Marathon GSAR First Impression 

I bought my GSAR new from Long Island Watches, and it came in a very luxurious wooden box. The Tritium doesn’t look very bright at first glance, but when you wake up in the middle of the night the darn thing ir really bright. I’ve been eyeing this watch for years and finally this year I was able to afford it. Love it.

I have some nice watches...Rolexs, Tudor, Breitling, Omega and Doxa...but I bought one of the original SARs, back when that was the only watch made by Marathon, in 2004. I bought it as a retirement gift for myself when I left (retired) from a NC State Law Enforcement agency. It is one of my favorite watches. You cannot hurt it. And, because of its size and weight, it is an optional backup defense weapon. As always...a great video. Thanks you for your service. Your North Carolina viewer...R.L.

Great job, i love marathon watches, i have a phoibos, one day I'm hoping to get a marathon watch.

Wow! Iwant one. I love the functional shape of the case, AND the fact that the value is all in the watch, and not an over the top fancy box which you pay for but don't need.

I enjoyed your review. Thinking about getting one.

I still can't believe you ran over this watch with your car? It has to be a really Great watch. I really would not believe any of my Seiko's, Invicta's or Deep Blue's would survive. Great Video and Thanks for Sharing.

New to the channel. Nice review. Picked up my first Marathon (TSAR) this week at a great deal on Ebay bid. Second hand. All thanks to watching TGV, lol Can't wait. Putting in on Worn and Wound crimson. Should look amazing. Thanks for the videos.

Great find! Fantastic watch...have reserched H3, the ETA & the quality control. This is The all time tool watch. I love mine & if you look at the back you will see the manufacturing date & learn the age of the Tritium (Helium 3)on the hands. It has a half life of about 12 1/2 years. This means from the production date you will start to loose the glow of the H3 by 1/2 in 12 years & in another 12 need to have the hands replaced as the H3 degrades out by then. Marathon has a 10 year warranty on the H3 if perchased from an authorized dealer. Its a great time to have the watch cleaned, lubed & the timing reajusted if its running a bit slow or fast. Also demagnitized & a new bezzle if its beat up & it will be just like new! I have vet & Government employee freinds that have had this same watch for 20+ years and it has been through millions of miles, dozens of countries, many fire fights in battles, fighting wild fires & hundreds of dives! They love it! Great choice...This watch is a work horse & is designed & built to not only U.S. Government, U.S. Military specs but many other countries Militaries including special branches like the C.I.A., M.I.6, Police S.W.A.T. teams & of course our U.S. Navy Seals due to its 1000+ feet diving rating & its constant Tritium illuminating glow that is bright at all depths. Its a great survival tool all arround bullet proof build. The ETA movement can be maintananced by any watch maker in the world if you cant send it back to Marathon based outside Toronto, Canada, with a dedicated watch assembly facility in La Chaux de Fonds Switzeland in cases that allow accurate assembly with extreme high-tolerances to allow resistance to shock, water, vibration, and extreme heat and cold, just to name a few. Even the straps they provide with the wristwatches are made in accordance with the military specification. Marathon is run by the same family in its 3rd generation now & the family businesses include Cardinal Watch, Clinton Watch, Benrus, and Hampdon (who will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Though not always soled to non-Governments until the 1980s they have been making watches for the Military for their entire existence & is truly the only full Government contractor of this tool allowing for no advertising overhead with minimal packaging costs they put the money in the watches! Being mechanical its not going to be affected like an electronics like a G-Shock that will be fried by a good solar flair or any EMP weapons. It has an anti magnetic rating but if needed can simply de-magnetized simply, although i know pilots that love this watch & have no issues around aviation instruments as well as altitude changes. Its great for mountaineering, bikeing, river rafting, SUPER for sailing & navigating at night, desert enviornments to the Everglades swamps! This is a bull dog, snake, hawk, owl, grizzly bear,shark & crocodile in a tool watch! It may save your life or someone elses some day & is in my humble opinion a beautiful creation that can be read at a glance in the dark or fog as well as in light & is a watch to be handed down to the next generation like a true family heirloom.

Of all the expensive watches i own, marathon is absolutely without a doubt the best watches ever. I regret all my other watches the day i bought a marathon, dont even want to wear them anymore. If someone offered me the choice between a rolex and a marathon, but couldnt sell it, marathon all the way.

Looks immaculate man you caught a nice one. I’m thinking of purchasing the same piece but the strap size is kind of throwing me off. It’s so chunky up top but only a 20mm, does it feel off balance or that the bracelet is too skinny ? Nice review, thank you

Nice. Thinking about a TSAR.

Thanks for this review. I was not sure whether to get a bracelet, but since I too have a 6.5" wrist, I might go for a watch with a bracelet. It helps that you're a veteran (although I've never served), because I figure that if it's good enough for a veteran then it will survive hiking, skiing, and visits for construction sites (for work).

Have you seen the borealis sniper scout it comes with a nh35 it looks very similar for have the price. 44mm a pretty tall watch with a 24mm lug width and 300 mm depth plus tritium tubes hands and hour markers

Great watch 👍

I just put my Marathon GSAR on a shark mesh band.....looks absolutely amazing.

Great review as usual CG, but I feel the watch is to bulky and the dial is very busy,great quality otherwise.Check out C.W.C Diver watches less bulky and the dial and sword hands are pure 60's styling. Regards, Connell

Really wish marathon made a version with interchanging tritium and maraglo markers. That would be siiiiiick

Great video! Does the height of the watch bother you at all?

Around 4:50 ("glass space") not sure there is "much space" between the dial and the glass; i think it is an "optical illusion" caused by the thickness of the glass (3mm... It is "a lot of glass").

Watches aren't exactly "issued". But if your group needs a watch for a certain purpose, the supply officer can order one through the GSA advantage website if they have the funds (which is never lol). This watch happens to be approved and is sold through vendors who have military contracts. If you are on the GSA site, there is literally hundreds of random watches they can buy and be "issued". I really only saw people wear g-shocks, timex, and suunto in service. The marathon is nice (I have a sterile GSAR now), reliable. But not practical as its large and heavy compared to other better options. Nothing beats a plain everyday cheap light weight g-shock that can probably survive a nuclear blast. Marine corps uniform regulations state “Inconspicuous watches are authorized for wear in uniform.”. Marathon def doesn't meet that as its big and flashy

What do you think of the gas tubes? I have ball with gas tubes but I'm not impressed.

Dam I gotta get one of these, I don't know how I'm gonna do it, I hate to lie to people who love me (look what I found, or it followed me home, or it was only $20 at the flea market) but I'll do whatever it takes 🤔

I know Marathon is a standard military/security service watch (which of course we all want), but I do not see the visual appeal. Do the pictures not do it justice? I read the specs and I want this watch, but the photos leave me saying "meh." I always wanted a tritium tube watch, but I feel like the Traser PVD watches look better. What do you think? You mentioned you emotional attachment, but does it look like the photos, but is there something more to it?

It’s been five years since the video been posted. I am wondering how is the tritium tube preform now? 😊

I love the design/aesthetics. Love how deep the dial is set into the case, the steel and finish look nice. Only two negatives for me. (really just one) #1 The watch is overpriced new (even used) you can buy a lot of other high quality microbrand watches with ETA 2824's for 1/4th the cost (when comparing new vs new). And you can still buy high quality ETA-based divers NEW vs Used GSAR. and #2 (which is not really a negative) .. I am not sure I buy the claim that these are issued to US troops in the middle east. Since I am pretty sure soldiers aren't issued watches these days and are encouraged to buy G-Shocks.

The level of lume / light on these watches are on point. Since they are made for the military / service people they did not create something that illuminate them in the dark to be SEEN. Think about it. .

nice vid

Why does your second hand not have tritium?

Great detailed video...clicked the subscribe button. I have one myself (check out my instagram, same username) and I love it. My dad got it for me and it's survived 2 overseas trips with the Army, 3 different police stations at 2 different departments, and just about everything else I've thrown at it...the only thing I've had go wrong with it is some of the markers on the bezel have fallen out somehow...

Absolutely nothing wrong with buying prior owned watches. I too like to have some heft in my wrist-watches. Flitz and a Dremel with a Polishing Wheel takes out minor scratches and other marks. :>)

Geez I never got one of these when I was in the Canadian Army. Must be an officers watch. I got it through with a trusty timex.

I would have thought it would look bigger than that on you, it's fine.

"communicative"? Are you a nurse???

I love your hands. Like woman.

The tritium tubes on the hands of the Marathon are infamous for falling off and rattling around in the watch. I can't say that I've ever seen anyone in the military wear a Marathon watch. They look nice though.

if you order a 1000$ watch like this one, Your chian of command will put you to cuort mast and the watch will send to the captain 60th gift. They didn't issue us a pair of new boots. ok, my PTSD came out again, FUCK SHIT FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK SHIT FUCK

Tiny weeneee watch.