I received the Invicta Men's 1911 Specialty Collection Swiss Quartz Watch in a very bright, solid-yellow box that smelled strongly of lemon pledge.  This odor might be bothersome for those with allergy problems.  For me, it was simply annoying.  I wore the watch constantly for the first month and the odor remained strong; it lingered for at least a month longer before it finally faded away.

  The watch arrived with a form for extending the limited one-year warranty another four years for a grand total of five years.  (See the photographs that I have posted on this website.)  The cost of extending the warranty depends upon the watch's Suggested Retail Price (SRP).  Since most of the Invicta watches cost over $500.00, the four year extension plan is going to cost $65.00, which is more than its current selling price on Amazon at the time of this posting.  Furthermore, some of the information requested on the form is ambiguous.

  There is also an Instruction Manual and Warranty booklet.  However, this manual is very generic and provides information on a wide gamut of watches manufactured by Invicta.  If paying the SRP, one would expect Invicta would provide a booklet specifically for Model 1911.  (In order to obtain information on the functions of a specific watch, it is best to research it on Amazon.)  A business card is provided which gives Invicta's website and e-mail address in case one needs customer service.  A toll-free number is not provided.  Personally, I like the luxury of speaking to a living, breathing person.  I went to the website and typed in the model number and received an error message as though the watch didn`t exist.

  After perusing the instruction manual and Amazon's website, I was disappointed to learn that the Model 1911 was a basic, no-frills watch.  It does not give the date, it does not have a chronograph (stopwatch) and it does not have an alarm.  It does have a bezel which is used for establishing how long one has been under the water.  The large numbers are good for those with poor sight.  The numbers also glow in the dark but they glow very faintly, almost to the point that they are nearly difficult to see.  For such a high SRP of $495 on Amazon (the watch, when received inside the box, had an SRP of $595), one would expect more functions.  Furthermore, as far as the warranty is concerned, would one base the price of the four year extension plan on Amazon's posted SRP or what was on the price tag attached to the actual watch received?  Note:  I posted a photograph of the price tag on this website in case you don't believe me.

  On the back of the watch's face, one will find the following information: Swiss Parts Movement, Stainless Steel Case, 100M Water Resistant, Flame-Fusion Crystal, Tritnite Night Glow, and INVICTA Model No 1911.  After examining the back of the watch, I have surmised that replacing the battery myself would be nearly impossible; it would be best if I took it to an Invicta retailer or a watch repair store.  Some websites suggest that one do this while others give brief instructions on how to replace them yourself.

  Setting the time was easy for me.  (See instructions on page 10 of the booklet.)  The watch arrived with the time already set but it was a minute fast according to my Apple iPhone 4.  I simply pulled out the crown at the 4:00 o'clock position; the watch stopped so that I could reset the time; I pushed the crown back in and the time resumed.  Thanks to the polyurethane strap, the watch is very comfortable to wear.  As I've stated earlier, I've been wearing this watch for two months now without any problems.  Also, the strap has ten notches on it that allow the watch to be easily adjusted for any size wrist.  I have very tiny wrists and the watch fits me perfectly.

  Besides being very comfortable to wear, I find the Invicta Model 1911 attractive.  The men in my office like it.  One jokingly suggested that it could be used as a weapon because of its heaviness.  My female friends seem to approve it; however, one thought it was large and gaudy.  Personally, I enjoy wearing the watch everywhere I travel except when I attend church or a special social event.  Then I wear my $600 gold-and-diamond Eco-Drive Citizen watch; it is powered by solar in lieu of a battery.  The Eco-Drive was the selling point for me on this Citizen watch.  Of course, the beautiful diamond face didn't hurt.

  One of my coworkers, who is a former professional diver for the Navy, looked at the Invicta Model 1911 and said it appeared to be a good diving watch.  He explained to me the operation of the bezel.  The watch is waterproof up to 330 feet (100 meters); however, I will never wear it while swimming for fear of ruining it.  I have worn it with confidence while washing dishes and walking outside while it was raining.  I definitely wouldn't do this with my gold-and-diamond watch.  I have read reviews for other watches manufactured by Invicta; one reviewer reported her watch's face became cloudy after completely submerging her hand in a bucket of water.

  Overall, I am quite pleased with the Invicta Model 1911.  I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a nice everyday watch to wear to work or the gym.  The solid black color makes it easy to coordinate with most any outfit.  It is very comfortable and durable for wearing all day.  I have accidentally struck the watch against numerous hard surfaces (I am very clumsy) and the face has not been damaged.  However, I recommend that the buyer never pay the SRP. For this watch, I would pay between $40 and $60.  Some websites sell it for approximately $100.  They provide the SRP and make one believe they are receiving a great deal when they are not.  A good friend of mine has worked in the jewelry retail business for most of his professional career; he's told me that jewelry stores artificially inflate their prices and then have big sales where everything is discounted 40% to 70%.

Joseph B. Hoyos