When you heard the term “pilot’s watch”, you’re probably conjuring up a very specific idea in your mind – perhaps one with a “dotted” triangle up at 12 o’clock, right? Well, what if a watch designated as a pilot’s watch looked something a bit more like what you’d expect from a field watch? That’s sort of what you get with the new Marathon Blue Yonder.
Marathon Blue Yonder: what it is
Well, I sort of ran through that in the opener there. While Marathon considers this to be part of their pilot/navigator series, something in my head wants to consider this more of a land-based watch. Nomenclature aside, you’ve got a parkerized 41mm steel case that has the crown protection built into the case profile, with a high-accuracy quartz movement tucked inside. How accurate? How does +/- 10 seconds per year sound?
To differentiate this model, there’s a lot of a navy blue. The three-piece rubber strap, dial, and bezel insert all feature the color. This lightens things up a bit from the all-black version that preceded the Blue Yonder. Of course, that’s not the only color, as you’ve got green and orange tritium tubes helping keep things visible with the lights go down.
Wrapping things up
The Marathon Blue Yonder is available now, in a limited-edition run of just 500 pieces. Each of those will be going for $1,200 (similar pricing as prior quartz SSNAV models). If you want one for your summer flights, you can get it directly from marathonwatch.com
Marathon Blue Yonder Tech Specs
- Dial: Blue Yonder, Type I
- Markings: MARATHON
- Strap: 20mm 3-Piece Rubber Strap Kit in Blue with
- Parkerized Steel Hardware
- NSN: Unassigned
- Designation: Pilot’s Steel Navigator w/ Date
- Movement:
- High-Torque Quartz
- ETA F06.412 HeavyDrivePreciDrive
- 3 Jewels
- End Of Life (EOL) Indicator
- Features:
- Bi-Directional 12hr (90-Click) GMT Bezel
- 4:30 Date Display
- Easy-Access Battery Hatch
- Illumination: Tritium Gas Tubes on Bezel Pip, Hr Markers & Hr/Min Hands
- Crystal: Scratch Resistant Sapphire
- Case:
- 41mm Diameter
- 11mm Thickness
- 20mm Lug Width
- 316L Stainless Steel
- Screw-Down Crown
- Water-Resistance: 10 ATM (100m/330ft)
