I’ve recently become quite a fan of Automatic watches. When I came across a bright orange Invicta dive watch with a Seiko movement I should have been more suspicious. I figured the missing bezel insert was the reason for the cheap price.

I won the auction and got the watch for less than $40. When the watch arrived it rattled and wouldn’t wind. I realized pretty quickly that the rotor was loose and hitting the glass on the caseback.

My first thought was CRAP! I bought someone else’s junk. Then I did a quick internet search and discovered it might not be hard to fix. I managed to get the case back off without any specialized tool and using a small screwdriver I was able to tighten the rotor.

No more rattle and the watch has been working perfectly for over 10 hours so far. Hopefully the rotor stays tight and I’ll have a great beater watch. It’s keeping great time.

I should have a new bezel insert later this week which will definitely improve the aesthetics.

Nice watch! Popping dial, almost Rolex Salmon in that light. A vintage dark brown leather strap might work for me. No automatics currently, but I'd like a green dial, like the Alpinist.

Sometimes a gamble is only worth the sum of the parts.

A parts watch I sold on TZ to a youth in Hong Kong backfired on the kid. He put in a claim with PP, claiming "pitting, scratches, corrosion, etc (he had seven or eight lovely superlatives for "crappy watch") but "the band may be of some small use" to him. So he only wanted the somewhat vintage Omega band AND a discount. The band was easily worth the entire purchase price. I countered the entire product would have to be returned.

Pissing off a snotty middle-schooler on the other side of the world.

I’ve never sold and item on eBay. My brother sold an amp that was gutted and ruined by the buyer then the loser disputed and returned the item to my bro broken and useless. PayPal did nothing. I only buy on eBay and even that’s risky.

It looks like this Invicta has been dropped or taken apart. The dial (near 6 o’clock) has a small piece missing but it isn’t that noticeable.

I’m hoping the watch continues to hold together. I’m digging this orange dial.

If it doesn’t then I’ll get to tear into its NH25A movement so I can learn what makes it tick.

eBay? You’re a brave man

quote:

Originally posted by PD:
eBay? You’re a brave man

Indeed, especially for anything remotely high end.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

Originally posted by PD:
eBay? You’re a brave man

Indeed, especially for anything remotely high end.

He said he got it for less than forty bucks. I would not call that "remotely high end."

Invictas, when new, are not remotely high end. Not much risk in buying cheapo watches on eBay. I have bought and flipped a lot of nice guitars and amps on eBay. Only problem I ever had was with FedEx dropping a well-packed 80 lbs. amp. But they overpaid me for it, I got it repaired and sold it again, just about doubling my money. So all good.

Yeah, I just bought one this morning. Hope the seller was honest in his description. Time will tell.

RMD

I've had 2 bad buys on Ebay. But I wouldn't qualify them as being ripped off. Just old watches bought for very little money that worked for a few months then quit. One is worth fixing, the other not.

Glad it worked out. Never spend more on Ebay than you are willing to lose.

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
Yeah, I just bought one this morning. Hope the seller was honest in his description. Time will tell.

RMD

I see what you did there...

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
Yeah, I just bought one this morning. Hope the seller was honest in his description. Time will tell.

RMD

I see what you did there...

RMD

I bought a very nice 1958 Rolex 6422, non-original leather strap, original box and paperwork, on eBay.

Canadian seller, with a lot of feedback, mostly good. The few negatives read more like buyer's regret. The eBay seller also had a web address.

Made the buying peace of mind and caveat emptor emotion a little less.

Research. Sometimes good bargains to be found. And sometimes not.

You made a great purchase, given your own googlefu research made to effect the repair.

what are you guys considering 'automatic' watches?? I have two Citizen Eco-Drives that work based on movement from the wearer..automatic?? I only paid $600 for one and $450 for the other from Kay jewelers..my absolute favorite is a Seiko ive had for prob 20 years..i know its not an automatic

Eco drive are solar powered watches, the sun charges a capacitor/battery which powers the watch. Kinetic watches have a battery but are charged by motion (they are kind of a hybrid). Automatic watches are mechanical watches that are powered by spinning a rotor which winds a spring that powers the watch. Automatic watches are 100% mechanical and do not require solar or battery power. You shaking or wearing the watch powers it.

If you do your homework, ebay is useful.
If not, it can be a problem.

On a lark, don't do it.
If you are serious about putting in the time you can get some great deals.

Know how to look at pictures, visual acuity is an acquired skill.
Ask for better pictures when need be and know the item being purchased very well.

Ebay favors the buyer as a seller it can be trying at times.

Anything shipping from India is a pretty solid bet.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Eco drive are solar powered watches, the sun charges a capacitor/battery which powers the watch. Kinetic watches have a battery but are charged by motion (they are kind of a hybrid). Automatic watches are mechanical watches that are powered by spinning a rotor which winds a spring that powers the watch. Automatic watches are 100% mechanical and do not require solar or battery power. You shaking or wearing the watch powers it.

thanks for the info!

Yepp. . My pleasure.

I should clarify that Citizen does make some eco drive watches that are radio/satilite sync meaning via radio wave or satilite signal they synchronize with atomic time every day. I have two, they are very cool watches. I personally prefer the less accurate but more interesting to own automatic watch....they have a uniqueness to them that is hard to describe.

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
Time will tell.RMD

No pun intended.