Marathon Watches, founded in 1939, is a family-owned company, now in its fourth generation. It has been a military watch provider since 1941. Although its timepieces are designed in Canada, they are built by the brand’s Swiss factory in La Chaux de Fonds. The current iteration of the Officer’s Watch, or General Purpose Mechanical in Stainless Steel, adheres to the military specifications as laid out in MIL-PRF-46374G document.
The watch, inspired by a 1970s Navygraf reference, has a very vintage feel about it, particularly with the curved “smiley” line of text above the 6 o'clock position. I particularly like the fine red pip at the end of the seconds hand, which interrupts the otherwise two-tone agenda. Aside from being functional for a dive watch, it engenders a touch of sophistication. And, well, what can be said about a YEMA dome that has not already been lauded here and elsewhere?
If you are a military watch buff, then you already know that the original A-11 was made famous by US manufacturers Elgin, Waltham, and Bulova. These vintage pieces were constructed according to American military specs to be robust, legible, and accurate in the field. They had the added benefit of a hacking seconds hand, so that time could be synchronized.
Calibre321 