An Icon From the Great White North
Author’s Note:
Marathon as a brand and the GSAR line up have always intrigued me. As a Canadian, law enforcement officer and a pretty crappy diver, the GSAR line has always stood out as the type of watch that would be a great fit for me. Additionally, it is a watch that has stood the test of time. Loved by many and with a myriad of subvariants, the Marathon GSAR is a no-brainer for watch collectors with a thing for tool watches like myself. So when Marathon reached out to do this review and offered to send some pieces over to enjoy, there was no way I could say no. I had always wanted the “Grey Maple” variant of the GSAR, so that’s what I asked for. I am glad I did. The cost of the watch as reviewed is $2100 USD.
History:
Before we dive into the review, let's first take a moment for a history lesson on Marathon as a brand and the GSAR line up. Marathon traces its roots to a family watch business that began in the early 20th century and was formally founded as Marathon by Morris Wein in 1939. The company has remained family-owned and focused on producing quality timepieces.
Over the decades Marathon has evolved from a general watchmaker into a supplier of military-grade watches. The watches are designed in Canada but Marathon’s watches are manufactured in Switzerland to meet military quality standards. Marathon makes several watches that conform to U.S. and allied military specs used by professional search-and-rescue and military units.
GSAR stands for Government Search and Rescue (Large Diver’s Automatic) and sits in Marathon’s SAR (Search & Rescue) family. The SAR family was developed specifically to meet Canadian government requirements for professional SAR operations; the GSAR is the large/diver automatic version intended for demanding field and maritime use. Marathon notes the SAR series goes back to the early 1990s and the GSAR is the most storied and venerable member of that line.
The GSAR was designed around several priorities and the end user in mind: extreme legibility (24-hour & 12-hour markers), robust stainless steel case and uni-directional bezel, screw-down crown, high water resistance, tritium illumination for low light usage, and movements that provide reliable automatic timekeeping under tough conditions. The result is a purpose-built Search & Rescue dive watch that stands unparalleled.
Marathon produces watches that meet military performance standards (their SAR/GSAR models carry NSNs and are offered in “Standard Issue / US Gov” markings on product pages). This is why GSARs are commonly found in kit lists for SAR units and by military personnel.
Specs at a Glance:
General
● Name: GSAR (“Government Search & Rescue”)
● Class: SAR (Search & Rescue) Dive Watch
● Contract / Mil-Spec: Built to Canadian & U.S. Government requirements
● NSN (National Stock Number): e.g., 6645-21-558-0133 for some variants
Case & Dimensions
● Case Diameter: 41 mm
● Case Thickness: 14 mm
● Lug-to-Lug: 48 mm
● Lug Width: 20 mm
● Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
● Case Finish: Brushed (or Anthracite in certain variants)
● Crown: Screw-down
Bezel
● Type: Unidirectional rotating bezel
● Scale: 60-minute
Crystal
● Material: Sapphire crystal
Movement
● Type: Automatic
● Caliber: Sellita SW200-1
● Jewels: 26
● Shock Protection: Incabloc
● Power Reserve: ~38 hours
● Frequency: 28,800 bph (4 Hz)
● Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
● Date Display: Between ~4 and 5 o’clock
Dial & Luminosity
● Scales: 12-hour + 24-hour (1–12 and 13–24) on dial
● Lume: Tritium gas tubes on hour markers and hands
● Bezel Pip: MaraGlo luminescent paint for the 12 o’clock triangle
● Variants: e.g., Grey Maple Leaf, Red Maple Leaf, Anthracite, Arctic Edition, etc.
Water Resistance
● Rating: 30 ATM (~300 meters)
Strap / Bracelet
● Standard: 3-piece rubber strap kit included
● Material: FKM Rubber (Swiss/Made), 20 mm tail & buckle pieces
● Buckle: 316L steel
● Alternative: Stainless steel bracelet options available
Standards & Certifications
● ISO 6425 diver’s standard
● Military / Government Spec compliance (SAR, MIL-SPEC)
Weight
● Varies by strap vs bracelet; approx. ~4.1 oz on rubber
Warranty
● 3-year “worry-free” when you register the watch
The Grey Maple Variant:
The Grey Maple of the Marathon GSAR has always been my favourite version of the watch. To me it captures the Canadian roots of the brand while still maintaining the tactical functionality of the watch. What “Grey Maple” means: The “Grey Maple” is a Maple Leaf edition of the 41mm GSAR that features a black dial and a grey toned Canadian maple-leaf motif applied to under the 12 o’clock marker. Specs for the Grey Maple remain the same as the other GSAR variants. I think that from a Canadian Law Enforcement perspective, this is THE GSAR to have. It flies under the radar, looks professional while also having a subtle nod of patriotism and to the roots of the brand. I also like that this is one of the few instances where Marathon does something that is strictly stylized or cosmetic on a GSAR. All other aspects of the watch itself and in its standard variants, its design is driven strictly by utilitarianism. The grey maple leaf motif on the dial feels as close to subdued, quiet and professional luxury as you can get in an otherwise unluxurious watch.
General Impressions:
The GSAR is widely respected because it was built from the start to meet professional SAR and military requirements rather than to dress up a fashion diver. That matters to operators who need reliability, simple legibility, and robust performance under extreme conditions. Marathon’s adherence to military NSNs and mil-spec-like construction gives the GSAR credibility that many commercial divers lack.
The packaging of GSAR ‘Grey Maple’ is simple but also inline with the military inspiration and history of the watch comes in a small hard plastic, made in Canada, Nanuk case with Marathon labeling. The case is foam filled with the top half having your instruction manuals and warranty card seated in its cut out. In the bottom half is a removable foam section where your watch sits. Below that is another piece of foam with a cardboard envelope that is labeled to indicate that it is full of Marathon parts. Inside is several sets of shouldered and shoulderless Marathon spring bars (some of the best in the business) and an extra long piece for the rubber strap should you have a massive wrist or want to increase the strap length so as to better get it over a wet or dry suit. All in all, the packaging is simple, clean and on the mark for the watch. I like that it has everything you need and nothing you don't while still feeling like you’re getting a bit of an experience in opening it and revealing your watch for the first time. A bit of utilitarian luxury free of pretentiousness or superfluousness.
The use of tritium gas tubes for hands/markers (self-powered illumination) is a feature sought by tactical users and first responders because it provides readable luminescence without relying on charging from light which can be critical for prolonged low light operations or night ops. The use of tritium tubes is something that is somewhat synonymous with Marathon as a brand. Tritium is fantastic from a point of consistency and reliability. The glow is less intense than what you get from SuperLuminova. However, tritium is constantly glowing. The downside to tritium is that it does have a half life and that eventually you will need to replace your dial as the tubes slowly become inert. For those who want the GSAR specs and don't like tritium for this reason or others, you can always check out our review of the OSAR model which features copious amounts of SuperLuminova.
The fit and finish of the case is simple and cleanly brushed. The bezel ring is thick and chunky with large teeth cut into it that are meant to be easily grasped with a gloved hand for bezel manipulations. The bezel itself turns smoothly with 120 clicks. The bezel indicator at 12 lines up well with each minute marker on the dial. The undecorated and knurled screwdown crown turns very smoothly and clicks between each position positively for date and time changing. The sapphire glass is internally AR coated which if you have read my other articles, is my preferred specification. Additionally, the inclusion of drilled lugs is just plain awesome. It’s great to see brands like Marathon sticking to keeping their designs as utilitarian as possible.
The FKM rubber strap is thick, with a geometric design to it and the machined buckle. It is simple while also being unique to Marathon and extremely comfortable and capable. I got no gripes with it and as far as rubber straps go, it is one of the better ones I have seen come OEM with a watch.
Nitpicks:
The GSAR is a no nonsense utilitarian watch that stands free from superfluous amenities. Regardless, as a watch nerd and long time collector of tool watches, some changes that I think would tastefully improve the design would be:
- Ceramic bezel inserts (I understand this isn't a thing due to impact requirements of which ceramic can’t meet. But a guy can dream.)
- Fully lumed bezel inserts
- Upgraded bracelets with sliding micro adjust, screwed links and machined clasps.
I understand that these changes would likely result in an increase in price, however, I feel that these would help bring the design of the GSAR out of the 1990s and into the 2020’s where the rest of its competition sits. Before y’all start coming at me, I do also understand that the purpose of the watch is to be supplied to military units as a piece of kit and therefore it is meant to be as “unluxurious” as possible. This is where we see the juxtaposition of me appreciating the GSAR as a professional vs as a watch guy. I can have an appreciation for what the GSAR is while also contemplating what it could be. All in all, I get it and as far as I’m concerned, it is still a home run of a watch.
Summary:
The GSAR’s combination of government lineage, NSN issuance, and commercial availability means it’s both a practical issue watch for professionals and a collectible model amongst enthusiasts. Limited or “Maple” editions (like the Grey Maple) further appeal to collectors who want a distinctive variant with the same tool-watch credentials.
Marathon has longstanding relationships with government procurement channels and has delivered millions CAD in products through partners and government contracts (examples include deliveries to U.S. DLA channels and partners). That institutional business is an important pillar of Marathon’s success and explains the company’s continued production of genuine mil-spec / NSN items.
Marathon occupies a focused niche: rugged, function-first watches with official government provenance. That positioning lets Marathon charge a premium relative to casual fashion brands while maintaining loyalty from professional users and collectors who value authenticity. The GSAR is Marathon’s purpose-built, government-oriented large diver’s automatic. The GSAR is prized because it’s a field-first tool with an impressive military lineage, tritium illumination, and Swiss construction. The Grey Maple GSAR variant ties Marathon’s Canadian identity and a distinctive dial color/design to an already highly regarded tool watch. Together they embody Marathon’s strategy to produce authentic, specification-driven watches that serve professionals first and collectors second.