>>> BlackFriday Invicta Men's 9211 Speedway Collection Chronograph Watch
Product Features
- Precise Japanese-quartz movement
- Anti-reflective mineral crystal
- Case diameter: 40mm
- Stainless-steel case; white dial; date function; chronograph functions
- Water-resistant to 660 feet (200 M)
When I ordered this watch I was expecting to get exactly what I paid for....a $95 watch but what I received far surpassed my expectations. First the box it came in was ginormous and well protected. Seriously you could have fit 3 or 4 of these watches in that thing and it included a suede or suede-like polishing cloth as well.
The watch itself was covered in a clear protective film which was easily removed. Upon inspection the first thing I noticed was the face and how it has a very detailed raised background which adds a lot of class to the watch. An additional nice feature is the screw down crown which allows you to "lock" down the dials without worrying about water getting into the watch through the adjustment shafts. Invicta didn't overlook the details here and it shows.
A quick review of the included guide and I had the second hand adjusted to the 12 o'clock position and it was ready to go. I did have to remove a few links to get it to the proper size but it was a straightforward process even without the proper tool. If you are unsure how this process works or are nervous that you might scratch the watch you can purchase a pin removal tool right here on Amazon for about $15 which would surely make the job much easier.
A week later and it hasn't lost any measurable amount of time so it appears that it is doing exactly what it was designed to do. This watch does use a Japanese movement (indicated by the micro-printing on the face which reads "Japan Movt" at the 6 o'clock position) but the modern Japanese movements are on par with anything the Swiss can make and in some cases are arguably better - although they don't carry the same veneration as being able to say you have a "Swiss watch".
Admittedly the second hand isn't as smooth as a $3500 watch and it doesn't "sweep" like a Rolex....but honestly what do you expect for around $100? I'm guessing about 99% of the average citizen would have no clue if this was a $100 watch or a $3500 watch - and I'm not about to spend a few extra thousand just to have the name Rolex glued to the face. They both tell time only this one comes with the added feature of a fat wallet as well.
The stopwatch function is nice but honestly isn't that valuable. It might be neat to watch the second hand swing back up to 12 when you reset it but with the exception of testing a speedometer I doubt it would be precise enough for much else. I won't use any of the chronograph functions but again I believe they add a touch of class to the watch and make it look much more expensive than it is.
The fit and finish as extremely good and even though I have worn it every day since it arrived and haven't exactly been gentle thus far there isn't a scratch to be found anywhere on the face or even the band. The clasp itself is more of a brushed stainless material which is appreciated since it is the part which comes into contact with hard surfaces most often and it should be somewhat resistant to scratching.
If I have any complaints at all it would be the embossed "INVICTA" found on the 9 o'clock side of the watch. It isn't that noticeable when worn but it seems a little representative of a Seiko or Timex....could have done without it. The Invicta logo on the face is very tasteful and well done - not distracting from the rest of the face at all.
All things considered I wouldn't hesitate for a second to purchase another Invicta and assuming this watch stands up to my usage over the next year or two I most likely will add to my collection. This particular model is nice enough to be worn in a business or formal event but also can be worn with jeans and t-shirts.
The watch itself is a little beefier than what I was coming from but it hasn't bothered me thus far and even though I have smaller wrists I don't believe it looks too big. However if you are looking for more of a streamlined timepiece or something which is thin - you won't appreciate the bulkiness of a chronograph or this model in particular.
Update 11/01/10: Over three and a half years later and I am still very happy with this watch. I wear the watch every day and have had no significant issues thus far. I did break a pin which resulted in me losing one of the end links on the band (my fault) but I ordered a replacement band from Amazon which solved the issue (I wrote a separate review for that as well). About a month ago I noticed the second hand on the watch stopped working but the hour and minute hands were still working just fine. I thought the watch was broken but aside from the second hand everything else seemed ok so I continued to wear it. About a week or ten days later the entire watch stopped so I replaced the battery and all is well again (including the second hand). The next time I notice the second hand stop I'll consider it a warning that the battery is about to die on me.
I am considering buying another watch in black and I'm am putting Invicta at the top of my list due to the way this watch has performed. The only thing I would change about this watch would be to swap out the battery for a self-winding movement but for under a hundred bucks that is asking for quite a bit. I know Invicta has self-winding watches that cost a bit more so I might opt for one of those in the future.
