Nice catch George! I didn't even notice. Then again, I am easily distracted by 5 cool watches. I have seen this several times and still enjoy like its the first tine.
Honestly the invictaa 8926 is great value for money for a daily wearer. It's something you can wear without worrying as fixing anything is relatively simple. Of course what you might find as a let down are the following; the hollow end links can cause a rattling if not adjusted with new spring bars every few months, the crystal is easily chipped or damaged and the clasp I found can break but is able to keep functioning comfortably (unexpectedly). In summary if you like adjusting and messing with your watches you'll be pretty happy with what you get and any issues can be dealt with.
Thanks for a great insightful comment there! A lot of helpful thoughts, and yes it is indeed a good watch to change things around and represents nearly unparalleled value for money!
I have the Invicta 8928 with the coin edge bezel. It was disappointing to learn post-purchase how belittled that watch is as a shameless homage to the Rolex Sub. I've decided to make my peace with that and enjoy it for the reasons I bought it in the first place: it's a handsome watch (precisely *because* it so closely apes the Rolex), it's got a decent automatic movement, and it has inspired my interest in horology. It's been a sturdy, reliable performer and especially because I got it on sale for $57, I still consider it to have been a worthwhile purchase. Agree however that the lume is underwhelming.
Thank you very much for sharing that - good on you for getting over the negativity and enjoying the watch nonetheless. Ultimately it is your own experience and enjoyment that matters in this respect. Invicta has its issues but there is no denying that the 40mm Pro Diver is astounding value! Cheers, Ivan.
I own four out of the five watches in this review, though in slightly different models. The Steinhart is the watch I do not have any experience with. I bought my Invicta first, which inspired me as well. The Ginault is as accurate as a Rolex Submariner and, in my opinion, is equal or superior to the Submariner in every way, except prestige. I would really like to see what Tevise could do at the $100 level!
Thanks for the comment Bert - good points there! I think Rolex does command a premium objectively for being a fully integrated horological manufacture, for use of 904L steel, and superlative accuracy rating of +/- 2spd which they seem to consistently achieve. However, most people don't feel that this justifies a price at 10-20x more than some of these pieces...
I have the same watch. It looks great, has no defects that I can observe and keeps good time. Of course there are better quality watches out there, but for the price the Invicta is an excellent value, and the quality is good enough.
Hi, my name is Fernando and I have recently purchased a Phoibos Reef Master after watching a review video. Unfortunately after receiving the watch I realised the bezel was misaligned and it was way off on accuracy running at + 56 s a day. After having the watch for 7 days (purchased directly from Phoibos website) I wrote to their customer centre to notify the defects and was honestly expecting first for a replacement or second for the watch to be shipped back and properly fixed, however the first response from Phoibos was that there was nothing wrong with the watch, I was probably looking at the bezel from a angle and also that I didn’t know how to adjust the watch. I was really surprised with their response and told them to look at the video I did on their Facebook page and they came back saying that they couldn’t see anything wrong. I did a second video showing better the misaligned bezel and had a bunch of comments saying they it was clear on the first video but still, I tried again. After many emails and videos sent to Phoibos they in the end told me that I could try to force a bit of back play on the bezel to realign and still insisted that I should try to set the watch again for accuracy (I am a watch collector for 20 years, feeling like the stupidest person in the world at that moment) But if I really wanted it looked at that I could send the watch back. As last, unfortunately if you have any problems with your watch you have to send it to China and can not declare its value as more than 30 dollars or it won’t get through China customs and also that they have no responsibility if anything happens so in summary if my or your watch doesn’t get back to them you only receive 30 dollars back from your insurance. Yes, what to do with that money. I just think it would be nice to let people know my story so that they can think twice before o buying a Phoibos or they might end up with 30 dollars Kind regards Fernando
Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience Fernando. It is indeed disappointing and more reports like this are surfacing as Phoibos become more widely distributed. The watches they sent me have been ok until the Wave Master which had some QC issues. I did a review that was negative on these points... they have stopped sending me pieces. I don't regret it so much, I am gonna tell it like it is and integrity should not be for sale, but goes to show that manipulation of reviewers is real and does occur. Best regards! Ivan. PS. Did you use PayPal for the payment? If so I would advise to try activating their bulletproof buyer protection. I strongly advise using PayPal whenever possible.
It's a solid movement for sure... although ability to use in water is down to the case rather than the movement. Also whilst some Seiko 5 will still have a 7S movement, there are plenty with the 4R36 which is really the same movement as NH35.
My Invicta 8926 was bought as a bargain ex display, slightly scratched bezel. Less than 40 quid. Its performance befits a watch 3 or 4 times its price. I don't care for the Invicta marketing but it's an old Swiss watch brand so I don't hate it. I love it. Very accurate. Good lume on hands and bezel pip. Indices lume is poor. Seiko movement 24 jewel. Display back. Looks awesome. Less than a basic g shock. Amazing watch.
I've owned a #Steinhart Ocean One Black Ceramic (42mm) for several years now and I love it. I also own a Rolex Deepsea Sea Dweller and I still keep the Steinhart in rotation. It's well built, comfortable, works great (ETA 2824-2 movement not the newer one) and it looks awesome.
Ah it was standard grade before? I have to say the Elabore grade regulation is impressively accurate! But overall reliability wise I would think there's not much difference.
Great review. I have several versions of the Invicta pro diver & like them all. The only problem with Invicta (to me) is they never tell you where any of their "factories " are which leads me to believe that there are none.
Great review...I have the Invicta Pro Diver, no complaints, keeps great time and it's one of my favorites. I also have one of the first gen Ginault, I bought it as I just sold my Armida Mil Sub and bought the Ginault for its build quality and the glide lock clasp. Can't fault either for my needs as they both are solid. I might get a Steinhart 39 Vintage Red for its "Acceptable" status of homage but for now I'm happy with just wearing what I have. Btw I don't regret what I paid on the Ginault, I've paid more for a Mark || that I never personally bonded with. Wear what makes you happy.
Thanks Ivan, you're right the Ginault is very nice, the problem for me is that I could have the OVM, Phoibos, and an Invicta to mod for a similar amount of money. The OVM comes in a 39mm now, which makes it more attractive and my 007 is just a really nice watch. Love the Ginault, but even at 850, I just couldn't justify it. To many other nice offerings.
Thanks again Derek - good thoughts those, and very logical. The issue expands in scale when considering a single $10k watch for example... how many pieces you might get instead!
You're right, I think it's all subjective and the watch you want is the best one for you. Personally, my limit is 500, and hopefully less. More than that, my wife gets angry and my kids complain that there's nothing to eat :(
I'm an avid watch collector and I have to say the Ginault is easily the best microbrand I've ever owned. Every detail on that watch is done right and its a pleasure to own. The Phoibos is a great value but there's no comparison and if you spent five minutes with these watches I'm sure you would agree.
P.s. The Ginault is easily the most accurate of these watches and is bascially COSC. The watch is extensively tested and adjusted before being shipped to you.
Same here, mine has gained about 3 minutes in the last 17 days which I suppose isn't bad. These NH35A movements can be more fine tuned for accuracy relatively easily apparently,...although I'm not prepared to do that yet.
I know invicta make some terrible quartz fashion watches but I have no problem wearing my Invicta submariner as often as my expensive Speedmaster, personally I have no problem with the logo stamped into the side.
nice review mate. I really enjoy your balanced and calm vibe when reviewing watches. I have Seiko & Tudor divers mostly and the Steiny OVM and Maxi Dial OVM and they are both great! they're fun to wear. no issues with them, other than the clasp, which works fine but is a pain to open, but I've put them both on leather straps anyway. thinking about the 39mm version now
Thanks for the positive feedback - it's most appreciated! Good selection of watches you have it would seem... ah Tudor, the *ultimate* Rolex sub homage :)
They must have improved the Tevise. Mine I just got is black coated metal with a black, maybe anodized bracelet, and a one pusher clasp lock. The only thing I have to complain about is the rotor of the moment. It needs too much force to rotate so it's pointless to put it on a wonder - it won't rotate and wind the spring that way. You really have to shake it strongly to make the rotor move. Also the bezel alignment is OK on mine (it's usually a matter of the inlay being aligned properly before glued on AFTER the bezel is mounted). I don't see the advantage in a 120 click bezel when all you do is timing by minutes, 60 clicks is just fine.
Thanks for sharing those observations. Actually I don't think there's been much difference... the clasp varies randomly it seems, and the rotor problem has been consistently reported by owners. The bezel alignment on mine was ok enough I didn't notice an issue. To me 120 clicks is one of those things that's "nice to have". Like screw adjustment bracelets, solid end-links, perfect aligned bezels, glide-lock clasps... none are necessary but definitely great to have :)
Got one a week ago, the entire watch is black and the rotor takes so much effort to rotate. It's aight for a daily beater but I'll fix my Invicta soon.
I bought the Tevise a few months ago as a bit of fun - it's amazing for the money but obviously does not stand up against the others in this review. I've also bought the latest version of the Phoibos and I love it. Quality is excellent (although I agree weakest point is the clasp). My Phoibos also has the octopus logo on the dial, which I love. I know some people hate the octopus tho.
Thanks for sharing that Chris. Glad you are enjoying the latest Phoibos. This version with plainer dial and shark case back seems somewhat cooler but I do hear the quality in the new one is better. Too bad Phoibos refuse to send me any more watches after I did a negative review of the Wavemaster :(
@@PerthWAtch the new one is absolutulely stunning! >10 coats of superluminova, sapphire, ceramic etc. Only weird thing is, so much AR coating that the black dial actually looks blueish.
Some of the other similar cheap models from Shark Army say "Superlative Chronometer"......It's the Chinese attempt (Albeit poor attempt) at using poorly translated English buzz words as a marketing strategy. Sort of like the dry cleaning business downtown that says "Super Cowboy Rocket Ship Clean Cleaners #1"
Actually I don't think it's translated... it's more likely to be deliberate use of made up words that sounds like the real "superlative chronometer" to mislead/deceive.
Great review! The problem I have with the Ginault aside from the odd pricing (and too high even if you get this arbitrary discount) is that it is a mystery watch. They can't or won't explain the movement nor their USA made claim. I cannot call it the best as who really knows what you are buying. If they had clear pricing like Steinhardt and were honest about the watch then maybe I would reevaluate its status.
Thanks for that - fair enough points about Ginault. I think the movement is clear enough - it's an ETA 2824-2 clone... as to how much of it is actually made in USA? Now that's the more mysterious part, but at face value they have directly stated that it majority manufactured and assembled in US with the exception of a few parts that had to be sourced from China.
Perth WAtch Thank you for your response. I know that NOOB watch makes a ETA clone movements from what I have read. Is this a Chinese made clone movement in the Ginault? And if you are charging $1400 or even $800 then it should be a real ETA movement. Who knows what quality the clone movement is.
Some would say it's Chinese... Ginault claim is US made. Whatever the case is, you're absolutely right in that we don't really know the quality, particularly in that it has no track record of reliability unlike real ETA movements. Although that may not be so dissimilar to a young company venturing to produce their own in-house movement for the first time... MontBlanc comes to mind.
@@elarson312 Virtually all ETA 2824 clone base movements are made in China by Tianjin Seagull. That includes Sellita and Claro Semag 'Swiss' movements. It s highly likely that the genuine ETA 282 are also made in China and finished in Switzerland.
It is difficult to consider the Ginault due to the lack of transparency involved. I went with the Steinhart. There are a couple things that they could have done better, but it isn't a major issue for me.
Nice selection of watches. After seeing quite a few reviews of the Invicta 8927 OB watch which many seem to like with few dislikes except for the watch snobs I have just ordered one from Amazon UK which should arrive in the next three days. The clincher for me buying it was it having the Seiko movement which is hackable and from all the reviews I have seen very accurate. The price was also another clincher at £69 reduced in a sale from £92, a bargain at that price and half that I would pay on Amazon for a Seiko 5. As I don't particularly swim or dive with a watch the water resistant is not an issue. I wear a watch because I enjoy them, even the Seiko 5's that I have. Thanks for posting this interesting review of these homage watches.
Thanks for sharing that, that's great to hear! Well I'm sure you will enjoy the watch... Invicta are fantastic value for money, thus far still unparalleled in my experience! Cheers, Ivan.
Thanks for your reply Ivan. Since I received my Invicta 8927OB I am really enjoying wearing it, it's much nicer seeing it in reality and the accuracy is really good straight out of the box at around six seconds a day. I have now also purchased the Invicta 8928OB blue version and that is also a great watch for the price. Thanks again for your wonderful informative videos.
I have invicta pro diver. Bought new for $70.00. Love it. Only flaw I found was lume - common issue low cost. But i just can take to local watch maker & it coss between $50 - $70.00 cnd.
I have the Phobos great white, I didn’t buy it an “homage” a term that is new to me I just wanted a robust good looking dive watch. So far I am really happy with it. It did stop once on me, but I unscrewed the crown and Han wound it and it has been fine ever since. The bezel is really good better than some more expensive watches I have looked at, I was very tempted by the Steinhart but I think the Phobos is better value. Around the same time I also bought a Certina titanium DS action diver and that is extremely good too.
Thanks for sharing that John. When it stopped perhaps the power reserve had just ran down? Glad you have enjoyed it - many people have been critical about the lug finished and bezel seating in particular, so it seems there are some QC issues... mine has been fine also though. Cheers, Ivan.
Yes I think when it stopped it had run right down and I should of hand wound it some more. It does keep pretty good time. Cool your name is Ivan because my middle name is Ivan
Love the Steinhart OVM. One of the few watches I've sold and re-bought (since replaced w a Certina DS Action) Got the new Phoibos PY007 and Tissel Marine incoming to compare (and may both go back after owning nicer Sub homages). Glad to see some other options for a Sub here.
Nice to see them all lined up, thanks for the video. My choice would always be to save and save and save and get the real deal. It's a watch for a lifetime and an icon that will never die.
Thanks for that Watch On... a good sound approach I think - the Rolex should outlast anything here and will also hold value better than just about any other watch in the world.
Great video and overview. I have the Steinhart in the OVM 39 version. If you are interested in buying the 39 get on the Gnomon Watches notification list as they will be back in stock in the spring. Cheers.
I recently bought the Tevise on the recommendation of another TH-camr. What a disappointment. The case back was shattered upon arrival and after cleaning out the broken bits eventually got it to work. It gained a minute per hour and the power reserve was under five hours. I bought the one with the green dial so people would know that it was not a fake Rolex (I have never seen a green Submariner in real life). For the same price point, one could buy a Casio MDV-106. It is actually a water resistant diver that is not pretending it is something that it is not.
Thanks for sharing your experience again... this sounds familiar, did you share this on my Tevise review also? Sorry to hear about that, it's very unsatisfactory... I hope you were able to get a refund for that. There is a green Rolex Sub actually... it's either an anniversary or limited edition, not common, but it exists. And yes, the Tevise is no dive watch... and I would caution anyone against using it even with showering.
I have owned many different Incicta watches over the years and most of them being bought used from the pawn shops. That being said I have not one single complaint on any of Invicta's watches. There are of the highest quality for the money I've spent. I have owned Tissot, Tag, Omega, and Movado and my favorite watches by far are all Invicta especially their Swiss automatic movement's on certain models. I have recently bought and Android model ad553ak with a solid tungsten case and saphire crystal front and back. This is a far superior watch to anything I've owned so far including my fine Swiss time pieces. This watch is nearly indestuctable and is about 99% unscratchable in both the case and the crystal. Please do a review of these watches they are slightly higher priced with used ones around 150-200 USD but I think you'll find an amazing watch with some high end features at a reasonable price!!!!! Thanks for the great reviews by the way and I'm definitely going to give steinhart a try after seeing your comparison here!!!
Thanks for sharing that Jason... glad you have enjoyed Invicta watches as much as I have, they really are very difficult to surpass in terms of sheer bang for buck. The Android watch looks interesting... however I'm not in a position to put money into watches for reviews, so will have to rely on one of my collaborators bringing it into stock, or someone to lend me one. Cheers, Ivan.
@@PerthWAtch Invicta are an enemy upon themselves. Some of there watches like the Pro Diver are well made with great movements at fantastic prices. But!! Some of their models are just plain ugly & way, way to many. Also with there RRP pricing. Is really just plan stupid. I have 2 Invicta's. a I-Force that I have had since 2011. Changed the battery once & keeps time really. really well. And a S1 Rally Chronograph. Which is also a great watch and accurate to 1-2 secs a month... Pick the right Invicta's. And they will keep very well for many years
Yes absolutely agree with that... they have way way too many models, numbering into hundreds which is ridiculous, and many have plain bad designs. And yep, that pricing strategy is weird, and something I can't make sense of... it's almost like a random number generator plays a role there!
Yep true.. Don't understand the whole of having a watch with a listed RRP of say $500. When everyone know's that you can easily get it for around the $100 mark..
@@PerthWAtch Hey Ivan, If you're interested in doing a review I would be willing to let you borrow my Android for a week or whatever you need to review it I would be happy to mail my watch along with return postage so you could do a proper review and post it on you TH-cam channel. Let me know if that would interest you and if so we will get that plan in motion!!! Thanks!!!
Ivan, this is the first of your videos I've seen, and I must say I really enjoyed it. Also enjoyed the interesting comments you garnered over the 7 months since you put it up. I don't really have any complaints about your evaluations at all -- very thorough -- but do wish you could have included the MKII Nassau (I know, I know, you didn't have one to use). And also another line I've seen that looks quite nice, the Swiss-made Revue Thommen: I'd have loved to see it compared side-by-side with these other watches, particularly the Steinhart. The U.S.-assembled (Swiss mechanism) Nassau is about $900 with no date, the Revue Thommen about half that.
Thank you Roger for the detailed comment and good thoughts... those models are compelling indeed! I'm not currently in a position to procure watches directly for review but if I do come across those I would definitely pit them head to head against an appropriate competitor such as a Steinhart. Cheers, Ivan.
Thanks for that - I do like the style of the ver 1.0 OVM... I believe that's actually appreciating in value on the secondary market, something that's not easy to achieve for a micro-brand. The ETA 2824 movement is a reliable workhorse and will usually go well beyond 10 years before needing attention (although brands recommend 5 year service I think).
You should look into gigandet! Seiko NH35a sub homages with 300m waterproofing, really hefty watch, great finishing, great bezel and accuracy for their 149€ MSRP. I would say it's the best value of all the sub homages, honestly.
Thanks for that - I have heard vaguely before and have now taken a closer look... the movement is the same as the $70 Invicta, accuracy is highly variable usually but can be "great", otherwise materials wise doesn't look to be any better... apart from 300m WR (which doesn't make a difference for 99.99% of people) I'm not sure at all that it's better than the Invicta... but if one comes to hand I will be sure to compare them!
I have a invicta 8928 coin edge runs at about + 5 seconds a day no problems for over 2 years. I would have liked to see the invicta Swiss made pro Diver with the eta 2824 for about 225 . A lot of upgrades over the cheaper Pro diver please consider doing a review on that walk thank you very much
Thanks for sharing that. The Swiss Made Invicta - isn't that with a Sellita movement? Anyway it's a no brainer for me... I will *definitely* review it if it comes across my hands! My review pieces generally come from collaborations and people who are willing to lend to me :)
Perth WAtch you can get them on eBay but you have to be very careful for fakes.. You can get them also on Evine live It’s a shopping station kind of like QVC or something like that and they also have an app for android and Apple
Oh yeah I know where to get it if I wanted to actually buy one... what I meant was I don't buy watches much these days as there are plenty of collaboration pieces coming in. I have some choice sometimes but more well known brands are generally borrowed from people I know.
Good vid, i've got the Steinhart OVM mk1 with the 200m on the face and case back, keeps great time and looks the part too. The bezel is the best looking one around with all second markers, wish more manafactuers would do the same. The OVM, so simple and basic looking it's stunning.
As Homages go, a primo replica should not be overlooked. Invicta the best of the lineup, 40m, comfy on wrist, and best Rolex look, NH mvmnt a winner and almost free ($80). Most do not buy any of the 5 to dive. Although quartz not mentioned, the Casio Duro Marlin is a beauty. Enjoyed and subed. JP in LA
Thanks for those comments and for the support - much appreciated! Some good insights you have shared there! I reviewed the Duro not so long ago too - it's a good one! Cheers, Ivan.
I own 3 Steinharts and can't recommend them enough. Fantastic value for money. Swiss made with a Swiss movement and great build quality. Just go and buy 1 before they increase in value due to ETA supply drying up....
Hi there. Might be a sticky crown stem that's not engaging well, or a problem with the oscillator... either way you should be able to get a replacement if it's problematic like that.
Regarding "Swiss Made" on the Steinhart. Only 60% of the final value of the movement, not of the entire watch, help qualify for the "Swiss Made" label. That movement must then be put inside a case in Switzerland. There are no rules on where the case or other parts has to be made. Other than one Swiss made wheel the rest of the parts in the watch could be Made in China and still qualify as "Swiss Made" under Swiss law as long as a couple simple rules are followed. To qualify as "Made in USA", every major part of the watch has to be Made in USA: the bracelet, the case, the bezel, the entire movement, the crystal, the dial, etc. The Made in the USA standard is far harder to meet then the Swiss Made. If you ask, Ginault is open regarding which continents their parts come from yet still receive tons of hate. On the flipside no one demands parts sources from Steinhart and don't question how such a super low retail price is even possible from such an expensive European country. In any case the true test of a watch is how well it keeps time and for a diver watch how well it holds up underwater. Ginault and Steinhart certainly do well for both.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share those details Chris! You make some very good points about the nature of what Swiss Made actually means - that is, less than what many may think! And conversely also how much more stringent US Made is. Some of the controversy surrounding Ginault is in the suspected deception that is being performed - there is no phone number to contact them, and no address... and the company registered address apparently goes to a PO box (?). Combined with the language used in their blog posts some suspect they are actually a Chinese company. Nonetheless, I am mostly interested in the result, and there is no denying the Ocean Rover is excellent. I don't think it's worth $1400 but it's definitely the best of this bunch IMO. How the movement holds up, time will tell. Cheers, Ivan.
Chris Sullins I think some of the early Ginault watches actually said “Made In America” but they had to change it to “Hand Built in America”. Which is nice to see and honestly can’t be a cheap endeavor. The watch and whole kit is very nice and classy well put together. I factor the thoughtful presentation, box, paperwork, extra strap, and the included screwdriver as part of the price. Factoring in the Ginault’s discount, I think you could spend more only to get a watch that includes a zipper case :). I hope Ginault can stick around as I imagine the watch biz is pretty tough/competitive.
I'm wearing a Ginault no-date as I reply today. I received mine last year with a substantial discount and the watch has performed consistently with only one minor regulation for my personal preference. Give the company's corporate registration info I would suspect there's at least a Chinese-American involved at some level. This is fine in a nation that welcomes immigration. If Ginault can make further investment in expanding their production in the USA, that would be great. I have no idea how their sales are doing now, but I think they should have made the original MSRP $999 and then offered it with flash discounts on any given day directly on their website. I hope to see Ginault offer the same movement in a plain stainless steel case (CNCed in the USA) on a leather or nylon Nato (also made in the USA). This would probably get them close enough to "Made in the USA" on the dial (which would have to be done here as well). The dial should have nothing other than simple markers, date, the Ginault name, the logo, and Automatic. I'd also offer a dress version in solid14k gold as a limited edition without slapping on a ridiculous premium.
Thanks for those thoughts Chris - there are some great ideas there, perhaps someone from Ginault will check out fan comments in videos like these! I think $999 may well have hit it off a lot better. I think having a company started by migrants is fine, absolutely no issue with that... what is not fine is if there is actually deception here as some suspect, although of course this is unproven and I am inclined give the benefit of doubt. I look forward to what they might come up with next!
Ginault just did a new release over the weekend. Some reviewers/owners got a heads-up on the new model. (I was not one of them). Looks like they take feedback into account.
I believe phobies used to say the billions of dollars of watch parts made in Cina & shipped to Switzerland begs the question how much of Swiss made is truely Swiss. Remember the trade definitions of made in are very creative.
The requirement for "Swiss made" IIRC is that 50-60% of the value cost of creating the watch is incurred in Switzerland, and that it is cased up in Switzerland. I think it used to be 50% but has been increased to 60% some time ago. I also think this is much less meaningful than say man-hours of manufacturing a watch, which if such a metric is used may in fact show that only 10-20% is incurred in Switzerland...
Unless we are talking about brands that are known to make all the parts in house like Rolex, Swiss made doesn't mean much. To meet the requirements, the bracelet and case can be sourced in China to be assembled with the parts.
Yep, even most the movement parts can be sourced from elsewhere. In my reading, one could pay a Swiss “master” $100 to put in a wheel on a $160 movement (with everything else made elsewhere) and still meet requirements!
Many enthusiasts consider them mobile phone extensions rather than watches as such. Certainly no long term value in terms of horology, and also only short term value in terms of function and becoming obsolete...
Also, there is a CORGEUT homage to Tudor BB with miyota non-hacking movement. The problem with cheap Asian watches like Tevise here are the main and balance springs. These are the most complicated part of any mechanical watch in regards of materials used for its production. It must be made of a special thermo and magnetic resistant alloys and must provide a constant vector of power when its winded tight or when its loose. a good balance spring costs at least 10 dollars to make and that what you will not find in a 20 dollars watch. Unless its a Vostok LOL
Thanks for those insights! Very helpful to know and true to my understanding also. Good point about the cost of a good balance spring... Vostok don't cost $20 do they??
I want to try out a Tevise, am reluctant to go for any of the gold versions simply as some of these Chinese watches have like a painted on gold that washes off on a damp morning but I do like the Tevise automatic chrono in gold and black in a subbie type setting. I would love to know if the Tevise gold tone is resilient or not. Recently acquired with the intention of nicking the bezel and strap a Military Royale "subbie" homage, £13.88 for a automatic with overwind slipper, clean glass and clear date lens, bezel is metal insert and its keeping startlingly good time so its now a wearer with the only difference to the Tevise being a non sunburst black dial and the name.
Its all matter of taste and of course budget but If you know how to mod a watch, invicta would be a best choice all of these 5 watches or if you dont know how, just get a phoibos or steinhart.
Thanks for that - you make good points! Curious to know - what particular mods have you tried out on an Invicta? I haven't opened that "can of worms" myself for fear that even more time will disappear into this hobby! :)
Perth WAtch superlume dial and hand sets you can check dagaz watch for that, and of course remove that ugly invicta logo with dremel :) there are couple -how to- videos on youtube.
I have an Invicta Pro Diver (8926OB). Here is my experience with this watch: 1) SUPER accurate. The last time I zeroed it out against the Internet's atomic clock, was 10 days ago. I just checked it now, and it's less than 2 seconds out. For an automatic movement, this is FAR better than even what Rolex claims. The Submariner loses or gains ±2 seconds per DAY. You can't knock the Invicta for its performance as a time keeper. 2) Super comfortable on my wrist. 3) Looks just as good as the Rolex. (I don't care about the branding, but I do enjoy a pretty watch, which this certainly is.) 4) 1% of the price of the Rolex. 5) Gets mistaken for a Rolex all the time. I don't care what anyone says. Anyone who trashes the Invicta for being low quality, is simply showing his ignorance. I love this thing!
Nice review.. My favorite homage is the Giganet Sea Ground G2 007 Vintage .. Quality build and performance and look on the wrist. for 190USD .. In my opinion on par with Steinhart..The only down side is the mineral crystal.. That said good for 300m
Thanks for that - others have mentioned Gigandet also, and it seems very fair for the price... however, on par with Steinhart? Just to note Steinhart pieces which start at around twice that price have (along with aforementioned sapphire) ceramic inserts (most models), screw link bracelets, and use Elabore grade Swiss ETA movements which are typically amazingly well regulated. I think Gigandet is more comparable to Invicta to be honest...
I have sold under NAFTA for decades. Its in the details of how that is calculated. What is added in, ie warehousing, inventory, even workers uniforms get into calcs. How long inventory is in said country, list is long.
Great review Perth Watch, you kept me interested the whole time even if I am not into homage pieces. I definitely am of the opinion that Steinhart offers the most quality/dollar (in spite of the bracelet).
Thanks for that Daniel - yeah I think the mid range here is a very sweet spot in the value proposition... the Phoibos is pretty darn good too! Cheers, Ivan.
Take a look at the Phoibos 300 m quartz diver. Model number -002. Best watch I have ever owner, most gorgeous, most accurate, best fit and finish, perfect size, amazing lume light blue. Love it. Cost? Got mine for $119 on Amazon. Awesome watch!
I like and subscribed because you are thorough, detailed and include reference material that follows your video and shifts on index. Easy subscription decision and work ethics like yours should be rewarded!
The big problems with all these watches, even after you consider the basic quality/value proposition, are (a) quality control and (b) serviceability. For example, I have an Invicta Pro Diver virtually equivalent to the one shown here. The NH35A arrived showing amplitudes (fully wound) no better than 255 degrees in any position, and rates of -5.1 to -30.6 in 6 major positions, showing poor regulation at the factory. The result is the watch runs -20 on the wrist if you wear it daily and place it dial down overnight. Within the first 24 hours, the luminous pip in the bezel at the 12 o'clock position fell out. In a few months, the bezel action went from stiff to totally jammed. Crown thread action has been just fine, and the watch has survived several episodes in water with no trace of any problem. It is tough. I paid about $75 US for mine, and at that price it simply wasn't worth the hassle of returning. One of my students had an Invicta 9937 with an ETA 2824-2 movement. The case quality and finishing on his watch were better than mine, although I've seen some reports that that is no longer true with the current 9937. He paid roughly $250 for his. His was running a very consistent +4 to +6 on the wrist. Nice!! The point is, many people have had better luck with their Invicta 8926-type watches than I have. You can get a great deal with an Invicta. But a simple movement cleaning and overhaul for an Invicta cost more than a new Invicta, so this is a 1-time purchase. And as my experience proves, their quality control might not be the best. What about serviceability and quality control with these other brands? It is difficult to say. The problem is, if you get a lemon, what do you do? In my case, I might open the case on my Invicta and regulate it. However, based on my experience with Seiko movements, regulation is a mistake during the first year of ownership, as the movement has some definite "break in" characteristics. Moreover, you have to let it settle in for at least 2 weeks following any movement of the regulator. I have a Seiko 5 Superior 7S36 that is 16 years old, has never been serviced, and still has very respectable timing results! And the lume on it is better now than the Invicta was new.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share those helpful insights Jim! I think you make some excellent points about QC and serviceability, both of which I would say are real issues for the cheaper 3 of these watches. In Tevise it goes without saying... it's a throw away as soon as it develops any problem that can't be tolerated. Phoibos have reports of QC issues and unfortunately after-sales service experiences have not been good. If the problem is a regulation issue with a Seiko or Miyota movement I personally would regulate it myself, but of course this isn't something everyone will be happy to do, and -20 sec/day would be intolerable for some. Having said that however, a good watchmaker in my local area could improve it for a small price, around $10-20. I would also say that the things that I have heard about Steinhart after-sales service have been excellent - they appear to be quite responsive. Ginault - now that's more of an unknown quantity. I await to hear from more others! Cheers, Ivan.
Almost bought the tevise because I love all submariner homages but the perlative cerometer thing just made me burst laughing so its a no no it would just have been better if they put automatic thats it what a shame
@@PerthWAtch Yeah i have read more about it, i find pagani would be best, i just need 'line' from somebody to bring it to me, because shipping to my country is more expensive than watch..
As I read the comments, it still amazes me that people have the preconceived notions they have about Invicta. Invicta makes watches for just about everyone. Yes, they make the oversized, ghetto watches with huge MSRPs but they also make some really nice watches. Even their quartz watches come in different quality levels. Many of them use Swiss Ronda movements. I have 3 Pro Divers, 2 with the NH35A and one with a Miyota automatic movement. I have a Grand Diver with the NH35A, and I have an Invicta Reserve Diver 6883 that has an SW200 movement in it. It is an amazing watch for the $350 I paid for it 8 years ago. Applied certified diamond markers and an EXTREMELY well-made bracelet, too. All of the Invictas have nice fit and finish, signed crowns, and many things reviewers on here bust on other watches for not having. I wear them along with my 13 Seiko divers on a regular rotation and no one ever mentions my watches. As a big fan of Seiko, I look at watches and I never see anyone wearing an SKX, Turtle, etc. So buy what you want and wear what you like!
Thanks for sharing that - yes I do think Invicta offer rather astounding value and quality for the price. IMO the 40mm Pro Diver remains one of the very best watches you can possibly get for under $100. Interesting that you never see anyone wearing those Seiko's - I have seen numerous SKX, Turtles, and Sumos on other wrists in my time... although admittedly have yet to see anyone else sporting a Monster or a Samurai.
Skx all day and twice on Sunday.. Invicta extremely poor quality on everything on there pro diver 8926 , except for the movement, and that's because it's a Seiko
Thanks for sharing those thoughts wimpy baby. Interesting to hear... taking a closer at an Invicta you might discover the rather astounding quality that they do offer. Granted the lume is lousy, and end links are hollow (so is the SKX), but in most other aspects it is surprisingly good!
@@Oakleyworld The average Rolex buyer is actually (lower) middle class. Most buyers live in households with a total income between annual $50-100K. www.statista.com/statistics/248172/affluent-americans-who-owned-rolex-jewelry/ Rich people generally buy moderately priced watches such as Seiko or Citizen or (expensive) brands the average person has never heard of.
Excellent review. I have two Steinhart. I ordered directly from the them a jubilee bracelet. I love that the Steinhart bracelets have screws. But they have a drawback. The bracelet I received was machined so tightly I basically had to ruin the bracelet to get the screws out. It was a disaster. Done by machine of course. Very frustrating. I made such a ruckus with Steinhart about it I think they are going to make good on it, but a huge waste of time n frustration. I got email from Mr. Steinhart himself. They need to rethink how tight the machines are winding those screws. It's a mess...
Is it done by machine? I thought it wasn't... some bracelets have some sort of locking adhesive when they ship. That's caused me to damage some in the past.
Fantastic review. It was really nice to see all of these in one place, going head to head; I especially liked the spreadsheet at the end. Thank you for a great video :)
I own a Rolex and recently purchased a stienhart ocean one 39, to see what the hype was about. I have to say I am very impress with the quality. I love wearing it. I highly recommend the stienhart Ocean 1 39mm for those who want To experience what a Rolex would feel like on your wrist.
@@PerthWAtch I know Thomas Caddel very well, I can tell you, that the Ginault models is the same like his TC Sub. Just new hands were installed. Thats it
Absolutely and without doubt, no one here would ever shell out the coin to sport an actual Rolex 5517 MilSub... so wear those Steiny OVM’s with pride and confidence!👌
Have you looked at Loreo as an inexpensive diver automatic. They claim German technology but its Chinese, though not so cheap as Tevise, about the same price as Invicta. I would like to know your opinion, if you know about them.
Haven't come across Loreo myself actually, but certainly will take a closer look if one comes across my hands. Have you tried looking on a good forum like WUS? Usually can find some helpful feedback there.
Haha well I hope it arrives soon and in good order for you! I held back getting one of those as I can't stand the name - seriously why didn't they get some feedback on that!?
I hate to admit it, but I really like the Ginault. I would love to own one ,but to me it is too expensive for what it is. If it were half the price I would buy one at some point. The Rolex Submariner doesn't really do it for me for quite a few reasons, even though they are great watches. I just like how the Ocean Rover is like the Rolex's greatest hits! If the price was right I would definitely be owning one even though that is a very controversial watch.
I imagine you live in Perth Australia correct? Do you know if there are any SEIKO authorised dealers in the city? All I see is stores selling fashion watches.
Hi there John! Yep, right here in Perth WA! The idea of an AD for Seiko is rather different to that of Swiss brands. So in fact *Angus & Coote* are one of their main local distributors. Yep they have some "fashion" brands but that doesn't affect Seiko. *The Watch Spot* also comes up listed, heck even *David Jones* is a "premium" seller. The fact is, even if you picked it up from Prouds you would still have the usual warranty coverage (and it wouldn't be a fake). Cheers, Ivan.
Perth WAtch cool I will be visiting Perth on Wednesday through to the week after next week. So I will check them out. I live in China atm and the nearest dealers are in Shanghai an hours flight away. Of course I could just buy online but I want to see the Seiko Samurai before I decide to buy it. Thanks for your advice.
Thanks for that - I think Tisell is very much the competition point that the Phoibos is targeted at. I have heard that it is an excellent watch. If I get my hands on one, I shall definitely do a comparison video between the two!
Perth WAtch Defiantly, Sapphire crystal, excellent cyclops great lume for around €260 not bad only thing is the bezel action is a bit rough and the rotor is loud but I like hearing it working, i'd love to see that thanks man 😊
I guess the Tisell Marine Diver would be somewhere in between the Phoibos and the Steinhart, but closer to the Steinhart than the Phoibos end of the scale.
I would say it's pretty much a direct rival to the Phoibos... with main difference being a better bracelet (yet the Tisell has been slightly cheaper). Steinhart is a level above these.
i gave $600 for my Ginault, i just sent the company an email and said whats the cheapest you can let one of those watch go for? guy was like $600 and i was like ok sold. best dive watch around hands down! why you braggin about that $5000 sub boy? you over paid for it!! rubs Ginault in his face LMAO!
the invicta has the best nh35 movement across any microbrands. keeps time under 10 seconds deviation per month which is incredible. it's built like a tank, and it looks and feels like a rolex. the only thing i would change about it is the lume
Maybe yours just happens to work well but the next one you buy will likely be +10 seconds a day or so (mine are more like that). It’s well built and sure looks like a Rolex (after all, it’s a copy!) but certainly does not feel like one when you hold it in hand. I would also change the crystal.
I have a Steinhart pepsi gmt. I can tell you that you are getting away with theft on these things going sub $600. Some people complain about the lugs not curving. They do curve, it's not like you're wearing a flat slab of steel on your wrist. I actually appreciate them not using the "maxi case" design. They already get wanked for making homages, and people complain about their more original case design lol of course they do.
There is a general trend to down grade press metal bracelet clasps, those not being machine milled. In the past, all Rolex bracelet clasps were metal pressed, and nobody complained about them. Nowadays, a 70's steel submariner with pressed metal bracelet clasp sells over 15,000$. There is not a soul who would turn down a vintage Submariner because of it's bracelet.
What’s your point? If by “down grade” you mean “criticise”, then yes, that’s because pressed metal in watches suck. “Not a soul” would pass on a vintage Sub because it’s free money and you’d be stupid to do so. That doesn’t mean the pressed metal doesn’t suck - IT DOES. And “not a soul” would disagree that the current modern bracelets are tonnes better than the old clasps because the old stuff suck ;)
I actually LIKE the Invicta lettering on the side of the watch. I like the brand, and I like script as decoration in general. I'm not ashamed of telling anyone that I own an Invicta. I do agree though, that the lume is very poor. Pointless, really. haha
Steinhart watches are the best hommage available their 39 and 42mm fit and finish are outstanding their eta movements are as good as any on the market at a reasonable price point.
Another great video! I love how Invicta haters complain about the case branding yet if their beloved Rolex watches had no visible branding they would not even consider the watch.
![ILLSLICK - THE KING'S LANDING [Freestyle]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/feIJJnNkTfk/mqdefault.jpg)
I love how your watches are synchronized
Thanks for that - I blame that on my OCD :)
I wanted to point that out too lol
Nice catch George! I didn't even notice. Then again, I am easily distracted by 5 cool watches. I have seen this several times and still enjoy like its the first tine.
Here's an Easter egg hunt for you guys - check out my other multi watch videos, I think they might all be synchronised also! :)
but how???
Honestly the invictaa 8926 is great value for money for a daily wearer. It's something you can wear without worrying as fixing anything is relatively simple. Of course what you might find as a let down are the following; the hollow end links can cause a rattling if not adjusted with new spring bars every few months, the crystal is easily chipped or damaged and the clasp I found can break but is able to keep functioning comfortably (unexpectedly). In summary if you like adjusting and messing with your watches you'll be pretty happy with what you get and any issues can be dealt with.
Thanks for a great insightful comment there! A lot of helpful thoughts, and yes it is indeed a good watch to change things around and represents nearly unparalleled value for money!
I have the Invicta 8928 with the coin edge bezel. It was disappointing to learn post-purchase how belittled that watch is as a shameless homage to the Rolex Sub. I've decided to make my peace with that and enjoy it for the reasons I bought it in the first place: it's a handsome watch (precisely *because* it so closely apes the Rolex), it's got a decent automatic movement, and it has inspired my interest in horology. It's been a sturdy, reliable performer and especially because I got it on sale for $57, I still consider it to have been a worthwhile purchase. Agree however that the lume is underwhelming.
Thank you very much for sharing that - good on you for getting over the negativity and enjoying the watch nonetheless. Ultimately it is your own experience and enjoyment that matters in this respect. Invicta has its issues but there is no denying that the 40mm Pro Diver is astounding value! Cheers, Ivan.
I bought the Invicta knowing the brand rep and the model rep. Honestly, at its price, its got a lot of value in it!
I own four out of the five watches in this review, though in slightly different models. The Steinhart is the watch I do not have any experience with. I bought my Invicta first, which inspired me as well. The Ginault is as accurate as a Rolex Submariner and, in my opinion, is equal or superior to the Submariner in every way, except prestige. I would really like to see what Tevise could do at the $100 level!
Thanks for the comment Bert - good points there! I think Rolex does command a premium objectively for being a fully integrated horological manufacture, for use of 904L steel, and superlative accuracy rating of +/- 2spd which they seem to consistently achieve. However, most people don't feel that this justifies a price at 10-20x more than some of these pieces...
I have the same watch. It looks great, has no defects that I can observe and keeps good time. Of course there are better quality watches out there, but for the price the Invicta is an excellent value, and the quality is good enough.
Hi, my name is Fernando and I have recently purchased a Phoibos Reef Master after watching a review video.
Unfortunately after receiving the watch I realised the bezel was misaligned and it was way off on accuracy running at + 56 s a day.
After having the watch for 7 days (purchased directly from Phoibos website) I wrote to their customer centre to notify the defects and was honestly expecting first for a replacement or second for the watch to be shipped back and properly fixed, however the first response from Phoibos was that there was nothing wrong with the watch, I was probably looking at the bezel from a angle and also that I didn’t know how to adjust the watch. I was really surprised with their response and told them to look at the video I did on their Facebook page and they came back saying that they couldn’t see anything wrong. I did a second video showing better the misaligned bezel and had a bunch of comments saying they it was clear on the first video but still, I tried again.
After many emails and videos sent to Phoibos they in the end told me that I could try to force a bit of back play on the bezel to realign and still insisted that I should try to set the watch again for accuracy (I am a watch collector for 20 years, feeling like the stupidest person in the world at that moment)
But if I really wanted it looked at that I could send the watch back.
As last, unfortunately if you have any problems with your watch you have to send it to China and can not declare its value as more than 30 dollars or it won’t get through China customs and also that they have no responsibility if anything happens so in summary if my or your watch doesn’t get back to them you only receive 30 dollars back from your insurance. Yes, what to do with that money.
I just think it would be nice to let people know my story so that they can think twice before o buying a Phoibos or they might end up with 30 dollars
Kind regards
Fernando
Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience Fernando. It is indeed disappointing and more reports like this are surfacing as Phoibos become more widely distributed. The watches they sent me have been ok until the Wave Master which had some QC issues. I did a review that was negative on these points... they have stopped sending me pieces. I don't regret it so much, I am gonna tell it like it is and integrity should not be for sale, but goes to show that manipulation of reviewers is real and does occur. Best regards! Ivan.
PS. Did you use PayPal for the payment? If so I would advise to try activating their bulletproof buyer protection. I strongly advise using PayPal whenever possible.
Invicta is a seiko nh 35 movements which is awsome. Hand winding hacking. Seiko. Used it in water & swimming. Awesome. Better tyen my Seiko 5.
It's a solid movement for sure... although ability to use in water is down to the case rather than the movement. Also whilst some Seiko 5 will still have a 7S movement, there are plenty with the 4R36 which is really the same movement as NH35.
My Invicta 8926 was bought as a bargain ex display, slightly scratched bezel. Less than 40 quid. Its performance befits a watch 3 or 4 times its price. I don't care for the Invicta marketing but it's an old Swiss watch brand so I don't hate it. I love it. Very accurate. Good lume on hands and bezel pip. Indices lume is poor. Seiko movement 24 jewel. Display back. Looks awesome. Less than a basic g shock. Amazing watch.
Thanks for sharing that - glad you have had a great experience with Invicta! :)
I've owned a #Steinhart Ocean One Black Ceramic (42mm) for several years now and I love it. I also own a Rolex Deepsea Sea Dweller and I still keep the Steinhart in rotation. It's well built, comfortable, works great (ETA 2824-2 movement not the newer one) and it looks awesome.
Thanks for sharing that - glad to hear you have enjoyed your Steinhart that much. Nothing wrong with the ETA 2824 - which newer movement do you mean?
Steinhart is now using an ETA 2824-2 Elaboré. I think the difference between the two is minimal.
Ah it was standard grade before? I have to say the Elabore grade regulation is impressively accurate! But overall reliability wise I would think there's not much difference.
They always have used the 2824-2.
They only use the Elabore or Top movements from ETA when they use ETA.
I love that u set all the watches to run together!! Even the second match 😮!!
Thanks for that - I chalk that up to my OCD! :)
Steinhart ovm version 1 gets my vote.
Good pick - interestingly that version seems to be appreciating in value!
i want to purchase that version in a 39mm but i can't find a "vintage" one like that :(
39mm would be nice... give them a bit of time, they just might do it... as you can see they're coming out with a range of 39mm watches these days.
Great review. I have several versions of the Invicta pro diver & like them all. The only problem with Invicta (to me) is they never tell you where any of their "factories " are which leads me to believe that there are none.
Thanks for that! Hahaha I love it... I think you mean there are none on earth, so perhaps they import off world and use an alien slave labor force? :)
Great review...I have the Invicta Pro Diver, no complaints, keeps great time and it's one of my favorites. I also have one of the first gen Ginault, I bought it as I just sold my Armida Mil Sub and bought the Ginault for its build quality and the glide lock clasp. Can't fault either for my needs as they both are solid. I might get a Steinhart 39 Vintage Red for its "Acceptable" status of homage but for now I'm happy with just wearing what I have. Btw I don't regret what I paid on the Ginault, I've paid more for a Mark || that I never personally bonded with. Wear what makes you happy.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences - much appreciated!
Thanks Ivan, you're right the Ginault is very nice, the problem for me is that I could have the OVM, Phoibos, and an Invicta to mod for a similar amount of money. The OVM comes in a 39mm now, which makes it more attractive and my 007 is just a really nice watch. Love the Ginault, but even at 850, I just couldn't justify it. To many other nice offerings.
Thanks again Derek - good thoughts those, and very logical. The issue expands in scale when considering a single $10k watch for example... how many pieces you might get instead!
You're right, I think it's all subjective and the watch you want is the best one for you. Personally, my limit is 500, and hopefully less. More than that, my wife gets angry and my kids complain that there's nothing to eat :(
Hahaha well, that last sentence... we all gotta get our priorities straight don't we? :D
I'm an avid watch collector and I have to say the Ginault is easily the best microbrand I've ever owned. Every detail on that watch is done right and its a pleasure to own. The Phoibos is a great value but there's no comparison and if you spent five minutes with these watches I'm sure you would agree.
P.s. The Ginault is easily the most accurate of these watches and is bascially COSC. The watch is extensively tested and adjusted before being shipped to you.
I've got the OB Invicta and I love it. Nice heft, Seiko movement and very accurate.
Thanks for sharing that... I reckon Invicta offer incredible value and is astounding for under $100! :)
Same here, mine has gained about 3 minutes in the last 17 days which I suppose isn't bad. These NH35A movements can be more fine tuned for accuracy relatively easily apparently,...although I'm not prepared to do that yet.
Well, when you're ready for it, I gotta a couple of videos that might help :)
I know invicta make some terrible quartz fashion watches but I have no problem wearing my Invicta submariner as often as my expensive Speedmaster, personally I have no problem with the logo stamped into the side.
Thanks for those thoughts - I mostly agree! :)
nice review mate. I really enjoy your balanced and calm vibe when reviewing watches. I have Seiko & Tudor divers mostly and the Steiny OVM and Maxi Dial OVM and they are both great! they're fun to wear. no issues with them, other than the clasp, which works fine but is a pain to open, but I've put them both on leather straps anyway. thinking about the 39mm version now
Thanks for the positive feedback - it's most appreciated! Good selection of watches you have it would seem... ah Tudor, the *ultimate* Rolex sub homage :)
They must have improved the Tevise. Mine I just got is black coated metal with a black, maybe anodized bracelet, and a one pusher clasp lock.
The only thing I have to complain about is the rotor of the moment. It needs too much force to rotate so it's pointless to put it on a wonder - it won't rotate and wind the spring that way. You really have to shake it strongly to make the rotor move.
Also the bezel alignment is OK on mine (it's usually a matter of the inlay being aligned properly before glued on AFTER the bezel is mounted).
I don't see the advantage in a 120 click bezel when all you do is timing by minutes, 60 clicks is just fine.
Thanks for sharing those observations. Actually I don't think there's been much difference... the clasp varies randomly it seems, and the rotor problem has been consistently reported by owners. The bezel alignment on mine was ok enough I didn't notice an issue.
To me 120 clicks is one of those things that's "nice to have". Like screw adjustment bracelets, solid end-links, perfect aligned bezels, glide-lock clasps... none are necessary but definitely great to have :)
Got one a week ago, the entire watch is black and the rotor takes so much effort to rotate.
It's aight for a daily beater but I'll fix my Invicta soon.
A $22 watch that claims to be COSC-certified. Seems legit
Haha yes, although it says "ceranometer" so my suspicion is that it's not related ;)
@@PerthWAtch PERLATIVE CERONOMETER, exactly
I bought the Tevise a few months ago as a bit of fun - it's amazing for the money but obviously does not stand up against the others in this review. I've also bought the latest version of the Phoibos and I love it. Quality is excellent (although I agree weakest point is the clasp). My Phoibos also has the octopus logo on the dial, which I love. I know some people hate the octopus tho.
Thanks for sharing that Chris. Glad you are enjoying the latest Phoibos. This version with plainer dial and shark case back seems somewhat cooler but I do hear the quality in the new one is better. Too bad Phoibos refuse to send me any more watches after I did a negative review of the Wavemaster :(
@@PerthWAtch the new one is absolutulely stunning! >10 coats of superluminova, sapphire, ceramic etc. Only weird thing is, so much AR coating that the black dial actually looks blueish.
Ah a pity I don't have one at hand to compare with the old model... that'd be an interesting juxtaposition to do!
Tevise - "Perlative Ceronometer". Classy.
Genius one might say :)
But, they are not lying there.
Haha yeah not a lie, just made up words! :)
Some of the other similar cheap models from Shark Army say "Superlative Chronometer"......It's the Chinese attempt (Albeit poor attempt) at using poorly translated English buzz words as a marketing strategy. Sort of like the dry cleaning business downtown that says "Super Cowboy Rocket Ship Clean Cleaners #1"
Actually I don't think it's translated... it's more likely to be deliberate use of made up words that sounds like the real "superlative chronometer" to mislead/deceive.
Great review! The problem I have with the Ginault aside from the odd pricing (and too high even if you get this arbitrary discount) is that it is a mystery watch. They can't or won't explain the movement nor their USA made claim. I cannot call it the best as who really knows what you are buying. If they had clear pricing like Steinhardt and were honest about the watch then maybe I would reevaluate its status.
Thanks for that - fair enough points about Ginault. I think the movement is clear enough - it's an ETA 2824-2 clone... as to how much of it is actually made in USA? Now that's the more mysterious part, but at face value they have directly stated that it majority manufactured and assembled in US with the exception of a few parts that had to be sourced from China.
Perth WAtch Thank you for your response. I know that NOOB watch makes a ETA clone movements from what I have read. Is this a Chinese made clone movement in the Ginault? And if you are charging $1400 or even $800 then it should be a real ETA movement. Who knows what quality the clone movement is.
Some would say it's Chinese... Ginault claim is US made. Whatever the case is, you're absolutely right in that we don't really know the quality, particularly in that it has no track record of reliability unlike real ETA movements. Although that may not be so dissimilar to a young company venturing to produce their own in-house movement for the first time... MontBlanc comes to mind.
Perth WAtch Thanks again! You have a great channel!
@@elarson312 Virtually all ETA 2824 clone base movements are made in China by Tianjin Seagull. That includes Sellita and Claro Semag 'Swiss' movements. It s highly likely that the genuine ETA 282 are also made in China and finished in Switzerland.
It is difficult to consider the Ginault due to the lack of transparency involved.
I went with the Steinhart. There are a couple things that they could have done better, but it isn't a major issue for me.
Yes absolutely fair point... I probably wouldn't have forked out personally myself, but others seem happy...
Nice selection of watches. After seeing quite a few reviews of the Invicta 8927 OB watch which many seem to like with few dislikes except for the watch snobs I have just ordered one from Amazon UK which should arrive in the next three days. The clincher for me buying it was it having the Seiko movement which is hackable and from all the reviews I have seen very accurate. The price was also another clincher at £69 reduced in a sale from £92, a bargain at that price and half that I would pay on Amazon for a Seiko 5.
As I don't particularly swim or dive with a watch the water resistant is not an issue. I wear a watch because I enjoy them, even the Seiko 5's that I have. Thanks for posting this interesting review of these homage watches.
Thanks for sharing that, that's great to hear! Well I'm sure you will enjoy the watch... Invicta are fantastic value for money, thus far still unparalleled in my experience! Cheers, Ivan.
Thanks for your reply Ivan. Since I received my Invicta 8927OB I am really enjoying wearing it, it's much nicer seeing it in reality and the accuracy is really good straight out of the box at around six seconds a day. I have now also purchased the Invicta 8928OB blue version and that is also a great watch for the price. Thanks again for your wonderful informative videos.
Very happy to hear that, glad you are loving it. The blue version is also very good looking, and IMO perhaps slightly more pretty! :)
I have invicta pro diver. Bought new for $70.00. Love it. Only flaw I found was lume - common issue low cost. But i just can take to local watch maker & it coss between $50 - $70.00 cnd.
Thanks for sharing that Vince... I reckon Invicta represents astounding value for under $100!
Them all being synchronised makes me strangely happy
Thanks - put that down to my OCD :)
I've noticed that as the vid started lol. Happy second hand sweeping!!!!
I have the Phobos great white, I didn’t buy it an “homage” a term that is new to me I just wanted a robust good looking dive watch. So far I am really happy with it. It did stop once on me, but I unscrewed the crown and Han wound it and it has been fine ever since. The bezel is really good better than some more expensive watches I have looked at, I was very tempted by the Steinhart but I think the Phobos is better value. Around the same time I also bought a Certina titanium DS action diver and that is extremely good too.
Thanks for sharing that John. When it stopped perhaps the power reserve had just ran down? Glad you have enjoyed it - many people have been critical about the lug finished and bezel seating in particular, so it seems there are some QC issues... mine has been fine also though. Cheers, Ivan.
Yes I think when it stopped it had run right down and I should of hand wound it some more. It does keep pretty good time. Cool your name is Ivan because my middle name is Ivan
Thanks for that John - how interesting... as I understand it Ivan is a Russian equivalent of John (?)! :)
Love the Steinhart OVM. One of the few watches I've sold and re-bought (since replaced w a Certina DS Action) Got the new Phoibos PY007 and Tissel Marine incoming to compare (and may both go back after owning nicer Sub homages). Glad to see some other options for a Sub here.
Thanks for that - all those are good options!
Perlative Cerenometer...
Might as well inscribe Superlaxative Ceremonial LOL
Hahahaha I love that!! :D
Nice to see them all lined up, thanks for the video. My choice would always be to save and save and save and get the real deal. It's a watch for a lifetime and an icon that will never die.
Thanks for that Watch On... a good sound approach I think - the Rolex should outlast anything here and will also hold value better than just about any other watch in the world.
The invicta is on sale for 54 and has a Seiko movement a steal at that price
Indeed, Invicta value is nigh on unparalleled!
Its 400 bucks here in Sydney wtf!
Sure it is, but *nobody* should pay MSRP, even for Rolex.
@@OLOLAK_7777 Australia has become outrageouly expensive compared to the early 90's
Waiting for an Invicta with an Invicta movement. Then maybe.
Great video and overview. I have the Steinhart in the OVM 39 version. If you are interested in buying the 39 get on the Gnomon Watches notification list as they will be back in stock in the spring. Cheers.
Thanks for that! The 39mm sure seems to be popular and in demand... thanks for the heads up about the notification list!
I recently bought the Tevise on the recommendation of another TH-camr. What a disappointment. The case back was shattered upon arrival and after cleaning out the broken bits eventually got it to work. It gained a minute per hour and the power reserve was under five hours. I bought the one with the green dial so people would know that it was not a fake Rolex (I have never seen a green Submariner in real life). For the same price point, one could buy a Casio MDV-106. It is actually a water resistant diver that is not pretending it is something that it is not.
Thanks for sharing your experience again... this sounds familiar, did you share this on my Tevise review also? Sorry to hear about that, it's very unsatisfactory... I hope you were able to get a refund for that. There is a green Rolex Sub actually... it's either an anniversary or limited edition, not common, but it exists. And yes, the Tevise is no dive watch... and I would caution anyone against using it even with showering.
Casio MDV-106 is twice the price point. You probably got a damaged product.
I have owned many different Incicta watches over the years and most of them being bought used from the pawn shops. That being said I have not one single complaint on any of Invicta's watches. There are of the highest quality for the money I've spent. I have owned Tissot, Tag, Omega, and Movado and my favorite watches by far are all Invicta especially their Swiss automatic movement's on certain models. I have recently bought and Android model ad553ak with a solid tungsten case and saphire crystal front and back. This is a far superior watch to anything I've owned so far including my fine Swiss time pieces. This watch is nearly indestuctable and is about 99% unscratchable in both the case and the crystal. Please do a review of these watches they are slightly higher priced with used ones around 150-200 USD but I think you'll find an amazing watch with some high end features at a reasonable price!!!!! Thanks for the great reviews by the way and I'm definitely going to give steinhart a try after seeing your comparison here!!!
Thanks for sharing that Jason... glad you have enjoyed Invicta watches as much as I have, they really are very difficult to surpass in terms of sheer bang for buck.
The Android watch looks interesting... however I'm not in a position to put money into watches for reviews, so will have to rely on one of my collaborators bringing it into stock, or someone to lend me one. Cheers, Ivan.
@@PerthWAtch Invicta are an enemy upon themselves. Some of there watches like the Pro Diver are well made with great movements at fantastic prices.
But!! Some of their models are just plain ugly & way, way to many. Also with there RRP pricing. Is really just plan stupid.
I have 2 Invicta's. a I-Force that I have had since 2011. Changed the battery once & keeps time really. really well. And a S1 Rally Chronograph.
Which is also a great watch and accurate to 1-2 secs a month...
Pick the right Invicta's. And they will keep very well for many years
Yes absolutely agree with that... they have way way too many models, numbering into hundreds which is ridiculous, and many have plain bad designs. And yep, that pricing strategy is weird, and something I can't make sense of... it's almost like a random number generator plays a role there!
Yep true.. Don't understand the whole of having a watch with a listed RRP of say $500. When everyone know's that you can easily get it for around the $100 mark..
@@PerthWAtch Hey Ivan,
If you're interested in doing a review I would be willing to let you borrow my Android for a week or whatever you need to review it I would be happy to mail my watch along with return postage so you could do a proper review and post it on you TH-cam channel. Let me know if that would interest you and if so we will get that plan in motion!!! Thanks!!!
Ivan, this is the first of your videos I've seen, and I must say I really enjoyed it. Also enjoyed the interesting comments you garnered over the 7 months since you put it up. I don't really have any complaints about your evaluations at all -- very thorough -- but do wish you could have included the MKII Nassau (I know, I know, you didn't have one to use). And also another line I've seen that looks quite nice, the Swiss-made Revue Thommen: I'd have loved to see it compared side-by-side with these other watches, particularly the Steinhart. The U.S.-assembled (Swiss mechanism) Nassau is about $900 with no date, the Revue Thommen about half that.
Thank you Roger for the detailed comment and good thoughts... those models are compelling indeed! I'm not currently in a position to procure watches directly for review but if I do come across those I would definitely pit them head to head against an appropriate competitor such as a Steinhart. Cheers, Ivan.
Have the steinhart ovm 1.0.
Just love it.
The style, the quaility is great from 2014 not served yet but still keeps great time. 👍
Thanks for that - I do like the style of the ver 1.0 OVM... I believe that's actually appreciating in value on the secondary market, something that's not easy to achieve for a micro-brand. The ETA 2824 movement is a reliable workhorse and will usually go well beyond 10 years before needing attention (although brands recommend 5 year service I think).
HARD to beat the reliability of an Invicta Automatic, they virtually go on forever...
Thank you again Seiko :)
I’ve had 3 Invictas, and they’re horrible watches, but hey look good but that’s about it. Steinhart is 100 times better watch.
You should look into gigandet! Seiko NH35a sub homages with 300m waterproofing, really hefty watch, great finishing, great bezel and accuracy for their 149€ MSRP. I would say it's the best value of all the sub homages, honestly.
Thanks for that - I have heard vaguely before and have now taken a closer look... the movement is the same as the $70 Invicta, accuracy is highly variable usually but can be "great", otherwise materials wise doesn't look to be any better... apart from 300m WR (which doesn't make a difference for 99.99% of people) I'm not sure at all that it's better than the Invicta... but if one comes to hand I will be sure to compare them!
Hi, what is the best budget purchase, Invicta or Phoibos?
No absolutely right answer here I think... they are both very good buys and you get what you pay for :)
@@PerthWAtch Thx 😉
I'will try with the Invicta..
All the best - I'm sure you'll enjoy it :)
Does the tevis function properly when swimming at a depth of 5 meters?
Haha yes it will function until enough water gets in to stop it working :)
Seriously I don't think it will stand the test of swimming on the surface!
Hi... Any thoughts on the Phoibos and Tissel homages?... How closer or less close are these to the real thing than the Stainhart?
The Tisell is very close to the Phoibos and would make an excellent head to head comparison if ever I get one in hand :)
I have a invicta 8928 coin edge runs at about + 5 seconds a day no problems for over 2 years.
I would have liked to see the invicta Swiss made pro Diver with the eta 2824 for about 225 . A lot of upgrades over the cheaper Pro diver please consider doing a review on that walk thank you very much
Thanks for sharing that. The Swiss Made Invicta - isn't that with a Sellita movement? Anyway it's a no brainer for me... I will *definitely* review it if it comes across my hands! My review pieces generally come from collaborations and people who are willing to lend to me :)
Perth WAtch don’t think so .but I could be wrong
Perth WAtch you can get them on eBay but you have to be very careful for fakes.. You can get them also on Evine live It’s a shopping station kind of like QVC or something like that and they also have an app for android and Apple
Oh yeah I know where to get it if I wanted to actually buy one... what I meant was I don't buy watches much these days as there are plenty of collaboration pieces coming in. I have some choice sometimes but more well known brands are generally borrowed from people I know.
Well done review. You did this several months ago but I just watched it. Thank you for pulling these comparisons together.
Thanks for that Steve - glad you enjoyed it :)
Good vid, i've got the Steinhart OVM mk1 with the 200m on the face and case back, keeps great time and looks the part too. The bezel is the best looking one around with all second markers, wish more manafactuers would do the same. The OVM, so simple and basic looking it's stunning.
Thanks for sharing.
PS. It's "OVM"
Oops.. my bad..
As Homages go, a primo replica should not be overlooked. Invicta the best of the lineup, 40m, comfy on wrist, and best Rolex look, NH mvmnt a winner and almost free ($80). Most do not buy any of the 5 to dive. Although quartz not mentioned, the Casio Duro Marlin is a beauty. Enjoyed and subed. JP in LA
Thanks for those comments and for the support - much appreciated! Some good insights you have shared there! I reviewed the Duro not so long ago too - it's a good one! Cheers, Ivan.
I own 3 Steinharts and can't recommend them enough. Fantastic value for money. Swiss made with a Swiss movement and great build quality. Just go and buy 1 before they increase in value due to ETA supply drying up....
Thanks for that - yeah that's a good point about potential tightening of ETA supply!
My newly purchased invicta (same model as above ) has tendency to stop despite proper energy reserve, any explanations?
Hi there. Might be a sticky crown stem that's not engaging well, or a problem with the oscillator... either way you should be able to get a replacement if it's problematic like that.
Invicta have so many models it's impossible to distinguish them.
Some are very similar - can always see the model number on the case back :)
I would with out a doubt purchase an Invicta watch. Does anyone know how well their shipped and delivered or even perhaps their delivery system?
Standard post with courier option I would assume
Regarding "Swiss Made" on the Steinhart. Only 60% of the final value of the movement, not of the entire watch, help qualify for the "Swiss Made" label. That movement must then be put inside a case in Switzerland. There are no rules on where the case or other parts has to be made. Other than one Swiss made wheel the rest of the parts in the watch could be Made in China and still qualify as "Swiss Made" under Swiss law as long as a couple simple rules are followed. To qualify as "Made in USA", every major part of the watch has to be Made in USA: the bracelet, the case, the bezel, the entire movement, the crystal, the dial, etc. The Made in the USA standard is far harder to meet then the Swiss Made. If you ask, Ginault is open regarding which continents their parts come from yet still receive tons of hate. On the flipside no one demands parts sources from Steinhart and don't question how such a super low retail price is even possible from such an expensive European country. In any case the true test of a watch is how well it keeps time and for a diver watch how well it holds up underwater. Ginault and Steinhart certainly do well for both.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share those details Chris! You make some very good points about the nature of what Swiss Made actually means - that is, less than what many may think! And conversely also how much more stringent US Made is. Some of the controversy surrounding Ginault is in the suspected deception that is being performed - there is no phone number to contact them, and no address... and the company registered address apparently goes to a PO box (?). Combined with the language used in their blog posts some suspect they are actually a Chinese company. Nonetheless, I am mostly interested in the result, and there is no denying the Ocean Rover is excellent. I don't think it's worth $1400 but it's definitely the best of this bunch IMO. How the movement holds up, time will tell. Cheers, Ivan.
Chris Sullins I think some of the early Ginault watches actually said “Made In America” but they had to change it to “Hand Built in America”. Which is nice to see and honestly can’t be a cheap endeavor. The watch and whole kit is very nice and classy well put together. I factor the thoughtful presentation, box, paperwork, extra strap, and the included screwdriver as part of the price. Factoring in the Ginault’s discount, I think you could spend more only to get a watch that includes a zipper case :). I hope Ginault can stick around as I imagine the watch biz is pretty tough/competitive.
I'm wearing a Ginault no-date as I reply today. I received mine last year with a substantial discount and the watch has performed consistently with only one minor regulation for my personal preference. Give the company's corporate registration info I would suspect there's at least a Chinese-American involved at some level. This is fine in a nation that welcomes immigration. If Ginault can make further investment in expanding their production in the USA, that would be great. I have no idea how their sales are doing now, but I think they should have made the original MSRP $999 and then offered it with flash discounts on any given day directly on their website. I hope to see Ginault offer the same movement in a plain stainless steel case (CNCed in the USA) on a leather or nylon Nato (also made in the USA). This would probably get them close enough to "Made in the USA" on the dial (which would have to be done here as well). The dial should have nothing other than simple markers, date, the Ginault name, the logo, and Automatic. I'd also offer a dress version in solid14k gold as a limited edition without slapping on a ridiculous premium.
Thanks for those thoughts Chris - there are some great ideas there, perhaps someone from Ginault will check out fan comments in videos like these! I think $999 may well have hit it off a lot better. I think having a company started by migrants is fine, absolutely no issue with that... what is not fine is if there is actually deception here as some suspect, although of course this is unproven and I am inclined give the benefit of doubt. I look forward to what they might come up with next!
Ginault just did a new release over the weekend. Some reviewers/owners got a heads-up on the new model. (I was not one of them). Looks like they take feedback into account.
I believe phobies used to say the billions of dollars of watch parts made in Cina & shipped to Switzerland begs the question how much of Swiss made is truely Swiss. Remember the trade definitions of made in are very creative.
The requirement for "Swiss made" IIRC is that 50-60% of the value cost of creating the watch is incurred in Switzerland, and that it is cased up in Switzerland. I think it used to be 50% but has been increased to 60% some time ago. I also think this is much less meaningful than say man-hours of manufacturing a watch, which if such a metric is used may in fact show that only 10-20% is incurred in Switzerland...
Unless we are talking about brands that are known to make all the parts in house like Rolex, Swiss made doesn't mean much. To meet the requirements, the bracelet and case can be sourced in China to be assembled with the parts.
Yep, even most the movement parts can be sourced from elsewhere. In my reading, one could pay a Swiss “master” $100 to put in a wheel on a $160 movement (with everything else made elsewhere) and still meet requirements!
Which one has the best mechaanics movement ?
Steinhart
what do you guys think about smart watches?
Many enthusiasts consider them mobile phone extensions rather than watches as such. Certainly no long term value in terms of horology, and also only short term value in terms of function and becoming obsolete...
Also, there is a CORGEUT homage to Tudor BB with miyota non-hacking movement. The problem with cheap Asian watches like Tevise here are the main and balance springs. These are the most complicated part of any mechanical watch in regards of materials used for its production. It must be made of a special thermo and magnetic resistant alloys and must provide a constant vector of power when its winded tight or when its loose. a good balance spring costs at least 10 dollars to make and that what you will not find in a 20 dollars watch. Unless its a Vostok LOL
Thanks for those insights! Very helpful to know and true to my understanding also. Good point about the cost of a good balance spring... Vostok don't cost $20 do they??
$12.32 an approximate production price for the 31 jewels Vostok movements.
That, my friend, is simply *incredible* !
I want to try out a Tevise, am reluctant to go for any of the gold versions simply as some of these Chinese watches have like a painted on gold that washes off on a damp morning but I do like the Tevise automatic chrono in gold and black in a subbie type setting. I would love to know if the Tevise gold tone is resilient or not. Recently acquired with the intention of nicking the bezel and strap a Military Royale "subbie" homage, £13.88 for a automatic with overwind slipper, clean glass and clear date lens, bezel is metal insert and its keeping startlingly good time so its now a wearer with the only difference to the Tevise being a non sunburst black dial and the name.
The Tevise gold is not resilient and will come off on a good scratch, but will be OK on damp mornings :)
Hi Perth! Is there any invicta pro diver model of different color with rolex submariner?
Hope you can answer me!✌️
Yes there is
Oh really? Let me know Perth! I have been searching one for my collection!!!
Btw, thanks for ur review and reply!👍
Just search for Invicta Pro Diver on my channel or on Google mate.
Its all matter of taste and of course budget but If you know how to mod a watch, invicta would be a best choice all of these 5 watches or if you dont know how, just get a phoibos or steinhart.
Thanks for that - you make good points! Curious to know - what particular mods have you tried out on an Invicta? I haven't opened that "can of worms" myself for fear that even more time will disappear into this hobby! :)
Perth WAtch superlume dial and hand sets you can check dagaz watch for that, and of course remove that ugly invicta logo with dremel :) there are couple -how to- videos on youtube.
Thanks for getting back about those - useful to know for when I venture in that forest :)
Owne the steinhart for 3 years now,still going strong! Is it my favorite watch? No but its a great watch for the money.
Inventory & storing of inventory counts toward origins. I have calculated many items in trade sales.
I have an Invicta Pro Diver (8926OB). Here is my experience with this watch:
1) SUPER accurate. The last time I zeroed it out against the Internet's atomic clock, was 10 days ago. I just checked it now, and it's less than 2 seconds out. For an automatic movement, this is FAR better than even what Rolex claims. The Submariner loses or gains ±2 seconds per DAY. You can't knock the Invicta for its performance as a time keeper.
2) Super comfortable on my wrist.
3) Looks just as good as the Rolex. (I don't care about the branding, but I do enjoy a pretty watch, which this certainly is.)
4) 1% of the price of the Rolex.
5) Gets mistaken for a Rolex all the time.
I don't care what anyone says. Anyone who trashes the Invicta for being low quality, is simply showing his ignorance. I love this thing!
Nice review.. My favorite homage is the Giganet Sea Ground G2 007 Vintage .. Quality build and performance and look on the wrist. for 190USD .. In my opinion on par with Steinhart..The only down side is the mineral crystal.. That said good for 300m
Thanks for that - others have mentioned Gigandet also, and it seems very fair for the price... however, on par with Steinhart? Just to note Steinhart pieces which start at around twice that price have (along with aforementioned sapphire) ceramic inserts (most models), screw link bracelets, and use Elabore grade Swiss ETA movements which are typically amazingly well regulated. I think Gigandet is more comparable to Invicta to be honest...
Or Blancpain 50 fathoms homage, because i have heard a few people say the Rolex sub was a 50 fathoms homage?
Kind of, but no question these are more a directly copy of Sub design features.
I have sold under NAFTA for decades. Its in the details of how that is calculated. What is added in, ie warehousing, inventory, even workers uniforms get into calcs. How long inventory is in said country, list is long.
Great review Perth Watch, you kept me interested the whole time even if I am not into homage pieces. I definitely am of the opinion that Steinhart offers the most quality/dollar (in spite of the bracelet).
Thanks for that Daniel - yeah I think the mid range here is a very sweet spot in the value proposition... the Phoibos is pretty darn good too! Cheers, Ivan.
Take a look at the Phoibos 300 m quartz diver. Model number -002. Best watch I have ever owner, most gorgeous, most accurate, best fit and finish, perfect size, amazing lume light blue. Love it. Cost? Got mine for $119 on Amazon. Awesome watch!
Awesome, thanks for sharing that, glad you've had a great experience with the Watch! :)
Bought that same watch used from eBay for $70. LOVE IT!
That quartz watch is the best value! Period.
I like and subscribed because you are thorough, detailed and include reference material that follows your video and shifts on index. Easy subscription decision and work ethics like yours should be rewarded!
Thank you very much for the encouraging comment - I am glad you found this helpful! :)
The big problems with all these watches, even after you consider the basic quality/value proposition, are (a) quality control and (b) serviceability. For example, I have an Invicta Pro Diver virtually equivalent to the one shown here. The NH35A arrived showing amplitudes (fully wound) no better than 255 degrees in any position, and rates of -5.1 to -30.6 in 6 major positions, showing poor regulation at the factory. The result is the watch runs -20 on the wrist if you wear it daily and place it dial down overnight.
Within the first 24 hours, the luminous pip in the bezel at the 12 o'clock position fell out.
In a few months, the bezel action went from stiff to totally jammed.
Crown thread action has been just fine, and the watch has survived several episodes in water with no trace of any problem. It is tough.
I paid about $75 US for mine, and at that price it simply wasn't worth the hassle of returning.
One of my students had an Invicta 9937 with an ETA 2824-2 movement. The case quality and finishing on his watch were better than mine, although I've seen some reports that that is no longer true with the current 9937. He paid roughly $250 for his. His was running a very consistent +4 to +6 on the wrist. Nice!!
The point is, many people have had better luck with their Invicta 8926-type watches than I have. You can get a great deal with an Invicta. But a simple movement cleaning and overhaul for an Invicta cost more than a new Invicta, so this is a 1-time purchase. And as my experience proves, their quality control might not be the best.
What about serviceability and quality control with these other brands? It is difficult to say. The problem is, if you get a lemon, what do you do?
In my case, I might open the case on my Invicta and regulate it. However, based on my experience with Seiko movements, regulation is a mistake during the first year of ownership, as the movement has some definite "break in" characteristics. Moreover, you have to let it settle in for at least 2 weeks following any movement of the regulator.
I have a Seiko 5 Superior 7S36 that is 16 years old, has never been serviced, and still has very respectable timing results! And the lume on it is better now than the Invicta was new.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share those helpful insights Jim! I think you make some excellent points about QC and serviceability, both of which I would say are real issues for the cheaper 3 of these watches. In Tevise it goes without saying... it's a throw away as soon as it develops any problem that can't be tolerated. Phoibos have reports of QC issues and unfortunately after-sales service experiences have not been good.
If the problem is a regulation issue with a Seiko or Miyota movement I personally would regulate it myself, but of course this isn't something everyone will be happy to do, and -20 sec/day would be intolerable for some. Having said that however, a good watchmaker in my local area could improve it for a small price, around $10-20.
I would also say that the things that I have heard about Steinhart after-sales service have been excellent - they appear to be quite responsive. Ginault - now that's more of an unknown quantity. I await to hear from more others!
Cheers, Ivan.
Ivan, thanks. I forgot to begin my comment by thanking you for an excellent review! Lots of very useful information.
thanks for the review. I'm leaning towards steinhart ocean 1
Most welcome bro :)
Ser Guitarist ive got mine coming tomorrow. very cheap for what youre getting
awesome, will be getting mine this Sunday
The trick with Steinhart. Remove the magnifying glass and put on a great rubber diving strap. Done ✔️ it looks great.
Looks great as is ;)
Hi! I saw your video. Very nice. What do u think about Tevise? I want to buy Tevise, 22 dollars?! Is it worth...price and quality?!
Check out my full review of the Tevise and see what you think :)
Almost bought the tevise because I love all submariner homages but the perlative cerometer thing just made me burst laughing so its a no no it would just have been better if they put automatic thats it what a shame
Haha yeah fair enough... well I can tell you you're not missing out on a whole lot by giving the Tevise a miss :)
The first one, as regular watch nothing more is it good?
Not really very good - check out my full review
@@PerthWAtch Yeah i have read more about it, i find pagani would be best, i just need 'line' from somebody to bring it to me, because shipping to my country is more expensive than watch..
As I read the comments, it still amazes me that people have the preconceived notions they have about Invicta. Invicta makes watches for just about everyone. Yes, they make the oversized, ghetto watches with huge MSRPs but they also make some really nice watches. Even their quartz watches come in different quality levels. Many of them use Swiss Ronda movements. I have 3 Pro Divers, 2 with the NH35A and one with a Miyota automatic movement. I have a Grand Diver with the NH35A, and I have an Invicta Reserve Diver 6883 that has an SW200 movement in it. It is an amazing watch for the $350 I paid for it 8 years ago. Applied certified diamond markers and an EXTREMELY well-made bracelet, too. All of the Invictas have nice fit and finish, signed crowns, and many things reviewers on here bust on other watches for not having. I wear them along with my 13 Seiko divers on a regular rotation and no one ever mentions my watches. As a big fan of Seiko, I look at watches and I never see anyone wearing an SKX, Turtle, etc. So buy what you want and wear what you like!
Thanks for sharing that - yes I do think Invicta offer rather astounding value and quality for the price. IMO the 40mm Pro Diver remains one of the very best watches you can possibly get for under $100.
Interesting that you never see anyone wearing those Seiko's - I have seen numerous SKX, Turtles, and Sumos on other wrists in my time... although admittedly have yet to see anyone else sporting a Monster or a Samurai.
Skx all day and twice on Sunday.. Invicta extremely poor quality on everything on there pro diver 8926 , except for the movement, and that's because it's a Seiko
Thanks for sharing those thoughts wimpy baby. Interesting to hear... taking a closer at an Invicta you might discover the rather astounding quality that they do offer. Granted the lume is lousy, and end links are hollow (so is the SKX), but in most other aspects it is surprisingly good!
Rolex is overpriced. All these watches have better value than Rolex Sub. You don't need to spend 8k-20k for a Rolex Sub.
Thank you for the comment - I'm sure you're not alone in feeling that sentiment! :)
You can wear a Rolex too in the near future.
I have worn one in the past and I can wear one right now (just gotta fetch it from the safe)... what's your point?
Thats what people who cant afford the real thing say.
@@Oakleyworld
The average Rolex buyer is actually (lower) middle class. Most buyers live in households with a total income between annual $50-100K.
www.statista.com/statistics/248172/affluent-americans-who-owned-rolex-jewelry/
Rich people generally buy moderately priced watches such as Seiko or Citizen or (expensive) brands the average person has never heard of.
Excellent review. I have two Steinhart. I ordered directly from the them a jubilee bracelet. I love that the Steinhart bracelets have screws. But they have a drawback. The bracelet I received was machined so tightly I basically had to ruin the bracelet to get the screws out. It was a disaster. Done by machine of course. Very frustrating. I made such a ruckus with Steinhart about it I think they are going to make good on it, but a huge waste of time n frustration. I got email from Mr. Steinhart himself. They need to rethink how tight the machines are winding those screws. It's a mess...
Is it done by machine? I thought it wasn't... some bracelets have some sort of locking adhesive when they ship. That's caused me to damage some in the past.
@@PerthWAtch agreed. I now have 5 steinharts, love the quality
Fantastic review. It was really nice to see all of these in one place, going head to head; I especially liked the spreadsheet at the end. Thank you for a great video :)
Thanks for that Jeff! Glad you enjoyed it and found it informative! :)
Couldn't agree more! Fabulous!
Thanks, happy to hear you liked it :)
I own a Rolex and recently purchased a stienhart ocean one 39, to see what the hype was about. I have to say I am very impress with the quality. I love wearing it. I highly recommend the stienhart Ocean 1 39mm for those who want To experience what a Rolex would feel like on your wrist.
Thanks for sharing that - it is helpful to know that the Ocean One 39mm feels very close to a Rolex!
The Ginault was made by a Replica Modder, his name is Thomas Caddel. He makes in the last 10 years 5 digits replica watches.
Thanks for that - yep, I read that article too ;)
@@PerthWAtch I know Thomas Caddel very well, I can tell you, that the Ginault models is the same like his TC Sub. Just new hands were installed. Thats it
Cool! You're a mate of his?
Surprised the Loreo submariner homage didn't make this comparison considering what it offers for a comparatively cheap price.
I might've grabbed it for the comparison if I saw one lying around the house ;)
Absolutely and without doubt, no one here would ever shell out the coin to sport an actual Rolex 5517 MilSub... so wear those Steiny OVM’s with pride and confidence!👌
Have you looked at Loreo as an inexpensive diver automatic. They claim German technology but its Chinese, though not so cheap as Tevise, about the same price as Invicta. I would like to know your opinion, if you know about them.
Haven't come across Loreo myself actually, but certainly will take a closer look if one comes across my hands. Have you tried looking on a good forum like WUS? Usually can find some helpful feedback there.
I should be getting my Sewor soon. Its been over month since I ordered it.
Haha well I hope it arrives soon and in good order for you! I held back getting one of those as I can't stand the name - seriously why didn't they get some feedback on that!?
Latrine was taken. 🤣
I hate to admit it, but I really like the Ginault. I would love to own one ,but to me it is too expensive for what it is. If it were half the price I would buy one at some point. The Rolex Submariner doesn't really do it for me for quite a few reasons, even though they are great watches. I just like how the Ocean Rover is like the Rolex's greatest hits! If the price was right I would definitely be owning one even though that is a very controversial watch.
Good news is that they are frequently available for heavy discounts, sometimes close to 50% off, so it's worth keeping an eye out! :)
I imagine you live in Perth Australia correct? Do you know if there are any SEIKO authorised dealers in the city? All I see is stores selling fashion watches.
Hi there John! Yep, right here in Perth WA! The idea of an AD for Seiko is rather different to that of Swiss brands. So in fact *Angus & Coote* are one of their main local distributors. Yep they have some "fashion" brands but that doesn't affect Seiko. *The Watch Spot* also comes up listed, heck even *David Jones* is a "premium" seller. The fact is, even if you picked it up from Prouds you would still have the usual warranty coverage (and it wouldn't be a fake). Cheers, Ivan.
Perth WAtch cool I will be visiting Perth on Wednesday through to the week after next week. So I will check them out. I live in China atm and the nearest dealers are in Shanghai an hours flight away. Of course I could just buy online but I want to see the Seiko Samurai before I decide to buy it. Thanks for your advice.
No worries mate - all the best!
Phoibos wins compared to Steinhart and Ginault imho. Another great vid. Thanks for sharing !
Cheers man, glad you enjoyed the video :)
I never leave my watches on their bracelts. As soon as I get them , they put on Nato or mesh. Hate bracelets & don't like leather.
Well I can say that you're definitely not alone there... many people do seem to swap bracelets out for straps as soon as they get the watch.
I've only just noticed that the Invicta doesn't have the number 10 on the bezel, that's pretty bizarre
Nah, not bizarre at all actually when you consider that this scalloped bezel style is inspired by the Omega SMP 300M bezel.
Great vid! I have a Tisell Marine Diver what are your thoughts on it? 😊
Thanks for that - I think Tisell is very much the competition point that the Phoibos is targeted at. I have heard that it is an excellent watch. If I get my hands on one, I shall definitely do a comparison video between the two!
Perth WAtch Defiantly, Sapphire crystal, excellent cyclops great lume for around €260 not bad only thing is the bezel action is a bit rough and the rotor is loud but I like hearing it working, i'd love to see that thanks man 😊
I guess the Tisell Marine Diver would be somewhere in between the Phoibos and the Steinhart, but closer to the Steinhart than the Phoibos end of the scale.
I would say it's pretty much a direct rival to the Phoibos... with main difference being a better bracelet (yet the Tisell has been slightly cheaper). Steinhart is a level above these.
Wouldn't it be interesting when there is homage for the handmade GS, whether 9S, 9R, or 9F?
Are you referring to a Grand Seiko homage? Which model did you have in mind?
@@PerthWAtch Any, and, 9S would 63,64, 85, 86 to be specific.
Have you reviewed any monta divers? I love their sky quest offering!
No haven’t had a Monta yet... I keep meaning to reach out to them...
What size bracelet do the Tevise use ??
Are you referring to the lug width? That would be 20mm.
Perth WAtch its if i want to chance the strap to another one in leather? Then am i correct it most be one in 20mm
Yes that's correct.
how do you set the seconds on the tevise watch
“Back wind hacking”
Perth WAtch i trued this but i have a tevise and it doesn’t work what do i do
Try when power reserve is low... once wound up more you can’t do it
i gave $600 for my Ginault, i just sent the company an email and said whats the cheapest you can let one of those watch go for? guy was like $600 and i was like ok sold. best dive watch around hands down! why you braggin about that $5000 sub boy? you over paid for it!! rubs Ginault in his face LMAO!
Thanks for posting that - very good to know! There you go guys, the Ginault available for $600 on direct request! :)
the invicta has the best nh35 movement across any microbrands. keeps time under 10 seconds deviation per month which is incredible. it's built like a tank, and it looks and feels like a rolex. the only thing i would change about it is the lume
Maybe yours just happens to work well but the next one you buy will likely be +10 seconds a day or so (mine are more like that). It’s well built and sure looks like a Rolex (after all, it’s a copy!) but certainly does not feel like one when you hold it in hand. I would also change the crystal.
My invicta is running -15 seconds a day. New invictas accuracy can be worse!
Where do the Orient Ray II and the Parnis fit in this line-up?
Orient doesn't fit IMO, it's much more an original design. Parnis would match closely against Invicta.
I have a Steinhart pepsi gmt. I can tell you that you are getting away with theft on these things going sub $600. Some people complain about the lugs not curving. They do curve, it's not like you're wearing a flat slab of steel on your wrist. I actually appreciate them not using the "maxi case" design. They already get wanked for making homages, and people complain about their more original case design lol of course they do.
Thanks for the sharing that perspective!
Most informative, thank you.
Most welcome!
There is a general trend to down grade press metal bracelet clasps, those not being machine milled. In the past, all Rolex bracelet clasps were metal pressed, and nobody complained about them. Nowadays, a 70's steel submariner with pressed metal bracelet clasp sells over 15,000$. There is not a soul who would turn down a vintage Submariner because of it's bracelet.
What’s your point?
If by “down grade” you mean “criticise”, then yes, that’s because pressed metal in watches suck.
“Not a soul” would pass on a vintage Sub because it’s free money and you’d be stupid to do so. That doesn’t mean the pressed metal doesn’t suck - IT DOES.
And “not a soul” would disagree that the current modern bracelets are tonnes better than the old clasps because the old stuff suck ;)
Would have loved to see the Squale1545 in there....
Yeah, good point, the Squale would've been nice to have... alas I don't know anyone who has one I could've used...
I actually LIKE the Invicta lettering on the side of the watch. I like the brand, and I like script as decoration in general. I'm not ashamed of telling anyone that I own an Invicta. I do agree though, that the lume is very poor. Pointless, really. haha
Steinhart watches are the best hommage available their 39 and 42mm fit and finish are outstanding their eta movements are as good as any on the market at a reasonable price point.
They are one of the best for sure. People also bring up Squale very frequently. The Ginault is no slouch either.
Another great video! I love how Invicta haters complain about the case branding yet if their beloved Rolex watches had no visible branding they would not even consider the watch.
I can understand the gripe people have about the case branding but I don’t mind it so much myself
Entertaining video 👍 thanks Ivan 😁
Thanks James - glad you enjoyed it :)