A Great Sub $300 Pilot Watch - Marathon Navigator Review

[@Victordamus98]

This is my go to watch as a pilot. I use it mostly for my long cross country flights and it's my go to watch completing my ratings. It's the real deal. Simple, accurate, durable, Mission oriented and gets the job done.

[@BPFnSC]

I actually got this watch when I was deployed to Afghanistan. The bezel ended up breaking off, but I was able to get a replacement bezel from Marathon. Love this watch, but I ended up buying the Marathon GSAR because its a much more durable watch. Be mindful that the Tritium will last about 10 years.

[@cj1000]

Own one and fly with it. Love it! It’s the real deal.

[@TeddyBaldassarreReviews]

Hell yeah! Thanks for sharing!

[@skipmcgripcunningham9897]

I own the no date version. Great watch. It’s the real deal. No fake Luminox crap here ETA quartz movement is very accurate with an EOL indicator which is nice. I wear this more than my GSAR because of the comfort

[@BAAMRanch]

I bought one of these at a surplus store around 2004ish... I loved it until I lost it. I just assumed it was a cheap brand at the time because it was only 40 bucks, new. Makes me miss it and I'm gonna have to buy a new one

[@yogiyoda]

Now they are asking over $400 for the same watch. Inflation or greed?

[@royroblox]

Thanks for featuring this one! Really tempted by it ... but so sad they don’t seem to offer a steel-cased version of the Navigator anymore.

[@fishkluch]

they do now, a bit pricey though

[@TonyManero88]

It’s Canadian, looks great and blends with so many styles. I’m sold!!

[@johnnyjohnny7204]

nice review. i have an earlier version of this that i prefer for the most part. it has a bubble plastic crystal, which is a better choice for pilot watches for the obvious reason of sapphire's ability to shatter in a cockpit. i prefer the retro bubble look to the flat of the sapphire. on the other hand, the newer one you post has a super easy battery change port, whereas mine (about 3 yrs old) has a snapback which must be pried off, which i'll have to find some nylon pry tool as not to scratch it. either way, these are amazing watches if you can get into quartz, which i've done despite years of sarcasm aimed at non-mechanical watches. some incredible pieces, like this, and the outrageous cost of servicing mechanicals over time, has brought me to be more open-minded, and with good cause vis a vis pieces like this.

[@Biblicalgiants]

I use a steel Pickboy brand guitar pick to pry the caseback off on mine but any heavy duty plastic pick would work just as good.

[@zillsburyy1]

i emailed marathon they told me; "The watch can handle recreation swimming, but it isnt a divers watch. The battery can last on average 2 years (max 4). If battery is not giving one years worth of power it might be a sign of the movement needing internal servicing"

[@davep2999]

I looked on their website. The chart for water resistance confirms what they told you. You can swim in the watch.

[@lucioledizerot196]

I just ordered this watch without the date. Really looking forward to wearing it, and I intend to use it as my true beater. 6atm is enough for everything except diving, quartz is accurate and rugged, and the tritium is awesome.

[@boston961]

Hey , how is this watch holding up ? I'm looking to get it but a bit worried about the 6atm water resistance

[@lucioledizerot196]

@@boston961 it's holding up great, I've been enjoying it way more than I was expecting at first. Unless you actually go under water for a longer period of time 6atm is plenty for anything in my experience. The watch is just great to wear because of how light it is

[@boston961]

@@lucioledizerot196 Brilliant !! And thanks for replying . Does it wear quite large on wrist ? . I'm guessing it wouldn't be ok for swimming but ok for heavy rain and Kish normal water ? .

[@lucioledizerot196]

@@boston961 it actually wears smaller than its size because of how small the dial is compared to the rest of the case. Also the fact that the case is black makes it wear smaller visually too. And yeah exactly, it's ok for anything except actual prolonged swimming. I've taken it hiking in the mountain under heavy rain and no issues whatsoever.

[@boston961]

@@lucioledizerot196 ok brilliant , thanks for taking the time to reply .

[@jb6027]

I have this watch - it's very light and comfortable. Marathon is reissuing the Steel Navigator in 2021. I can't wait for that one! I may be wrong, but I don't believe those are drilled lugs. They're metal fixed lugs in plastic.

[@TeddyBaldassarreReviews]

Hi JB, Looking forward to that as well. Also, you are correct regarding the lug bars, they are fixed and are not typical spring bars. Going to remove that to avoid confusion. Thanks for watching!

[@mrbacchus6127]

Thanks for the info, I think I will wait on the metal one. Unless there is a great markdown on the old ones.

[@bobby9741]

Amy news on the steel one?

[@jb6027]

@@bobby9741 No. Marathon made an announcement months ago that they would be reintroducing the steel navigator this year. Obviously, they've dropped the ball. Considering Marathon's pricing now, I doubt the new steel navigator will be good value for the money.

[@wilsonlyt5765]

@@TeddyBaldassarreReviews hhh, I'm actually struggling between this one and the lack Augsburg watch, which both looks very good in the durability and the look. I'm gonna need a durable watch on the plane and to other countries, I'm first to watches and only bought very cheap watches before, which could be a better choice, in this case?

[@Ronbo710]

A that price I am sure these rarely leave supply to anyone other than F-35 pilot's lol. Look at the wrists of most enlisted and you'll find g shocks

[@kohnbonn9744]

I was issued this watch overseas and I was infantry.

[@anotae]

I have the old one and I loved...

[@gerardoitalia4914]

I hope to see an automatic version of the navigator

[@abrrodriguez]

Good evening Teddy, for a 17 cm diameter wrist, what size marathon watch would be the most appropriate: 34, 36 or 41 mm?

[@meijiturtle3814]

A good review of a excellent watch which I have now purchased. The headline is now inaccurate, unfortunately, as the price has recently risen to $380, a substantial rise over $240 I paid in October 2021. Apologies for typos! I should have used £sterling figures, £240 and £380.

[@Ferien7]

It’s now $450 and rising

[@jakemensik2842]

Lol, $480 now.

[@jmoney6652]

My only complaint about this watch is no screw down crown

[@boston961]

Wish marathon increased there water resistance on this model and the field watches .

[@ryoguy3236]

@islandwatch where does one score that orange band you have on your gen 2? 😀

[@zillsburyy1]

love those gas tubes

[@gregbarry5875]

Why do you recomend this watch and not the GPQ ??

[@ctw2450]

what is the diameter of the bezel? does the 41mm asymmetric shape appear smaller due to the smaller bezel? thank you

[@henrycollins2478]

What do you think about the new Rolex references? Also that watch looks like it could stop a gun shot and still run just fine

[@TeddyBaldassarreReviews]

Haha true. And for the new rolex models - expected changes to the submariner. Surprised by the 41 mm case update. Will have to wait to try on before passing complete judgment on whether it wears better. I was not a fan of the previous generation of subs. The OPs are fun but I think the colors will only vibe with certain types of buyers. Overall, a bit underwhelming but that is part of Rolex's strength. Small progressions over time.

[@esvan9662]

Seiko Arnie or Marathon Navigator?

[@pillscottvt6628]

I have ten of the ARMY issue ones NIB, they were gonna get thrown out.

[@temujinadonijah6365]

I loved mine but they aren't rugged the bezel is the flaw

[@lowiq0101]

Can I buy your site from Japan?

[@davedickman2958]

I noticed the second hand alignment always seemed to be out of step in the videos. Is that normal for these I wonder?

[@nealkaido2970]

Parallax. The dial is very very deep in that watch because the tritium tube and hands need clearance otherwise they'd hit the crystal, because of the depth when viewed at an angle it appears that it does not line up. If you look at it head on it lines up

[@muppet21alvaro]

What's the diameter of the bezel?

[@alextomlinson1725]

I love mine. Distinctive and rugged. Does what it says on the tin.

[@QuackLoud]

Teddy, love the review. Will be calling you guys about your dual listing of this watch on your site. Two different prices but for the life of me I can't tell the difference between the two listings (besides price). Thanks. ---- Never mind. I just saw it - one with date and one without.

[@michaelchurchman6018]

I recently just ordered this watch and I am happy with it except I have found that the bezel can quite easily be removed with a bit of force? Has anyone else experienced this? Also the bezel has about a 1mm play in the z axis (so not the rotation, just up down motion). Can any one please confirm for me if this is normal?

[@TeddyBaldassarreReviews]

Hi Michael, just checked to see if you ordered from us to try to correct the issue but it looks like you bought elsewhere since you are not in our system. That is a bit unordinary. The bezel is going to be less secure than the GSAR for example and will have some play and the way they are on the case is different than a conventional bezel so you might feel a very subtle movement up and down. That said, if it is completely coming off that is not normal. I would reach out to the retailer you purchased from to resolve the issue for you.

[@michaelchurchman6018]

@@TeddyBaldassarreReviews I ordered it from Long Island watch. But I emailed Marathon about it and they told me that it is normal to be able to remove the bezel with just the force of your fingers? It's not as if it just falls off, and it does require a bit of effort to pop it off. However it's the fact that this is possible that concerns me. So now I am just a bit confused as you say this is not normal? Thanks for the reply. I appreciate the assistance.

[@TeddyBaldassarreReviews]

@@michaelchurchman6018 Oh I follow you now. No you are all good. The bezel can be popped up from the case in order to help rotation just wasn't sure if you were experiencing this without force being applied.

[@michaelchurchman6018]

@@TeddyBaldassarreReviews Ok great thanks for all the help. Also I'm a big fan of your channel, keep up the good work

[@davebuck2494]

Yes. I was shocked one day to look at the time, only to find that the bezel had come off and was lost! Marathon readily supplied a new bezel at a reasonable cost, however their price for shipping to NZ is way over the norm. Three times the cost of the bezel, in fact. I do not know who they use for shipping, but I really think they can find a more reasonable option.

[@inputgoldfish4424]

Considering how the watch looks like I’m not surprised if it can survive a nuke

[@tc6578]

Don’t forget that regular luminous markers will also deteriorate down to almost non-legible after 25 years as well.

[@drumtech1062]

The rotating bezels on these watches are problematic. Some will fall off and they all seem to get stuck. Bad design for such an expensive watch.

[@Master-Baiter]

Time for me to save. Lmao

[@sblaney66]

Great looking watch but such a low WR and the accuracy for a quartz watch isn't great :(

[@staceygram5555]

Would you be able to swim with this?

[@Brees1986]

Yes, it’s good to 60m or 200’.

[@staceygram5555]

@@Brees1986 I know, that's why I'm asking.

[@Brees1986]

@@staceygram5555 Huh? You asked if you could swim with it, I answered….

[@staceygram5555]

@@Brees1986 It's usually not recommended to swim with a 6 ATM watch, that's why I asked if this was an exception considering its 'mil-spec' pedigree.

[@fishkluch]

too bad they jacked up the price to 450

[@ScottNotAvailable]

Marathon watches are overpriced for what they are. They lean heavily on the military legacy. If you are considering this watch, please consider the Casio MRW-200H. It is 1/10th the cost and it looks badass, and if it breaks just buy a new one and you're still ahead. But it probably won't. I feel like Marathon is for suckers and wannabes.

[@ReJoys777]

This case is the worst case ever the material is wrong constructed Marathon generally is a lot of Canadian very loose and lousy contrasted. That swiss manufacturer movement owner of ETA, SWISS GROUP put there name on the dial SWISS MADE on this piece of Canadian made crap is a total mystery to me.