I wear a jumbo SAR flying commercial airliners. Rugged and accurate. It is within 5 seconds of the aircraft’s chronometer per day. I had a 41 mm before this one and wore it for 12 years before needing service. Joe at Marathon Service Center was a joy to work with in overhauling the movement and polishing it to look as good as new. This company inspires confidence as they have a long history and will back up their products. That alone makes it worth it to me.
I have a 41mm GSAR that was serviced by Mr. Jung at Marathon as well. Within 1 sec/day, consistent and accurate, that was in 2018, with little to no change. Absolutely worth the money for a wristwatch.
The great thing about the off the shelf movement that some don't consider is that not only are Sellita movements are extraordinarily easy to get parts and replacements for, they're also very easy to regulate. That was a consideration made. Sure, some people who are just collectors or enthusiasts would want an in-house movement, but those could be unpredictable, not have parts available, or require unique training. The SW 200-1 ia a perfect choice for an automatic watch that is going to be out in the field getting banged up. Sure, a digital G-SHOCK that can be thrown away and replaced might be more suitable in some cases, but where this is the right choice, it shines.
Have a black dial GSAR on a steel bracelet for 2weeks and I love it. Used 2 watches in my navy career (old field luminox and Rolex coke GMT) and wish I had been able to use this one. Thanks for the thorough review.
It’s a really cool watch. Looks like it’s built like a tank. I’ve almost pulled the trigger on this watch, many times. I might try to find one used. But I already have way too many watches! Great review. 😊
We are an AD for Marathon. Write us and I’ll hook you up. You can find them used for less, but getting new means they are not due for service and you get fresh lume. Cheers!
Marathon is currently having a valentines day sale until Feb 15 where you get 10% off any of the SAR watches and also a free bracelet ($360) and spring bar tool. It's a good deal, I think.
@@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri I ordered the 41mm gasr. I'll have it in hand some time next week I imagine. The free bracelet was what made the deal for me.
My CDN civillian government agency is looking at these for individual purchase. I've recently retired, but am definitely springing for one with personal & agencey markings.
Thanks for the thorough review! -6 seconds for me is unacceptable. I hate when my watch loses time. I sold my 41mm GSAR a few years back because it lost time. I did however just order another 41mm GSAR because it’s a damn fine piece. I’m hoping this one doesn’t run slow. I’ll make adjustments if needed.
Thanks for watching an commenting. Unfortunately all automatic watch's will lose or gain time each day. a COSC certified watch will lose -4 or +6 seconds a day, and that's very good, that's Tudor, Rolex etc. METAS certified which is above COSC is becoming the new standard for high end watch's such as Tudor, Omega, Rolex etc. If they are METAS will be 0 to +5 seconds a day. -6 seconds a day on a SW-200 in a marathon is excellent. To get 0 seconds a day on a auto is nearly impossible. So on my Tudor Pelagos its only losing half a minute a week. You can regulate a watch but to get to 0 seconds a day continually is nearly impossible.
I got mine issued in 07 while in Iraq. I've worn mine just about everyday since then. It's pretty beat up and the tritium has faded and not visible on the second hand. The bracelet doesn't fit anymore and I want extra links, so I'm finely going to send it to Marathon to be restored. The watch runs perfectly otherwise. I just bought the desert tan general purpose and it looks so small on my 8" wrist, so the jumbo is my next one.
What an awesome story. Watch has seen a lot. I have the Marathon IDF special forces one and WOE black hook & look strap that I love. Let me know how the service goes on the watch. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Nice review of a very cool watch. Suggestion: maybe you can mirror the parts where you are in the picture, it is a mirror image now and when you reach out to show the watch the reverse image looks a bit strange.
Not sure if you’ll see this comment but do you know anything about the fact that Marathon says not to “hand-wind” the GSAR? The manual says not to hand wind it. It may be my ignorance but how do you know when/if it is fully wound and what is the power reserve when you take it off?
No, I have not seen to hand wind. I think what Marathon is saying is do not fully hand wind it. You can shake it to get it going or what I do is , I give it 10 or 15 manual winds to get it running so I can set the date and time. Just by wearing it winds it self. Usually after a full day its fully wound. There is in way to tell if it fully wound. But just wear it for a day and its fully wound. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching and commenting.
A great review of an iconic watch, I'd love to add one to my collection, as they are such a great watch,but not exactly a cheap 'no brainer' purchase, I think that there are other several watches at around that price that I'd have to seriously consider too? I do have several watches with tritium tubes an they o fade wit time, on cheaper watches with these it isn't worth getting the dial an hands replaced, but they still work well otherwise. Thanks again for bringing some great content to us 'viewers', I'm looking forward to seeing what you cover in 2024. Seasons Greetings/tidings to you and you family.
Thank you for the kind words. Yes once getting into the $1500 and above range the competition for the money grows and there are some very solid watches with long horological history to compete for sure. The navigator you can pick up in the $400 range. Thanks again for watching. I have really great affordable watches sub $300 for review coming up.
@@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri Thank you for you reply, I look forward to seeing your sub $300 watch review, although I'm lucky enough to own some expensive pieces in my collection, most of what I have collected 45 plus years are quite affordable, I'm a 'Watch Fan' and not a 'Watch(Brand) Snob'. Please keep those reviews coming. Whishing you and yours a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2024.
Great Review! I'm thinking about purchasing the Artic Edition 41mm. I'm going back and forth with whether to get just the rubber strap, the bracelet or both. I've heard that the bracelet can be sharp on the edges and therefore mark the skin up. Does anyone have any experience after wearing the bracelet after a long period of time? If the bracelet is uncomfortable, any suggestions for a different bracelet that I should look at? Thank you so much!
I don't have any experience with my GSAR on a bracelet. I like most of my watches on FKM rubber. Better fit and feel for me. I love the artic, I might add one down the line so I have the white dial also. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri Thank you for the comment and advice. I was hoping to use the watch as a rubber strap as an every day watch and possible with a sports coat. Not sure if the rubber strap would be considered dressy enough. I have a Hamilton Field Watch today with a leather strap and can pull that off with a suit. Thanks again and take care.
I like it but the dial is very busy.. Personally I think there was no need to put the military time numbers on it , everybody knows that 1 pm is 13:00 and so on…. The Swiss quartz version would be my pick, about a grand . These automatic movements are not chronometer grade so won’t be super accurate and they are nothing special in my opinion . If you factor in the cost of servicing the movement over the lifetime of the watch, quartz is probably better for me. Overall it looks good though and solid.
Agree and disagree. I prefer an automatic over a quartz Andyday. My last deployment to Afghanistan my battery went dead in my GSHOCK. I was in the middle of cowboy and Indian country and to battery change option out there. So after that I swore to never take just a quartz on deployment ever again. As for accuracy? Being only off a less than 10 seconds a day is not a huge deal to me. The SW200 has been very reliable. As for the 24 hour on the watch ehhh it doesn’t bother me. That’s why watches are personal to the person. Thanks for watching and commenting.
If your leadership is smart, they will wait till end of Fiscal year to order these through supply. They are trying to hit their target and if they aren't trying too hard to fill shortages or modernize, then it should slip through your S4's desk.
