Castlk Senior Member

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Posts: 146 Real Name: Larry

What's the F?

I noticed on ebay today several Invicta Watches where the model Number starts with the

letter F. When I bought my Reserve Akula Chronograph from Shop NBC I noticed it too started with an F, the model number is F0013. I have also seen the same watch with just

0013 as the model number. I asked this question in the Ask Jim section a few weeks back

but never received a reply. Does anyone know what it signifies? __________________

3 Lastest Threads by Castlk

Thread Forum Last Poster Replies Views Last Post

What's the F? General Invicta Watch Discussions Castlk 11 143 08-06-2010

08:40 PM

Stainless Steel Bracelet for Invicta Excursion Items Wanted Castlk 2 27 07-28-2010

08:13 PM

Excursion Strap ASK JIM jskelton 1 56 07-25-2010

09:39 PM

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#2

Today, 08:45 PM

Flyback Senior Member True WatchGeek

Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northern CA

Posts: 18,295 Real Name: Brad

"F" stands for Far East/Asian manufacturing.

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#3

Today, 09:07 PM

Castlk Senior Member

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyback

"F" stands for Far East/Asian manufacturing.

I see, so even though it says Swiss Reserve Collection on it, it's not Swiss made. I thought

all Reserve watches were hand assembled in Switzerland, that's what your paying for along

with the 5 year warranty. Does it really make a difference? Supposedly it has a Swiss Ronda

5040D movement in it, or can I assume that's not correct either and that it's probably a

Japanese movement? You know, I wondered why it came in the standard issue yellow Invicta box as opposed to the black Reserve box like my Excursion came in. Well it looks

good and keeps accurate time anyway, I guess I should be thankful for that at least. Now I

know for the next time.

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#4

Today, 09:08 PM

Mr Horology WatchGeeks VIP True WatchGeek

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Posts: 15,468 Real Name: Mr Horology Aka Mehdi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castlk

I see, so even though it says Swiss Reserve Collection on it, it's not Swiss made. I thought all Reserve watches were hand assembled in Switzerland, that's what your paying for along

with the 5 year warranty. Does it really a difference? Supposedly it has a Swiss Ronda

5040D movement in it, or can I assume that's not correct either and that it's probably a

Japanese movement? You know, I wondered why it came in the standard issue yellow Invicta box as opposed to the black Reserve box like my Excursion came in. Well it looks

good and keeps accurate time anyway, I guess I should be thankful for that at least. Now I

know for the next time.

The 5040.D, in those models is the 6 jewel Swiss parts model. It has all Swiss parts,

but is assembled in the far east. It also has all the same functions, and is still all metal.

BTW, my $57 dollar Venom came in a Reserve box. I guess each model may come packaged different...IDK.

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#5

Today, 09:12 PM

Flyback Senior Member True WatchGeek

Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northern CA

Posts: 18,295 Real Name: Brad

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Invicta

I have been asked to personally clarify the confusion with the markings on the watches. I

feel I have a confident and open enough relationship with our customers to make a clear

statement and get this matter clarified once and for all. While I know that it is impossible

to satisfy everyone, it is our commitment to keep a top level relationship with our very loyal customer base.

There is a definite gray area in the use of the words “Swiss”, “Swiss Made”, “Swiss

Movements”, “Swiss Parts”, “Swiss Components”, and “Swiss Registration”. The fact of the

matter is that, like in many “multiple-component” products, where the country of origin

adds value to the product, we tend to highlight that.

A perfect example is the auto industry. You might buy a Mercedes that is manufactured in

Mexico using German engineering, some German parts, etc. The brand focuses on

highlighting their “German” standards. Much in the same way, the watch industry does when Swiss is present. Without mentioning brands, it is important to understand that

Switzerland almost produces NO watch components except parts associated with the

movements, and assembly. What this means is that if you bought a $6000.00 Swiss Made

Chronograph from “Brand X”, what you are likely buying is a watch that houses a Swiss Made movement (And even the movement components themselves have their own

complicated breakdown value. For instance, even if a movement is “Swiss Made”, it does

not mean every part in the movement was made in Switzerland, only a given percentage

of that ) and the watch was assembled and tested in Switzerland. We do the same, and

hopefully that brings clarity to everyone that when we mark a watch “Swiss Made”, you are buying a Swiss Made watch with a Swiss made movement, that is assembled in

Switzerland.

Then we get into the way we use the word “SWISS”. The the word “Swiss” was used on watches as a description for a watch using a movement with Swiss part Origins. This

includes movements that are bought from SWISS COMPANIES, with SWISS

ENGENEERING, that are tested in Switzerland, but has components that are sent off to the

Far East for cost purposes to be assembled. Examples of these are ETA, Ronda, ISA, “Far East versions”. They were developed to assist in delivering the consumer more value, on

an otherwise identical item. Today, the word Swiss is used on watches that are very

inexpensive, because the brand used a Swiss Movement Far East assembly version. Yes as

companies we do call more attention to this than the fact that the movement is assembled in China, but that’s marketing.

Then there is the talk about the Swiss Federation. I cannot speak too much into the Swiss

Federation standard because it is a private foreign entity, not a law dictating body, and we

do not belong to it for a variety of reasons I prefer not to go into. I respect companies developing a stamp of approval and charging for it, such as COSC, but to be part of a

group that develops standards on watches based on the direction of the “big players” in the

watch industry, and attempting to apply them to smaller companies without giving them a

fair chance, is a monopoly, and I am strongly against that.

I make this statement on a personal level, and hope that it can bring some level of clarity

to this discussion.

Sincerely,

Eyal

http://watchgeeks.net/showpost.php?p...&postcount=396

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#6

Today, 09:13 PM

Castlk Senior Member Senior Geek

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Horology

The 5040.D, in those models is the 6 jewel Swiss parts model. It has all Swiss parts, but is assembled in the far east. It also has all the same functions, and is still all metal.

So is that good or bad, or just to keep the price down so they can sell them cheaper than everyone else that sells the non-F version?

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#7

Today, 09:14 PM

Flyback Senior Member True WatchGeek

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Castlk

So is that good or bad, or just to keep the price down so they can sell them cheaper than

everyone else that sells the non-F version?

See Eyal's official statement posted above.

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#8

Today, 09:16 PM

Mr Horology WatchGeeks VIP True WatchGeek

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Castlk

So is that good or bad, or just to keep the price down so they can sell them cheaper than

everyone else that sells the non-F version?

It is a lower cost version, yes. But it runs the same, and functions the same. __________________

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#9

Today, 09:23 PM

Castlk Senior Member

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Horology

It is a lower cost version, yes. But it runs the same, and functions the same.

So it's no big deal, and I got a deal besides, cool. Thanks guys for clearing that up, and reading Eyal's statement above explains everything clearly and makes perfect sense.

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#10

Today, 09:25 PM

Mr Horology WatchGeeks VIP True WatchGeek

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Castlk

So it's no big deal, and I got a deal besides, cool. Thanks guys for clearing that up, and

reading Eyal's statement above explains everything clearly and makes perfect sense.

Not a big deal at all. Still the same quality movements, that run and

function the same. As a matter of fact, I had to replace a Swiss

parts Ronda 5040.D, and it cost me the same as the Swiss made

version. Movement prices will only go up from now on. __________________

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#11

Today, 09:25 PM

xenon135 Junior Member

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in the end, I guess it just matters if you care where it was assembled. since it's reserve it

comes with the same 5 year warranty. I have several venoms, with one being an F. It looks just as good as the others, and the only difference you can see is that it only says 'swiss' at

6 oclock, instead of 'swiss made'.

I didn't realize the difference when I bought it, as I thought all reserve collection was swiss

made. It seems odd to me that the flagship reserves would not be swiss made, but it doesn't bother me too much for the price I paid. Now that I am more educated I would still buy the

F's, but I would make sure that the discount was significant.

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#12

Today, 09:43 PM

Castlk Senior Member

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Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon135

in the end, I guess it just matters if you care where it was assembled. since it's reserve it

comes with the same 5 year warranty. I have several venoms, with one being an F. It

looks just as good as the others, and the only difference you can see is that it only says

'swiss' at 6 oclock, instead of 'swiss made'.

I didn't realize the difference when I bought it, as I thought all reserve collection was swiss

made. It seems odd to me that the flagship reserves would not be swiss made, but it

doesn't bother me too much for the price I paid. Now that I am more educated I would still buy the F's, but I would make sure that the discount was significant.

I agree, it doesn't bother me either I was just looking for an explaination that's all. Mine says Swiss at the 6 o'clock position as well and on the caseback, it's fine I have no problem

with it. My watch is beautifully made, accurate, looks good and is very comfortable for a big

watch. I get inquiries and complements every time it's on my wrist.

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