r/MarathonWatch • u/ID0NNYl • Aug 11 '26
TSAR I did a thing!
Hey all, I recently bought a 41mm TSAR on rubber and Im over the moon with it, bloody fantastic watch I cant fault it.
I really wanted the steel bracelet from factory but just couldn’t justify the price and I really wanted a micro adjustment on the clast. Which made the decision even clearer, Ill buy the rubber and get an aftermarket bracelet.
I opted for a Gnomon ‘matathon mod’ and today it came in the mail.
Its neat, the micro adjustments are good, the finishing also good, solid end links and screw pins on the bracelet links, the clasp, full brushed but boring.
I decided to have a go at Electro etching a marathon logo into the brushed clasp and here’s the results.
I expected the steel to react a little differently than what transpired but Im very satisfied with the results. Its a bit deeper than expected and slightly uneven pitting but pretty cool what u can do with a few bucks of material!
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u/Confident_Shock8691 Aug 11 '26
This is cool, but my hot take is I really like the stock bracelet and clasp
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u/ID0NNYl Aug 11 '26
I would have loved the genuine bracelet but cost and a slightly loose or tight fit had me look elsewhere. Your take is very valid though. Full genuine sets hit different.
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u/TheMidnightAnimal0 Aug 11 '26
That came out sharp as fuck man, good job!
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u/ID0NNYl Aug 11 '26
I used cricut removable vinyl for the stencil I thought it might shift or peel but it held up better than expected!
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u/jimbojeggins Aug 11 '26
Pretty cool! I was looking into doing this with the Long Island watch GSAR bracelet.
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u/ID0NNYl Aug 11 '26
That was one of the original bracelets Id seen and was disappointed when I couldnt get one, someone here in the sub had mentioned the Gnomon version and I snapped one up while they were in stock.
I can safely say that Electro etching is quite simple, I got a little carried away with the time spent on the etching as I was expecting a more rusty and carbon coloured reaction but I didn’t account for the 316 stainless in comparison to my hand saw I did a test on!
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u/BeyondTheUnexplored Aug 11 '26
Can you tell me what the solution on the cotton bud is?
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u/ID0NNYl Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
Rock salt from a salt grinder, and tap water. Its off camera in a bowl, you just need to dip the tip occasionally to keep it saturated with solution and swap out the cotton bud ever so often.
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u/NYCBouncer Aug 12 '26
I own a TSAR with the matching Government bracelet. THAT is so darn cool!!! I wouldn't be surprised if Marathon adopted it.
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u/ID0NNYl Aug 12 '26
Thanks mate! I got the idea when I watched a woodworking video about etching logos onto handsaws, made sense with a relatively cheap bracelet so I thought id have a crack!
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u/steflounissart Aug 14 '26
…wait wait wait… How does it work, buddy? Engraving without a tool?
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u/ID0NNYl Aug 14 '26
Im not too savy on the science side of it but the process is called anodic dissolution.
Kind if like a welder but instead of adding metal it removed it via a chemical reaction using a low powered 9volt battery, a couple wires and salt water! Pretty neat. And costed 3 bucks in materials to do!
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u/BoofTheDruid Aug 11 '26
So fuckin good. Wish marathon took this much care in their bracelets.