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The Rolex Submariner is a timeless classic that is considered one of the best dive watches in the world.
And a premium watch comes with a premium price.
For those who can’t afford a Submariner just yet, there are a bunch of alternatives out there that capture the watch’s essence that comes at a more affordable price.
And one of these alternatives is the Invicta 8926OB.
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While Invicta may have a complicated reputation in the horology world, we try to look past that in this article as we put the Invicta 8926OB up against the Rolex Submariner in this head to head comparison.
So if you’ve been looking at this Invicta model and have been wondering if it’s a viable alternative to the Submariner, you’ve come to the right place.
Read on to find out more.
Invicta 89260OB vs Rolex Submariner – Quick Comparison
What Are The Similarities?
While these two may seem miles apart because of their very different prices, they actually share a lot of similarities that we dive into in this section.
Case & Dial
At first glance, the 8926OB can seem like a carbon copy of the Submariner, but that should come as no surprise since it takes inspiration from the Rolex classic.
Both of these watches have a 40mm case stainless steel, which is about the standard size for a dive watch.
This allows you to easily check the watch out underwater as well as read it in almost any condition.
These cases are best suited for those with larger wrists, but if worn right, it can work just as well with a smaller wrist.
Aside from the case size and materials, these watches also share a very similar white on black dial design that provides a lot of contrast to allow you to read the watch quickly.
It would be easy to spot that the details on the dial such as the logos, date windows, and the like are slightly different, but remain very similar, especially from afar.
Bezel
Another thing shared by these two models is the bezel design.
In fact, this is one of the things that makes the 8926OB famous, but some other watch-enthusiasts didn’t receive it too well.
The 8926OB has a coin-edge bezel, which used to be one of the distinguishing factors of the Submariner.
Some people out there weren’t the biggest fan of this bezel design by Invicta, since the coin-edge bezel used to be something you’d only associate with a Rolex.
But this is one of the details that make this watch a great homage to the Submariner.
What Are The Differences?
While a lot is shared between these two timepieces, they also are very different.
Keep reading to learn more about these differences.
Movement
These watches both have automatic movements, but they couldn’t be more different from each other.
The 8926OB uses the NH35A movement, which is a non-branded movement from Seiko.
Seiko is famous for producing very high-quality watches and watch-components (like movements) at a relatively cheap price, and that’s exactly what this movement is.
The NH35A movement may not be the most prestigious and extravagant movement on the market today, but it keeps time exceptionally well and helps keep the price tag down.
On the other hand, the Submariner uses the Calibre 135 movement, one of the most lauded automatic movements on the market today.
It contains 31 jewels, which allows the watch to beat 8 times per second as opposed to the 6 times per second that happens with the Invicta movement.
The Calibre 135 also has a 48-hour power reserve, one of the longest amongst similar-sized movements.
While the Calibre 135 is a more luxurious movement, it’s also a more expensive one that it just one of the reasons the Submariner fetches such a high price.
Water Resistance
The Rolex Submariner is water-resistant up to 300m.
This makes it very possible to go diving in, though considering how expensive the watch is, I wouldn’t recommend pushing the water-resistance to its limits.
However, since it’s one of the highest-quality dive watches out there, water should be no problem for it.
On the other hand, the Invicta 8926OB only has 200m of water-resistance, but it should be important to take that with a grain of salt considering how affordable this watch is.
That being said, the 8926OB will easily handle water from the shower and you can even wear it while swimming, though you might find yourself in some trouble if you go diving with it.
Price
This is probably one of the bigger differences between the two models.
While the price tag of the Invicta remains below $150, a Rolex Submariner will easily cost you up to four figures and expect to pay an even higher price for the rarer models.
It should come as no surprise that the prices vary this much, as Invicta is a brand known for being cheap, quality, and ready for everyday use, while the Rolex model is premium, expensive, and luxury products that can be passed down for generations.
Conclusion
So, is the 8926OB by Invicta a good substitute to the mighty Submariner by Rolex?
If I had the money for it, I would obviously choose the Submariner over the 8926OB any day.
However, if you look at the features and the design, the Invicta model actually holds up pretty well, especially considering that it’s a tenth of the price of the Submariner.
If you’re looking for a cheap 40mm dive watch that’s reminiscent of the Submariner, it might not get any better than this.
The Invicta 8926OB is arguably one of the best budget-friendly alternatives to the Submariner, and can be your reliable everyday timepiece for years to come!
You can find a comparison between two Invicta dive watches here.
