Introducing: Marathon Announces Arctic Red Maple GSAR (And A Special LE) For Canada Day

July 01, 2024

Today is Canada Day, and in honor of my home country's 157th birthday, Canadian brand Marathon has released two new versions of the brand's well-known 41mm GSAR dive watch. Both models are quite similar, with both employing a bright white dial with a red maple leaf that combines the brand's "arctic" coloring and their "red maple" emblem. As a special and more insider nod to the history of Marathon's collectible military-derived models, there is a limited edition reference as well, which is largely the same aside from being numbered and sporting "ADANAC" on the case band.? For fans of tool watches, especially those with military connections, the Marathon GSAR (which stands for Government Search And Rescue) is largely a known quantity and has been offered by the brand for a long time in both quartz and automatic models. For this new pair of Arctic Red Maple iterations, the case is 41mm wide and 14mm thick with constant tritium tube illumination, 300 meters of water resistance, and a unidirectional dive bezel. At its core, the GSAR is a tool watch designed for government and military applications (which still make up the lion's share of Marathon's business). With these Red Maple models, we get another peek at what Marathon does when they want to sell to enthusiasts rather than government contracts.? Both the standard and the limited edition spec use a Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement (full specs below). Speaking of the limited edition, the full name is the ADANAC Arctic Red Maple GSAR and it is a 157-piece limited edition that has a numbered case back and says "ADANAC" on the caseback. For those of you who are just getting into your first coffee on Canada Day, ADANAC is Canada backwards and it's a nod to a time in the late '80s, when Marathon was making watches for a government contract that did not allow any branding elements on the dial.? ADANAC became the signal that it was a Canadian product from Marathon, even when the watches couldn't have Marathon on the dial. ADANAC navigators remain highly collectible today, and this 2024 ADANAC Arctic Red Maple GSAR is an offering meant directly for the brand's most ardent collectors (be they Canadian or otherwise). Pricing for the Arctic Red Maple GSARs starts at $1,600 for the standard model on a rubber strap (a three-piece design that includes two sizes for the buckle-end, allowing for a more fitted experience) or $1,900 on a steel bracelet. Assuming you can get your hands on an ADANAC limited edition, pricing is set at $1,600, and it comes with the bracelet.? What We Think The Arctic White Maple GSAR joins a small collection of maple-clad models from Marathon, including red and grey colorways. As a longtime fan of white dials, I dig the idea of a GSAR in this spec, and I think the white and red lend a casual tone that the rather more serious standard models don't possess.? Forming both a welcome addition to the GSAR lineup and a limited edition that leans into the brand's history, this is a fitting release for July 1st that will appeal to patriotic Canadians and Marathon acolytes alike.?With solid specs and field-proven design, the GSAR represents the core of Marathon's watch offering, and the red maple colorway looks great on the otherwise all-business dial design. Should you want more white-dialed Marathon content, don't miss this In-Depth from Cole Pennington with the smaller-sized MSAR.? Though Canada might not be specifically known for its watchmaking, Marathon was founded in 1939, and the brand still operates today in a facility north of downtown Toronto. With watches designed in Canada and produced in Switzerland, who better to make a Canada Day-themed watch?? Happy Canada Day.? The Basics Brand: MarathonModel:? Arctic Red Maple GSAR ADANAC Arctic Red Maple GSAR Limited Edition (157 pieces)Diameter: 41mmThickness: 14mmCase Material: Steel Dial Color: WhiteIndexes: Applied tritium tubesLume: Yes, Tritium gas tube constant illuminationWater Resistance: 300 meters (1,000 ft)Strap/Bracelet: Steel bracelet and included black rubber strap The Movement Caliber: Sellita SW-200-1 Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, dateDiameter: 25.6mmThickness: 4.6mmPower Reserve: 38 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 28,800 VPH (4 Hz)Jewels: 26 Pricing & Availability Price: $1,600 for the standard model on rubber or $1,900 on a bracelet; $1,600 for the ADANAC LEAvailability: Immediately via Marathon's websiteLimited Edition: Yes, the ADANAC LE is limited to 157 piecesFor more, click here.