Military watches unceasingly draw the fascination of watch collectors from all over the world with its rich heritage. Other than being extremely robust and functional, military watches hark back to countless momentous events in history when troops relied on them as valuable equipment in the field. Wrist watches are unquestionably an indispensable tool when it comes to military operations such as coordinating tactical movements and navigational purposes. Of the many established brands that supply, or once supplied watches to the military, Marathon is a name seemingly overshadowed by other familiar offerings in the market. However, it is certainly one of the hidden gems in the world of military watches.

In line with the utilitarian nature of the piece, “GSAR” is an acronym for “Government Search and Rescue” which is named after the high-risk tactical operations of the military personnel these watches are issued to, serving as a crucial tool in their arsenal. The GSAR is Marathon’s flagship ISO-certified dive watch crafted for use during underwater missions, equipped with a substantial 30 ATM (300m) of water resistance, resistance to magnetism, resistance to corrosion as well as excellent resistance to shock and extreme temperatures.



The hefty 316L stainless steel case of the GSAR NGM Diver Automatic - White Arctic Edition Bracelet Ref. WW194006-WD is definitely built like a tank with beefy squared crown guards and a chunky 14mm-thick case. Despite its aggressive appearance, wearability is surprisingly good on the wrist with a case dimension of 41mm and a lug to lug distance of 48mm. The case is finished with a fine satin brushing throughout to minimize any unnecessary reflections that may hinder the performance of missions. 


When the lights are out, things get even better with 15 encapsulated tritium gas tubes with Marathon’s proprietary MaraGlo™ illuminating the dial without the need of the charge from a light source. These gas tubes are essentially glowing constantly around the clock. The tritium gas tube used at the 12 o’clock is distinguished with a vibrant orange glow in contrast with the rest of the tubes that glow with a green hue, giving the piece wonderful orientation with just a glance down at the wrist. The date wheel is tucked neatly between the 4 and 5 o’clock Arabic numerals with a matching white background, an ingenious integration that does not obstruct any elements on the dial. Keeping the dial crystal clear even after long hours in combat, it is protected with a flat piece of sapphire crystal, offering incredible resistance to scratches. 



At the heart of the GSAR NGM Diver Automatic - White Arctic Edition Bracelet Ref. WW194006-WD lies the Marathon M2 self-winding movement based on the ever-reliable Swiss Sellita SW-200 automatic movement, a tried-and-tested movement equipped with Novodiac shock absorber for enhanced durability, a fitting ‘workhorse’ engine for Marathon’s robust watches. This 26 jewel movement operates at a beat rate of 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hertz) with hand winding and hacking capabilities and a power reserve of 38 hours. Behind the watch, the movement is held in place with a screw-in case back with essential government specifications and military numbering engraved - a mark of being a true military-issued timepiece.