The 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 military regimes including the United States and Canadian army for almost 70 years.
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Marathon GPQ Government Reissue Quartz Ref. WW194015SS
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Delving into the rich history of this watchmaker, we discovered that the brand we now know to be Marathon Watch 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. Till date, the horological baton has been passed on to the fourth generation of the Wein family which continues to live out 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 reissue of the GG-W-113 military watch launched in the 1980s with its introduction of the Marathon GPQ Reissue Quartz Ref. WW194015SS.
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Made in Switzeland, Approved by US Government
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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 army 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 Government GPQ Reissue Quartz 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 FØ6 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 a power reserve of 36 hours. Hence, with lesser mechanical components than its contemporaries, the reliability of this quartz watch has been proven throughout its years in the field.
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Based on the GG-W-113 specifications since 1960s
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As the epitome of military watches, the 39mm Government GPQ Reissue Quartz shows off a clear 24-hour dial with a 316L stainless steel case featuring 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 snugly on all wrist sizes.
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 500m water resistance. Engraved with essential government markings and specifications, the caseback holds proof of its prominence within the U.S. government.
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Tritium gas tubes and MaraGlow™ that glows 24 hours
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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. With a set of 24-hour markers forming an inner circle on its dial, only essential texts such as the Marathon brand logo and U.S. government markings are included to ensure that it remains uncluttered.
The Government GPQ Reissue Quartz comes with 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.
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Manufactured in accordance to US Government MIL-PRF-46374G
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All in all, it is apparent that all 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 Reissue Quartz Ref. WW194015SS, which bears testament to the expertise of this Swiss watchmaker. The watch industry is perpetually saturated with military-style tool watches, but not all can gain the stamp of approval from the U.S. Government while still retaining its original design like the Government GPQ Reissue Quartz. Your mission should you choose to accept it is to find your purpose with this exquisite timepiece. With its excellent functionality and great value for money, this general purpose quartz stands out as a handsome grab-and-go tool watch built especially for ground troopers. It is truly an exceptional timepiece for your watch collection.
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