I got the Pro Diver while at university before I really knew much about watches. I just wanted something nice looking to wear as I began my internship and as an engineer I wanted something mechanical. It was my gateway watch. Years later l learned much more and added much nicer watches to my collection, but to this day I still rock my Pro Diver weekly.
Same here, I still have my pro diver. Since then I also added a Rolex sub, Omega Seamaster pro, Speedmaster pro, Tudor Pelagos 39, Grand Seiko, and more. But I still have the pro diver on my work table every day.
I have my Pro Diver now for nearly 10 years. Has always been very comfortable to wear. Keeps very good time. Have worn it for swimming a lot over this time with absolutely no issues. No yellow bezels back then. Only change from new was the bracelet which I swapped out this year with a heavier better quality one!
I put off the purchase for awhile, but got mine from Amazon as an opened box for 50. I have been impressed, bezel action just like the Urban Gentry review no bezel problems. Mine also came with that classic yellow rotor. It stinks you were robbed of the experience
Binner the homage world now belongs to Steeldive, St Martin, Sugess making better spec watches at a slightly higher price ,but much better finishing and ceramic bezel that works plus sapphire crystal ,but you already know that Russel
Try the Grand Diver. It's a different design, but in many aspects it feels like an upgraded version of the regular Pro Diver: same caliber inside, but better bracelet, more legible hands and indices, more solid overall. Has a 47mm case, however, but with a lug width of 22mm it's suprisingly comfortable to wear
Great video MWC, thank you kindly! For a person going the "clomage" route - if they must - there are metric ton of better examples you can order direct from China. I personally try and steer people to other divers that have elements of the Sub in them, and let's be honest, that's most divers on the market. The Orient Ray II is a great example. Orient is fantastic all the way around. I have a Kamasu (gen 1 "big triangle" dial). It's amazing. Slightly upmarket from the Ray but worth it, and mine runs at +4.5 sec/day! They're where I send anyone just getting interested in mechanical watches.
I bought one three years ago. It has a yellow rotor. The bezel rotates. It looks cheap, like a submariner does (okay a bit cheaper). The lume is totally shite. And I never wear it. But. . . It’s not a bad watch. If you want a priceworthy all day watch that is waterproof. . . Why the heck not? 🕐⚙️🍸
I'll never understand why Invicta decided to destroy their brand like they did. They were going places back in the early 2000s.. I bought countless 40mm pro divers, some with swiss eta movements, solid end links, mop dials.. just gorgeous! I had two, I still have one! Dozens of the myota versions, and later the Seiko movements.. I still own and use 7 of the old divers! They still run and keep accurate time! They were a great watch. I had a few Lupahs, awesome watches for the time.. They should have stopped then! Instead they went on to become a joke.. almost on purpose!! Just a shame!
I have a number of Invicta pieces with the Pro Diver being my favorite design. However, seeing the slight changes in quality over the years have become aggravating. Even with members of the Invicta team seeing this great review, I seriously doubt that they will change it for the better!
Appreciate you watching the show my friend! I’ve also noticed the length of the bracelet you initially get is significantly smaller than what was sold in the past just by seeing 3/4 year old unboxings . I honestly think the company need to strip to 25/50 designs instead of the 4500 a year they boast. Rolex are a perfect example of less is more. The more the references you make, the muddier the brand gets
As a collector of Invicta, I fell in love with all of the designs they offered. However, as my knowledge of watches increased and my desires changed, I became vocal with the company through social media and emails about scaling back on the number of watches created and focus on the quality. Facebook is loaded with complaints about broken and unfinished pieces upon arrival.
I absolutely love mine. It was my first automatic watch and it really sent me down the rabbit hole of watch collecting. I was also very lucky with mine, the overall build quality of is fantastic! The watch always runs within 3-5 seconds per day, the bezel is fantastic, there are none of the mentioned flaws with lume colour matching, the screw-down crown threads are an absolute dream and the display back is great. At the £55 I once paid for it I really can't complain about anything, other than the originality 😅 I can't and won't be buying a submariner any time soon! And the Invicta makes me smile in the meantime. Great video as always btw 👍👍😊
The pro diver was also my first automatic watch, but I wasn't as lucky as you unfortunately. The bezel on mine is GENUINLY unusable, don't know how accurately it runs because I never checked, but the lume is by far the worst of any of the watches that I own. One thing I will say though is that the threads on the crown are very nice, haven't had a watch yet that has replicated it that way. One thing I'm also finding out is that I definitely paid too much for it, I bought it from the Invicta website and I thought I was getting a good deal at the time, since I didn't really know watches that well yet. I don't wear it much anymore, but that's mainly because the color of it isn't very "daily wear" appropriate, just doesn't really appeal to me as much anymore now that I have better options when it comes to my collection.
You took the words out of my mouth. I love my ProDiver. It was my first automatic. I now have some “higher end” automatics including Oris, Hamilton, Seiko5, Steinhart and Tag but my Invicta makes me feel good and seems to be my go-to. I can’t imagine paying $10k+ for a Sub but to each his own. Love my Pro-Diver. Great review.
So mineral crystal is only just acceptable on a £50 watch but perfectly acceptable on a £500 seiko? (yes, hardlex is just a slightly tougher mineral that still scratches very easily)
11:19 - - I've owned probably 25+ Pro Driver's (40mm) over the years; all with different dial colors, varying bracelet & case tones. I never had issues with any of them.
If I'm going with an Invicta (which I am curious about but don't own one yet) ... I would go with one of their stereotypical models big bulky blingy ... the 70mm SeaHunter in gold?
With my invicta I had the same experience with the bezel, (thankfully mine has the yellow rotor) my technique is to use my thumb and the length of my index to turn the bezel As for the counter balance, of course its down to personal preference but I really like it Maybe it's not the best value anymore, but for an automatic diver for the price I've always been charmed by it
I am the owner of a Pro diver and I have a yellow balance but I have a grey box instead 😂, mine have very nice and easy click on bezel movement. In my opinion your problems explain the price you pay I believe better offer worse quality. One of the most impressive thinks none of you guys mention when talking about this watch is that you can made adjustments and have a time keeping compare to top brands mine actually have about one second Los in 24 hours some days is one other wise and it stay like that from more than three months so quite impressive. I want to ask where you can buy orient ray 2 for less than a hundred pounds.
I bought two Pro DIVERS in the same sale...both had yellow rotors and the bezels work perfectly...it brings a tear to my eye thinking my brothers across the pond were hustled...so very sad...😢😢😢
We can laugh about it .. even make fun of it .. me not I've had this Invicta Pro Diver for over a year and it's perfect especially because of the use of the very good Seiko NH35 movement which is quite easy to regulate And so after a week of effort (I regulate without a device and watch still worn) I arrived at the result of + 0.5 sec / day .. which means that this watch is now COSC certified 😀😀 and it maintains this performance over time Bezel perfect and yellow rotor 😀
I do appreciate the diversity in price ranges of the watches being reviewed on the channel! I have the 37 ish mm quartz version, it was an amazon prime day deal snatch for less than £30. It was used purely as work watch in my barman days. It held up pretty well. Even the bezel turns okay.
I have the very same watch and it's spot on for me, wears well on wrist and can do anything with it. I've been swimming with it, wore it for a formal dinner and even been trampolining with it today! The bezel on mine moves absolutely fine as well so no complaints from me.
The Prodiver in blue with gold accents was my first automatic around 8 years ago. It got me into watches and I wore it everyday for several years without any issues except for the polished gold centre links wore thin. I have over 30 watches now and it still gets wrist time, on a leather strap now though.
Can't quite bring myself to *hate* Invicta (Hublot is easier, and I don't totally hate them, either), but even at that bargain-basement price, something like a non-functional rotating bezel is a non-starter...hell, a Casio Duro can be had for roughly the same cash, and you *know* that thing will work properly. ('Course, if you know where to look, you can have, say, a Glycine Combat Sub for well under US$300, and get all the dive-watch goodness that's possible to get...and, yeah, we have Invicta to thank for that, too. See why I can't fully hate 'em?)
The thickness is due to the NH movement. The Pro Diver I have is about 14 years old. It has the Miyota movement and is at least 2mm thinner. Also, the bracelet has split pins not pin and collar as stated in this video.
@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR I've made an 11.5mm NH34 GMT watch in the Explorer II style and an NH35 sub style with an exhibition back at 12.5mm so it's definitively possible.
I recall suggesting a pro diver to a mate of mine a few years ago. He was a student at the time and was on a very tight budget. He had narrowed his choice down to the Duro or Pro Diver and eventually settled on the Invicta preferring an automatic. When I got a look at the watch, it was fairly decent for the price. It was fifty pound at that time. The bezel action was definitely acceptable. A bit of back play but not too bad. It also had the signature yellow rotor. I revisited Jody's review from around the same time and it was pretty accurate. I'm almost wondering if Amazon received some factory defect models to sell off on Prime day or has Invicta really gone down hill.
Cheers Andrew. I think the company seems potentially in trouble from the bankruptcy in the brick and motor shops. They have definitely thinned the value out of these watches recently for sure!
@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR Great video, first time watching and it had me hitting subscribe. I bought my Pro Diver off amazon just a little over a year ago, and it has the yellow rotor so their troubles must be really recent.
I bought the Pro Diver 10 days ago in amazon for 74 euros and, TBH, after watching lots of videos about watches I just thought: "Well, automatic for 74 euros? How bad would it be?" And I am please with it. It is more of a watch than anything I have and it will probably catch an eye, nobody that I know will probably even recognize a Rolex Submariner anyway, so the copy effect is not a problem. I am getting used to see my wrist with a watch that looks somewhat nice and probably will be the first of a collection in the future. Also, I bought it all gold with the black bezel and dial, because if I'm buying a homage disliked by collectors I may as well be tacky with it!
I respect Invicta. They are all over the watchscape. I own, among others, an Invicta Hulk and a Batman both with Sellita SW500 chronograph movements with. Display casebacks! Lume is 80% amazing! The dials are right up there with the AP Black Panther.
Isn't the Pro-diver an homage to the subby? If so does it have more cache or deserve more respect than other homages (especially those spec for value chinese watches)?
It’s more a copy than a homage! Pretty sure the ‘Invicta’ on the side of the case was to pro text themselves in the late 90’s from lawsuits! Seems as though you can get away with anything these days!
Looks like a good watch at first glance, then sadly goes down hill fast, I can forgive the lume and crappy bracelet, but the bezel is a joke.. and also the caseback should be showing us the blingy yellow.. so close but so far away on this one! They almost had my £50 lol
I just got my Pro diver 9110 but they didn't take off the 35% I asked them to adjust the invoice but they sent me a credit instead but it was for double so I bought another model 5053 and with the added 35% to the credit it only cost me like 32 dollars including the shipping. I'm a happy camper.
Great value for money watch. I have grand diver model in blue colour. Great watch, + 4 seconds per day, more accurat then many expensive swiss watches. It's a Seiko "working horse" caliber NH35A assembled in Malasya. And if the watch was assembled in China, who cares. IPhone is also assembled in China. Little bit havy, but you get used to it.
Had one lasted ten years plus. No yellow rotor though. It was great, not too thick and didn't wear out. Only issue was I myself broke it by smashing the crystal by dropping it in a sink. Oddly in real use the lume was also ok. Not defending Invicta as most models are horror shows but the pro divers are nice looking durable and reliable. My crash damaged one was entirely my fault. Not the watch at all and thank god I didn't have the same accident with a Rolex!
I have three of them. 2 automatics and 1 quartz. All excellent. PS: I took my Hulk pill and while green in the face twisted the stiffy bezels on all 3 of my Divers til I turned blue to match the blue on the model 8928 and 9204 dials, sort of ... anywho, the bezels are no longer stiffies, but softies ... never mind ...
if i may offer my aesthetics 2 cents: Agree with the too many text Disagree with the counterbalance, i think it is cool, BUT having it be a logo, also have the watch sports the logo, and the word, and the engraving on case is too much engraving on case really really gotta go Display caseback is useless in this, it should go. It will have less thickness, also open up avenue for cool engraving. Disagree with the date, i need it. but i personally prefer it without cyclops. Agree with the lume but i like the silver outline
Invicta certainly has a wide range of watches. I’ve owned several and I’ve given a lot of way as gifts I think they are an excellent watch NH 35 screw down crown. The ones I own in the ones that I’ve given away I think a good value for money. Plus if you keep your eye open you can usually find a sale.
I bought an Invicta Pro Diver three years ago. Very reliable, great timekeeper (less than +5 seconds per day) and keeps going for 48h+ off wrist. My only regret is having opted for the gold-coloured model (a bit too flashy) and not the plain steel watch.
I have one and like it! It does what it was designed to do and is a good looking watch. From my research people have worn them for years and they hold up well. There are many watch makers who have similar aspects of the Rolex and many don't have an issue with them but with the Invicta?
I own 3 Invictas-A pro diver, a 1953, and in a moment of insanity, I even bought a Grand Diver (maybe the heaviest watch in the world!!) and I like ‘em all!! They all have the Invicta yellow rotor, but I bought them in 2020, before Invicta “cheaped out” using the plain rotors. I agree-not getting a yellow rotor is a bit of a ripoff!! Anyway, I like the understated Invicta dive watches, but I DON’T like a lot of their other designs-you know, the ones that look like they should be (and probably are) worn by low-level drug dealers!!😂😂
I have several Invicta Pro Divers that I purchased as I got into watch collecting. My favorite is the one with a carbon fiber dial. I don’t have any problems with the bezels. Although I don’t own one, I hear the 1953 model is their best homage to Rolex. Great video! Have a great day!
@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR I'll send you my 1953's one of which is brand new if you'd like to review them. O and if you want to sell this invicta I'd love to buy it from you just to be able to say I have a watch once owned by my favorite youtuber/watch expert!
I got mine 18 years ago, it's been through scuba diving, rough sea sailing, serious motorbike accident, it refuses to die, I v grown to love it very much, the best 100 euros I have ever spent
I can’t find the video right now, but Richard Perrett the UK watchmaker once blew that caseback right off the watch doing a 60 m pressure test. For similar money, you can get a Steeldive Sub homage with better lume and equally unreliable QC.
An Invicta Diver was my gateway watch into this hobby way back in 2001. In those days the Invicta Diver contained a Miyota non-hacking movement and the case didn't have any letters etched on the side. Otherwise it was very much the same. I wore that watch daily for 4 years and beat it up very hard doing field service work on industrial equipment. I sold the watch for nearly what is paid and moved on to Seikos, Orients, Citizens and Casios. I've never owned another Invicta, but can't really think of a negative thing to say about my Invicta experience.
That has to be a defective bezel. My Invicta bezel is very smooth. But I did get it 2 years ago and have the yellow rotor. Perhaps quality control has lessened. Always a great quality video though. 👍🏽😁
The Pro Diver is a bargain, and as a daily watch a pretty decent choice. I got mine nearly ten years ago, to see if was what it was hyped up to be. Now mine is a lender for those who wonder about a mechanical watch, or a diver, or if they should buy any watch. Some lands on a quartz, some on "something thinner", some quite like the size, some defenitely wants better lume, etc. For what it is, it's an ok watch, and clearly worth more than 48 pounds. I paid close to 100 dollars for mine, and did not feel ripped off. The only scam is the "before" price, not what you paid for it. Mine keep ticking still, it's gains five-ten seconds a day, just the way I like it. For 48 pounds I'd say gor for it. Cheers.
Well Invicta could be so awesome if they just slowed it down and got rid of 90 percent of their current watches. I would prefer paying 150.00 or more for something with better lume and more unique smaller designs like their original designs. Or a generic 1960's Diver which can look original or something. I have and I like it for now.
The ProDiver is a cheap watch built to be just good enough for its modest price. However, I have found that the NH35 movement has been accurate to within 3 seconds a day.
Invicta, the quality for price I don’t think it can be beat. Not even kidding . They punched way above their price range and weight. I like the Sub Aqua line up and pro divers. , not a fan of some of the gaudy boat anchors they make but to each their own.
Their 1953 version is my favorite i have it in black/red and black/green i like the pro diver in general but the invicta on the side of the case isnt my fav which isnwhy inlove the 1953 because it doesnt have it!
I picked up one for my son for £42 a few years back, after reading great reviews. I was really impressed, and it really looked great on him. The bezel moved freely, the movement was almost COSC, and it did look like a Sub. So I bought a couple more last year, that I share with my son, and again all good. The only real niggle is the lume, but for the price, can’t complain. It’s a shame they seem to have done away with the yellow rotor, that must be a new thing. If I were you, I’d have returned it to Amazon for a replacement, as odds are, the bezel would be ok. For a genuine true beater, a good one is unbeatable for the money. I actually wear the ‘Bluesy’ one often, & forget I’m wearing it, even though I’ve got the 16610 in my box, with a couple of other Rolex. Shame you got unlucky.
A fantastic, fair review of this brand! My problem with the watch was 1) the lume plots are just awful looking IMO. Vomit green. And 2) the bracelet is just poorly done.
Are you sure it's a strategy? To take a $895 dollar Pro Diver, Model 0072, and reduce it down to as little as $65? If true, that's a watch that nobody is interested in. So, is it a high quality watch drastically reduced? Or was it a massively overpriced cheap, low quality watch? Since many Invicta are knock-offs, like the Pro Diver 0072, I'm thinking they put a fake price tag in the box to make you feel like you have an expensive watch when it's really just junk.
Only people who don’t know about watches get conned to thinking these watches are 700 bucks initially . It’s a marketing strategy that does work on those that haven’t a clue unfortunately
@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR my wife got me one for Christmas. All I ever get is a tie, shirt, cologne or watch. Usually a low end watch. When I saw the tag in the box. I just about shit my pants. $895. I was mortified. My gift to my wife was $50 gift card. I was like, "Are you sure about this? I mean $895 bucks." She just said, "You're worth it." Never once revealing she bought it at TJ Maxx for about $65. When I realized she spent only $65 I was conflicted. On the one hand, totally thrilled she didn't blow almost a thousand on me. But on the other hand, disappointed I wasn't wearing thousand dollar watch. Instead, just a step higher than the typical watches I get. Can't the FTC go after them for false advertising?
Little tip - if you don't like the polished centre links on the bracelet, you can brush them out with a scotch brite pad. Brush in one direction only and then curve each link to do the centres. It takes 5 minutes and makes the watch look so much better. I own some high end watches, but still wear my 8926OB on a regular basis. It just looks, well, great!
a hard no from me on anything invicta. supporting companies with trash like their idiotic pricing just doesnt top my list of to do's with my money. i get why some might like these who cant afford nicer watches but i can so no point in these for me.
When I started getting into watches about two years ago, the Invicta Pro Diver was the one I chose due to the price (about $70 USD),that fact that it was an automatic at that price, the movement was a respected caliber, and the overall look was generally appealing to me. That Christmas I was given the 1953 with Batman bezel and I love that one too. No, it's not up to Rolex build or accuracy quality, abd no the lume isnt good at all. And yes, the bracelet is horrible. But its a solid entry level piece that works great for work or revtrstion (as long as its not dark) and neither of my bezels has ever done anything but click beautifulyy when twiste. Oh, and bith have the yellow rotor which does indeed tart up the somewhat pedestrian lookinh NH35a. Recommend without reservation to bidget cocious buyers snd first time watch shoppers.
I bought the pro diver gold 2 years ago. Still works great I never take it off. Pretty durable. The lume on mine will still be glowing in the middle of the night. Was my first automatic watch I ever owned. Made me very happy. Now I prefer the automatic. Also I don’t mind the size because I’m not the shape and size of a little girl.
@@Zippofanatic77outdoors A Seiko "5KX" is an excellent watch for someone on a budget. Also a Citizen Promaster Automatic would be decent choice. Both are FAR superior than an Invicta.
I just bought one on Amz Prime Day for $50 (NH35 movt). Will probably mod as I hate the dial & mercedes hands, but it is pretty sweet for this price-point. At minimum it is a value for both case & movement (and I don't mind the INVICTA branding on the caseside). Strap is crap, but it looks pretty snazzy on a Bond NATO, as it should, as its a Rolex mimic
I have 3 Pro Divers. 1 quartz and 2 automatic's. My automatic's have the yellow rotor and all of my bezels work ok. The lume is the worst part for me. I have Casio's with better lume. Overall for what I paid I am happy with them. I wanted 3 different dial colors and Invicta was the cheapest way to get them.
I have one with the scalloped bezel (Omega/Rolex combo ripoff). Try turning that one. I had to pull the bezel off and oil it up. Still stiff but loosens the more you use it.
When you were just starting I was not much into your channel but now I appreciate and value it. We need more positive, funny and energetic people like you.
Not all Invictas are my cup of tea, the Asian marketing strategy of giving one an expensive item for less is dodgy, but I own a couple of them including this model, too many logos but who sees them? Enjoy your videos funny as fudge!
My Pro Driver is from 2006. Never been serviced, keeps wonderful time. Fits Nato and other Nylon bands its absolutely class and not going to get you mugged or dead for a watch.
Love all my Pro Divers. I have 4 of them and probably will get more. They all run tip-top with none of the the problems your watch has. I like them because it pisses off all the right people that need to be trolled anyway.
I have the Swiss movement version but i had to changed a few things.. changed the bezel to a high quality ceramic bezel, added a sapphire crystal imported from sweden and change the bracelet to a full stainless steel with no polish. I love it, it looks great, runs great and it has taken a few bad hits and still 0 scratches
MWC, why not send the Watch back to Amazon for a replacement, the Bezel could be faulty, and the replacement could be much better. Returns to Amazon is so easy, one of the many great things about Amazon.👍😁👍
Absolutely true my friend. Like with all my reviews I have to show warts’n’all I never leave anything out I feel you shouldn’t be aware of . I’ve now given it to my dad!
They make some hideous watches, but this one gets way too much hate. It has a reliable movement, decent size and finishing considering the price. As an intro into automatic watches it beats any Seiko 5 hands down. The SW200 powered version often sells for $250 or less.
Most of the Invictas i see are monstrosities, but this watch was recommended by Ben's Watch Club and Urban Gentry, so when i saw the same Amazon day deal u did, i jumped on it. Definitely am miffed with the lack of yellow balance wheel and im assuming it was a choice for their Amazon day deals. My bezel is ok, but not great and i knew the lume was bad before purchasing. If i had paid more than $50, i would have been annoyed and returned it. For the $48 price, this will scratch my James Bond itch alongside my Casio Royale without having to drop thousands on other "Bond" Rolexes or Omegas. Keep up the awesome channel please!!
