MARATHON, the NEW Hamilton Khaki Field KILLER 🤯?!
I guess I am now blogging here on WatchCrunch 😅.
What is your sincere opinion on this NEW to be realeased Marathon Field Watch? Being UNBIASED, does it have the potential to dethrone the Khaki Field Mechanical by Hamilton?
I am always more interested in history than specs, nonetheless, if interested; you can read them on their official website. Links provided under the pics ⌚😃💪.
https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-int/h69439931-khaki-field-mechanical.html
Hamilton's history alone adds a great weight of involvement in the history of watchmaking. They were founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that's 130 years ago! What about their Military history?
From Hamilton's official website:
"Hamilton originally began supplying precision railroad watches to soldiers under the command of General ‘Black Jack’ Pershing during World War I. They were used to time troop movements. Although of the requisite accuracy, the watches first had to be adapted from pocket watches to wristwatches to ensure the soldiers could read them quickly and easily.
Having learned from previous experience, and still with a strong reputation for accuracy, Hamilton began supplying watches, timepieces, timers and precision instruments to the U.S. military during the Second World War. In 1942, Hamilton halted all consumer production to ensure we could supply the huge number of watches required by troops. From 1942-1945, Hamilton delivered more than one million watches."
Let's jump to 1962. That year came the revision MIL-W-3818B when Benrus became the more notable producer of US military watches. Hamilton stepped back into the game in 1967 when the spec. had envolved into the GG-W-13. That year Hamilton contributed along with others in the production of such watches. The likes of MARATHON 😳, Benrus, and Altus also manufactured them. That being said, Hamilton kepped producing their GG-W-113 watches through the quartz crisis period until 1986.
This short summary by no means covers all the details in Hamilton's official Military Field Watch Production journey. But is is safe to say that they were thoroughly involved in the matter from 1914 to 1986, a 72 year period give or take, with in some moments being more active than others.
What about Marathon?
From their website:
"The company that was to become Marathon Watch was founded in 1904 as Weinstrum Watch, later to be named Wein Brothers. In 1939, Morris Wein founded Marathon Watch, supplying fine precision timepieces throughout North America. Since 1941, Marathon has been manufacturing timing instruments for the Allied Forces, and today the fourth generation of the family continues the tradition..."
Their claim to fame was when they started issuing the GG-W-113 general service watch to the US Military in the Vietnam War. The GG-W-113 was actually made by HAMILTON 😳, Benrus and Altus as well.
Another of their famous military watches is the General Purpose Mechanical (GPM) WW194003 watch that was officially contracted for Operation Desert Storm which began August 2, 1990 and was later referred to as the “Persian Gulf War”.
In brief, Marathon has been producing official military issued watches, under contract, for the US and Canadian Forces since 1941 uninterupted. A whopping 81 YEARS!
Note the following information provided about this NEW release on the official Marathon website:
"The Official US Army™ Field Watch features an authentic United States Army insignia on the dial. This wristwatch is designed in accordance with military specifications MIL-PRF-46374, Type 2, Class 4.
This Field Watch has a water resistance of 3ATM (30meters – 100 feet). Our composite case incorporates a sapphire lens and tritium tubes for increased night-time visibility.
DISCLAIMER
By federal law, licensing fees paid to the U.S. Army for the use of its trademarks provide support for the Army Trademark Licensing Program, and net licensing revenue is devoted to U.S. Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs. U.S. Army name, trademarks and logos are protected under federal law and used under license by Marathon Watch.
OFFICIAL LICENSED PRODUCT OF THE U.S. ARMY"
As I write this down, Marathon is right now producing the REAL DEAL ⌚🪖.
What do you think? Is the NEW Marathon Field Watch a Hamilton Khaki Field Killer?
I am a passionate and avid Vintage Watch enthousiast! Sommelier by trade, Vintage Watch collector by heart! Check me out on YouTube, Simply Vintage Watches 😀👍.
Interesting, and I see that Marathon are releasing a quartz version as well, along with officer's versions of both. This is the second official military release from Marathon. I just saw the official Air Force watches at Long Island Watch. I wonder if they will be doing an official release for the other military branches?
I am also curious about the movement in these. The label on the officer's version reads 17 jewels, but there doesn't seem to be any other information beyond that; no information on the movement in the enlisted version.
At a MSRP of $460, it is competitively priced with the Khaki, and you are getting tritium instead of lume. I will be keeping an eye on this one. I am not sure if I think it will kill the Khaki, but the Khaki will certainly know it has been in a fight. 😀
The Marathon appeals to a different segment of the market than the Hamilton.
The Hamilton is more of a casual everyday watch than a field watch now, so it's made with better finishing and high polish accents. The Marathon is still intended to be used in the field, and so it's less refined, but more practical for the field with matte finishes, and tritium illumination.
Before anyone comments on WR, the Marathon meets the requirements for field use. When you're bombed up, and carrying a radio, NVGs, etc... you aren't going swimming. You don't need a 200m WR dive watch, and if you did you'd be wearing a GSAR.
Edit: If I were in the US Army I'd be looking at the GPQ, as a date complication is a handy thing to have in the field, and in the office.
In no way,shape or form is the Marathon even close to the Hamilton
Hamilton wins on every count.
Steel vs. composite case?? C'mon man!
38mm case vs 34 mm case? C'mon man!
Swiss Eta handwound movement vs. some sketchy no name movement? C'mon man!!!!!
50m vs. 30m W/R? C'mon man!
Company History? Hamilton by a mile.
Hamilton Khaki Field killer??? Hardly-not in the same ballpark.
In no way,shape or form is the Marathon even close to the Hamilton
Hamilton wins on every count.
Steel vs. composite case?? C'mon man!
38mm case vs 34 mm case? C'mon man!
Swiss Eta handwound movement vs. some sketchy no name movement? C'mon man!!!!!
50m vs. 30m W/R? C'mon man!
Company History? Hamilton by a mile.
Hamilton Khaki Field killer??? Hardly-not in the same ballpark.
Giving ones opinion, that's what it's all about Bro 💪👍!
I know their are tons more thoughts out there 😉🤝. This is gonna be great 💯💥🙌.
In no way,shape or form is the Marathon even close to the Hamilton
Hamilton wins on every count.
Steel vs. composite case?? C'mon man!
38mm case vs 34 mm case? C'mon man!
Swiss Eta handwound movement vs. some sketchy no name movement? C'mon man!!!!!
50m vs. 30m W/R? C'mon man!
Company History? Hamilton by a mile.
Hamilton Khaki Field killer??? Hardly-not in the same ballpark.
C'mon, now. Let's be fair while ridiculing something. I did not say it was a sketchy, no-name movement, I said I could find no information on the sketchy, no-name movement. 🤣
C'mon, now. Let's be fair while ridiculing something. I did not say it was a sketchy, no-name movement, I said I could find no information on the sketchy, no-name movement. 🤣
Official US Army™ Officer's Watch (GPM) 39mm (Case/Crown) – Marathon Watch North America
It uses a super sketchy ETA 2801.... 🤣
In no way,shape or form is the Marathon even close to the Hamilton
Hamilton wins on every count.
Steel vs. composite case?? C'mon man!
38mm case vs 34 mm case? C'mon man!
Swiss Eta handwound movement vs. some sketchy no name movement? C'mon man!!!!!
50m vs. 30m W/R? C'mon man!
Company History? Hamilton by a mile.
Hamilton Khaki Field killer??? Hardly-not in the same ballpark.
Marathon makes a steel version, 39mm, with an ETA 2801, 50m WR(though it's kind of pointless)... and tritium.
Marathon makes a steel version, 39mm, with an ETA 2801, 50m WR(though it's kind of pointless)... and tritium.
But that's not the one offered for comparison.
That being said I'll take the H-50 with its 80 hr power reserve and better accuracy over the 2801 any day. I've owned both.
Official US Army™ Officer's Watch (GPM) 39mm (Case/Crown) – Marathon Watch North America
It uses a super sketchy ETA 2801.... 🤣
840 bucks USD???
Yikes!!
840 bucks USD???
Yikes!!
That's what happens when you're not part of a massive match making conglomerate, they don't have the scale of production to reduce cost that Swatch Group does.
Also, the tritium, and licensing for the use of the US Army logo is going to add to costs.
I like the use of tritium and wish more companies would use it. A material that stays lumed all the time? Even if it's not as bright, how often is anyone's lume charged when they really need to check it?
I don't like the US Army logo on the Marathon. This is a European vs American fashion thing, not just because of the military connection: in Europe it is also rare to e.g. wear a sweater with your university's logo on it.
The other thing is that all that marketing by historical significance triggers my bullshit-alarm, it puts me off big-time. (Salute to Panerai.) Perhaps this is just a $30 watch, sold to the army for $50 a piece, and to the great unwashed for $460 a piece, with great profits for everyone around? I don't get that sort of hyped crap from Sinn when they make watches to military stanards.
NO.
That clunky plastic case turns me off, not to mention it's quartz. It's a $35 watch without the Tritium.
The Tritium vials are nice, but Tritium has a half-life of 12.3 years, so depending on the vial's quality, you'll get around 15 useful years out of them. Long term that may be an issue. Of course, if you buy a plastic watch you're probably not thinking about long term use...
NO.
That clunky plastic case turns me off, not to mention it's quartz. It's a $35 watch without the Tritium.
The Tritium vials are nice, but Tritium has a half-life of 12.3 years, so depending on the vial's quality, you'll get around 15 useful years out of them. Long term that may be an issue. Of course, if you buy a plastic watch you're probably not thinking about long term use...
It's not a quartz piece Sir, even though they do have that option as well. The watch presented carries an ETA 2801, they also make it in a SS case at 39mm 😉👍.
But it is a great topic to strike up conversation 🤯😃👌.
It's not a quartz piece Sir, even though they do have that option as well. The watch presented carries an ETA 2801, they also make it in a SS case at 39mm 😉👍.
But it is a great topic to strike up conversation 🤯😃👌.
Yes, you are correct about that. The Quartz was mentioned and that distracted me...
While that makes it a bit better, it's still an overpriced plastic watch, to me anyhow.