A good everyday dive watch is essential for any watch lover.
But these watches can cost a lot of money, and you don’t exactly want to use a four-figure Submariner as a beater watch.
That’s why lines such as the Invicta Pro Diver exist, to give people reasonably priced, functional, and stylish dive watches that they can wear every day.
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And in the Pro Diver series, two of my favorite pieces are the 8926 and 17039.
They are very similar to each other, and both of them are an homage to the Rolex Submariner, but they both have their unique feel.
Which is what we get into in this article, as we put the Invicta 8926 up against the Invicta 17039 and see which one is the better option.
Read on to find out more.
Invicta 8926 vs Invicta 17039 – Quick Comparison
What Are The Similarities Between The Two Watches?
The Invicta 8926 and 17039 have a lot of similarities, which can lead people to mistake them for the same watch.
We take a look at these similarities in this section.
Features
Both of these watches come from the Invicta Pro Diver series, which aims to emulate the expensive luxury dive watches like the Omega Seamaster.
Because of this, both of these watches have a lot of features associated with dive watches, which is what makes them such highly functional tools.
For starters, they are both automatic watches that run on the Seiko N35a automatic movement.
This movement is not as premium as what you’ll find in more expensive watches but it keeps good time, has a 30-hour power reserve, and keeps the watch very affordable.
Both of these watches also have 200m of water resistance, which should make it good to go diving in them.
But seeing as they are from a cheaper brand, I’d be wary about pushing that to the limits, but these timepieces can handle a swim or a soak in the tub.
Just don’t wear them in water too long.
Case & Bezel
The 17039 is essentially an updated version of the 8926, which is why they share a lot of features.
This also includes their stainless steel case, which measures in at 40mm.
This is pretty large for a men’s watch but is around the standard size for a dive watch.
The case of a dive watch is like this to allow users to read the time and data being presented on the watch very easily, which can be very important when underwater.
The bezel of both of these watches is scalloped, which is similar to the Omega Seamaster.
The bezel is uni-directional, but the scalloped design can make it hard to use.
That being said, for timepieces that cost less than $150, it’s kind of expected.
However, the two watches do look good with their large cases and uni-directional bezels.
They truly look like they cost more than they do.
Are There Differences Between The Invicta 8926 And The 17039?
While it may seem like these watches are identical, there are a couple of details that set them apart.
Details On The Dial
Both of these dials take inspiration from the Rolex Submariner.
But as the 17039 is a newer version of the 8926, it seems like they got the dial more accurate.
Both of these dials have a black background with white circular markers and Mercedes style hands.
It matches the bezel very well and makes reading the time very easy.
However, the dial on the 8926 is a bit lighter, with a color closer to gray, while the 17039 has a very deep, black dial color.
The design of the dial also gives the watches a classy and premium look, which is very surprising, considering how affordable these watches are.
Price
The Invicta Pro Diver 17039 is a newer model, which is why it’s more expensive.
While the price of the watch still stays below $150, it floats around the $100-mark.
On the other hand, the older 8926 has a price that stays well below $100.
So if you’re looking to save some more money, the 8926 might be the right Pro Diver for you.
Conclusion – Which Is Better?
So now that we have all the details of these watches laid out, it’s time to answer the question.
Which watch is the better option?
Personally, I prefer the 8926 because of how well it emulates the Rolex Submariner at a cheaper price.
The 17039 will have a more modern and polished feel, but it costs more, and at the end of the day, I’m looking for a cheap beater watch that has the look of a classy dive watch.
However, if you prefer the 17039, there’s nothing wrong with that either.
The watch that better suits your tastes and needs is always the better watch, and no one can tell you otherwise.
