I’ve been wearing my Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB for several weeks now, and I can’t be happier. It has a nice heft to it (155g), grasps my wrist comfortably, and seems to be very sturdy. The watch isn’t too large to take all the attention, neither is it too small to look awkward on a man’s wrist.

I did the first image right after strong light exposure, the other one approximately an hour later, and the third one three hours later. The results were disappointing, to say the least. I would have hoped to get a much better luminosity from a diver than from a casual chronograph. The NH35 caliber is therefore equipped with features that watch enthusiasts appreciate the most. Moreover, it keeps an accurate time as well. However, what makes my heart beat faster and what I really appreciate in a watch is the automatic movement. And that’s probably the best bit you’ll get with the Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB.

Replace a band

The two most significant cons I faced were the almost non-existent luminosity and the rattling noise of the bracelet. I’ve been wearing it inside for my daily routine, as well as outside while shoveling snow and taking a walk. The watch is noticeable on a wrist when you want to but stays unnoticeable when you don’t think about it. Great review, in my opinion: balanced, and tells you what you need to know to make your own mind up. I’ve bought one of these watches (Invicta 8926OB Pro Diver with the non-branded NH35A movement), because I’m rather anti-snobbish when it comes to brands (not all the time, I admit, but then I’m only human), and I suspected that one could get very acceptable quality for a fraction of the price of mid-to-high-end brands. Indeed, that is the case, in my experience (n=1). Initial readings from my timegrapher are as follows (fully-wound, of course):

Finally, there’s also the Invicta 8926, which comes with a scalloped bezel instead of the coin-edge version. All the other visual and physical features are identical to the 8926OB. Despite its high water resistance level, the watch isn’t ISO-certified for professional diving. It means it hasn’t been tested in real conditions in the sea but in still water in the laboratory. It may withstand the conditions you’ll face with recreational diving (up to 100ft), but I wouldn’t bet on that. The handset, as well as the hour dots, are equipped with greenish luminosity. It is one of the most important features of a dive watch when reading the time underwater is of critical importance. The first thing you’ll notice is the sweeping second’s hand that makes six steps in a second and gives a nice gliding motion. Those of you who have worn only quartz watches will definitely find the sweeping motion the best part of an automatic timepiece.The dial is made of a mineral glass which protects the watches chronograph display. The display also features a date indicator with a magnified window. The watch also features luminescent hands which will make it easier to read in the dark. OB” stands for “original bezel,” which is the coin-edge (Rolex-Style) bezel, so the 8926OB and 9937OB would have those. The best part of the watch is probably the main reason you’re considering it – the 40mm Sub case. Finding a watch that executes the traditional Rolex Submariner case to a high degree is a journey that most watch enthusiasts will find themselves on at some point. Plenty of microbrands offers sub cases and a whole mess of microbrands do as well.

All in all, my wearing experience couldn’t have been better as the Invicta Pro Diver makes it an excellent everyday wearable. If you have a preference for one or the other, that should be your main decision-making reason. Movement: NH35A VS SW200

The Invicta Pro Diver also comes 200m (660ft) water-resistant. I haven’t tried it out in the water yet, but swimming or snorkeling shouldn’t be a problem with this watch. However, taking it deep down for diving might not be the best of decisions. You might be used to a battery-powered (“ quartz movement”) watch, but the fact is that most expensive and luxury watches use an automatic movement. The 9937 and 9937OB use a Sellita SW200. This is also a reliable movement that’s found in many watches. Are there better watches - probably. Better values - I think not. At 40mm it's unisex, it's stainless and waterproof, replaceable bezel insert, Flame Fusion crystal - no - but it's tough and scratch and shatter resistant, the dial face is very well printed with tastefully shaped markers reminiscent of much more expensive watches. The hands are tastefully done to compliment the markers and style of the aquatic big name big brother to it's infamous design. The Japanese movt is a well proven movement with a pretty high bps count that leaves only the slightest detection of the second hand "jitters". At the price point these watches can be had for - you can't hardly go wrong. Since I have been using 9937's and 8926's for many years the only degradation in production quality that is of slight n otice is the band/bracelet is getting "lighter." Clasp works well, as do the lug end pieces of the bracelet. I own a ridiculously large number of these watches with every known variation of the 8926 Model series, A, C, OB (several) and the plain ole 8926 with and without cyclops - they have required very little attention from my watchmaker over the years. This the most recent "OB" is yet another cycle in the 8926 as it does NOT have "Japan Movt" stamped at 6 - another plus for my collection. Read full review

From my own experience, I can say that the Invicta 8926OB is definitely worth purchasing, especially considering the unbelievable price that gets you a Submariner lookalike with an NH35 automatic caliber. For the price, the watch offers more than you can wish for. And although I have worn it for only a couple of weeks, the whole construction and the prestige of the caliber suggests a long lifetime. The watch strap is a standard fold over clasp with a fold over safety as seen in one of the images below.

User uploaded images for INV8926OB

The watch is equipped with a Seiko NH35 caliber that has found its way to many microbrand automatic watches. It is a caliber that every respectable watch enthusiast knows. In the introduction, I asked three questions regarding the Invicta Pro Diver – is it good enough, will it last long enough, and is it worth buying? The 8926, 8926OB, 9937, and 9937OB are very similar watches. Kudos to you for trying to get a straight answer about it. They all have automatic movement, which means they don’t require battery power to run. Instead, the movement (engine inside) is powered by the kinetic motion of your wrist when you casually move around. This means that the watch will stop if you stop wearing it for about 40 hours. On the other hand it produces a smooth weeping of the seconds hand that’s found in most luxury watches.