Marathon SSNAV Steel Navigator Auto
The Culmination of Decades of Military Watchmaking
Military watches have been around for more than a century (making a first, solid appearance during World War I) and their design hasn’t changed that much since. This is most likely due to the fact that it’s the only type of watch created following strict specifications issued by governments instead of being designed in a vacuum and serendipitously matching a particular organization’s needs. As far as I know and understand, no other type of watch has to match such stringent criteria, not even the famous Swiss chronograph that went to the moon or the iconic diver that was worn by a controversial, yet important, French underwater explorer. And the absence of change isn’t necessarily a bad thing, quite the opposite, as remaining unchanged indicates a timeless quality—something that seems to have been mostly lost in today’s horological market.
Though they are elements of the design of military watches that have been retouched. What hasn’t, however, is the full stack of Arabic numerals for the hour markers, luminescent paint, superlative legibility, and a distinct fly-under-the-radar aesthetic, amongst other things. That and the fact that there are certain categories of military watches that have been around for quite a while: the field watch, the pilot watch, the underwater commando diver, and the navigator—the latter being different from a pilot’s. And there are only two brands—again as far as my knowledge goes—that are known for making navigator timekeeping devices: Benrus and today’s protagonist, Marathon. Marathon issued the first Navigator model (NAV) in 1986 for the Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, integrating its own distinct visual identity within this new collection.
Specifications
By their very own nature, navigator watches sound like they should be very large, just like pilot watches tend to be large even today (as compared to how many of them were ultra massive during World War II.) But navigator watches are not pilot watches as each was historically worn by two members of a flight crew doing different things. In a nutshell, a pilot flies the plane whilst a navigator maps out journeys and manages navigational equipment. Although I wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly why each would have a different type of watch—and it is most likely that they swapped timekeeping devices—the navigator watch as created by Marathon looks very different from a typical pilot watch. All of this is to say that the SSNAV is not as physically imposing as one might imagine: 41mm in diameter, 47.8mm lug-to-lug, 11.5mm thick, and coming with a 20mm lug width.
The fully sand-blasted case, perhaps strangely, feels and looks like titanium. At the very least, the SSNAV is comfortable to wear which is in part due to its iconic asymmetrical case design. Indeed, the right side of the case protrudes out to create protective guards for the screw-down crown which means, in other words, that there are no stand-along crown-guards which could dig into the wrist. Furthermore, the crown is quite small (5.4mm in diameter) although easy to screw down/unscrew and to operate to set the time and date. (The following statement is not based on science but merely on my everyday personal observation: this particular case construction softens the “digging-into-the-wrist” effect typically experienced with larger watches when bending my flesh and bone apparatus up or down.) I would further advance that the asymmetrical design of the case aids in keeping the SSNAV sit securely flat on the wrist.
Being a tool watch, the Marathon SSNAV comes with additional and critical specs: tritium tubes on the hands, hour markers, and the pip on the bezel which glow constantly and steadily; a 48-click bidirectional bezel; 100 meters of water resistance (the case-back screws-down;) and a flat piece of sapphire crystal. Inside the SSNAV we find a Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 caliber that beats at 28,800 BPH (4Hz) and comes with 41 hours of power reserve. Lastly, the Steel Navigator can be had on either a RAF or NATO-style nylon strap or a custom made rubber strap. (The latter comes with two head-pieces of different lengths to guarantee it will fit most wrists and sit well on it.)
Design
Earlier in the article I mentioned the fact that there are two brands I know of that make navigator watches—Benrus and Marathon. (There might be more and I don’t claim to know everything.) The former produces the Type I and Type II, the designation of which refers to the way the dials are laid out. On the Type I we find geometrical hour markers—inverted triangles at the twelve, batons at the 3, 6, 9 and circles everywhere else—whilst on the Type II we find Arabic numerals often accompanied by a 24-hour military scale. (Type I is what we commonly find on dive watches too.) The Marathon SSNAV, therefore, is equipped with a Type II dial which, if I’m correct, is actually not a designation proper to Benrus but one which comes from one of the numerous MIL-SPECs that drove the design of military watches for the past many decades. In other words, the hour markers are indicated by Arabic numerals printed in a modern and condensed font, so is the military scale printed further inside the dial.
The hour and minute hands are in the shape of syringes which make them very easy to read, and I particularly appreciate the fact that the hour hand reaches almost fully through the painted hour markers and that the tip of the minute hand perfectly reaches the minute hash marks printed on the fully-graduated minute track. Being a tool watch nerd, I find the Type II dial as executed by Marathon to be extremely legible. Moreover, reading the time at night has never been as easy and enjoyable to do thanks to the tritium gas tubes which, as mentioned earlier, glow consistently—meaning they don’t need to be “charged” by light in order to glow as it is the case with luminescent paint. Although, realistically speaking, I don’t need to check the time at night, I simply enjoy doing so and look for any excuse to go through this new ritual of mine.
There is one element of the dial which might split the watch community in half (or thirds depending on how you see this issue) and that is the placement of the date at 4:30. I for one am not bothered by it as I find that it preserves the symmetry and legibility of the dial whilst honoring the SSNAV intended purpose-driven nature. (Having the date is useful to many, including yours truly.) And since this watch was designed to be ultra legible, Marathon therefore opted to print the date numerals in black on a white disc—horror! (Just kidding.) I would be remiss not to mention the dual-purpose bezel insert which can be used to time an event (thanks to the full 20-minute graduation) as well as keep track of time in a different time zone. All in all, the Marathon SSNAV is a toolwatch through and through and its design shows it.
The Heart of the Matter
At the heart of the matter is the fact that the Marathon SSNAV Steel Navigator is a tool watch which is functional, well-made, and endowed with legit heritage. Indeed, the brand itself has been around since 1939 and has been making military watches ever since its inception. Field, pilot, and dive watches used by the armed forces of the United States and Canadian governments as well as of political entities from other countries. Marathon has therefore been evolving inside a very niche market and I find it amazing that it has managed to survive through time, the Quartz Revolution, and the advent of smartwatches. In other words, still now as it did then, making old-school mechanical tool watches whilst the world of horology has lost its soul to trends which die within a few months and the plethora of wannabe Swiss Giant homages.
Furthermore, Marathon had the smart idea of re-releasing the Steel Navigator with an automatic caliber which de facto makes it more attractive to mechanical snobs, and complements the offering of cheaper and more reliable quartz-powered variants the brand already offers. This goes to show that it is when a brand is true to itself that it can perdure through time and survive countless trends and new technologies, as Marathon has been and continues to make proper tool watches first for professionals of the armed forces, second for the watch enthusiast like you and me. This is important because Marathon offers the SSNAV at a price which I deem reasonable considering how well it is made and the heritage that it comes with: $1,050 USD on the RAF strap, $1,080 on the NATO-style strap, and $1,280 USD on the two-piece rubber strap.
Conclusion
Whether you prefer to call the Marathon Steel Navigator Automatic a pilot or navigator watch, or a diver since it has a bi-directional bezel, or even a field watch given the Type II dial layout, rest assured that by buying this model you will acquire a genuine military timekeeping device which is full of heritage and history. And one, as we’ve seen above, which comes with a great spec sheet and an ultra legible dial. In other words, the Marathon SSNAV is ready for action whichever kind you might put it through. For you it could be on the battlefield and for me navigating the frustrating traffic of France’s capital. To each its own adventure. And in either case, we would both be wearing a purpose-driven tool watch which will give us years of wearing pleasure which is what the hobby is all about anyway.
You can learn more about the full range of SSNAV models on the brand’s website.
Thanks for reading.