Invicta R. Picard Seeland Inc. Chaux-de-Fonds Age Determination
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A brief overview of Invicta's history
Invicta has an unusual history, with several "new beginnings" – this helps with dating:
| Period | epoch | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1837–1970s | Original Swiss Invicta (La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) | Classic mechanical watches with manual or automatic movement |
| 1980–1991 | Transitional period, partly Japanese or quartz works | Quality varies greatly. |
| 1991–present | Invicta Watch Group (USA/Florida) after acquisition | Wide range of models, modern serial numbers, strong marketing |
These three phases form the basis for assessing age.
Serial numbers and engravings
Modern Invicta (from around 1991/2000s)
- Serial numbers on the case back , usually laser engraved or embossed.
-
Format often like:
- Model No. 8926OB / 9400 / 9937 → Model number, not serial number
- Serial: 123456 or QR code for newer watches
⚠️ The serial number does not directly reveal the year of manufacture , but:
- QR or barcodes → after approx. 2015
- Deeply engraved numbers without QR code → ca. 2000–2010
- Model number only (no serial number) → early 1990s / first US phase
Vintage Invicta (pre-1980)
- Serial number or caliber designation inside (e.g. “FHF 96”, “AS 1187” etc.)
- Cases often engraved with Invicta Watch Co. Swiss
- No "Model No." on the floor
- Hand-wound or early automatic movements
Such models are immediately recognizable:
- classic dials (mostly simple, fine indices),
- Swiss companies (FHF, AS, ETA),
- Plexiglas instead of sapphire glass.
→ For these watches: Age determination via movement number / caliber and external design.
With vintage Invicta watches, you can have the movement opened and its caliber and production time determined (e.g., through databases like ranfft.de).
Notes on the chronological classification (modern series)
Here is a rough overview of important model groups and their introduction:
| Model series | introduction | remark |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Diver (e.g. 8926) | approximately 2000 | Mostly automatic NH35A or Miyota |
| Lupah | ca. 2003–2005 | Oval design, very typical of the 2000s |
| Reserve / Subaqua / Venom | ca. 2007–2012 | Solid cases, Swiss Ronda or ISA |
| Bolt Zeus / Russian Diver | ca. 2012–2015 | Distinctive cable design on the case |
| Pro Diver Scuba / Specialty | ca. 2015–present | Miyota or Seiko caliber |
| Disney / Marvel / DC Editions | from 2018 | Licensing models, often limited |
| SWI (Swiss Invicta) | ca. 2020–present | Higher-quality line with Swiss Made calibers (Ronda / Sellita) |
Logos and case back design as a time indicator
| feature | Time period |
|---|---|
| Old "Invicta Watch Co. Swiss" logo (barely any color) | until about 1970 |
| Simple eagle logo, gold-colored | ca. 1990–2000 |
| Winged shield with "Since 1837" | from about 2005 |
| Laser engraving with QR/NFC | from around 2016 |
Movement type (caliber)
The work also helps with dating:
| type | Often in | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ETA 2452 / A. Schild / FHF | Vintage | 1940–1970 |
| Miyota 8215, 9015 | Modern Pro Diver | from 2000 |
| Seiko NH35A / NH38 | Pro Diver, Specialty | from 2015 |
| Ronda Quartz (Swiss) | Reserve, Bolt, Venom | 2005–present |
Invicta was founded in 1837 by Raphaël Picard (1810-1884) as R. Picard in La Chaux-de-Fonds , Switzerland. Around 1890 , the company was renamed Les Fils de R. Picard. Armand Picard (1856-1926) and Gabriel Picard (1865-1935) were his successors.
In 1895, Picard won a gold medal at the National Exhibition in Bordeaux. The name Invicta was derived from Latin, meaning "invincible." Picard's company motto was to offer high-quality Swiss watches at affordable prices. In addition to standard pocket watches, the company also produced watches with striking mechanisms , calendars , moon phase displays , and chronographs, all featuring movements by Charles-Ami Barbezat-Baillot .
In 1896, the brand name Invicta was introduced alongside "Telescope." In 1906 , the company employed 26 people; by 1922 , this number had risen to 30. During the First World War, Invicta was involved in the production of munitions, collaborating with companies such as Mirum SA ; Zeno ; Eigeldinger & Co. (34 employees in 1912; 40 in 1922); and the Ebel factory owned by the Blum family (23 employees in 1912; 25 in 1922).
The factory was located at Léopold-Robert 109 shortly after 1906 in a new building designed by the architect Eugène Schaltenbrand. From around 1913, it worked closely with the Seeland Watch Co. Only in the 1970s, with the advent of quartz watches, did sales decline so drastically that production had to be discontinued.
In 1991, an American investment company from the USA bought the company run by the Picard family. Since then, the Invicta Watch Group's main headquarters have been in Hollywood, Florida.
Source: Wtachwiki, AI
