Watch Review: Marathon Anthracite GSAR Automatic 41mm case/48mm L2L/13.6mm height/20mm lugs

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Anthracite Large Diver's Automatic (GSAR) US Government Markings - 41mm
SKU: WW194006BK

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Anthracite Large Diver's Automatic (GSAR) No Government Markings - 41mm
SKU: WW194006BK-NGM

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2581/7358/files/WW1940061.pdf?3360818916032544764

August 21, 2020 by Ariel Adams

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/watch-review-marathon-anthracite-gsar-automatic-ww194006bk/


Canada’s Marathon Watch Co. currently has but one “blacked-out” watch and that is the anthracite color-coated steel large diver’s automatic “GSAR” 41mm-wide watch. I’ve personally nicknamed the this Marathon reference WW194006BK watch the “GSAR Knight Rider” because the one red line of “300m / 100ft” text reminds me of the bouncing red light on the otherwise black “KITT” modified Pontiac Trans Am featured in the 1980s TV series called Knight Rider. The General Search & Rescue (GSAR) watch by Marathon is a fantastic tool-style watch that is noteworthy for being a rare modern timepiece that is still officially issued to various government active professionals (including some elite soldiers). That also implies the watch meets military standards for durability and functionality.

Most GSAR watches look the same as the Anthracite PVD-coated model, save for the black coloring on the case components including the case, bezel, and crown. Watch lovers have known for years that a mere color change can, in many instances, remarkably alter the personality of a watch. In all black, the 41mm-wide GSAR actually feels a bit larger simply because the dial appears larger. This is due to an optical effect caused by the inner wall of the dial being in black to match the black dial, versus in steel-tone. Similarly, the bezel appears larger because there is a seamless visual integration between the bezel itself and the black-colored insert.

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When I first started to wear the Anthracite GSAR, I felt that the design was beautiful, functional, and a little bit Darth Vader-esque. But it doesn’t feel like the bad guy’s watch, even though the timepiece does have a sinister “tactical gear” vibe to it at times. No, the watch is more a celebration of durable tools and the sometimes-wild things people do while using them. Nothing celebrated that concept more than the entertainment car culture of the 1980s. Speaking of Star Wars, if you watch the video clip above, when David Hasselhoff’s Michael character first sits in KITT’s seat, he muses that it “looks like Darth Vader’s toilet.” So, I wasn’t all that far off in my association.

Produced at Marathon’s own manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the GSAR is powered by a Swiss Made Sellita automatic movement (that I believe is produced with some unique elements just for Marathon). The case is 41mm-wide, 14mm-thick, and has a roughly 48mm lug-to-lug distance. It wears smaller with 20mm-wide lugs but doesn’t feel small given the case thickness and tall bezel (which has become a signature Marathon watch look). As a sport/professional watch, the GSAR has a sapphire crystal, is water-resistant to 300 meters, and uses self-illuminating tritium gas tubes for darkness illumination on the hands and hour markers.

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  • MOVEMENT: Self-winding automatic 25 jewels
  • SCALE QUANTITY: 2
  • SCALE RANGE: 1-12 (13-24)
  • LUMINOUS FEATURES: Tritium gas tubes and Maraglo™
  • CASE: 316L Stainless Steel
  • SUBMERSIBILITY: 30ATM
  • BEZEL TYPE: Uni-directional
  • CRYSTAL TYPE: Sapphire
  • CROWN TYPE: Screw-in
  • DIMENSIONS: 41mm Diameter / 14mm thickness
  • CALENDAR: Date
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link to article

Click Here to View Watch Spec Sheet
Click Here to View Product Manual


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Marathon Search and Rescue Anthracite Review

Aug 11, 2020

Teddy Baldassarre Reviews

 
most wits know MARATHON is a fine canadian mil/civilian watch contracter


I have noticed notched up marketing from this fine company..."staying' alive staying alive" maybe they got a private equity infusion or the owner's son got back from a top biz MBA... the BALL capital infusion from private equity re-vitalized that brand so it is interesting to see MARATHON meet the challenges of the tymes by stepping up.


anyway this watch is a real SAR i.e. SEARCH & RESCUE tool... not no stinkin' fashion land fill...


a good review here pointing out the obvious..." wears bigger... signature thick case high bezel 14mm profile "

nice movie trivia throw away line...something about the black case being " black like David Hasselhoff enthroned on Darth Vader's toilet "

does Darth Vader go # 2 ? nah .... do toilets flush in zero gravity outer space ? nah

anyway I've owned this company ...loved it and miss it...would grab one for a " journey " in a heart beat...This watch on a journey would imho leave the wearer free from fear...plunge in ...get wet...live life...love life... save a little love for your tool.
 
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41mm is large??? lol Cool watch though.

not to beat on a dead donkey...yeah it's kinda large for a SAR... like when they are busy saving people in disaster situations it's 41 but 14mm high ...so kinda tippy and can't fit under a cuff...so imho large for moving quickly doing whatever is necessary to save life & property...without giving a thought to the tool in the saddle...but I understånd

to many wits it's still known as tiny
 
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