Marathon Watch
Toronto, Canada · Est. 1939
Founded by Morris Wein
Since 1941, Marathon has been manufacturing genuine military watches and timing instruments for the world's armed forces. The sole supplier of watches to the United States Armed Forces, Marathon's timepieces are designed in Canada and Swiss-made in La Chaux-de-Fonds — where military heritage meets Swiss manufacturing excellence.
- Founded
- 1939
- Headquarters
- Toronto, Canada
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Why this brand matters
Marathon stands apart from lifestyle military-inspired brands because its modern identity is tied to issued instruments, government contracts, and practical Search and Rescue watches.
Known for
- GSAR Search and Rescue watches
- Tritium illumination
- Military specification watches
- Swiss-made production under Canadian ownership
Key Collections
- GSAR (Government Search and Rescue) — Marathon GSAR is the brand's Government Search and Rescue diver family, centered on 41 mm automatic SAR watches in rubber, bracelet, Arctic, USMC, and anthracite versions. Key references: 41mm Large Diver's Automatic (GSAR), 41mm Official USMC Large Diver's Automatic (GSAR), 41mm Arctic Edition Large Diver's Automatic (GSAR).
- Navigator — A purpose-built pilot's watch meeting military navigation requirements, featuring a large, highly legible dial and robust construction for field use.
- Anthracite SAR Unit (2018) — Marathon’s Anthracite SAR Unit is a black IP-armoured, tactical reinterpretation of the SAR family that expands the lineup across 36mm, 41mm, and 46mm sizes while preserving the brand’s professional rescue-watch utility and military-grade ethos. Key references: 36mm Anthracite MSAR® AUTO, 41mm Anthracite GSAR®, 46mm Anthracite JDD®.
Timeline
- 1939 — Marathon Watch Company is founded in Canada with a mandate to supply precision timing instruments to military and government clients.
- 1941 — Marathon begins manufacturing timing instruments for the world's armed forces, establishing a military heritage that would define the brand for decades.
- 1970 — Marathon becomes a certified supplier to the U.S. Military, initiating a relationship that has continued for over 75 years.
- 2000 — The GSAR (Government Search and Rescue) watch is developed and adopted as the official U.S. Military-issued search and rescue timepiece, meeting the most demanding MIL-SPEC standards.
- 2023 — Marathon expands the Anthracite SAR Unit line to include 36mm and 46mm variants alongside the established 41mm, offering mission-ready watches across a broader size range.
- 2025 — Expands retail presence with dedicated e-commerce platform and new general-purpose mechanical (GPM) field watch variants, while maintaining military-contract production.
Frequently Asked Questions about Marathon Watch
- Is Marathon Watch Company truly used by the military?
- Yes. Marathon has been certified as a supplier to the U.S. Armed Forces for over 75 years and currently produces the official U.S. Military-issued GSAR search and rescue watch, built to stringent MIL-SPEC standards.
- Where are Marathon watches made?
- Marathon watches are designed in Canada and Swiss-made in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland — combining Canadian design heritage with the precision of Switzerland's watchmaking capital.