OSAR-D Original Search and Rescue with Date Arctic Edition - Rubber Ref. WW194006SS-2530

The brand Marathon might be new to some, but not for Canadians, Americans, and especially military watch fanatics like us. The moniker is better known to watch collectors be among the few that, until today, officially offers no-frills timepieces to the military. Those regimes include the United States and Canadian army since circa 70 years ago.

Marathon OSAR-D Original Search and Rescue with Date Arctic Edition - Rubber Ref. WW194006SS-2530

Let's dive a little deeper. The company that was to become Marathon Watch was founded in 1904 as Weinsturm 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 with a wide range of tools measuring time, temperature, and distance. Marathon watches combine military durability with Swiss engineering and craftsmanship to ensure the highest level of quality and precision. All these traits showcased on the Marathon Original Search and Rescue with Date Arctic Edition – Rubber Ref. WW194006SS-2530 that we are going to introduce today.

The acronym "OSAR" stands for "Original Search and Rescue," referring to officially issued watches designed for military personnel across various branches and roles. While this model is built to withstand harsh conditions, making it suitable for underwater operations, it is versatile enough for use in a wide range of environments. The OSAR emphasizes functionality over flamboyance; while it may appear understated, it is purpose-built to support military missions effectively.

Date w/ 1.5x Magnification

The OSAR starts with its 316L stainless steel case that measures 41mm wide, with a height of 14mm thick and 48mm lug to lug. Further, the finishing of the case gets a full satin-brushed polishing, removing any source of inessential reflections in this case, while still being immaculately executed. The 120-clicks bezel gets expansive grooves that allow one to rotate it uni-directionally in almost any conditions, especially when your hands get wet. The engraved black anodized bezel stays true to military format, having it in a 60-minute format, with a luminous triangle pip at 12 o'clock. The dimension of the timepiece allows one to feel its sturdiness and being built with all sense of purpose, to be out in the field.

Moving to the side profile, we get beefy squared crown guards that flange the nailed-textured screw-down crown for easy manipulation. Flipping it over, we get the screw-in case-back, allowing it to withstand 300m water-resistant. Right on the case-back, we get the essential government markings and specifications engraved. These provide credentials on the OSAR as manufactured following US Government specification. All that said, we assure it is safe to say that both watch collectors and the US military for use in operations on the land and water.

Sellita SW200-1 with Incabloc Shock Absorber

As expected from a military-spec timepiece, the dial is built with pure function in mind. Beneath a flat sapphire crystal with a date magnifier, the Arctic Edition delivers a crisp white dial that pairs perfectly with its high visibility red seconds hand. Marathon equips the piece with their MaraGlo™ luminous treatment, not only to the syringe style hands and applied hour markers but even to the seconds hand tip, ensuring legibility for more than 24 hours straight in complete darkness. The dial itself is stripped down to essentials, with clean geometric markers, a neatly framed date at 3 o'clock, and only the necessary text: "Marathon" up top and "Automatic" above the red "300m/1000ft" depth rating. It is a layout engineered for clarity at a glance, perfectly suited to the no nonsense ethos of the OSAR.

Inside its heart lies the traditional Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with Incabloc shock absorber, which operates at 28,800 bph (4 Hertz) with hacking and hand winding capabilities. It has 26 jewels with a power reserve of 38 hours. The use of this movement shows that Marathon emphasizes on durability and accuracy under all conditions.

Maraglo glows in the dark

Attached to the OSAR-D is a high-quality 20mm black vulcanized rubber strap that complements the watch's rugged design. This strap is not only durable and comfortable but also features a secure signed buckle for added reliability during intense activities. The choice of rubber enhances the watch's suitability for aquatic environments, allowing it to be easily worn over a wetsuit if needed. This functional design element aligns with the watch's adventure-ready ethos, elevating its sportiness and making it an ideal companion for outdoor enthusiasts.

In all, Marathon products are manufactured with the utmost care and go through various quality control measures. This attention to quality presented in the Marathon OSAR-D Arctic Edition - Rubber Ref. WW194006SS-2530, combining military toughness with Swiss craftsmanship. The world of military-style tool watches ever populated in the industry, where consumers have the options to choose from, but not all have the right to get approved by the US Government until today. The Marathon OSAR-D Arctic Edition - Rubber Ref. WW194006SS-2530 stands out from the rest in this way since day one, and besides, their watches are built with a purpose in every aspect that offers startling value for money for us watch collectors.

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