Issued kit, and it looks it
By Tom Hargreaves, Falmouth, Cornwall ยท
Marathon is a Canadian family firm that's been supplying watches to militaries for decades, and the GSAR (Government Search and Rescue) is the one they're best known for. It's an issued watch. A lot of people in search and rescue have worn one.
What you get is tritium lume, the little gas tubes that glow all night without charging, on the hands and markers. That alone makes it worth a look for anyone who works in the dark or in bad visibility. In the green murk off Pendennis Point at the end of a winter afternoon, I'd want tritium over anything painted.
Case is 41 mm, 14 mm thick, 20 mm lugs, 300 m, closed back, rubber strap. Sellita SW200-1, 38 hours, date. $2,500.
The 14 mm thickness is a bit much for its size, and it's not a pretty watch. Dark anthracite dial, rugged case, nothing shiny anywhere. The rubber strap is functional, and that's about all you can say for it.
But I like that it doesn't pretend. It's government kit made by people who've been making government kit for a long time, and you can buy one.
If you want a pure tool, this is near the top of the list. If you want something to wear to a wedding, it's not.