Sea Hunter, No Spin Zone!

2manywatches

Tyme Machine
Joined
Jul 23, 2019
Messages
2,749
Getting back to the order of older arrivals, this is one I’ve had for a while now and it’s a model not easy to find, and one I somehow missed in my many Invicta travels.

I’ll start out by saying something that I know is a sacrilege to say, but I kinda wish my Breitling had the chunkiness of this one!

There’s something just very satisfying about the build of this very low priced Invicta, and it has tremendously satisfying wrist presence.

Let’s check it out….

I’ve been swooping up Sea Hunter Propeller models, wholly ignorant of the predecessor of the design.

7X78L5s.jpg


I had only heard of a fairly massive Sea Hunter edition, a 70mm or something of that ilk, but, when watching a video review of a recent Propeller model that I wound up buying, the one in blue I posted recently, there was reference to this “newer design” having finally answered the call for the propellers to spin, instead of just be decorative, as on the prior 50mm model.

So, I’m thinking, wait, there’s a 50mm model of this? I need to know more!

Found a rare one, brand new, on the ‘bay, price was right, it looked pretty spiffy, and it sports an ETA G10 inside, wow! How about them apples??

As much as I love the new spinner propellers, this one really is great beast of a watch. I mean, just the thickness of the bracelet links -- YES!

Here it is, the Pro Diver Master of the Oceans, below the newer version, and I now know where the propeller inspiration comes from, thanks to the (not spinning, but very well detailed) propeller accents in the crown, and visible through the case back.

IjCgZKE.jpg


DSnVR7L.jpg


7te7nLR.jpg


49QZH5i.jpg


This just has a very marine feel to it, like a beefy little submersible perched on the wrist.

38SkcHk.jpg


I’m loving the predominantly brushed finish, graced with polished center links for a little shine, the black, poly bezel ring (very grippy – wonderful bezel here, but of course the poly will probably disintegrate at some point, lol), jet black dial, and just a no frills, black and silver colorway that lends to the purposeful look.

4SbI6PL.jpg


YDy5y3D.jpg


TOsYrMb.jpg


004T8h0.jpg


50mm case of course, 300m WR, seriously beefy bracelet with scissored clasp, Flame Fusion crystal, outstanding fit on the wrist, screw down crown and pushers, and, naturally, the wonderful propeller accents, more Jacques Cousteau than wrist circus show, haha.

Bhav83w.jpg
p7f162m.jpg


TdqsYMI.jpg


And, the Swiss (or, Swiss “assembled” at least) G10 gives that great quick snap reset, just like my Tissot models, while offering 10 hours of elapsed split-time tracking, 1/10th seconds, chrono seconds, 30 minute subdial and running seconds, plus date feature.

10bKEBe.jpg


This seems to harken from the days of Invicta fibbery (and possibly better build quality in some cases?), given that the model is shown in various adverts with a “Swiss Made” labeling on the dial, but it’s been dropped on the actual one here, no doubt from Invicta being held to account for such claims.

In any case, it truly is a tank of a watch.

Wish lume was of better quality, because it’s very nicely applied.

4TKlbX2.jpg


Honestly, I don’t even know what it is with this one, but I just love it. The look of it, the feel of it. A real winner, for me. Just big, tough, yet not at all rude or overbearing. And, very cool to own the prior inspiration for my spinning propeller pieces.

So, yes, I can gripe and complain on where the brand falls short, but it’s always the case that when they deliver, it’s a happy delivery indeed.

Znlx3W2.jpg


Oh, and no wildlife or tumbleweeds under the crystal on this one, haha!

I will say however, that my Invicta days, barring one last one that has already arrived (which is beyond outstanding), are certainly waning for me.

As unbelievable as it may seem, I received yet ANOTHER one with a hair trapped inside the watch face, pinned between two parts of the dial, under the crystal. I did not bother to unwrap the watch further, and returned it, to be refunded, less the shipping charges (a bit unreasonable for being sent a hairy watch, IMO).

It was the new 56mm Grand Subaqua III, (@oogway bought one in green, and I just couldn't resist getting one) and, while it did look great in its livery of black with a blue dial, I think the QC errors are trying to tell me something, lol, so that's one I won't be adding to the Collection.

In fact, of the last eight or so watches left to post, none but the next are of the "I" brand.

Amusingly, however (or...tragically??), the grailiest buy of these final purchases was also adorned with sub-crystal gunk, and is currently in transit back to the AD for an exchange, so....maybe it's just me, haha.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

But, at least it tells me that even the supposedly better (and certainly more expensive) brands can have a bad day, and so, no, I'm not swearing off Invicta forever, but certainly shopping my options, which is likely always wise anyway, right?

Thanks for reading!

Keep on watching!
 
I have always liked the case design and overall look of these but size always eliminates me from the equation. Looks pretty good on you though. Congrats and enjoy.
 
hey loving the BULBOUS PHLANGED CASE CNC MACHINING obverse to the prop crown...

would never hoist it...but enjoy vicariously your serotonin fill up...

taking note your 3rd waiter there's a hair in my soup...never had a hair in my soup or a pube under my crystal...I guess it's a numbers game ScottyB a penny player
 
Like the old SeaHunters, would get them if they had the current style metal machining on the ring rather than the poly. I also love beefy bracelets (that is one of the reasons I have been hesitant to get the newer propeller 50mm seahunters, the bracelets look too thin.

I am sorry about the hair in the watch. Invicta Stores does free exchanges when these things occur...

Great pics!!
 
hey loving the BULBOUS PHLANGED CASE CNC MACHINING obverse to the prop crown...

would never hoist it...but enjoy vicariously your serotonin fill up...

taking note your 3rd waiter there's a hair in my soup...never had a hair in my soup or a pube under my crystal...I guess it's a numbers game ScottyB a penny player
Oddly, of all my Invictas, I've never once had the loathsome issue that @roadwarrior has had to deal with, of foggy crystals. Well, once, but that was my dumb fault for hopping in the shower, having just changed the date, and not screwing down the crown, but, idk, I guess the brand does have its curses, mine being the dang sub-crystal extras.

Crazy, however, that it would infect a more grailish (at least grailish for me) brand, but, c'est la vie, and I'm hoping the exchange for that one will solve the problem. Sure won't go poking around in a pricey COSC automatic, lol.

But, yeah, for that Grand Subaqua...not so grand with hair in the soup, so, back it went, and soured my Invicta fandom.
 
Like the old SeaHunters, would get them if they had the current style metal machining on the ring rather than the poly. I also love beefy bracelets (that is one of the reasons I have been hesitant to get the newer propeller 50mm seahunters, the bracelets look too thin.

I am sorry about the hair in the watch. Invicta Stores does free exchanges when these things occur...

Great pics!!
Yup, the new bracelets are thin, and wow, this is possibly one of the heftiest bracelets I own, yet wears so well.

And, yes, I could've exchanged it, I guess, but it was a point of exasperation a bit and seemed to be one of those last straws. I'm sure I'll re-visit the brand again in life, and, LOL, it seems going upscale in price and brand pedigree sure didn't solve the problem, ahahahaha, which is a good reminder not to throw out a brand, since nobody's perfect.

Have you seen the new "shutter" watch they have? An added bezel operates a literal camera style aperture closure, which closes just beneath the watch hands, over the dial. A bizarre and certainly incongruent feature on a watch, but it was impressive to see them operate it. Clever bit of engineering.
 
Yup, the new bracelets are thin, and wow, this is possibly one of the heftiest bracelets I own, yet wears so well.

And, yes, I could've exchanged it, I guess, but it was a point of exasperation a bit and seemed to be one of those last straws. I'm sure I'll re-visit the brand again in life, and, LOL, it seems going upscale in price and brand pedigree sure didn't solve the problem, ahahahaha, which is a good reminder not to throw out a brand, since nobody's perfect.

Have you seen the new "shutter" watch they have? An added bezel operates a literal camera style aperture closure, which closes just beneath the watch hands, over the dial. A bizarre and certainly incongruent feature on a watch, but it was impressive to see them operate it. Clever bit of engineering.


With Invicta, one has to make peace with these annoyances, and view it as part of the cost of buying their unique watches :dunno:
I think the shopping experience is better if you accept this before buying the watch. Invicta Stores is usually good with returns/exchanges.

I have seen the shutter watch videos on Shophq. Yes, it does seem impressive engineering. I'd get one if it drops to $250 in a color I like (the debut sale price after coupon was like $300, and many colors sold out). While it is impressive engineering, it is flat out in "toy" territory - the aperture closure has nothing to do with time. So I like it, but wouldn't pay too much of a premium for it.
 
The classic Sea Hunter is one of my favorites and actually owned the Mosaic
design so a big congrats!
 
With Invicta, one has to make peace with these annoyances, and view it as part of the cost of buying their unique watches :dunno:
I think the shopping experience is better if you accept this before buying the watch. Invicta Stores is usually good with returns/exchanges.

I have seen the shutter watch videos on Shophq. Yes, it does seem impressive engineering. I'd get one if it drops to $250 in a color I like (the debut sale price after coupon was like $300, and many colors sold out). While it is impressive engineering, it is flat out in "toy" territory - the aperture closure has nothing to do with time. So I like it, but wouldn't pay too much of a premium for it.
Well said, but, for me, generally, they do deliver on a lot of elements, so I don't tend to give them an easy pass.

I mean, I excuse a Seiko bracelet, haha, but Invicta bracelets are generally outstanding, even providing a machined clasp. About the only constant "I'll overlook that" is their lack of lume. So, I guess I really tend to not make many excuses for them, which is what makes it less than acceptable when the quality control is bad enough to allow a watch to get through with hair on it, haha.

To me, even at a hundred and fifty bucks, that doesn't fly. And, sure enough, the one watch with the hair I removed has since quit working, so, a good call from members here who said that it was more than an indicator of a furball, but rather made the entire watch suspect. It is under warranty, so I just sent it in.

That was one nearly four hundred bucks, although later sale prices were much lower. It just happened to be one I wanted, to round out my SAN VII set, so I coughed up more than I'd ever like to spend on one, which made the dirty dial that much more irritating.

I know no brand is perfect, but, I guess part of my love for Invicta was buying watch after watch after watch with zero problems, so I rather got used to expecting more from them. If this is their new level of quality control, it will dampen my love for the brand, which is a bit sad because, as you say, their unique designs are theirs alone.
 
Back
Top Bottom