Customer Reviews

Invicta Men's 8926 Pro Diver Collection Automatic Watch

5 star:		(320)
4 star:		(126)
3 star:		(40)
2 star:		(36)
1 star:		(74)

 

 

I am very impressed with Invicta style and quality. They offer well-made watches at a very competitive price. I own seven Invicta watches and love each of them. They have the look and feel of a much more expensive watch.

This particular model looks almost identical to a Rolex Submariner. It is an automatic watch (if you don't wear it for around 24 hours or move around enough, the time must be reset) with 21 jewel Japanese movement and has a see through back that lets you view the automatic movement. The watch has a large 43mm face and it has Mercedes style hands and Tritnite luminescence markings with a magnified date marker. It is water resistant to 200 meters (just in case any of you will go down that far).

The one pictured above has an oyster-like bezel (Omega style). The older (Series 1 or S1) model of the 8926 have a coin edge bezel like the Rolex Submariner. The bezel rotates. Invicta makes really attractive bands that have a nice weight. The stainless steel silver band and black face combination is very sharp and will never go out of style. I have an 8.5" wrist and the watch accommodates my wrist with room to spare. They come in the trademark yellow Invicta box with an Invicta pillow.

The 9937 is an upgraded model of this watch that offers 25 jewel Swiss movement instead of the Japanese 21 jewel movement, a sapphire crystal, an improved stainless steel band (even though the one on the 8926 is great), solid end pieces, a better magnifier over the date, a flip lock safety clasp and a large rosewood box instead of the yellow box that comes with this 8926.

Invicta's 8926 is the dive watch that started it all - the watch that kept Invicta from going out of business - like other Swiss watch making firms did as Oriental made quartz watches flooded the shelves of retailers worldwide in the 1980's! For an overall look rivaling the Rolex Submariner at 1/15 the cost, Invicta provides a $100 automatic diver with stainless steel bracelet unrivaled in quality and performance. Let's take a tour of this diving watch and note the value and style of the timepiece:

Movement

The Citizen Miyota 21 jewel movement rivals Swiss automatic movements for a fraction of the price. If it has any weakness - it is in the small power reserve - losing it's mainspring energy with less than one day off the wrist. IF not worn everyday- it should be put on a programmable watch winder or manually wound. The second hand will not "hack" with this movement. A date (complication) window shows at the 3 o'clock position. It must be manually adjusted every February and other 30 day months.

Case

The 43mm (with crown) 316L brushed stainless steel case wears comfortably on the wrist. The case lugs are modestly curved to accomodate wrists of all sizes. The new model (larger screw down crown)l ooks elegent as it gracefully projects from the case with a scuplted crown protector.

The black dive bezel - unidirectional 120 clicks around - is scalloped like the Omega Seamaster and is a departure from older model 8926's which flaunted a Rolex like "coin edge" bezel. Under pressure from Rolex it was changed by Invicta two years ago. The black enamel bezel is very scratch resistant - the numbers clear and bold.

The Mineral Glass crystal is scratch resistant - but not nearly as much as a more desirable sapphire watch face (imprinted only by diamond) which could triple the cost of the watch. Mineral glass is less prone to chipping or shattering than a sapphire crystal. The display watchback is also mineral glass - displaying the undecorated Miyota automatic movement. Mineral glass backs are less likely to cause skin irritation than a stainless steel backed case.

A date magnifier (Cyclops) at the 3 o'clock position carries on the Submariner theme. The watch hands contrast wonderfully with the Invicta black dial. The LUME off the watch hands and number positions is modest - both in brightness and longevity as compared to more expensive dive watches. A "winged" Invicta symbol decorates the counter - balanced side of the second hand. An elegent "INVICTA" product name is embossed on the left side of the case. The watch is rated as a Professional Diver 200M (660 feet) water resistant.

Bracelet

The comfortable stainess steel pinned link bracelet is worth the price of the watch. Solid end links, rounded flexible brushed steel wrist links set off the polished stainless steel center links - all made to look like the Rolex Oyster bracelet. The bracelet's center links are the only part of the watch prone to scratching. The foldover adjustable double safety clasp uses pins as well. There is no wetsuit deployment clasp as found in more expensive watches.

CONCLUSION

Rated 5 Stars because of value and features, the Invicta 89XX series of Professional Dive Watches has kept the company in the forefront of automatic movement watch manufacturers. No one can touch Invicta in the $100 area Pro-diver price range. Fit, finish, design, value and quality cannot be beat. This IS the leader in its class. Those desiring a Swiss made watch with Sapphire crystal and heftier bracelet should first look at the Invicta 9937 for about threetimes the price.
[...]

The Invicta 8926 is typically considered an entry level watch, or a "beater" alternative to other more expensive watches in your collection to be worn for everyday tasks. It typically ranks as one of the best selling watches, and provides a nice foray into automatic watches. [...]

First Impression:

When the box arrived from Amazon, I was pleasantly greeted by Invicta's signature cheese-yellow box. The watch was delicately wrapped, and packed well in the case. Invicta's instruction manual was thorough, and read like it was written by someone that speaks English as a first language. The included warranty card and polishing cloth were also nice touched. I have a small wrist, so when I first put it on, it hung very loose off of my arm. The weight was also unexpected for a watch at this price point. It felt very substantial. After a few minutes, I headed out to the local jeweler to have things sized for daily wear.

Cost:

Typically found below [...] is an excellent value. there are not many other watches that have an automatic movement and look like a watch that costs 10 times as much. Total shipped, sized, and on my wrist was just over $105. That's unreal! At that price point, if it takes a hit while washing the car or doing yard work, I won't shed any tears.

Case:

At 43mm, the 8926 is not a small watch. It's an excellent compromise between a HUGE diver, and a smaller dress quartz. I've worn it to the office, business meetings, and around town, and it's been comfortable in all situations. The size of the face in comparison to the bezel is pleasing, and of a fair proportion. One of my objections to the watch is the large engraved "Invicta" on the left side of the case. I'm proud to wear an Invicta, but the size and placement of the branding is a bit overwhelming, and breaks up the elegance of the case.

Bezel:

The unidirectional rotating bezel was quite a surprise. While not as smooth as the Seiko or other high end watches, for $100 the bezel gets the job done. The black silhouettes the face perfectly, and the white marks are easy to read. It turns well, and locks into every number well, while being aligned perfectly with 12 o'clock. I've found myself using the bezel to time everyday tasks, like waiting for food at a restaurant, and sitting on a conference call. Why not right?

Bracelet:

The standard Invicta bracelet is just amazing on this watch. The weight is so substantial, and it fits extremely well. The diver buckle is fairly easy to operate, though I imagine if you were actually diving with this watch, it may be a bit of a challenge. The inner link on the watch is highly polished, and immediately started to show sign of desk wear. I imagine that over the lifetime of the watch, the links would start to show some serious wear. The watch was also easy to re size. Due to my poor dexterity, I prefer to have a jeweler re size my watches. He had everything completed in less than 2 minutes, and also complimented the watch.

Movement:

Sporting the Miyota 21 jewel automatic workhorse, I've been impressed with the accuracy of the watch. I tested the power reserve at 36 hours, and it was still going strong. In terms of accuracy, it's tough to gage without "hacking" while setting the time. Over the last month, it's ran about a minute fast, which is not surprising given my daily wear, and my impatience in letting the movement settle. Only time will tell (mwahaha) if accuracy is a problem in the long run.

The trinite hands glow fairly well for about 2-3 hours, then become hard to read. I hit the face with my Maglite before going to sleep, and about 7 hours later, the glow was faint but adequately visible to read if necessary. It would most likely pass the theatre test, but it's a far cry from a high end watch. The hands are quite beautiful, and easy to read against the black face. the addition of the Mercedes style hand was also a nice touch. The cyclops is good, but not great, and is certainly not a Rolex. It's adequate to read the date, but nothing that will make people stop and say "WOW". Finally, the mineral crystal is also great for this pricepoint, but only adequate for the look and feel of this watch. Mine has yet to show any scratches, and I've been polishing ti regularly to try and reveal a hidden one. That being said, I plan on wearing this as my "beater" watch, so a scratch is not really a concern. In fact, the last sapphire crystal face I had cracked from a tough hit, so I'd rather have a few small scratches over a broken face.

Conclusion:

I would be shocked to find a better watch for under $100. Say what you will about Invicta, but for the money, the 8926 is one of the best values ever in terms of an automatic watch. I receive daily compliments on this piece, something I cannot say about my higher end pieces. To the untrained eye, most people thing you are wearing a $1,000 + watch. Despite the flaws with the 8926 (which are well documented), I'm still terrifically impressed with this watch. It's a great entry into a "real" automatic watch from a department store quartz, and is a good introduction into the beauty of a living timepiece.

The watch mechanism is great, but if you're looking for a watch that will last, including the watchband, then look elsewhere. My watchband (all stainless steel) broke at the end and a regular watch repair shop cannot fix it. It must be replaced, so I called/emailed Invicta and their response was that I can PAY for a replacement. The replacement fee was 20% of the MSRP of the watch, which is $255.00 on their website, not including shipping! The warranty that is supposed to be one-year only includes the interior mechanism of the watch. It doesn't include anything that is related to the exterior, including the watchband. I emailed several times to Invicta, and I never got an email reply back. I am extremely disappointed and I thought I was getting a great product that will last. Next time, maybe I should invest my money in something that has a REAL warranty with a real effective customer service department.

I Love this watch. I am a big bond fan and was in the market for an omega seamaster or rolex submariner. I went back and forth between the 2 and was ready to purchase a seamaster when I was in Grand cayman on business. I held off to continue research. I wanted to make sure I got the exact right watch for me. I wanted 4 basic things-Automatic movement, quality construction, water resistance to 200 feet, and timeless looks. Automatic watches are little technological marvels to me and I enjoy wearing them. This would be my main watch so I wanted something sturdy. I live at the beach and engage in many water activities and needed the watch to be water resistant to a decent level. I also hate certain watches that don't age well in reference to styling. Certain watches by Fossil and other brands look good for a couple of years and then become dated as time goes by.

I came across the invicta when someone listed it with the ROLEX on ebay. I did my research and decided that the invicta was my choice.

First and foremost, The watch is a clone of the Sub and from five feet away it is indistinguishable from the rolex. But don't mistake this watch for a chinatown rip-off. This watch backs up its good looks.

When it came time to buy, I thought about it in terms of cars. You can spend upwards of 300 grand on a Rolls Royce. You'll get a hand made car that has an amazing pedigree. You'll turn heads and be a member of an ultra exclusive club. You could spend 130 grand and get a mercedes S Class. You'll still turn some heads even though the car is not as rare as the Rolls. You could also spend about 60 grand for a Lexus. You'll get a great car, arguably as good as the Mercedes. I daresay if you removed the identifying markings and obvious styling giveaways from all 3, you'd be hard pressed to distinguish the more expensive car. I look at the Rolex as the Rolls in this comparison. I view the Omega as the Benz. And the invicta is the Lexus.

Now, I know it is going to be hard to try to tell someone who has his mind set on buying a 5000 dollar Rolex that he could be just as happy with an 85 dollar invicta. Just like certain people would never drive a lexus when they could have a Rolls. But thinking about it in these terms helped me make the right choice for me.

The watch is beautiful , is accurate to within 5 seconds a day, and is well-made. The movement is a tried -and true Japanese automatic that is used in some other very good watches.

I feel like I made the right decision. Try the invicta-you won't be dissapointed! Spend the extra 4000 on a vaction, or a used miata!

Update: Several years late on this, but as stated by someone else in their review, yes there IS a manual, it's just hiding in the top of the box. Still a great watch 5 years later!
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First of all, this is truly a great watch. It's stylish, attractive, and affordable. It comes in a sizable yellow "Invicta" box, with the watch inside wrapped around a small Invicta-branded pillow. Very cool in all - just search Google for "Invicta 8926" and you can read many rave reviews for the incredible value this watch is at ~$100 by people who know a lot more about watches than I do.

What I want to point out, however, is that the "List price" of $375 is misleading. This watch can easily be found online new at other merchants for $100-$150 (though the fact that Amazon also gives you free shipping cuts the price down $10-15). Furthermore, if you look at Invicta's own "Consumer Price Guide" (available on their website at [...]), you'll see the suggested retail is in fact only $225. So while you're getting what is debatably the best deal in the "classy watch" industry in buying this watch for only $100, you should be aware that this price range is not unusual for this particular watch.

Finally, you should be aware that, as this is an automatic (mechanical) watch, it won't keep time quite as well as a quartz watch. It isn't unusual to gain or lose a few minutes per month. However, it shouldn't be much worse than this, assuming you wear the watch daily (or wind it by hand occasionally). Also be aware that you have to wind it fully the first time you get it (either by swinging it back and forth for thirty seconds, or by winding it by hand using the crown).

My only complaint is that the packaging didn't seem to include a manual. The manual can be obtained online at Invicta's web site, so be sure that you do read it, since it does contain a few rather important tid-bits (like the fact that you need to unscrew the crown before you can pull it out, a fact I only learned after tugging at the darned thing for several minutes).

The invicta watch appeared to be a bargain when I purchased it, however after one day's wear the second hand came off and blocked the minute hand and so the watch stopped and I sent it back.

I didn't need this watch, but I'm glad I bought it.
The major limitation is that it ran fast, by about 25 seconds a day. I bought a case back opener and fixed that. I also bought a link remover, and edited the bracelet myself. The band pins came out easily; the spring pins were the biggest challenge.
I now have this watch running to within a second or two a day, though this accuracy is due largely to luck in resetting the regulator. Also, it runs faster if I set it down on the table horizontally. It runs at different rates at different angles; entirely normal for an unadjusted watch under $400. So don't expect miracles in the accuracy department. But you can use this knowledge to correct for minor deviations, leaving it overnight at a particular angle.
The watch is heavy, with the band more than half the weight. I was using it with a leather band, but the watch is so thick that the semi-finished sides between the lugs look awkward without the metal band.
On your older basic $100 Seiko or Citizen, the band has folded links, and the inner links are thin and hollow, and subject to bending. I took a closer look at the links after I shortened the band. Not only are the outer links solid, but so are the inner shiny links, which are actually a single piece with the outer link. So these links simply are not going to bend under anything short of industrial strenght forces; your arm will get ripped off first if the spring pins don't pop. However, solid links seem to be the standard these days.
It has much the same elegance of a Rolex, without the exhorbitant cost, or absurd repair costs. You could buy one of these a year for 30 years for the price of a Rolex. If it weren't for the tacky "Invicta" advertisement engraved on the left side, people might think this was a Rolex. However, most people assume a "Rolex" is either a fake or a lookalike these days, anyhow.
Frankly, I think it is a bit too flashy; I wear it for my own enjoyment, rather than showing off. But some people might like it for its power statement; it is rather like an oversized Hummer.
I'm glad I bought it because it is a good value for the money, given that it is so accurate once regulated, and because the case and band are finished so well. Most of all, I now have absolutely no hankering for a Rolex, or even a fake Rolex. A Rolex owner might be delighted to get this degree of accuracy.
I don't give it 5 stars because the so called guarantee is a bit of a joke, given that you have to pay them $15 for shipping it back and most of the watch isn't covered, and because it ran so fast. Also, this is the heaviest watch I have ever worn. (I thought my Lucien Piccard watch was heavy, but now I have to look at my wrist to remind myself that I have a watch on.)
The glass back is not only decorative, but reduces the issue of nickel allergy response to the back. I am suspicious the band may have nickel in it, based on the minor skin irritation. Some say it is 316L stainless steel, which is 10 percent nickel. But at least the band is strong scratch resistant steel.
The power reserve is as advertised, 30 hours or more, provided you fully wind it. If you put it on your wrist cold and aren't very active, it may not fully wind, and so if you take it off may stop in less time. It sounds like it is winding, but since the rotor only winds in one direction, it spins in the direction of least resistance most of the time. Solution: Give it 10 to 20 winds of the crown when you start it up. Then it will probably maintain the full mainspring tension. I say this based on observations of the watch speed: it is slower when the mainspring is loose.
If you are very active, the crown may irritate your outer wrist. During normal wear, it does not make much contact because the glass back is so thick that it raises the crown away from the skin. But during something like a long bicycle ride - several hours - the crown is going to hit against the skin repeatedly.
A sapphire crystal is just the thing for avoiding scratches, and the way to go with a dress watch. But I figure this is a watch that is supposed to look worn, much like jeans are supposed to be faded. Sapphire adds about $70 to the cost, and does not seem to be the best bet for actual scuba diving.
The scalloped bezel grows on you. It is stiff at first, but turns fairly easily with use. The coin edge is more traditional, but the scalloped seems to go well with the shiny inner links of the band in producing a dressier looking watch (scuba diving? who really dives with this watch?).
The Miyata 8215 automatic movement deserves much of the credit for the quality of this watch. It has been around since 1977 and is a proven design. It is available in other watches, including other Invicta sub and dress watch designs, which you may prefer. However, cheaper Chinese movements seem to be taking over, and I am not sure they are up to the quality, so you may eventually have trouble finding this Miyata is other brands. The Swiss ETA 25 jewel movement is pricier. But think this through: If you don't get your watch carefully regulated, what difference does it make? One will run 10 seconds fast a day +/- 2 seconds, and the other will run 10 seconds fast +/- 1 seconds. And the ETA beats faster, meaning that it will wear out faster, without a cleaning and lube job.
BTW: The list prices for their watches are posted on Invicta's website; this one is $225, with the company's expectation that they be marked down 40 to 50 percent. However, it is conceivable that in some hotel lobby in New York there is a price of $375 posted, but nobody buys watches in hotel lobbies.

I had this watch for over a year, and last 3 months it's collecting dust on a shelf. The auto-winding was not working when I bought it, so I had to send it to the repair facility ($15 s&h). After that it worked GREAT for about 7 months. Closer to the end of the warranty period it became not as accurate as it used to be, and precisely after 1 year it started dying at random moments. The cost of repair now is comparable with a cost of a new watch of the same kind, or even higher.

In other words guys, the looks are deceiving. Rolex it is NOT !

I bought this watch for my sons graduation gift. It looked great but after only a week the band broke right at the bezel and had to be repaired by a professional for half the cost of the watch itself.