MaratHon WATCH COMPANY

MARATHON WATCH COMPANY http://www.marathonwatch.com

MARATHON is an international supplier of Military Watches. Established in 1939.

 MARATHON supplies commercial, government and military clients around the world.  

MARATHON'S Swiss manufacturing plant gives the company full control of production, export and distribution of its highest quality timing instruments.  MARATHON are award winning suppliers to the military with a Bronze Medal from the U.S. Department of Defense.  

One of the watches which I find most appealing and which is new in 2020 is the Anthracite PVD-coated GSAR (General Search & Rescue) model pictured below. Until recently Marathon only made watches in standard stainless steel or composite cases but this watch seems to work really well. The watch is  manufactured  in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the GSAR is powered by a Swiss Made Sellita automatic movement. Although it doesn't state which calibre on the website I'm working on the basis it's almost certainly a SW 200 which is a very tried and tested option and is the Sellita version of the to the ETA-2824

The case is 41mm-wide, 14mm-thick, and has approximately a 48mm lug-to-lug measurement. 

It is smaller than some other models made by Marathon such as the Jumbo SAR which measures 46mm in diameter, even though this is 5 mm smaller the chunky case and tall bezel make it feel larger than it actually is.  As a watch for professional applications or just purely as a personal watch this would fit the bill perfectly, it has GTLS tritium illumination and 300 meter water resistance and it has to be said a rather striking appearance compared to the others in the range although the only real difference is the PVD plating.

The watch is priced at US$1500 which is not bad when you consider that companies such as CWC are charging US$2750 for the only current automatic introduction and up to US$1200 for their own retro 1987 divers watching PVD which is a quartz. 

Marathon manufacture a large range of models and sub variants within the various ranges covering basic general service watches and a range of both quartz and automatic divers watches.  The watches are very well-made and having owned several I can vouch for the overall quality.

My personal favorite which is a Chronograph pictured above which has a 300m water resistance rating. This is a really nice watch with a very high spec. 

The Movement is a 7750 ETA Valjoux Automatic (Self Winding) 25 jewel Swiss Made Movement. The Movement has a “Date & Day” display with “Rapid Date and Day Correction”. Chronograph also has 1/5 second (100th minute) timing. 

The Movement is a 7750 ETA which  is non-magnetic and has minimum 36 hour running time.

Case construction allows for 300M/1000ft water resistance by using a Screw-Down Crown and Screw-Down Side pushers. The revolving external bezel is calibrated from 0 to 60 in a white on black background. The case diameter is  44.5mm and has a high turning bezel. The Dials measure 27.7mm and utilize Tritium vials for luminescence. The Crystal is sapphire - 2.8mm thick x 30.50mm diameter sitting in a Case made of 316L stainless steel. Case diameter is approximately 46 mm  and the bezel diameter is  41.0mm, the case height is 18 mm Water resistance depth rating is  30 ATM .  The watch is particularly suitable for both divers and pilots so it has a degree of flexibility where it can be employed for a number of different applications.

Someone who contact us fairly regularly works for the Special Boat Service in the UK and happened to mention that one of his colleagues actually uses this watch so the recommendations don't tend to get much better.

This chronograph is currently priced at US$4000 and the watch can be seen here. I must say I am still extremely tempted to buy one https://www.marathonwatch.com/products/search-rescue-pilots-automatic-chronograph-csar

Further details can be downloaded here https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2581/7358/files/WW1940141.pdf?3888403619513768176

The Navigator has a 12 Hour GMT bezel. Quartz movement, hacking. Tritium gas-tubeluminescence. User serviceable battery. Composite case and acrylic crystal. Nylon issue strap. Water resistant to 6 ATM. 

Dimensions are 42mm X 11mm x 20mm lug width.

Above is the current incarnation of the Navigator's Wristwatch.  It follows a long line of so called Navigator's watches from Marathon.  

Rather than steel the watch has a composite/fiberglass case which works fine with this type of watch after all these watches were never designed to make a fashion statement.  They were designed for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to provide a rugged and functional timepiece for military personnel and they fulfill that role perfectly.  One wearing is all it takes to understand the beauty of the space age superstructure of this watch.  It's light and after a moment or two, the wearer forgets it is even being worn. I personally prefer a steel watch but for many people these are the ideal military timepiece.

Despite it's no nonsense and strict utilitarian approach to design, the watch still looks elegant because of an all black construction.  As a milwatch collector, I find it quite striking in its own way.

SPECIFICATION

• Intended Use: High altitude, Pilot/parachute - Law enforcement
• Bi-Directional Time Zone Ring
• Analogue dial with 2 time scale
• Date between the 4 and 5 o'clock position
• Water resistant to 6 atm. atmospheres
• Stop Second (hack) high torque movement
• Fibreshell high impact waterproof and dustproof case.
• Case size 1 11/16 inch or 42.8625mm 
• Black face with 12- and 24-hour dials,  luminous hands and hour markings,  and  GTLS tubes.