Budget Divers: Which would you pick?
Alrighty folks, here's my big confession: I own neither a diver, nor an automatic. *GASP* Ok, so I don't spend a lot on watches right now, and have been eyeballin' both the Casio Duro (though I struggle to pick from the black, blue, and Pepsi options), and the Invicta 1953 Coke as they are well-loved budget options. I'd say I like both equally, although the size of the Invicta, and the fact that it's an automatic make it intriguing to me. That said, I don't have an automatic in part because I love the simplicity of quartz, so I don't hold that against the Duro at all.
What are your thoughts? Should I pick one of these, or is there something else out there in the budget realm (under $500) that I should save for instead?
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Owen
I’m a simple man. I like bourbon, 3-6-9 dials, and pretty, dark-haired women.
South Dakota
Member since
Last active: 5 hrs ago
7.25” / 18.42 cm
Either is fine as a diver, I predominately have autos but the Casio really punches above its weight for a quartz watch so much so …….. I now own two 👍🏻👌🏻
The casio is huge and quartz where the other is Seiko automatic. They look better without the Rolex Mercedes hand
The duro is a fine choice if you want a quartz. That's a big value. I bought an Invicta Pro-Diver with a Seiko NH35 in it for $53 on Amazon last year and like it fine. The 1953 is an attractive piece that I believe may have a better bezel.
If you want a great quality sub-$500 automatic diver that has many varieties based on the Submariner asthetic, thin and comfortable to wear, 200m of WR, Swiss movement & heritage, and looks great both as a dress diver and to do actual diving, look at the Glycine Combat Sub. Ashford.com has plenty that are between $300-$400 and you can save more if you hit them at the right time to get a lower price. I have two and love them. Take them to the beach or to the office in a suit.
I bought the casio Duro as a gift for my brother inlaw. He loved it, he tends to like invictas and has the thick arms and shoulders to pull them off.
Either is fine as a diver, I predominately have autos but the Casio really punches above its weight for a quartz watch so much so …….. I now own two 👍🏻👌🏻
Yeah I probably would have bought it a long time ago if I could just decide on which color, lol
The casio is huge and quartz where the other is Seiko automatic. They look better without the Rolex Mercedes hand
It is pretty big, but I've tried it on in the past and it wears well.
If you want a great quality sub-$500 automatic diver that has many varieties based on the Submariner asthetic, thin and comfortable to wear, 200m of WR, Swiss movement & heritage, and looks great both as a dress diver and to do actual diving, look at the Glycine Combat Sub. Ashford.com has plenty that are between $300-$400 and you can save more if you hit them at the right time to get a lower price. I have two and love them. Take them to the beach or to the office in a suit.
What are you doing, creeping my browser history? I've spent a lot of time looking at Glycines on Ashford. I need to face the truth: I'm never going to purchase any of these cuz there are simply too many good options.
Oh thanks, I forgot about the Kamasu. How's a person ever supposed to make a decision around here?
The duro is a fine choice if you want a quartz. That's a big value. I bought an Invicta Pro-Diver with a Seiko NH35 in it for $53 on Amazon last year and like it fine. The 1953 is an attractive piece that I believe may have a better bezel.
I may wait till Black Friday to see what all goes on sale. That's a killer price for an automatic.
What are you doing, creeping my browser history? I've spent a lot of time looking at Glycines on Ashford. I need to face the truth: I'm never going to purchase any of these cuz there are simply too many good options.
There are so many it is a bit overwhelming. That's why I ended up with 2 of them. Had to remove the bookmark on my browser or I'd end up with a 3rd one that was only different in its color scheme. But you can't fault them for giving you choices.
Save just a little more and get a real diver.
Save just a little more and get a real diver.
I've looked at those in the past, aren't they regularly sold out? Every time I've been on the site, they have been anyway.
I've looked at those in the past, aren't they regularly sold out? Every time I've been on the site, they have been anyway.
Sign up for the mailing list and they'll give a few weeks notice when new ones will be available. Awesome tool watch. Very good price. I also have a 1953 Invicta. It's nice, no complaints for the price. Best of luck in your search.
I have an Invicta, and its fine, but I’d go another direction for a first diver. My brother has an Orient and its very nice. I’d suggest looking at Orient and seeing if you get a good feel for one of those before going either Invicta or the Duro.
Dude, that’s not a passel. That’s a metric s**t-tonne of Aragons! It’s a great collection!
Thanks man! Lots of goodness for a very reasonable amount of dosh.
Yes - love those Aragons. My brother-in-law is the one who turned me on to them. Now I have a whole passel of them 😀
Thanks so much for showing your Aragons. They really are unique aren't they? They are the only watch brand I can think of that has dozens and dozens of models, and not a single one has any subtlety about it. Everything is big and bold. As a guy who really likes thin minimalist dress watches, Aragons shouldn't appeal to me, but their designer Wing Liang manages to pull it off. If all big and thick watches looked like this, I'd start liking them too.
And the prices! How do they make a profit? All I can guess is that Aragon management is basically a one-man show, Liang himself, who designs what he wants and is not subject to anyone else. He wants to make money, but is more driven by real passion to create 'his' watches. Aragon has been in business for awhile, long enough for Wing to have an excellent relationship with his builders and suppliers. Aragon watches cost the same or less than AliExpress knockoffs, but Aragons are totally original designs and are not copies of anything.
I enjoyed all of your photos, but the one I liked the best was No. 3 from the top, the watch with the black? dark? dial and the stainless steel bezel and the tiny round date window. But this is the most unAragon-like one of the bunch. Oh well. Again, thanks.
Thanks so much for showing your Aragons. They really are unique aren't they? They are the only watch brand I can think of that has dozens and dozens of models, and not a single one has any subtlety about it. Everything is big and bold. As a guy who really likes thin minimalist dress watches, Aragons shouldn't appeal to me, but their designer Wing Liang manages to pull it off. If all big and thick watches looked like this, I'd start liking them too.
And the prices! How do they make a profit? All I can guess is that Aragon management is basically a one-man show, Liang himself, who designs what he wants and is not subject to anyone else. He wants to make money, but is more driven by real passion to create 'his' watches. Aragon has been in business for awhile, long enough for Wing to have an excellent relationship with his builders and suppliers. Aragon watches cost the same or less than AliExpress knockoffs, but Aragons are totally original designs and are not copies of anything.
I enjoyed all of your photos, but the one I liked the best was No. 3 from the top, the watch with the black? dark? dial and the stainless steel bezel and the tiny round date window. But this is the most unAragon-like one of the bunch. Oh well. Again, thanks.
Thanks for the kind words.
Totally makes sense that would be the one you called out...my wrist shot photo doesn't do it justice...it is an Aventurine dial...
Here is the studio shot...
I would recommend looking at Steel Dive. Really great watches at an affordable price. Good build quality and great lume.
Oh, well to each his own! And nope, no mechanical watch of any kind. Save one knock-off Breitling I bought in the markets in Afghanistan, lol. And that thing busted a while ago. Still have it though. It’s a bit sentimental.
Imo definitely go for the invicta for something a bit different. I always recommend having variance not just in style and size, but in movement as well
Imo definitely go for the invicta for something a bit different. I always recommend having variance not just in style and size, but in movement as well
I would definitely say I’ve started to think that way too. Which is why I’m looking into automatics. Thanks!
That casio is big but the lug to lug is reasonable and the lugs angle down quite dramatically so it wears smaller than you might think.
Instead of the Invicta I would go for a Glycine Combat Sub. They're amazing value for money.
That casio is big but the lug to lug is reasonable and the lugs angle down quite dramatically so it wears smaller than you might think.
Instead of the Invicta I would go for a Glycine Combat Sub. They're amazing value for money.
Yeah I’ve tried the Duro on in the past, and the size definitely doesn’t bother me. It just works. Also, Glycine is up there for me too! That said, there have been plenty on this thread who have talked about Orient. Honestly I may just save a little bit and go with a Kamasu or the Mako 40. Their design language is probably my favorite in that price point.
Yeah I’ve tried the Duro on in the past, and the size definitely doesn’t bother me. It just works. Also, Glycine is up there for me too! That said, there have been plenty on this thread who have talked about Orient. Honestly I may just save a little bit and go with a Kamasu or the Mako 40. Their design language is probably my favorite in that price point.
Didn't notice your handle at first. Whisky and watches... Great combo! 👍
Didn't notice your handle at first. Whisky and watches... Great combo! 👍
Haha, either that or a terrible combo. One thing it isn’t is a cheap combo. I’ve actually back off the whiskey since getting into watches, which is probably good for multiple reasons, lol.
Save even more and go for the Pro Diver.
Love that watch.
Enjoy that bad boy!
Cheers!
Both nice #invicta and #casio
Haha, either that or a terrible combo. One thing it isn’t is a cheap combo. I’ve actually back off the whiskey since getting into watches, which is probably good for multiple reasons, lol.
Fortunately I’ve found some inexpensive Bourbons that I like as well as some inexpensive watches that I like, so I've been fine (so far).
In my honest opinion, the Casio Duro has very very high value for a 50 dollar price tag. The pepsi one I got looks and feels very nice in person. Not mention that it's alot more original than a Sub homage. The only thing bad about the Duro is it has bad lume. With that being said, if you decided you wanted an auto instead of quartz, if you drop 160 you can pick up an Orient Ray 2 and while I am bias, I believe I can objectively say that that is a much better automatic diver than the Invicta. But yeah if 160 is to much, Duro!