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. Not only did the looks excite me but the omission of the engraving down the side, which brought down the previous Pro Divers in my books.

Invicta 1953 Pro Diver Review: A Diamond in the Rough? Invicta 1953 Pro Diver Review: A Diamond in the Rough?

Regardless of what model you get, Invicta gives you one hell of a box; for better or worse the watchmaker knows how to treat their customers like royalty. Mine came in a pretty sizeable yellow one, reminiscent of what you get with a Rolex, albeit with swapped colors. While Stuhrling had a similarly extravagant box for its low MSRP, Invicta impressively pulls its weight with the watch’s quality, as you’ll read below. 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. 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. The few watches that get a sliver of a fair chance among enthusiasts are among the Pro Diver line, many of which are homages to the Rolex Submariner.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. 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. 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. While the clasp is stamped and the bracelet endlinks are hollow, the bracelet is not terribly rattly and feels comfortable on the wrist.

Invicta on Chrono24 Invicta on Chrono24

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. 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. 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. 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.

🍪 Privacy & Transparency

Invicta was established in 1837. Translating to “Invincible” in Latin, they were once a prolific watchmaking company. Devastated by the quartz crisis, Invicta was driven to bankruptcy in the 1980s. It received a strong positive reception from various outlets; many hyping it up as one of the most attractive affordable dive watches on the market. The videos and product shots appeared to support these claims, with a restrained and refined gilt dial that does look straight out of the 1950s. I personally like the look of a coyote brown NATO, as the color is spot on with the gilt accents. Lume

Invicta 1953: Smarter by the Second? (Review) | WatchCrunch

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. 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.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 matte crown is a bit incongruous with the rest of the watch, but it’s hardly noticeable and easily disregarded. Besides that, the crown is sturdy and easy to use. Case Dimensions

Invicta 1953 - Christopher Ward Forum Invicta 1953 - Christopher Ward Forum

Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite so impressed by the watch itself. In fact, I think it’s a bit overhyped. Here’s why. 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.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).