Invicta Pro Diver 8928OB Gold-Plated Review

Invicta 8928OB Pro Diver – A flashy looking gold-plated automatic watch

The Invicta 8928OB, together with the 8926OB, are two bestselling automatic timepieces in the Invicta pro diver series. If you want a not-so-flashy dive watch, the 8926OB would be a right choice, but if you prefer a more luxury-looking timepiece, then the 8928OB is made for you. Following is my Invicta Pro Diver 8928OB Gold-Plated Review, hope you will enjoy!

[su_product_review_summary name=”Invicta Pro Diver 8928OB Gold-Plated” asin=”B000JQJS6M” factors=”Quality@4“`Design@4“`Price@5″ score=”4.5″ summary=’

• Among the Invicta pro diver series, the 8928OB is most eye-catching and classy-looking. It is more of a dress watch than a diving piece. The real value lies within the watch’s striking design and reliable Seiko automatic movement.
• The rest of the watch is just acceptable, not excellent. However, in the price range of around $100, it’s hard to find another auto watch that can offer you so much value like the Invicta 8928OB (except for its cousins, of course).

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[su_pros_cons pros=”

• Striking design
• Look much more expensive than what it actually costs, thanks to the glossy gold-plating
• Reliable Japanese automatic movement – the Seiko NH35A caliber
• Affordable price

” cons=”

• Rolex Submariner look-alike
• Rattling stainless steel bracelet
• Hit-or-miss after-sales service
• Hard-to-turn bezel

“]

Design – A Rolex-inspired dive watch with sparkling gold plating

To be honest, 90% of the Invicta 8928OB’s design is taken from the Rolex Submariner 116613. It’s no surprise to see a dive watch whose style is heavily inspired by Rolex, but in this case, Invicta has nearly copied all the details.

Fortunately, the 8928OB is not a “made in China” replica. Invicta is famous for their quality commitment despite the low price. The 8928OB is a respectful copy of the Rolex Submariner, not a cheaply made fake watch.

Despite being a dive watch, the Invicta 8928OB is sought after mainly for its dressy appearance. This glossy gold-plated piece is not appropriate for any kind of apparel like the black-tone 8926OB.

However, the watch’s vintage appearance would be more than eye-catching if you suit it with the right costume. Folks can spot the watch on your wrist from many feet away because it’s so shiny & noticeable.

The watch has a palatable size of 40mm. It’s not too big for modest men’s wrists, just enough to give you a solid feel when clinging on your wrist. The case is rather thick because it features an automatic movement inside, but it still fits nicely within shirt cuffs.

The watch only features one gold-plated screw-down crown at the 3 o’clock position. The two-level stem corresponds to the time as well as the date.

The exhibition case back is another attribute that adds to the value of this watch. It’s a joy to observe the automatic movement beating inside the watch at your leisure.

I only have one complaint about the case, it’s the Invicta signature engraved on the middle case. Why does this Swiss company have to show their name anywhere available on the watch? Are they afraid that people will confuse an Invicta with a Rolex?

The blue face slightly changes tone under direct light sources by radiating some appealing purplish tints. The royal blue background contrasts very well with the gold luminescent markers & hands, together they form a luxury-looking dial.

The same rule applies for the two-tone bezel. You will notice that the lumed pip doesn’t align with the 12 o’clock marker, but this imperfection is acceptable because this is just a budget watch.

The Cyclops at the date aperture is the one thing I wish to remove from the watch. It’s not only redundant, but also makes the crystal cleaning much more difficult.

Fortunately, it’s easy to be removed with a gas welder and a sharp blade. Be careful or you will crack the mineral glass by overheating it. The watch crystal has an anti-reflective coating underside to offer transparent display in outdoor use.

As against the solid case, the rattling bracelet is really a disappointment. It still looks okay on your wrist, and it’s durable, too, but the solidity is second to Japanese watches. Try an Orient Ray or a Seiko SKX007K2, you will feel the difference!

The band is sized at 20mm and tapers down to 18mm at the clasp. The gold plated center links are polished, in contrast to the brushed outer ones. This bracelet should be gingerly treated as its gold plating is vulnerable to minor scratches. How long it can hold up depends on your carefulness.

The double-locking fold-over clasp is quite stiff at first, but it will loosen up eventually. There is no diver’s extension, so you have to loosen the band a little bit before putting your wet suit on. Anyway, the 8928OB is just a budget dive watch, don’t expect too much from it!

The Seiko NH35A automatic movement – Invicta’s quality commitment

If not for the Seiko caliber inside, few people dare to trust the watch’s quality because as a mechanical timepiece, it’s too cheap. However, low-price but high-quality wristwatches are exactly what the budget Swiss brand aims to offer you. The Seiko movement inside the Invicta 8928OB is a clear demonstration of their quality commitment.

The Seiko NH35A is a 24-jewel caliber with the oscillation frequency of 21.600 beats per hour (6 beats per second), this is just a average beating rate in the realm of auto calibers, nothing impressive here. But when it comes to actual performance, the NH35A really exceeds users’ expectations. It just runs off about 10 to 15 seconds per day, more than acceptable for an entry-level auto movement.

As the watch’s power reserve is just around 40 hours after fully wound, you have to wear it at least every other day to keep it running. An auto-winder is too costly compared to the price of the Invicta 8928OB, so it is out of question!

The 660 feet water resistance rating is a myth

Don’t mistake me, the Invicta 8928OB is still a good waterproof watch, anyway, it’s called “pro diver”, right? To be honest, the watch could function well underwater. You can go swimming, diving with it, no problem! However, it’s not designed for a deep scuba dive, thus you should pay attention to your diving level, or else your Invicta watch would be damaged.

If you are in need of a true scuba diving watch, you had better opt for a Citizen Eco-Drive or a Seiko dive watch. These brands get the ISO6425 certification for their diving piece, which means their products are claimed to meet all the standards required for a “true” dive watches. The 200m water resistance rating that you see on the Invicta pro diver watches is questionable. Of course, they are good waterproof timepieces, but not good enough to be “pro” dive watches.

Acceptable lume

The lume is not Invicta watches’ strong point. The green glow is legible in the dark, but it’s not bright and cannot hold up for long hours of diving. Invicta’s lume is inferior to Seiko’s LumiBrite, both in terms of intensity and longevity. However, Seiko dive watches cost you more than 2 times the price of the Invicta 8928OB. Thus you shouldn’t expect the 8928OB to be on a par with those Japanese watches.

Verdict

Among the Invicta pro diver series, the 8928OB is most eye-catching and classy-looking. It is more of a dress watch than a diving piece. The real value lies within the watch’s striking design and reliable Seiko automatic movement. The rest of the watch is just acceptable, not excellent. However, in the price range of around $100, it’s hard to find another auto watch that can offer you so much value like the Invicta 8928OB (except for its cousins, of course).

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Related reviews:

• Invicta pro diver 8926OB
• Invicta pro diver 8932