the top for the same wristwatch.
That said, not every region has a physical store that they can walk into for some Invicta watches. Fortunately, brick-and-mortar stores are not always the best places to get this watch brand anyways.
For one, we have found that Invicta watches sell at a much lower price on Amazon.
We believe this to be a strategic partnership between the multinational watch brand and Amazon – the largest online marketplace in the world.
Leveraging the influence and reach of Amazon, Invicta can ship millions of units easily. Since they are relying on the Amazon network for shipping and such other tasks, they can focus on reducing the price even further. That is why you can find amazing Invicta wristwatch deals on Amazon that you will not see anywhere else.
If you are serious about getting one, Amazon is where you want to be right now.
