Drop + Invicta 1960 Chronograph Watch Discussions | Drop

Apr 27, 2020

Stickied

Friends: Today we’re happy to bring this Invicta 1960 Chronograph to you, now available for preorder through Drop. As you know we’ve done many Glycine releases, and this is the first for Invicta, its parent company. We mainly know Invicta for its solid Pro Divers and overall for being a fearless company with a vast array of models sold all over the planet. Less known is that Invicta is a much older watch company than one might expect, and within that very long history are quite a number of standout timepieces that we felt were worth exploring. So Drop approached Invicta in the fall of 2019 with the idea of resurrecting their very own Doctor’s chronograph made over sixty years ago. This original Invicta is a stunner: Landeron Caliber 48 bicompax movement executed in an 18 karat solid gold case. As much as we’d love to just put that watch inside a duplicator machine and make buckets of them, Landeron movements no longer exist, acrylic crystals scratch easily, and 18k solid gold runs a bit outside our democratic instincts. What exactly did we do with this gorgeous vintage then? First, close attention was paid to preserving as much of the original look as possible, down to the old Invicta logo. We then replaced the acrylic crystal with AR coated domed sapphire, upped the water resistance, and for the case material used Bronze, suiting the vintage character of this timepiece with subtle weathering. We also added a telemeter scale in addition to the pulsometer scale of the original. We also decided to offer two dial choices: The original white and a black color scheme. We also replaced the inestimable Landeron with a sensible VK64 mecha-quartz movement manufactured by Seiko. Here’s what I especially like about the VK64: The chronograph module is a complete mechanical complication, with all of the components you would find in any mechanical chronograph watch. Yet the balance wheel, escapement and mainspring are replaced with a quartz resonator, making it far more accurate. The result is a movement that looks, moves, and behaves like a chronograph yet with the reliability enabled by modernity. The central seconds hand moves with smooth motion around the dial, instead of indexing as one might in a typical quartz. We also sized this at 40mm, right for the character of the 36mm original while also looking amazing on any wrist. Lastly, let it be known that we made this watch for the Drop community with excellence in mind. It's our aspiration to do custom projects with strong partners in the watch industry who are willing to take risks. We hope that if you’ve never considered Invicta before, may this be the one that moves you. :-) Leo

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A community member

Apr 28, 2020

leopadronWhile on the subject of Invicta's: are you guys also looking into the possibility of doing a drop for the Invicta 1953 (model 31290) ?

Apr 28, 2020

Doubt that would happen; it's pretty much been a sell-out everywhere they had stock. On the other hand, it would be cool to see a nice diver offered (some, never-before-seen, exclusive model) on the next MD/ Invicta collaboration!

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dsds110

Apr 28, 2020

leopadronthere does not seem to be a mention of case thickness. May I check what the case thickness is, thanks.

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rokemronnie

Apr 28, 2020

leopadronWhere is it made?

Apr 28, 2020

dsds110I just added this: 13mm. The casewall itself is about 11mm but this is factoring for the height of the domed sapphire crystal.

Apr 28, 2020

rokemronnie Pretty sure these are made in a secret watch factory on top of a mountain hidden deep in the Swiss Alps where a select group of Jedi watchmakers assemble them using a combination of The Force, and Harry Potter magic wands. It's either that, or a factory in freak'n CHINA, where 99% of all watches are made, you wing nut!

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Eumarzephyr

Apr 28, 2020

leopadron"...solid Pro divers..." are you for real!?

MarPabl

1088

Apr 28, 2020

EumarzephyrHe means the Invicta Pro Divers which is a very popular model for Invicta...

A community member

Apr 28, 2020

EumarzephyrIf he isn't for real my Invicta's are for sure. And yes, guess what they are SOLID. Do you own a Invicata, or are you just one of those watch elitists/snobs that likes to parrot other people's opinions without having any hands on experience?

Apr 28, 2020

You're giving @Eumarzephyr too much credit--he's just some twit repeating what some other twit wrote on some other site for know-nothing twits. I have no patience for newbie-ignorance anymore--I'm just glad @MarPabl is handling them for us ;- )

Apr 28, 2020

EumarzephyrAm I for real? You bet. Where else can you get a brand new automatic dive watch with a capable Seiko NH35 in it for ballpark $50-$100 online? That's a heck of a value proposition, and you have to credit Invicta for being able to do that every day without breaking a sweat.

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Apr 28, 2020

leopadronI've never been lucky enough to find one for fifty-bucks, but didn't hesitate to buy both of mine for $85-ish. They are still the best value/deal on the planet. Congrats to whomever worked out the relationship with Invicta--very ballsy move.

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jayonnaise

116

Apr 28, 2020

Yes, solid, as long as you aren't referring to the end links. And, the lume has always been incredibly disappointing.

Wasyl

Apr 28, 2020

leopadronI had no idea Invicta could make a watch that was tasteful...

Apr 28, 2020

jayonnaise If lume is your criteria for a dive watch, pony up another $200--$4,000 and buy yourself a nice Seiko (like everybody does who thinks lume is critical). We're discussing an $85 watch here. PS: solid end links are over-rated and appreciated mainly by folks who never want to change bracelets ;- )

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Apr 28, 2020

WasylThat's not something I'd brag about. https://gearpatrol.com/2019/10/04/found-3-vintage-invicta-watches/

https://www.watchfreeks.com/threads/history-of-invicta.12294/

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Wasyl

Apr 28, 2020

RayFahh, the old Drop troller...

Apr 29, 2020

WasylIf by that you mean someone older, wiser, better looking, and more popular with the ladies than you, then yes!

dsds110

Apr 29, 2020

leopadronThanks for your reply with the case thickness. I think this is an awesome combo!

JAone

999

Apr 29, 2020

RayFHey Ray I am still a "newbie ignorant" myself; but just happy to learn!!

Apr 29, 2020

JAoneAn open mind is never full ;- )

Apr 29, 2020

leopadronLeo, what is the total run on this watch anyway?

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JAone

999

Apr 29, 2020

RayFNow,now, Ray ;are yu saying I am empty headed!!! LOL.

Apr 29, 2020

RayFWe're not capping this to make it a limited edition, but a small first run of 500 is our objective for now.

MarPabl

1088

Apr 29, 2020

leopadron🆒️ the last one Glycine Sub Bronze with just 2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ was totally sold real fast 👍🏻

andrea_t

112

Apr 29, 2020

leopadronI am not sure why the post by Watchyoutalkingabout has been hidden. You might not agree with him and probably it wasn't the right place and I personally didn't like the vulgar display of cash. BUT he had a point about the way people get excited about budget watches to scratch that itch to then realise that the itch is always coming back. You are then left with a "collection" that costed you a lot of money when in fact it is pretty much worthless. I think he made for an interesting discussion and I think hiding the post was just plain wrong.

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Dmanjapan

Apr 29, 2020

WasylAfter ten thousand plus comments you'd think he'd slow down. Clearly his calling. Sad.

Vote

Apr 29, 2020

Dmanjapan And evidently the envy of hangers-on, everywhere ;- ) PS: try to get the numbers right, will you? I’ve got a reputation to live up to!

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Glen8

671

Apr 29, 2020

RayFThey just had a 40% sitewide sale at Invicta.com, in which you could get many different models, which were already on sale, for 38 to 68 bucks, which is about the range of the 4 that I bought.....still have the SITE40 promo going on right now, actually, although many of the models with Seikos and such have been picked through and are gone, esp the ones that come in in that price range, but might be many good ones left, they make thousands of different models after all..