Omega does homages for military watches. Marathon is the real deal

Omega is the real deal as well.

They made some of the original trench watches, were issued to Spitfire Pilots and Navigators, were one of the Dirty Dozen, and the Royal Navy bought Seamasters from them up until 1980, with Seamasters still being given to the SBS as Regiment Watches.

The case and bezel look kinda cheap in pictures I've seen. How does it feel tho?

Thanks for the info, I agree. Omega has a lot of provenance and NASA used them to outfit our astronauts as well. Had to make a cheeky title though 🙂 I do think that Marathon are more tool in their offerings, but Omega has garnered premium/luxury status such as Tudor, etc… Love them all! Cheers

It feels okay. Bezel feels spongy, and my mind kind of categorized it like a gshock type thing where it is light and non-premium, but strong and durable.

I've been back and forth on Marathon lately. The brand has a unique take and it is appealing

I am new to them and this was my first watch I have from the brand. The jury is still out, but I have liked having it in my rotation. I do tend to like military/field style watches though and am a sucker for a NATO on a daily wearer.

I have a both a Navigator and GSAR, they are great watches.

The GSAR feels like a Nokia cellphone from the early 2000s, it's not stylish and sleek, but it's a beast of a watch.

I also find the Navigator is the ideal way for me to track a second time zone, I discovered I don't like most GMT watches. I hate that they GMT hand often obscures an index, making the watch harder to read at a glance.

I'm going to keep Marathon on my radar for sure

Thanks for the comment. Yes! I also am not the biggest GMT fan, and I started my watch journey with a diver, so I am just more comfortable with bezels and find it easier to read also. Just saw your GSAR and that does look like a tank! I am afraid for my wallet as I am browsing other Marathon pieces

They go on sale a couple of times a year, I picked mine up directly from Marathon for a 15 or 20% discount.

Oh that’s great to know, that is a hefty discount!

Very few people in the USAF wear analog watches. A majority of aircrew members wear Garmin watches and even Apple watches. You do see some sporting G Shocks from time to time.

Apple Watch ultra*

You don't need to prop up Marathon by dissing Omega or any other brand.

Omega has amazing military pedigree as do many other brands.

Just enjoy your Marathon for what it is. Our collecting community is a very big tent...all are welcome here I would hope... that's why we enjoy the Crunch over other watch forums.

I wear Omegas, love all watches 🥰

What @TimeJunkie says! 🙌🏻

Marathon? They weren't one of the Dirty Dozen. But yes, they are true military watches.

He’s clearly talking about Omega

Thank you. I didn't see his first line. Omega is def one of the Dirty Dozen

I should hope they still are, otherwise something has gone wrong and I’ve shifted out my reality.

Do we have a Man from Taured situation here?

You tell me? Do you still have Smiths watches being made in Cheltenham here?

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but it’s currently on sale at jcrew.com. Use code ‘EARLY’ for further savings.

https://www.jcrew.com/p/BD463?color_name=DESERT%20TAN&srcCode=Email%7CTransaction%7CBM%7Corder-confirmation_EMOP00001&utm_source=BM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=order-confirmation_EMOP00001&utm_content=Transaction

A GSAR is something that I really want, but I'm sure I would hardly ever wear. So it remains on the wishlist indefinitely.

No need to google when I own Omegas myself and love their provenance.

So please enlighten us, why take a swipe at Omega?

No one is doubting that Marathon make functional watches and supply them to the military, but Omega did have a number of contracts with the MOD, and admittedly, do not really play much into that side of their heritage considering the marketing focus on the Moon, diving, and the tie-in with modern James Bond. Do you think they should? I would probably agree, but that’s not what this thread seems to be about, it comes across as an Omega hit-piece. Would you like to discuss where Omega are missing the mark?

Quartz Digital & additional gadgetry are the service products of choice. The grunt uses Timex & GSHOCK for a true use and toss piece. Garmin rules Aviator and Operator use. There is just so much great useful gadgetry an analog watch can't compare/compete with. Omega, Rolex & Tudor enjoy a heavy rep for their role in combat aviation and special forces use. Between the SBS, RAF, SEALs , NASA & James Bond Omega and Rolex have an everlasting marketing hype. Well.... they make some damned good watches as well 🙂. Marathon was a contractor for field watches like a slew of providers. The company was savvy enough to wrangle one of the last long term contracts for watches such as the GSAR. Like most DOD contracted products in this category gear falls into use until unserviceable or built to last (I hear all the civilian contractors who design aircraft, subs, drowns, missiles etc. Protesting) We are talking basic field gear. The GSAR has a tin cranking bezel that has zero tactile pleasure. There is no polish. Having said this, the watch is tough. This watch isn't a use and pitch product. The movement is regulated and lives in plenty of luxury brands ETA 2824 or Sellita SW200. You can pay a lot more for a watch you wouldn't feel comfortable tossing if there was a movement issue. IMO once you wear a GSAR you will want to keep it in your collection for life

Omega has an impressive track record when it comes to military watches. From the 1930s on, they made watches for British pilots, as well as for the pilots of other countries of the British Empire. During the war, notably they supplied the 6B/159 and a Weems-patent watch for the RAF, the HS8 for the Fleet Air Arm. Scores of these watches were supplied to the Australian RAAF as well. Then there was the WWW, which saw no action in WW2, but the WWW - Omega ones included - remained in service until as late as the Falklands War of 1982. As far as I know, there was even a model for the British army in India. Then there was the 6B/542 in the 1950s, also made for the RAF. Omega also supplied the US military during WW2.

The Speedmaster was in service of the Israeli Defence Force, Fuerza Aerea del Peru, and several others. Along with Rolex's Milsub, in the 1960s they also supplied the Seamaster 300 for the Royal Navy (presumably to be issued to the SBS). From what I can recall, one version of the story has it that the successor of the CK 2913, the ST 165.024, had the fully lumed and index bezel thanks first and foremost for the Royal Navy contract watch, and that's what prompted using these features to the civilian mass market model.

One piece of trivia: Omega also sold a number of watches to the German military during WW2. An acquaintance of mine, upon obtaining an extract of the archives for one of his watches, was surprised to see "Delivered to: German army" on it. Turned out that the Third Reich acquired some via shell companies - of which companies Omega had a suspicion for whom are these strange customers really working, but couldn't officially refuse to sell to them.

I'm pretty sure I'm far from having listed them all.

Dear colleague, you can be completely sure that what you say is totally true. My MARATHON NAVIGATOR has been, together with my CASIO DW5600, a faithful and tireless support and essential part of my personal equipment during my tactical deployments in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania-Kosovo in the late 90s as well as in Central Africa. And of course, all of us who were there carrying out our mission were real characters and not 007s.😉👍

Thanks for the personal anecdote that brings me more joy to own a marathon!! So cool 😎 thanks brother