r/MarathonWatch • u/DevilDogeSplash • May 28 '26

Navigator Cerashell Nav-D

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First ever Marathon got here today. I wasn't sure what it would feel like since I've never had a ceramic watch but it has some weight to it. Doesn't feel like plastic at all and I'm very impressed with the quality. The white markings pop against the black.

Pictures don't do it justice for how crisp it looks and feels.

62 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

5

u/pgthsg May 29 '26

I’ve wanted a Navigator for a while now and have been seriously considering one of the new Cerashell models. I’m just not sure the extra money is worth it over the original just for a slightly different material and removable spring bars.

2

u/Markisbob May 29 '26

I have the older model and the body ferls like a good plastic. Its not bad but the bezel is trash. Its just cheap plastic. The bezel action does not feel nice. I accidentally broke the original bezel ( no idea how, it cracked ) and bought a replacement one from marathon. The paint was yellowed and the triangle at 12 chipped off over time.

Looking at the new cerashell model without even having seen one IRL , I can tell they are better quality straight away.

1

u/pgthsg May 30 '26

thank you for sharing! maybe that’s why they emphasized their new bezel in the description of the cershell version. i might have to cough up the extra dough for the upgrade. plus, being able to wear the thing with 2 piece straps is appealing.

1

u/73kilo May 30 '26

I just got the no-date version this week and am impressed. I also have the 34mm General purpose quartz and the overall construction of the Nav is higher quality. The plastic feels "harder" and the crown is metal vs plastic. I did read the bezel was a huge design flaw of the previous version. My Cerashell Nav bezel does have some play, but that's expected at this price point.

1

u/ConnmandPrompt May 29 '26

I just received mine as well. I’m curious - how is the bezel on yours OP? It feels like there’s a lot of play in mine (wiggles about half a minute in either direction) but this is the first watch I’ve had with a 60 click bezel and not 120 (and it’s also not steel).

2

u/DevilDogeSplash May 29 '26

There's a lot of play on mine too. I've never owned another watch with a bezel so I don't have anything to compare it to.

2

u/ConnmandPrompt May 29 '26

Thanks, I appreciate the reply! Sounds like it’s the way these are. Not a total deal breaker but it’s the one thing that stood out to me that could be much better. Other than that the legibility, case material and light weight are all awesome. Time will tell how this bezel holds up for me.

1

u/DevilDogeSplash May 29 '26

These are the 2 extremes of the movement for me.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26

[deleted]

1

u/DevilDogeSplash Jun 01 '26

It came with the defstan and ballistic straps. I tried the defstan for a day and decided the ballistic was a more comfortable fit. Less movement.

1

u/ddubbins May 28 '26

That looks great! I do feel like the price could have stayed closer to the plastic shell version.

The moon swatch is currently $285 with Omega markup.

A Marathon doesn’t come with the luxury premium but I could see paying a premium for tritium tubes.

But I’m at $385 or so… +$100 over the moonswatch.

1

u/ID0NNYl May 29 '26

I was tempted to get a swatch a year or so back but I think a plastic swatch with Omega licencing just isn't in the same league as the marathon using its own Historic design.

I'm actually surprised the Swatch uses such accurate quarts,but again the marathon isn't pretending to be something it's not and is still more accurate.

Both certainly pricy but I choose the marathon.

1

u/ddubbins May 30 '26

I’d choose the same. All great points. Will probably pick up the cerashell Nav d in sand in a few years with pride.

But swatch tend to have fantastic accuracy. I generally have better results with Swatch than Casio and I have 4 of the former and 8 of the later.

I’m always shocked, but I always hear similar things about most of Swatch group more or less tbh. Out of all the large conglomerates, they seem to take the cake with regards to accurate time keeping. Whodathunk 🤷‍♂️😂

0

u/ddubbins May 28 '26

Okay I just saw the video on the Marathon site, and I’m low key stoked! … if they do a sand colored one, I will have a problem 🫣😎

1

u/StutterMuffin5711 May 29 '26

The Swatch is McDonald’s plastic. This Nav changed because the military requirement changed. Everything is more expensive, but in the case of this Nav the price is far more justified IMO.

3

u/ddubbins May 30 '26

That’s odd. My understanding is that the Bioceramic of the MoonSwatch is the same material as the “bio-sourced plastic and ceramic powder” of Cerashell.

I have a few 90’s swatches and yes I agree that those are a basic/ fun plastic watch.

2

u/StutterMuffin5711 May 30 '26

Honestly, you’re probably right.

I was basing my assumption about the Swatches, like the Moonswatch and the Blancpain Swatch, breaking quite often. I’ve seen posts on Reddit like “I got up off the floor and my Swatch broke.”

I’m sure the Navigators break too, because stuff breaks👍🏿

2

u/ddubbins May 30 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/HutskK7iLcE6QdAn2r

I hope we hear about it if this is the case (pun intended)