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Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: January 29th, 2019, 2:01 am
by Dogman
Ok, so we all know invicta make some horrible watches, but their 8926 is a decent watch for modders, so when I saw the invicta 25646, lets just say I spotted it and thought urghhh but saw some potential.
It has the decent workhorse seiko nh35a movement and a bronze tin case.
specs: 45mm width with 22mm lug width, 100m water resistance.
Made a custom dial, old set of hands and removed the insert, oh, yeah I went to drill the lugs but they were in the wrong place, so they are faux lug holes, but the patina has built up inside them and you can't tell.

Here is what you get for $98:
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with the original bezel faded to give the vintage ghost look:

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Not sure if I like it with or without the insert, but all in all I'm pretty happy with the result. Future mods include a thick plexi crystal and a new dial, but this will do for now.

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Re: Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: January 29th, 2019, 2:08 am
by Emilio
Nice.

I think I like the version without bezel insert better.

Re: Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: January 29th, 2019, 6:03 am
by hako
Quite a change for the better.
You were right about the potential :-)

Re: Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: January 29th, 2019, 6:36 am
by straps68
That is a great looking watch right out of the box. And do I see it correctly; it has drilled lugs? Hella bargain at that price! Is it solid bronze or plated?

Nice job modding it! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Re: Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: January 29th, 2019, 8:06 am
by blueradish
Great mod for sure, nice cheap donor watch. I like no bezel insert. I think the case would look amazing blasted.

Re: Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: January 29th, 2019, 8:47 am
by Tanukjaju
Wow. This base watch is a great place to start. What is the depth rating on this watch?

Re: Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: January 29th, 2019, 9:45 am
by Ciccio
Great job! Did you make that pacific turtle dial?


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Re: Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: January 29th, 2019, 1:09 pm
by Dogman
Ciccio wrote: January 29th, 2019, 9:45 am Great job! Did you make that pacific turtle dial?
Yes, printed on paper and stuck over the original dial and lumed. I know it will fade over time, but its not meant to be permanent.

Re: Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: February 5th, 2019, 4:46 pm
by Dogman
New domed plexi, new dial with an acid etched image of a vintage diver helmet, drilled the bezel and added some new lume dots:
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Re: Automatic Bronze diver for under $100us!

Posted: February 8th, 2019, 4:35 pm
by straps68
The price has been lowered to $85,49.