It feels like going back to my High School for a 10 year reunion to be reviewing the 8928A. You see, it was the Invicta 8926 I purchased back in 2000 which first got me into the wonderful, insane world of mechanical watches (click HERE to read the long term review of the 8926 Pro Diver). Prior to this time, the watches I wore were primarily quartz "fashion" watches from makers like Gucci, Movado, and Tag Heuer. But, after acquiring the Invicta 8926, I began focusing more and more on watches with mechanical movements.
The 89xx Pro Diver series has served as a gateway into the mechanical watch world for nearly 15 years. The Rolex-like styling, quality construction, and automatic movement were a winning combination for a watch that could often be found for about $100.00. In recent months, Invicta has made some significant styling changes to the Pro Diver series of watches, the most notable change being the replacement of the Rolex style saw tooth bezel, to a scalloped design more reminiscent of Omega. In a recent interview that Invicta President Eyal Lalo granted members of the Invicta Forum, Mr. Lalo was questioned as to why Invicta suddenly decided to change the looks of the Pro Diver series after over a decade as being the #1 best seller for the company. While it has been widely speculated that Rolex has pressured several companies like Invicta to make their watches appear less Rolex-like, Mr. Lalo denied that Rolex had any influence on their decision. Instead, he indicated they simply wanted to make the Pro Diver series more unique to Invicta.
I have to admit that the first pictures I saw of the new 89xxA series watches (the "A" denotes the watches that incorporate the recent style changes) didn't thrill me. But having had a few months to warm up to the new Pro Diver series design, it's growing on me. While the series still incorporates several cosmetic features which can be found in other manufacturers watches, I don't know of any who have combined these features quite the way Invicta has. So, from this perspective, the watches appearance is indeed unique to Invicta. Here's a picture of the 8928A:
Here is a picture of my 9938 Swiss Pro Diver which has the old bezel style - as you can see, the bezel is the only really noticeable difference in styling on these two Pro Divers:
I'm not exactly sure why Invicta chose to start doing this, but it doesn't add or detract from the watch in my opinion.
Like all the 89xx watches, the 8928A uses the tried and true Miyota 21 jewel automatic movement, with a uni-directional rotor. The movement is a true work horse, and has been a dependable engine in service for over 20 years. The movement is non-hacking, is tricky to regulate, and won't win any beauty contests, but it's reasonably accurate (most examples run +/- 10 seconds per day) and very dependable. Here's a shot of the mineral crystal display back which shows the Miyota movement:
The 89xxA watches carry on the legacy of the Invicta Pro Diver series quite admirably. They also remain one of the greatest values available for a mechanical wrist watch. Whether you new to the world of mechanical watches, or a seasoned veteran looking for a nice gift, the 8928A is an excellent choice. The gorgeous blue dial with the two-tone look is both classic and rich looking. Nice job Invicta!
*All text and images contained in this review are the original work of the author,
John B. Holbrook, II and are copyright protected. Use of any of the information
or images without the permission of the author is prohibited.
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