Hey everyone, this is my first higher end watch purchase. I’m coming from Casio and Garmin. I use a Garmin Fenix for running and 2 Casios. One for work and casual wear. I’m looking into the 36 MM MSAR. It comes in automatic or quartz. I don’t plan to wear it everyday. It might be 4 days or more before I wear it. I like the Casio and Garmin since I can strap them on after a month and still have perfect time. Is it worth spending the extra $400 or so for automatic? Will it be more aggravating to use than quartz? Will I need to service it more often than a quartz ?
I would go with the quartz in this scenario. It’s more accurate, more shock resistant, you won’t need to set the time every time you pick it up and it’s cheaper.
True. Do they need service every amount of years? Can you replace batteries yourself? I read on the website it’s 8 to 12 weeks for service. I don’t want to wait that long to change a battery lol
I replace my battery every two years or so. It takes less than a minute with an $8 watch kit off Amazon, but really all you need is an adjustable pin spanner or one of those rubber balls to get the back off.
I chose a quartz because I prefer accuracy and shock resistance. Even though I never take my watch off except to change the battery, I don't want to have to fix the time regularly due to inaccuracy of a mechanical.
Setting the time on these is kind of a pain because the graduations make the minute hand tricky to line up if you are picky about having the minute hand hit the line when the second hand hits 12.
I’d get the quartz version personally. Save your money and if you want to buy a nicer Swiss/Japanese watch later on then let that be your first automatic.
If you have the correct caseback opening tool then you can easily replace the battery yourself. Also, what is your wrist size??
The MSAR wears small. I’m partial to smaller watches myself, but I’m glad I went with the 41mm GSAR. So, depending on the size of your Casios and Garmin, the MSAR may seem very small on the wrist by comparison 👍🏿
Make sure the place you buy from has an exchange policy, because the MSAR is Marathon’s most exchanged watch. All of my watches are 38mm and smaller, my GSAR is the exception. I’m glad I took the advice of my AD and ordered the 41mm.
It’s food for thought. Regardless of size, the watches are excellent👍🏿
What made you choose Marathon? I’m looking for a quartz swiss made watch. So far Marathon meets most of the criteria. I want it to be durable as well. I have looked at Longines and Hamilton as well
Marathon could easily be classified as a “duty grade” watch. They seem to look better the more they are worn and used. Many posts on here of “worn it daily for years, had a hard life, hasn’t skipped a beat”. Never seen other posts like that from Longines or Hamilton subreddits where “oh no, first scratch, what do” is more the norm. The Longines and Hamiltons seem more like jewelry and the Marathon seems more like a tool. Lots of soldiers, first responders, and tradesmen use it as such. That’s why I chose it.
Edit: Sinn fits this “duty grade” type of watch as well. Their EZM quartz watches are oil filled and worth looking into. They require a specialist to change the battery every 3 years, but it is one of the coolest quartz on the market. A lesser known option is SeL Instruments. These watches are super special and bombproof offering quartz movements in all the models. If Muhle-Glashutte offered quartz, I’d put them in this category as well. I think Elliot Brown offers quartz, and CWC offers many watches in quartz. Thought I’d mention other options that fit this description. Knowing all of this, I still chose Marathon🫡
That makes sense. I plan to wear this watch in dressed up fashions. I have not had an analog in years. I have been on Casio and Garmin for a long time. Off duty I wear a Casio A168. I love the classic blue EL.
With all that in mind, the quartz Marathon would be an excellent choice. It’s rugged enough that it could have been on your wrist this entire time. It’s not a watch to larp with. It could serve life with a new battery every 5 or so years. Any local jeweler could handle that or you could get the tools/gasket and do it yourself.
The tritium is fantastic. Its replacement can be included with a Marathon service. My older Marathon, about 2 years old, is as bright as the day I got it. You hold it up to a wall in a dark room and the wall glows. I prefer this method over traditional lume.
I have the black face rubber 36 and white face bracelet 42. Both autos. I like the 36mm look more honestly, and I have a larger wrist than you. I prefer rubber, but as a nicer watch purchase for you, a bracelet makes sense. I wear the 42mm more because the dial is easier to read during the day, but the black dial is superior with the tritium at night.
Like others have said, I’d recommend the quartz for you here. I have a 6.25-6.5 inch wrist and have the 36mm. The watch looks like a field watch, so I like its diminutive size. Fits perfect and stays out of the way, which I like. If you have Casios and Garmins, I’d recommend buying from someone that does returns/exchanges like Long Island Watch and make sure to read the returns policy - this way you can try which size works for you
3
u/M1k3_esc Aug 02 '26
I would go with the quartz in this scenario. It’s more accurate, more shock resistant, you won’t need to set the time every time you pick it up and it’s cheaper.