Invicta Men’s Specialty Stainless Steel Watch, Blue & Gold

Take the time to research the proper, warranty-approved maintenance and cleaning process for your high-end timepieces prior to purchasing them. This process will also reveal which features are or aren’t covered, avoiding nasty surprises if one or more of the cosmetic features is damaged. If you don’t feel that you are willing or able to commit to the warranty-approved processes, you may benefit from considering a different watch.

Invicta uses a process called “flame fusion,” or the “Verneuil method” to manufacture their own gemstone-quality crystals. Sapphires are known for their hardness and high scratch-resistance. Invicta uses this process to manufacture sapphire-quality crystals for their watch faceplates, resulting in a scratch-resistant surface.

The drawback to using sapphire glass is that its surface reflectivity is several times higher than simple mineral glass (the kind in your windows). Watch-makers compensate for this by applying a wafer-thin anti-reflective coating resulting in a resilient and entirely unobstructed view of the watch face. You may think that you have scratched your glass, but what you’ve likely done is scratched the anti-reflective coating. A quick visit to a professional can strip and restore that coating at a much lower cost than replacing the glass or the entire watch.

• Be aware of the difference between a watch piece being made of a material as opposed to that piece being plated with a material. This is particularly important if you have allergies to any metals.
• Jewelry plating is applied by a process that encourages a very thin layer of it to adhere and bond to the base material. In this way, a steel watch can be plated in gold, silver or nickel.
• This also means that continuously wearing that jewelry can rub off the plating through day-to-day wear and tear. Occasional use and proper care can extend the lifespan of your watch’s finish.