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Gnomon's August 2021 Lookbook // National Day Edition
Moving into the month of August, it’s the patriotic time of the year where Singapore celebrates its annual national day every 9th of August in commemoration of its independence since 1965. Onward Singapore! While we’re still in the phase of pandemic uncertainty where most of us will probably be celebrating Singapore’s national day cooped up at home, here’s some extra reading material for you to brave through this period in a positive light.
For this month’s lookbook, we’re giving the spotlight on the military-focused Canadian watch manufacturer Marathon in honor of Singapore’s proud heritage and incredible resilience, values that are in parallel with Marathon’s robust timepieces. To spice up Singapore’s 56th birthday, let us present a few of our favorite picks to kick off this flag-waving season!
Marathon JDD NGM Diver Automatic 46mm – Rubber Ref. WW194021
Founded in 1939 by Morris Wein, Marathon has been manufacturing tried-and-tested mil-spec wristwatches for the military even until this day. The company remains a family-owned business with the fourth generation of the Wein family upholding the rich watchmaking tradition, producing watches that combine military durability with Swiss engineering and craftsmanship. Designed in Canada and hand-assembled with the highest standards in the beautiful watchmaking town of La Chaux-De-Fonds, Switzerland, manufacturing reliable mil-spec watches has been the core focus for the brand since its early days, the unwavering values of performance and quality has continued to be embodied in all of Marathon’s watches.
We’re starting off with this beast of a dive watch. As the name suggests, JDD stands for ‘Jumbo Day Date’, reflecting on the watch’s sizable 46mm case with a prominent day and date complication — this is a serious big boy here. Let’s be honest, not everyone has gigantic wrist sizes, however this is a piece that feels just right for a purposefully-built military tool watch designed for search and rescue operations. With the rising trend of smaller, vintage-inspired timepieces, a bold offering like this truly sets itself apart from the crowd, exhibiting a strong yet attractive vigour just like a true tool watch should.
Marathon CSAR Jumbo Diver/Pilot Automatic Chronograph 46mm – Rubber Ref. WW194014SS-0101
Essentially the chronograph cousin of the JDD Diver, the CSAR Jumbo Diver/Pilot Automatic Chronograph 46mm is one for those who don’t want to miss out when it comes to specifications. Incorporating 300m of water resistance, a Swiss-made ETA-based automatic chronograph calibre, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a seemingly indestructible case build, this packs all the right ingredients for a do-everything timepiece. This would be my perfect holiday watch with its abundance of features and capable water resistance. From timing daily tasks to taking a dip in the pool, what more can you really ask for?
Marathon GSAR Government Diver Automatic – Bracelet Ref. WW194006BRACE-US
Being Marathon’s flagship dive watch collection, the Marathon GSAR Government Diver Automatic is perhaps the most ideal pick for the vast majority for its incredibly versatile 41mm case and a utilitarian matte black that matches just about any outfit. The ‘U.S. Government’ text on the dial signifies the watch’s compliance with the U.S. military’s specifications, it’s simply reassuring to know this is a watch that can take a beating (even if you’re “desk-diving” at the office). As the most simple-looking of the bunch, the GSAR Government Diver appears immensely humble on the wrist with its no-nonsense look. However, it sure packs a powerful punch when it comes to performance.
Marathon GSAR Government Grey Maple Leaf Diver Automatic – Bracelet Ref. WW194006BRACE-CA-MPL
Embodying Marathon’s Canadian roots, this special variant of the GSAR present’s a distinct grey maple leaf emblem on its matte black dial. With the Marathon logo being the only main text on the dial, the satisfying lack of wording on the dial brings an immaculately clean and uncluttered appearance that looks exceptionally attractive. Like all of the watches mentioned on this list, the ingenious implementation of encapsulated self-illuminating tritium gas tubes is definitely one of the main highlights for Marathon watches, ensuring a constant glow even in complete darkness.
Marathon GSAR NGM Diver Automatic Arctic Edition – Bracelet Ref. WW194006-WD
Setting itself apart from the majority of black-dial Marathon references, the Marathon GSAR NGM Diver Automatic Arctic Edition showcases a stunning white dial that brings a whole new perspective to the GSAR diver. However, the most outstanding aspect of the watch is undoubtedly its vibrant orange second hand for a fresh pop of colour to the monochromatic look of the watch. Wearing it on the wrist, I definitely developed a new-found love for white dive watches. While white dial dive watches aren’t all that popular compared to other color choices, the elevated wrist presence is surely pleasing. Accompanied with Marathon’s exceptionally high-quality build and robustness of this piece, this has grown to be a favorite amongst the sea of dive watches.