Marathon Navigator (MIL-PRF-46374G)

Home, 2006-12-27

Marathon Navigator

A Few Thoughts and Observations

Notes

Marathon Navigator

The Navigator is pure functionalism -- a cheap looking quartz plastic watch made after military specifications (MIL-PRF-46374G). The watch is kind of an anti-watch: it is quartz, ugly, and represents no craftsmanship at all (but it is a showcase for mass production and quality management). I love it.

Description from the Instructions:

Watch is water-resistant, shock-proof, and has stop second feature.
Accuracy maximum error rate is +/- 0.7 seconds per day.  Replacement
battery is 395 watch battery or equivalent.

This watch is manufactured in accordance with MIL-PRF-46374G, Type
III, Class 1 (Analog, minimum life: 5 years, antimagnetic, corrosion
resistant, high altitude with elapsed time ring, water resistant,
electrical movement, battery installed).

A Few Thoughts and Observations

• the watch gains 0.3 seconds per day on average.
• the tritium gas-tubes works really well under all conditions.
• bezel works well but it also looks cheaper than expected and the paint does not hang on to it very well (I did a scratch test).
• the lugs are not really 20mm, but only 19.5mm
• the watch was smaller than expected from photos (thats a good thing).
• the crown is painted brass and the paint does not hang on that well.
• case material actually looks better than expected (however, I did not expect much)
• this is an expensive watch compared to many fine Seikos, but it is also a special watch and it probably has an ok resale value (well, maybe not, considering the deal I got).

Notes

• Replacement battery is either the low drain 395/SR927SW/V395/SR57 cell or the high drain 399/SR927W/V399/SR57 cell, the high drain cell is supposed to last longer. Both are Silver Oxide 1.55V 9.5x2.6mm cells.