Description

Marathon OSAR-D Military Dive Watch

Check out the new interpretation of the Original Search and Rescue with Date or OSAR-D watch from Marathon based on Marathon’s perhaps most historic and famous model.  Originally issued to Canadian Coast Guard SAR (Search and Rescue) Techs in the early 2000s, the 41mm SAR marked the beginning of the Marathon SAR line, becoming one of the most sought-after and usable tool watches of the early part of this century.   Many of these watches were being used by special forces at the beginning of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. 

In 2000, Marathon Watch was approached by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with a request for a purpose-built dive watch capable of handling the wide range of environments encountered by Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Search and Rescue Technicians or SAR Techs. Trained in “…Arctic rescue, parachuting, diving, mountain climbing, and helicopter rescue”, the elite community of around 150 SAR Techs had a few specific requests including luminescent indices for legibility in all conditions, an automatic caliber, ample water resistance, and a bezel that could be easily operated with all manner of gloves.

In designing the watch, Marathon did something all but unheard of, looking to members of the watch enthusiast community for guidance. Marathon first tapped one of its military suppliers, then got in touch with the founder of the Military Watch Resource (MWR), a niche online forum dedicated to military horology. With the help of a talented machinist, the first SAR watches came together, with input being gathered at each stage of the design process from members of the MWR forum who also coined the SAR name.  We were (are) a member of MWR and remember the development and rollout well.

The original Marathon SAR of 2001 utilized printed luminescent indices while being inspired by several great historical dive watches. (Photo Credit: Worn & Wound)

With a 39mm case silhouette generally inspired by the Rolex Submariner, a dial format resembling the Benrus Type I, a distinctive knurled crown, and an overhanging 41mm bezel reminiscent of a rare East German military diver’s watch from a brand called Ruhla, Marathon delivered the first orders of its new SAR watch in late 2001.

Initially, the Marathon SAR was only available through official supply channels and in limited numbers, with a few select enthusiasts getting their hands on rare contract overrun pieces. Issued not only to SAR Techs but also Clearance Divers and other amphibious members of the Canadian Forces since 2001, an important design change to a tritium gas tube illuminated dial around 2005 answered a specific request from the US Military (for EOD and NASA divers).

While they are not widely issued, the GSAR or Government Search and Rescue as it is now known, and its quartz equivalent the TSAR or Tritium Search and Rescue, can both be ordered by military procurement specialists in the United States through the GSA catalog — a sort of military and government clearing house — using unit-allocated funds.

USAF Pararescuemen wearing the Marathon GSAR while conducting dive training in 2019. (Photo Credit: DVIDS)

Issued Marathon watches are not ubiquitous by any means, but it does happen. According to Marathon’s Government Contracting Officer, US Navy EOD, US Air Force Pararescue, and US Army Special Forces have all recently placed orders for watches from the SAR family.  Read more about this exciting release in Marathon’s official PS Newswire release: Marathon Watch Unveils the 41mm OSAR-D: A New Chapter in Precision and Durability

The New OSAR-D is released in late 2024 to high acclaim!

The SAR watch famously featured a mil-spec Type I dial with cyclops date, designed with fully-lumed geometric hour markers providing quick legibility and maximum visibility under water or in dark environments.

OSAR-D with improved dial legibility and lume makes a proven legend even more legendary!

Manufactured in Marathon factory in Switzerland, the new OSAR-D (Original Search and Rescue with Date), building on the strengths of its predecessor, is re-engineered for you with upgraded MaraGlo illumination, larger indices, improved cyclops and a Sellita SW200-1 26 Jewel automatic movement with Incabloc® Shock Absorber.  It is supplied with Marathon’s newly designed Swiss made three-piece strap system to assure a great fit for all wrists!