IMO, the problem lies with how discount brand mechanical and automatic watches like Invictas are being distributed and sold in todays market. Its not the Sellita SW200 movement itself. It's a very good movement if my experience with it is any indication. I intermittently been wearing over 20 watches w/ Sellita SW200 movements in them for over 3 years w/o one problem. They include some Corvette watches built for GM, a couple of Chase Durer models, and a big handful of very carefully picked Invicta Swiss and Swiss made automatics. Every one has been both accurate and reliable. The SW200 movement has proven itself against the Eta 2824 and 2836 movements in other watches I own.
Automatic and mechanical watches are far more complicated to operate and care for in my experience. They are more delicate, and more subject to damage through mishandling than quartz watches. I think a lot of the problem begins here. Too many folks who have owned and worn only relatively rugged and easily handled quartz models are now buying automatic watches and going though a relatively unsupported learning phase based on trial and error. So quite a few are inadvertantly damaging their newly acquired automatics and returning them for a credit, a replacement, or a refund. These defective and/or damaged watches are then being resold by some fairly unscroupulous dealers and distributors on other unsuspecting and uninformed buyers.
So part of the problem also lies with Invicta and how it handles its business including warranty service. Invicta warranty service apparently depends upon the distributorships to handle it for them and possibly on some contracted but inadequate repair service as well. These companies are not providing competant service and are not spending what is needed to have the work done well, or are not having it done at all. All too often, they are simply swapping one bad watch for another to unsuspecting clients or shipping the watch back unrepaired.
I have learned to be extremely careful and very selective about accepting any newly purchased watch from any online or TV vender. This is especially true with mechanicals and automatics and in particular, any watches from Invicta. I've had zero problems since I learned to do this. My standards are based on knowledge gained through experience. I've been carefully examining every new purchase for signs of previous use. I've also been running accuracy and reliability performance tests on each new watch. My acceptance standards have become increasingly stringent as well, until they now have proven to be a 100% reliable safeguard.
I recommend that any new buyer first learn how to properly operate and care for a mechanical or automatic watch before buying one. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to watches. I also strongly recommend any buyer carefully look over any newly purchased watch with a loupe or 10X magnifying glass for signs of previous use or shop wear. Immediately reject any that arrive unwrapped and that show any evidence of handling, damage, or wear. Test each new purchase carefully and thoroughly. If the newly purchased watch shows the least bit of trouble in function and performance, send it back, esprcially if its an Invicta. We cannot trust the Invicta warranty, so don't risk it.
If new buyers learn to closely examine and test every new watch before keeping it, then the monkey business of some of these less than honest distributors and dealers will stop. The sooner, the better for all of us IMO. Until then, these dishonest venders will continue to benefit from the inexperience and ignorance of their more unsuspecting customers. CAVEAT EMPTOR!!!
