Caveman's Watch Forum

New Watch or Watch Accessories Review of an old watch. May you enjoy it as much as I enjoy the watch! Post contains no message text Post contains Link

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 1:18 a.m.


Marathon Watch Company Ltd. Watch, Wrist, General Purpose, Quartz
IAW MIL-PRF-46374G, Type 1, Class 1
OEM box label
I bought the Marathon in the early spring of of 2005. My main motive for adding it to the collection was quite simple: I wanted an example of the current US-military issue watch. The Real Deal, if you will;

That's about as real as it gets, folks. Uncle issues a God Bless Our Soldiers! military man a watch and, unless he's a pilot or navigator, he gets that exact watch in that exact packaging.

Note that this was quite an expensive purchase, by my humble standards. However, it's also one of, if not the least inexpensive paths to a true tritium-tube watch. Since tritium was another prime motivator, it was a natural!
e-Bay frontal shot
It's become one of my most-loved watches; feather-light, compact, rugged, and with a no-nonsense utility that, to me, embodies the K.I.S.S. principle perfectly. Consequently, it's a watch that I wear often - it's Top 10 in the rotation, certainly, maybe top 5. I frequently choose it for foul-weather motorcycling, since it fits easily under the sleeve/glove, and is water-resistant enough that I don't worry in that regard.

And if I'm going to be out and about at night, it's the default choice! Superluminova is all well and good, but eventually you're gonna glance at your watch and find that it's gone dark. Not gonna happen with tritium! Well.. at least not for a couple of decades...
v. 1.00 July, 2005
v. 2.00 March, 2006
Photos courtesy of Chris Larson from the PMWF, used by permission.

Note that Chris' watch, pictured above, is actually a mechanical handwind version from the early nineties (a Type III). He says that the glow has dimmed noticeably over the years (the half-life of tritium is approx. 12 years). But it still shines quite nicely, don't you think? And what great photos! Thanks, Chris!

I wore her on the OEM strap until late December, then swapped on a grey/black striped NATO:
Thumbs up, Squinky!
My reasons were two-fold, and you can read about them here. I've been most pleased with the combo: this soft-weave NATO is even more comfortable than the issue strap (which, to be fair, is also very comfy), and IMHO looks like The Bee's Knees!

All in all, a great little watch that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone. If you find the petite 35mm diameter off-putting, then there's the Navigator version:
Marathon Navigator

There's even a version with date, now. If you're interested, I recommend the comprehensive PMWF review by v_roomy here.

And, of course, you can find some stupendous deals one the older (pre-2004) production models. Just be mindful of that 12-year half-life, and realize that your tritium won't be full-strength.

Good huntin', soldier!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

New Watch or Watch Accessories Review of an old watch. May you enjoy it as much as I enjoy the watch! Post contains no message text Post contains Link (views: 73)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 1:18 a.m.
Terrific review Thumbs Up for this Watch I have one of those, they are very nice indeed Smiley Post contains no message text (views: 8)
Ed Brandwein -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 1:55 a.m.
Thank you! Ed! I dove love mine. Surprised they're not more commonly worn... Post contains no message text
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 10:07 a.m.
Nice review. Smiley You surprised me by using both Post contains Picture(s) 's Wink Post contains no message text (views: 24)
Chris L -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 1:31 a.m.
Thank you! Chris.. couldn't resist. They're BOTH great pics, IMHO! Smiley Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 10:09 a.m.

New MARATHON Post contains Picture(s)s >>

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 11:53 a.m.

Clearly this is the perfect prop for this watch. Smiley Dunno why it never ocurred to me before. Laughing out loud!

Click to enlarge.
{ Click pics to enlarge }

Click to enlarge.
MARATHON 46374G Watch, Wrist, General Purpose

Click to enlarge.

I'm almost embarassed to post these, after Chris' great Night-Day shots. Almost, but not quite.. Smiley

Click to enlarge.

Thanks for lookin'.. have a great day, y'all!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

New MARATHON Post contains Picture(s)s >> (views: 123)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 11:53 a.m.
OK, how about this Lume shots or luminosity discussion from the same photo shoot. Laughing out loud! Post contains no message text Post contains Picture(s) (views: 23)
Chris L -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 11:54 p.m.
Copyright 2006, Chris Larson
Hey! Didn't notice 'til I went back.. >> Post contains Link (views: 2)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Friday, 24 March 2006, at 10:01 p.m.
..to archive this one that your '91 has green pips all 'round the dial. No orange at 12!
Wonder when that feature was introduced? Have any idea? Anyone?
Thanks again, Chris! -Ricky
Gee, Chris, go ahead and twist the knife.. Laughing out loud! Laughing out loud! Laughing out loud! Post contains no message text (views: 5)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Thursday, 23 March 2006, at 1:37 p.m.
Thats a good one Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 4)
Ed Brandwein -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 2:08 p.m.
Re: Nice watch, where did you get it? Post contains no message text (views: 3)
YODAHAWK -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 1:35 p.m.
Where else? Found on the Bay! Smiley Post contains no message text (views: 3)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Wednesday, 22 March 2006, at 3:01 p.m.

New strap Is Happy Day!. Post contains Picture(s)s >>

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 2:46 p.m.

If you read my review of the RAKETA 'Classic' 24-hour, you might recall that I have it on an 18mm Bond NATO which I robbed from the Marathon.

Now, I wasn't about to leave the MARATHON strapless for long, as it's one of my favorite watches. It takes a 16mm strap, and has fixed lug bars besides, so strap choices are very limited. But, lo and behold, Bill Mahoney (aka 'Squinky") over on the PMWF related post Sales Forum offers a 16mm NATO! So I ordered one up in black and, as usual, Bill had it in my mailbox pronto.

First impression: what a cute li'l strap! Smiley

Click to enlarge.

It's a medium weave material, about halfway between Bill's standard NATOs (which are a bit stiffer than I consider optimum) and his Bond NATOs (which are ultra-supple). The keepers are polished SS, and are a lighter gauge than normal. This works perfectly on a 16mm strap:

Second impression, after I threaded it onto the Marathon: What a great li'l strap! It is plenty big enough for my 8-1/8" wrist, and very comfortable. Most pleasing though, is that it is perfectly proportioned to the watch.. it just looks so right. Mind you, I used to think that the Bond NATO was a great match for this watch. In retrospect, and compared to this strap, it looks exactly like what it was: an oversized strap that had been forced to fit.

All in all, I couldn't be more pleased with the combo:

Click to enlarge.
Marathon 46374G Watch Made in USA Military or Military style inspired Watch post

Since the selection of 16mm straps is not wide, it's nice when you find that what is available matches your needs so well.

Thumbs Up for this Watch for Bill's products and service!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

New strap Is Happy Day!. Post contains Picture(s)s >> (views: 127)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 2:46 p.m.
16mm? Wow, that's tiny! Post contains no message text (views: 8)
Bjorn Keizers -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 3:33 p.m.
Haven't you ever been told "It's OK, baby, size doesn't matter." >> (views: 13)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 3:57 p.m.

Shoot, I hear that all the time.

Can't imagine why...

Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off!

-Ricky

No, but I regularly hear "Wow, that thing is freaking HUGE!" >>> (views: 22)
Bjorn Keizers -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 3:59 p.m.
Of course, most people have never seen an Eco-Zilla before, so it's a natural reaction Laughing out loud!
Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 4)
Fernando Campos -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 3:22 p.m.
Thumbs Up for this Watch I know how it feels to have a great fitting band! Laughing out loud! Post contains Picture(s) (views: 33)
Tom P -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 3:17 p.m.
My CWC G10 is supposed to use an 18mm band, but when I put one on it has a disconcerting amount of play in it (there was at least a 1mm play). Then I remembered that I had one of those German NATO straps from a while back that was bought as a 20mm, but never fit right (too small for "true" 20mm) -- more like a 19mm, so I slipped it on and voila! perfect combo! Now if only they made a ZULU in 18mm I am not happy!
Copyright Tom P of the PMWF
Thumbs Up for this Watch! Ain't it great when things fall into place like that? Smiley Smiley Smiley Post contains no message text (views: 3)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 3:51 p.m.
Looks great Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 4)
Ed Brandwein -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 3:07 p.m.
Looks good, Ricky! Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 4)
cameraz -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 2:56 p.m.
It comes up well Thumbs Up for this Watch Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 4)
DavidM1 -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 2:54 p.m.
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