GPQ Official USAF Officer's Watch Ref. WW194015SS-1003

Product Description Specifications Reviews Video

Marathon Watch might be new to some, but definitely not to military watch fanatics like us. This Swiss watchmaker is popular among collectors as one of the few brands that crafts timepieces for militaries including the United States and Canadian armies for almost 70 years.

Marathon GPQ Official USAF Officer's Watch Ref. WW194015SS-USAF

Delving into the rich history of this watchmaker, we discovered that the brand we now know to be Marathon was founded in 1904 as Weinsturm Watch, which was later renamed Wein Brothers. Back in 1939, Morris Wein founded this brand and supplied fine timepieces famed for their precision throughout North America. Since the 1940s, Marathon has been manufacturing time instruments for the Allied Forces. Today, the horological baton has been passed on to the fourth generation of the Wein family which continues to strengthen the brand’s reputation by producing a wide range of instruments that measure time, temperature and distance.

Combining military durability with Swiss engineering and craftsmanship to ensure the highest level of quality and precision, Marathon unveils its latest timepiece made especially for the United States Air Force (USAF), the Marathon GPQ Official USAF Officer’s Watch Ref. WW194015SS-USAF. This watch is the official watch worn by USAF officers, endorsed by the United States Department of Defense. It is inspired by the GG-W-113 military watch launched in the 1980s and features the winged USAF logo proudly adorned on the dial.

Made in Switzeland, Approved by US Government

The acronym “GPQ” stands for “General Purpose Quartz”, which hints at the impressive functionality of these officially-issued military field watches. A tool watch with no frills, the Government GPQ Reissue Quartz is built to aid the USAF in their training and missions.

Manufacturing timepieces for the U.S. Army from 1967 till the late 1980s, Marathon sets the standard as one of the longest official watchmakers to supply watches to this formidable regiment. As a field watch, the GPQ Official USAF Officer’s Watch has all the specifications as required by the U.S. government. This timepiece is powered by a Swiss high-torque ETA Quartz movement that is accurate to -0.3/+0.5 seconds per day. This ETA F06 calibre also has an End of Life (EOL) indicator that will advance the seconds hand once every 4 seconds to inform users when a battery change of a 371 cell is needed. Furthermore, the movement is built with a shock-resistant hacking mechanism. With lesser mechanical components than its contemporaries, the reliability of this quartz watch has been proven throughout its years in the field.

Based on the GG-W-113 specifications since 1960s

As the epitome of military watches, the 39mm GPQ Official USAF Officer’s Watch shows off a clear 12-hour dial with 24-hour sub-markings. A date window at 4.30 adds a practical complication to the watch whilst still maintaining the high legibility of the dial. The indices and dial text are all printed, apart from the proudly applied USAF logo at 12 o’clock. The prominent USAF logo symbolises the long-standing partnership and good relationship that Marathon shares with the US Department of Defense.

When it comes to the case construction, Marathon has pulled no punches. The 316L stainless steel case features a full sand-blasted finishing that removes any inessential reflections. This matte case flaunts a unique bezel-less design with steep convex slopes from its case sides to its dial opening, which allows for a no-frills time display at a glance. With a height of 11mm and a lug to lug length of 44mm, this sturdy timepiece rests comfortably on all wrist sizes.

Tritium gas tubes and MaraGlow™ that glows 24 hours

Observe the sleek case shape of this watch, extending outwards to serve as crown guards by flanking the push-pull crown, which allows for easy manipulation. Its L-shaped lugs are continuous with its case, thereby emphasizing the drilled lug holes that allow for convenient strap changes. Marvel at the screw-in caseback of this watch responsible for its 30m water resistance. Engraved with essential government markings and specifications, the caseback holds proof of its prominence within the U.S. government.

Protected by a flat sapphire crystal, the syringe-styled handset of this timepiece incorporates tritium gas tubes with MaraGlow and a total of 15 tritium gas tubes (Isotope H3) are applied on top of its Arabic hour markers. With one micro gas tube at the tip of the second hand, this watch allows for maximum legibility in the dark for many hours without a need for an external light source.

Manufactured in accordance to US Government MIL-PRF-46374G

The GPQ Official USAF Officer’s Watch comes on a 16mm black nylon textile strap that graces one’s wrist comfortably with its timeless athletic design. This high-quality nylon strap is in line with the adventure-themed military watch, elevating its rugged aesthetics.

All in all, it is apparent that Marathon timepieces are manufactured with the utmost care and undergo stringent quality checks before they are launched. This attention to detail and finesse is embodied in the Marathon GPQ Official USAF Officer’s Watch Ref. WW194015SS-USAF, which bears testament to the expertise of the Swiss watchmaker. Military-style tool watches are becoming increasingly popular in the market, where consumers have a whole range of options to choose from. However, not all of them meet the high standards of the US Government whilst still being able to stand out with their unique design unlike anything else on the market. Marathon watches are always built with a purpose and offer startling value for money for us watch collectors.

Maker	Marathon
Movement	High-torque Quartz • ETA FØ6 Movement
Dial	Black
Luminous	Tritium gas tubes and Maraglo™
Case	316L Stainless Steel
Bezel	Fixed bezel
Crown type	Push-pull crown
Lug width	16mm
Crystal material	Sapphire crystal
Strap	Black Nylon DEFSTAN strap
Water resistance	30m
Dimensions	39mm in diameter, 44mm lugs to lugs, 11mm thick

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