While the clasp is stamped and the bracelet endlinks are hollow, the bracelet is not terribly rattly and feels comfortable on the wrist. For the low price tag, it’s a solid watch, hence its inclusion on my recent dive watch roundup post. However, from reading and watching lots of content about it, I had myself hyped up thinking this could be the best Invicta ever. Having spent more time with it, I’m not sure it is. As a standalone watch in no context, it’s fine, but it doesn’t quite work as a vintage-looking homage to that iconic Submariner. Corners must be cut at this price point, but it’s no stretch to presume folks would pay a little more for upgraded specs. At the very least, a sapphire crystal upgrade would have been nice. Given that it’s essentially got the same look as the Submariner, the 1953 is a fantastically versatile watch, debatably more so than the 8926OB. It’s got enough water resistance and a tough enough movement to be worn for years to come, yet is dressy enough for less casual events. Its standard lug widths also allow you to dress the 1953 up and down with NATO, rubber, and leather straps.

It must be thanks to one of these features: 18 karats rose gold ion plating on the pushers, crown, and bezel, 100m water resistance, deep blue dial, and four subdials, all powered by a Japanese quartz movement. Invicta Specialty Men 14330 One thing to appreciate about Invicta is their addition of a customized rotor. In their signature yellow, the rotor adds a degree of decoration to an otherwise plain movement. Admittedly, it’s a bit nicer than the bare steel rotors on some of Seiko’s own watches. The lugs are brushed diagonally, while the sides of the case are brushed horizontally across. Like many others, I was relieved to see no “INVICTA” script engraved into the side of the case, which was the most common grievance with previous Pro Diver references. Position 2 is referred to as a “ghost date” position and serves no purpose. Usually a cost-cutting measure, it is the result of using a date complication movement on a watch with no date window. There’s no getting around it, Invicta gets a lot of flak on the internet. It’s the one brand everyone loves to hate. While there are several reasons behind this, most of them are subjective and strongly opinionated (I’ll spare you a lengthy discussion of aesthetics).Invicta engineers and designers have left their mark during the entire almost two-centuries-old history of the company, producing many memorable collections. The most notable ones are: In the hands, it feels decent for the money, which puts me in a rather strange predicament. This 1953 is a good quality watch that’s also well-priced when available at retail cost.

I personally like the look of a coyote brown NATO, as the color is spot on with the gilt accents. Lume With a gentle 32.5mm in diameter, Lady 14842 is bound to fit on even the most fragile wrists comfortably. Elegant gold-colored stainless steel case, enhanced with six white crystals, powered by Swiss quartz movement shielded by a flame fusion crystal glass stain, and paired with a soft leather brown strap, make this stunning watch one of the most popular Angel models. Invicta is also recognizable for a number of successful cooperations with other popular franchises and individuals, such as Star Wars, Marvel, S. Coifman, and Jason Taylor. There’ll be an opportunity to talk about them soon. This is also a great choice if you’re just getting into watches. Borrowing its aesthetics from one of the most iconic and timeless designs in watch history, it’s a capable 200m diver.We’re treated to a signed crown on this one. The crown takes on a matte, seemingly bead-blasted finish with radial brushing around the Swiss cross symbol. Invicta dedicates special attention to their female fans, as well. A vast Angel collection contains many attractive watches in styles and dimensions suitable to sophisticated ladies’ tastes and wrists. Though, if you can look past the connotation Invicta carries, some of their watches are solid value propositions. I’m honestly a little puzzled about the intended target audience of this watch. The 1953 Submariner is a peculiar choice for an affordable homage watch at this price point. While this may be deceptive, the ridiculous markup prices are easy to see though. Any sensible shopper can determine the true value of an item by comparing prices online.

Though, this is a concern specifically if you wear the watch on the bracelet. If you decide to swap it out for a NATO or other type of strap there’s ample space between the lugs for your fingers to grip. In traditional Submariner fashion, the stainless steel case takes on an exclusively brushed finish, except for the polished chamfered edges running the length of the lugs. At “only” 48mm of case diameter, while being a part of the formidable collection where most watches measure 50 plus, it’s a difficult task to stand out. However, 17203 Aviator manages to do so with flying colors. In 1991, the company was revived under American ownership and has been producing watches since. They’re not shy about flaunting their Swiss heritage, even incorporating the Swiss cross into their logo. Though they do produce watches in Switzerland, many of their watches are also produced in Asia.Lume has been applied to the indices, bezel pip, and hour and minute hands. Alas, there’s none on the second hand lollipop. The application is even, though it’s not particularly bright or long lasting.

The hands are perhaps the most attractive part of the dial. It’s always fun to see them glisten as you turn the watch in the light. The second hand is also quite unique to the 1953, as it features a lollipop that extends out to the edge of the dial. Invicta Pro Diver Pepsi Bezel 34334 modern elegance with a MiLTAT leather watch strap with navy hand stitches A brief overview of the history of Invicta The idea behind their decision to venture into the watchmaking business was the production of high-quality watches bearing a trusty Swiss-made mark, all at an affordable price. In addition, the goal was to make their watches accessible to the broadest possible customer group. It’s a watch that shows Invicta is capable of pulling off restrained designs, and I hope to see more like it in the future.Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite so impressed by the watch itself. In fact, I think it’s a bit overhyped. Here’s why. Unfortunately, the finishing of the case leaves something to be desired. While the chamfered edges are a nice touch, the brushed grain is quite large and looks unrefined. This is accentuated in photos, but it’s definitely noticeable with the naked eye. The original Invicta pro diver 1953 appeared out of the blue in 2020 and took the Invicta fans by surprise. The Pepsi Bezel version portrayed here today continues on a similar path. The spacing of the markers is off, meaning that while the 0 position is properly aligned, some of the other markers are off. This is most apparent when looking at the 15 and 45 minute markers. With the bezel in its default position, they’re a little off kilter. Dial Invicta Pro Diver Pepsi Bezel with a complementary MiLTAT Zulu red & grey ballistic nylon Notable Invicta collections and watches