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 Invicta - INV3049 (Size: men) By: Invicta Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 1 More Information Large Scale 8928a  by: mikiehorn On: 2006-04-01 Purchased the GD two tone blue bezel 5 weeks ago and have mixed feelings about the watch. My school colors (WVU) are blue and gold - and a watch this size was just what (I thought) the doctor ordered. Case The 47mm case is big and bold ss - well crafted with Invicta inscribed on the left side of the case and "Grand Diver" on the right with the crown separating the words. There is no decoration (cabochon?) on the gold plated crown as there is on the OGII chrono. The Invicta Blue watch dial covers a large swatch of real estate and looks real snazzy. Trinite lume is better than some - but still modest for a "diver". Indices and hands are readable and in good proportion for such a large watch. Helmet Head on the dial and two helmets on the end links carry the Grand Diver Theme. The blue enamel bezel on a background of "copper gold" is scalloped - as is its little 8928a brother and moves (unidirectionally and) freely at 120 clicks around. Exhibition back of mineral glass shows an undecorated Miyota 8215 rotor - again very much as does the 8928a. The case lugs have modest curvature for such a large watch - and does not sit comfortably as it could on my wrist. Constant mini-adjustments have helped - but there is a too large a gap at the top of the case near the end links around the wrist bone. Others may not have this problem. Crystal Mineral Glass crystal is large and seems to have some anti-reflective material somewhere in the mix. Sapphire would have been nice for the asking price... oh well... Cyclops is small and has almost no useful magnification. On a watch face this large - the miniscule cyclops with at best a 1.5x magnification looks tiny and the date is hard to read unless you are dead on to the watchface. Without a doubt- my biggest disappointment. This was an easy one and with all that watchface area to play with - the Invicta designers blew it (IMHO). Movement The Citizen/Miyota workhorse has found yet another home with the Grand Diver. It is a good automatic timekeeper - some of mine running as little 4 to 5 seconds fast daily (unadjusted)... My only grumble is a huge markup for such a movement. $239 for this watch is a little steep if one is logical about this purchase. Bracelet Lovely and heavy pinned stainless steel link - with solid end links sporting the "Helmet Head" trademark. The gold plated center links looks real uptown when new - but as in almost every Invicta ss bracelet the center polished links are prone to scratching. My 15 month old 8928a has scratched on these gold links. The plating has held - but the scratches are visable. The heavyweight bracelet has a double foldover safety clasp, and again as in most Invictas - no wet suit deployment clasp - as is found on the Seiko MONSTERS in a similar (lesser) price range. All pinned bracelets should be throughly rinsed with gentle soapy water and dried after any use in salt water to prevent spring pin "rot". Overall Id like to give this monster 4 stars of 5 but it falls short because of price, no sapphire crystal and the use of a Miyota 8215 at this pricepoint. Its lugs need more curve for my wrist (which comfortably sits the BIG Invicta SAII 3 hand Im wearing) to smooth out too much spacing at the wristbone. I enjoy the watch - like the looks - love the bracelet but wish it were a more comfortable fit. I like the 8928a just a hair more for a substantially smaller price. This GD is an indicator of style - as the 8928 is now only a MEDIUM size diver - where about two years ago - it was considered a BIG watch. The impression of the two tone is Blue and Gold - and BIG. It looks like someone did an enlargement to scale from the 42mm 8928a to the 3049 47mm case - but hurried the details. Fit and finish on my GD are excellent - Invicta Blue and Gold are colors hard to turn down. Should you buy the watch? Yes - if you like the two tone blue/gold and like to have it served to you 47mm large. The heavyweight bracelet looks great- but history says it will show wear early and often on those center links. The blue watch face - is... BLUE - and you cant have enough Invicta blue (for my tastes)... At a $199 or less pricepoint it starts to become a much more attractive dive watch. Find out more about affordable watches sold on Amazon at WISTalk.com or InvictaTalk.com ... |