I do n’t always require to tire a smartwatch . Much as I love theApple Watch Series 9 , which is my smartwatch of choice , it ’s nice to have a alteration and wear something more particular .
The definition of what gain a picket particular will change from person to person , but for me , it needs to be technically interesting and have a compelling story behind it . That ’s what I like about the sentinel I ’ve been wearing for the past few weeks : theMarathon 41 mm Jeep Rubicon GSAR .
It does something different than a smartwatch
I ’d never heard of Marathon Watch until I was contacted about the brand ’s collaboration with Jeep , and it turn out that it was not much of a surprisal . “ Marathon is fundamentally a authorities and military supply companionship , dedicate to producing mechanically skillful and quartz watches plan to withstand the planet ’s toughest weather , ” Mitchell Wein , president of Marathon Watch , told Digital Trends by electronic mail .
Collaborations between a smartwatch maker and any other brand are much unheard of , and I bang the fact Jeep pair off up with a brand name that tight matches its own military origin . Marathon may not have the instant name identification of aTag HeuerorMontblanc , but it has a compelling inheritance , having made vigil for Canadian soldiers during World War II , the U.S. government since the 1970s , and various other military organizations around the world all to this sidereal day . Jeep , of course of study , canalso track its historyback to the forties and World War II .
“ We became aware that the Jeep stigma was seeking a vigil partner capable of delivering a high - quality product worthy of the Jeep name , ” Wein bear on after being asked about how the collaboration begin . “ Once Jeep greenlit the collaboration , we initiated a pattern process that led to the introduction of two watch short letter . One personal credit line pays court to our shared military account , while the other caters to the modern Jeep client , utilizing one of our most popular watch models . Throughout this summons , Jeep was intricately need in every gradation of the journeying , from construct to cosmos . ”
Extreme durability and engineering
The collaboration consists of four watches . I ’ve been wearing the 41 mm Jeep Rubicon GSAR , equipped with an automatonlike Sellita drive , while there ’s also an superposable - look tzar model with an ETA vitreous silica movement at bottom . Two other models ground on Marathon ’s original line of business view intent with an updated Jeep - inspired touch are also available . The Jeep Rubicon GSAR is aseriouslytough watch , and it proves Jeep collide with up the right partnership to build a timepiece that epitomise its own “ go anywhere , do anything , ” shibboleth .
Wearing the Jeep Rubicon GSAR , I am leave with no doubt it would easy outperform my own ability to cope with tough environments , and Wein explained its certificate .
“ For this project , we engineer a new watch case from the ground up . Every Marathon watch is purpose - build to withstand extreme conditions , and the Marathon X Jeep Series watches are crafted from 316L stainless blade and feature a durable azure vitreous silica for start protection . Each ticker is to the full water - resistant and features screw - in lawsuit backs with gaskets and screw - in crowns with an O - ring system to ensure the lawsuit is watertight to 300 meter . ”
The Marathon X Jeep ticker ’s ruggedness get beyond water resistance .
What is the watch like to wear?
What makes the Marathon X Jeep special enough to wear down rather of a smartwatch or any other watch I own ? The chunky , hewn - from - a - solid - block - of - metal styling is fantastic , and such toughness in a mechanical watch fits in with my preference for watches that have exciting engineering behind them . It has a genuine presence on your wrist . It ’s quite weighty , so you always know it ’s there , but the sizing and the aim of the case are just right , so it does not dig into your wrist even when it ’s flexed . The pillowcase ’s 14 mm thickness does mean it lick best when it ’s outside your handcuff , though .
Have you spotted the radiation symbol on the dial ? It ’s there because the watch use tritium gun tubes , and not just a coating , to illuminate the hand and hour marker in the darkness — and they do n’t need Light Within to charge them up . It ’s another aspect of Marathon ’s nerveless engineering , and I like the way the marker have structure to them to give the dial an interesting 3D expression . The Jeep Rubicon GSAR is a very serious piece of kit that uses really interesting engineering in a different way than a smartwatch .
It comes attached to a solid rubber shoulder strap in green , which definitely matches the watch ’s toughness and Jeep connection . However , I found it quite unappeasable on the radiocarpal joint , and green does n’t really go with everything . After a workweek or so , I switch the 20 millimetre strap out for a classic Nato shoulder strap , and I think it suit the watch just as well while also making it more wearable for me . However , minimizing the weight of the shoulder strap has the downside of emphasizing the weight of the watch itself .
I also love that although it ’s a brand collaboration , it ’s still elusive . The iconic Jeep headlights and grillwork on the side of the eccentric are stamped into it rather than just paint . There ’s a Willys hotshot on the crown . The mark ’s motto is on the case back , and it enounce “ Jeep ” in fairly small type on the watch face .
Aside from these hints , that ’s it . I do n’t feel silly wear the watch and not motor a Jeep , in the way I might if I wear off a Porsche jacket and did n’t drive a Porsche . But there ’s real brand synergy here , and that ’s what I really wait for in a quislingism .
Why not a smartwatch?
Jeeps in World War II were not gamey - technical school marvels , butJeeps today most decidedly are , and I wondered why Jeep had decide to keep this time frame of its inheritance rather than look at a smartwatch , which would be more in furrow with its modern vehicle . Wein could n’t speak for Jeep , but speak about why smartwatches wo n’t always figure out for the military and governments , which in turn shed some Light Within on why Jeep may have break down down this route .
“ While smartwatches offer tremendous usability for various functions that traditional vigil can not , there will always be a need for reliable , non - affiliated watches . In many situations , such as in unassailable facilities and classified planning meetings , U.S. military personnel are not allow for to wear smartwatches . Additionally , operators often need anti - charismatic mechanical vigil that wo n’t interfere with surrounding technology or be affected by extraneous electromagnetic impulse . ”
I make love all types of watches , smart or mechanically skillful , and want others to also experience the joy of horology , so I also asked Wein to sell the delight of owning and wear a traditional spotter to someone who had never tire one before , and this was his reaction :
“ The intricate craftsmanship of mechanical watches is unmatched by any smartwatch , which are often replaced when a newfangled model is released . mechanically skillful watches , however , can last for decades and , with proper upkeep , can be pass down through multiple generations . ”
It’s more than an heirloom
While Wein is absolutely right about a mechanical watch potentially last for decennium , this is n’t what fix a lookout man like the Marathon Jeep Rubicon GSAR special for me — or the understanding I ’ll piece it up rather of my Apple Watch on the weekend . It ’s about how it pee-pee you feel when you put it on and when you glance down to look at the time . I bang this is a unfixed concept , but I feel dissimilar when I outwear a watch like the Marathon compared to when the Apple Watch is on my radiocarpal joint .
I fuck that long-lived smartwatches like theApple Watch Ultra 2and the newSamsung Galaxy Watch Ultraexist , but there ’s something more to wear a sentinel like the Marathon or a crosswalk like theG - Shock GPR - H1000 Rangeman . It ’s the engineering to cope with extreme environment , the credibility that come with supply a custom - build gadget to those who depend on it , and the confidence in its performance that ’s intoxicate .
The wonderful thing is all that can also apply to a Jeep , which is why its partnership with Marathon feels like a collaboration that makes sensation . Such cohesiveness has resulted in a striking , technically interesting watch with a great taradiddle behind it that I ’ve really enjoy wearing .
My Apple Watch makes sense during the calendar week , but my weekends are reserved for picket exactly like the Marathon Jeep Rubicon GSAR . you may purchase the Jeep Rubicon GSARfrom Marathon directlyfor $ 1,500 and the Jeep Rubicon TSAR for $ 1,200 .
