I Fixed A Broken Beater! 💪🤓🤌(Invicta Pro Diver)
I did it. I bought an Invicta. For the longest time I put Invicta in the category of "not really my bag". Kinda like the Sketchers of the watch world. No offense. 99.9% of their models will never touch my wrist, but... here we are. The Invicta Pro Diver.
I was looking for an automatic beater watch that can take a licking and keep on ticking. I've seen many enthusiasts give it the title of "Best Automatic Dive Watch Under $100", so I figured I'd take a shot. So I did.
I received it today and I immediately tried to wind the crown. Nothing. I gave it the ol' 4R36 shake and I got it moving. About a minute later it stopped again. I was getting ready to set-up the return when I looked at the seconds hand. I looked at the dial at an angle and noticed the counterbalance was bent and not allowing it to pass over the hour hand.
Fortunately for me, I have the tools and the knowhow to fix this problem. I was already planning on swapping the dial with this used San Martin one so wasn't crying about having to do some work.
I also swapped the hands with the ones that came on the same San Martin, and the lume is absolutely an upgrade to the Invicta lume.
After installing the dial I feel extremely satisfied with the result. The bigger indices, brighter lume and enamel dial really elevates this watch. Ultimately, this watch is going to do exactly what It's supposed to do; take a licking and keep on ticking. It is a beautiful feeling to run into a problem like this and be able to fix it yourself. I bought a "broken" watch, and now I have a watch that is better than the one I received. 👌
What are your thoughts on the Invicta Pro Diver?
What watch would you recommend as an automatic beater watch?
Time to beat this thing up!!
Newbie on a mission to get all I can out of this beautiful watch journey. My philosophy is that life is too short to not pay attention to the passing of time.
Steeldive Tuna
Pretty much any established AliExpress brand (AddiesDive, Tandorio, Seester, etc.) should be a better value by now.
My ProDiver is now about 2 years old, but there were some obvious shortcuts to get to that price.
Pro Diver
Pros: automatic watch on the style of a five digit Submariner.
Seiko NH35 movement.
Goes with anything.
NOT an Ali Express watch, technically an American company, so not giving money directly to a Chinese sweat shop. I know, somewhere in there one really is, but it's not right off the top, like with Pagani, San Martin, etc.
Cons: bracelet isn't great. But the five digit Submariner design is pretty strap monster-y.
Lume sucks rocks; I have a Pagani Design Speedmaster homage that has better lume, not Seiko or Rolex like, but still way better than the ol' 8926.
I know people don't like the big INVICTA on the side, and it is....meh. And I am not the biggest fan of it either, but I'm not taking it to my dad's bench grinder to remove it, either. That being said, you don't see it when you're wearing it.
So I have no problem with it. But if you want an Invicta Pro Diver, and in all honesty it's the closest looking watch most of us will get to a Rolex Submariner so why not, do yourself a favor and look at the 32099 from Invicta. Even snobs like that one.
I got one two years ago,to be honest it’s not even that bad.
In some cases it’s more accurate then some $350+ Seiko’s.
Got one and no, I can not recomend it. Invicta is good only as a novelty brand and yes, I have several that meet that description.
Well done on fixing it 👍🏻👌🏻
San Victa looks great! Nice job!
I had a pro diver and had no issues. I didn't like the lume or the giant logo on the case. That watch has moved on to my son. I prefer the master of the sea because there is no logo on the case, lume is still trash though. Overall they are tough little watches that can take a beating.
Pro Diver
Pros: automatic watch on the style of a five digit Submariner.
Seiko NH35 movement.
Goes with anything.
NOT an Ali Express watch, technically an American company, so not giving money directly to a Chinese sweat shop. I know, somewhere in there one really is, but it's not right off the top, like with Pagani, San Martin, etc.
Cons: bracelet isn't great. But the five digit Submariner design is pretty strap monster-y.
Lume sucks rocks; I have a Pagani Design Speedmaster homage that has better lume, not Seiko or Rolex like, but still way better than the ol' 8926.
I know people don't like the big INVICTA on the side, and it is....meh. And I am not the biggest fan of it either, but I'm not taking it to my dad's bench grinder to remove it, either. That being said, you don't see it when you're wearing it.
So I have no problem with it. But if you want an Invicta Pro Diver, and in all honesty it's the closest looking watch most of us will get to a Rolex Submariner so why not, do yourself a favor and look at the 32099 from Invicta. Even snobs like that one.
I got it to knock around so... not too worried about it. I swapped it to this San Martin bracelet and it works. I think this Frankenbeater is complete lol.
I had a pro diver and had no issues. I didn't like the lume or the giant logo on the case. That watch has moved on to my son. I prefer the master of the sea because there is no logo on the case, lume is still trash though. Overall they are tough little watches that can take a beating.
I actually like that one! 👍
This is mine. I love it as a good looking beater 👍🏻
I love my Skechers!
I have a running joke with my gf how I will never wear a pair of Sketchers. Now I can't buy them even if I wanted to, lol.
Pro Divers / Grand Divers are great watches. I have the Grand Diver Model 3044 with the NH35A in it. It runs great / keeps accurate time / hasn't ever given me any problems. No complaints here.