In 1991, the company was revived under American ownership and has been producing watches since. They’re not shy about flaunting their Swiss heritage, even incorporating the Swiss cross into their logo. Though they do produce watches in Switzerland, many of their watches are also produced in Asia. 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. 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. Some folks out there couldn’t care less about the brand reputation of their watch, but I believe it’s worth learning about. In the world of watches, you’re buying the brand just as much as you’re buying the product itself. 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.

Invicta Pro Diver 1953 Review - Invicta’s Best Watch Is

Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite so impressed by the watch itself. In fact, I think it’s a bit overhyped. Here’s why. The hands are perhaps the most attractive part of the dial. It’s always fun to see them glisten as you turn the watch in the light. The second hand is also quite unique to the 1953, as it features a lollipop that extends out to the edge of the dial. 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. While the watch maintains a vintage aesthetic, it wears very much like a modern diver. On the wrist, it feels larger than its 40mm size would suggest.

🍪 Privacy & Transparency

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. 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.

Invicta Watch VINTAGE Pro Diver 31290 - Official Invicta Invicta Watch VINTAGE Pro Diver 31290 - Official Invicta

The spacing of the markers is off, meaning that while the 0 position is properly aligned, some of the other markers are off. This is most apparent when looking at the 15 and 45 minute markers. With the bezel in its default position, they’re a little off kilter. Dial 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.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). 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. While the clasp is stamped and the bracelet endlinks are hollow, the bracelet is not terribly rattly and feels comfortable on the wrist. 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.

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

As you can imagine, this design pairs well with many straps in various materials and colors. Anything from a rubber tropic strap to the original Sean Connery 007 strap look right at home on this watch.

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.