The difference between the 8926OB and 8926 Invicta Pro Diver watches

Invicta Pro Diver: 8926 vs 8926OB – which should you get?

So you finally decided to pull the trigger on the Invicta Pro Diver – one of the best watches you can get under $100 – but what’s with all the models?

8926 vs 8926OB? 9937 vs 8926?
Huh…?

Don’t worry, I’m going to spell it out for you super easy so we can get you the right watch.

Here’s a handy comparison chart to let you know the differences and similarities at a glance. I’m going to explain what these mean below.

Invicta Pro Diver Model89268926OB99379937OB
Best
Picks
Second bestBest ChoiceHard to findToo expensive
Diameter40mm40mm40mm40mm
Bezel StyleOmegaRolexOmegaRolex
MovementAutomaticAutomaticAutomaticAutomatic
Movement CaliberNH35ANH35ASW200SW200
Power Reserve41 hours41 hours38 hours38 hours
BPH21,60021,60028,80028,800
PriceCheck PriceCheck PriceUnavailableCheck Price
Specs for the 8926 and 9937 Invicta Pro Diver series

Which Invicta Pro Diver should you get – 8926 or 9937?

Ultimately the deciding factor is probably going to be price. Would you pay an extra $15 for a different (not better) bezel shape? Probably not. Your best bet is to check the prices of all three:

  1. 8926OB best overall choice
    • Reliable Seiko NH35A movement and Rolex-style coin-edge bezel
    • Available for the lowest price
  2. 8926 – good choice if you like the bezel style
    • Personal preference between the Omega bezel style on the 8926 and 8926OB
    • Slightly more expensive that the 892OB
  3. 9937OB – runner-up
    • Swiss SW200 movement, smaller power reserve but has a smoother sweep of the seconds hand
    • Older model, hard to find it online. Going for over $300 on Amazon (Note that the Amazon title is wrong, this is the model 9937OB not 9937)
  4. 9937 – This watch doesn’t seem to exist anymore

So what do those differences even mean? Here’s what you need to know. Let’s start with the similarities:


Similarities

The 8926, 8926OB, 9937, and 9937OB are very similar watches. Kudos to you for trying to get a straight answer about it.

They’re all 40mm in diameter, which is the perfect size for this type of diver.

They all have automatic movement, which means they don’t require battery power to run. Instead, the movement (engine inside) is powered by the kinetic motion of your wrist when you casually move around. This means that the watch will stop if you stop wearing it for about 40 hours. On the other hand it produces a smooth weeping of the seconds hand that’s found in most luxury watches.

They’re all water resistant to 200m, have black dials, have a band width of 20mm, and generally look very similar to the Rolex Submariner.

Now for the differences:

Differences

The Bezel: Coin-Edge vs Scalloped

First let’s check the exterior of the watch.

“OB” stands for “original bezel,” which is the coin-edge (Rolex-Style) bezel, so the 8926OB and 9937OB would have those.

The non-OB models have a scalloped bezel (Omega Seamaster-Style), so that would be the 8926 and 9937.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so this should be helpful:

8926OB and 9937OB have a Rolex bezel | 8926 and 9937 have an Omega bezel

If you have a preference for one or the other, that should be your main decision-making reason.

Movement: NH35A VS SW200

The movement is the engine that powers the watch.

You might be used to a battery-powered (“quartz movement”) watch, but the fact is that most expensive and luxury watches use an automatic movement.

All the watches in this article have an automatic movement, but there’s a difference in the 9937 and 8926 movements.

SII NH35A

The 8926 and 8926OB use a Seiko Instruments Inc (SII) Caliber NH35A. This is a very reliable movement that’s found in many watch brands.

It has a BPH of 21,600 which means that it has a smooth sweep of the second hand at 6 beats per second. The power reserve is a standard 41 hours.

The NH35 movement is made by Seiko Instruments, which also makes the Seiko watches. They’re a Japanese company making some of the highest-quality watches and movements on the planet.

Sellita SW200

The 9937 and 9937OB use a Sellita SW200. This is also a reliable movement that’s found in many watches.

It has a BPH of 28,800 which means that the second hand has a much smoother sweep (8 beats per second), which is typically only found in higher-tier watches. As a tradeoff, it has slightly shorter power reserve of 38 hours.

Sellita is a Swiss movement manufacturer, so some people place a premium on that, and this may be why the 9937 models can’t be found for a cheap price anymore.

Check out our article to learn more about Invicta and their watches.

Conclusion: 8926 or 8926OB?

I’m a fan of the 8926OB, and that’s what I recommend anytime somebody wants the Invicta Pro Diver. It’s cheaper, the bezel looks better, and I trust Seiko to provide a great NH35A movement. When you consider that the movement itself is $40, the 8926OB is a steal.

Invicta Men's 8926OB Pro Diver Stainless Steel Automatic Watch with Link Bracelet

$119.00
$77.98
 in stock
17 new from $77.98
3 used from $66.30
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of July 25, 2021 6:35 pm

Features

  • Stainless steel case 40mm diameter x 14mm thick, Exhibition case back, Black dial, Luminous hands and hour markers
  • Japanese 24 jewel automatic movement, NH35A Caliber, Assembled in Malaysia, watch weight: 155 grams
  • Stainless steel band, 210mm L x 20mm W, Band is adjustable by adding/removing links, Fold over safety clasp
  • Mineral crystal, Screw-down crown, Uni-directional black stainless steel bezel, 200 meter water resistant: Suitable for professional marine activity and surface water sports. Suitable for diving.

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