So, this is a watch I posted in my previous life at the other place. Forgive me for recycling. Also, I'm not re-uploading all these pictures, so excuse the imgur.
If you're not familiar, the Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB is a Rolex Submariner "homage." But it is one that has good bones for modding, and can usually be found pretty cheap. I got this one for under $70 on sale. It has a stainless case, decent bracelet, and a Seiko NH35A movement. For which, there are a lot of aftermarket parts. The pic below is not mine.
The click spring bezel feels cheap. The hands and dial look cheap. The lume is terrible. But we are going to fix all of that. Let's start by popping off that bezel.
I replaced it with this lovely coin edge one from Dave Murphy, that he makes just for this watch.
In that bezel, I installed this insert from Raffles Time. It's inspired by Sean Connery's Rolex from Goldfinger. Raffles makes great parts for Seikos and Vostok.
Next, the crown guards have to go. They're too modern looking for this mod. I just had to push the crown tube out, no heat or anything. If I bought this watch just to use, that crown tube would have become loose and just spun when I would screw the crown down. Very disappointed in the QC there.
I sanded and polished the case back up after grinding, and pushed the tube back in with some red Loc-tite. It isn't coming out ever again.
Last up for the case is choosing the crystal. This case is designed for a flat, mineral glass crystal and I wanted a vintage looking high-dome acrylic. I'm pretty sure I left the crystal gasket in for that reason, but don't quote me. Here are three different height acrylic crystals by Stella. I went with the middle.
The California dial and cathedral hands are from Yobokies, a staple in the Seiko modding community. I didn't take any pictures of swapping the hands and dial, sorry. And there we have it, all done!
