Marathon JSAR Watch

[Jig Stick]

For all the watch guys here, Im thinking about picking up a JSAR Gen2. Im debating wether or not to get the stainless bracelet with it. I do a lot of diving so Im back and forth between the bracelet from Marathon, an Isofrane strap, or a strap from Sinn. Does anybody know if I need a special wrench to change the bracelet myself? Could any watch shop put the strap on for me?

 

[Tank]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

I have a original SAR with the bracelet. Luckily for me at the time I bought it I was able to get the guys at County Comm to put it together for me. I have removed links myself but it takes a special watch band device (or several pairs of vise grips and mini screw drivers). Not quite sure about the installation of the band itself. I'm a diver myself and prefer the bracelet to any other type of band unless your taking it cold water diving over a wet suit. Then I would lean towards a NATO type band.

Try asking over on watch u seek forums, lots of SAR owners over there.

I would bet any reputable professional watch repair shop would be able to install it .

 

[Jig Stick]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

Ive been doing some research and the JSAR seems to get good reviews. But im starting to come across some posts in forums that show the bezel not aligning properly with the watch face. Does anybody know about this? Or have first hand experience with Marathon JSAR watches

 

[Wanderlust]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

I broke my SAR in a year, I just can't have nice things. But I would get the bracelet over the rubber strap (broke that too).

 

[EventHorizon]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

I have the CSAR (I think) with the tritium dial. Thing is a tank. Have taken it hiking, biking (fallen on it, slid down the side of a small hill with it, swam in ocean, all in the sun, salted, etc) and it still pretty much looks, feels and smells (rubber strap) brand new.

Good investment in solid kit IMHO.

 

[Tank]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

My SAR was alligned perfectly. I also didnt lose the arrow shaped luminous spot on the dial as some have reported. Guess I was lucky.

Mine is/was a daily wear watch for everything but Patrol and SWAT. It banged up pretty good , still no issues. Probably due for a service.

 

[GreggNY]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

My JSAR lines up perfectly. This has pretty much become my daily beater and the thing is definitely built like a tank. The strap is a Ted Su.

 

[Wanderlust]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tank</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My SAR was alligned perfectly. I also didnt lose the arrow shaped luminous spot on the dial as some have reported. Guess I was lucky.

Mine is/was a daily wear watch for everything but Patrol and SWAT. It banged up pretty good , still no issues. Probably due for a service. </div></div>

I lost the "0" mark on the bezel, and the tritium tube fell off the minute hand. Managed to scratch the crystal glass, and break the loop on the strap.

 

[EventHorizon]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wanderlust</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tank</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My SAR was alligned perfectly. I also didnt lose the arrow shaped luminous spot on the dial as some have reported. Guess I was lucky.

Mine is/was a daily wear watch for everything but Patrol and SWAT. It banged up pretty good , still no issues. Probably due for a service. </div></div>

<span style="color: #FF0000">I lost the "0" mark on the bezel, and the tritium tube fell off the minute hand. Managed to scratch the crystal glass, and break the loop on the strap.</span> </div></div>

you should list that on your resume then because that ain't easy to do!

 

[HPLLC]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

I wouldn't go for the stainless strap- they get too heavy. I had a Marathon with the stainless band and it was a little heavy to begin with.

At one point I ended up in a cache in Baghad for a wound closure with two IV's in my wrists.

The vein in my watch hand got hurt from saline lock injections to keep the lines clear (nurse punched that stuff like it was an attempt to make a .25 second 5CC record) and that damaged the valve in my left wrist.

After that my stainless strap really wasn't comfortable on my wrist, so I swapped it for the natural rubber strap. I have an Omega now, but I opted for the rubber strap again.


I lost the triangle 0 mark on my bezel (that sucks), but had no issues with tritium. I did hear other guys with the less expensive plastic army issue GSA Marathons mention tritium vials coming loose but I don't think it is very common with the more expensive models. If you drop one on concrete at the airport or something all bets are probably off, but just wearing the watch it's hard to really beat it that bad.

 

[LARMIKE]

Re: Marathon JSAR Watch

I have 2 of the Marathon watches, the smaller SAR and now the Chronograph(issued) I have the Silicone watch band on both of them. The SAR watch lost the Triangle also, just send it back to Marathon they will fix it under warranty. Make sure you list the package as a "Time Piece" The Chronograph is a HUGE watch. Very good watches.