GSAR NGM Diver Automatic Arctic Edition - Rubber Ref. WW194006SS-0530

Military watches unceasingly draw the fascination of watch collectors from all over the world with its rich heritage. Other than being extremely robust and functional, military watches hark back to countless momentous events in history when troops relied on them as valuable equipment in the field. Wrist watches are unquestionably an indispensable tool when it comes to military operations such as coordinating tactical movements and navigational purposes. Of the many established brands that supply, or once supplied watches to the military, Marathon is a name seemingly overshadowed by other familiar offerings in the market. However, it is certainly one of the hidden gems in the world of military watches. Marathon GSAR NGM Diver Automatic Arctic Edition - Rubber Ref. WW194006-WD Astonishingly, Marathon’s heritage dates back to more than a century ago since 1904 when it was founded as Weinstrum Watch, subsequently named as Wein Brothers. In 1939, what we know today as Marathon Watch was established in Montreal, Canada by Morris Wein, the first of the current fourth generation in the Wein family that are still presently carrying the proud tradition of producing reliable instruments for the measurement of time, temperature and distance. Today, Marathon watches are designed in Canada and hand-assembled with the highest standards in La Chaux-De-Fonds, the beautiful watchmaking town of Switzerland. 

 Manufacturing military-spec watches for the military has been one of the core focuses of Marathon since 1941, being one of the world’s only watch companies to hold a current contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. This being said, all of Marathon’s purpose-designed timepieces are absolutely tough as nails, constructed to adhere to strict military requirements and ready to take a beating under adverse conditions. One of their latest additions, the Marathon GSAR NGM Diver Automatic - White Arctic Edition Rubber Ref. WW194006-WD, showcases these tough characteristics in one hell of a dive watch. 
 Made in Switzeland, Approved by US Government In line with the utilitarian nature of the piece, “GSAR” is an acronym for “Government Search and Rescue” which is named after the high-risk tactical operations of the military personnel these watches are issued to, serving as a crucial tool in their arsenal. The GSAR is Marathon’s flagship ISO-certified dive watch crafted for use during underwater missions, equipped with a substantial 30 ATM (300m) of water resistance, resistance to magnetism, resistance to corrosion as well as excellent resistance to shock and extreme temperatures. 

The hefty 316L stainless steel case of the GSAR NGM Diver Automatic - White Arctic Edition Rubber Ref. WW194006-WD is definitely built like a tank with beefy squared crown guards and a chunky 14mm-thick case. Despite its aggressive appearance, wearability is surprisingly good on the wrist with a case dimension of 41mm and a lug to lug distance of 48mm. The case is finished with a fine satin brushing throughout to minimize any unnecessary reflections that may hinder the performance of missions. 
 Full satin-brushed finishing throughout its 41mm case One of the most essential functions of dive watches includes its ability to track time with the use of a diving bezel. The thick 120-click unidirectional bezel on the GSAR houses considerable grooves that allows for a firm grip even while operating using diving gloves underwater. Inserted in the bezel lies a black anodized insert with a 60-minute format as required by military use. At the 12 o’clock position, the bezel features a luminous triangle pip for uncompromised legibility even in dark lighting conditions.  Attached to the GSAR Diver Auto is the new 20mm high quality black vulcanized rubber with "Marathon" pattern on the inside. Manufactured in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the rubber strap is crafted from FKM Rubber, meeting the requirements of high-performance military applications. The satin-finished