Included with the Pilot's Navigator is a 20 mm waterproof nylon strap made under Military specification MIL-S-46383B, Type III. The dial is very legible thanks to the white hands, and the tritium in the dark is just so much fun! It's not super bright (the tritium tubes are small after all), but once your eyes have adjusted to the dark, the dial is plenty visible. That said, had this been a mechanical, I highly doubt I would have thought twice about the benefits above. For the same price, or even a bit less, you can get one of the Marathon General Purpose Mechanical watches, which have some no-name manual movement inside. The Navigator is arguably the cooler looking watch (also substantially larger) so, I do wish they had the option for a Navigator Mechanical, if even just for the general public. If this had some low-beat manual movement, it would really feel like a vintage watch. The Navigator Pilots Quartz combines military durability with Swiss craftsmanship in a timepiece that will satisfy you for years. DETAILS of Marathon Navigator watch

First developed by Marathon Watch Company in 1986, the Pilot's Navigator was made at the request of the Kelly Air Force Base. They wanted a watch which could be used at high altitude, withstand extreme changes in pressure and altitude, resist magnetic fields, as well as be an easy to read timepiece for a pilot. Marathon fulfilled this with the Pilot's Navigator watch. I've been a watch enthusiast for over a decade, and a professional aviator for over 22 years, yet it's just now that I feel I've found a few truly "it" watches. First disclaimer: I only speak for myself and my own experience as a Naval Flight Officer (think "Goose" from Top Gun), and mileage varies WIDELY here. I do not speak for the Navy, the government, or any other organization, and this personal review is not a product endorsement. Second disclaimer: the best modern watches for professional flying are digital multifunction watches (yes, analog has its merits and I prefer it, but I'm under no illusions about what makes the best tool). Ok with that out of the way, I've been looking for a perfect analog flying watch for a long time. Let me describe why I feel the Navigator makes my list. Designed in Canada and manufactured in Switzerland, Marathon watches are designed to meet some of the toughest MIL SPEC standards out there. Even if you don’t find yourself regularly jumping out of planes and undergoing rapid pressure/altitude changes, the Navigator can withstand these harsh environments with ease. Originally created to accommodate pilots, parachutists, and law enforcement, Marathon’s Navigator still makes an excellent addition to the everyman’s collection. After all, who doesn’t like a good, tough military watch design. I prefer the no-date, sterile version, but I suspect the movement is the same as the one used on the date version (takes two pulls on the crown to stop the movement).The Navigator Class of Wristwatches was developed in conjunction with Kelly Air Force Base in 1986, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of timekeeping technology. Even today, the Navigator remains a formidable timepiece, having undergone rigorous revisions in 2019 to enhance its durability and reliability. The Navigator Pilot’s Quartz is made in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland. Powered by a Swiss made, high torque, 3 jewel ETA F06 Quartz movement, the Navigator Pilots Quartz guarantees you a high degree of accuracy in timekeeping. The ETA F06 is accurate to -0.3/+0.5 seconds per day and includes an End of Life (EOL) indicator. The Navigator Pilots Quartz uses self-contained Tritium gas tubes to ensure constant visibility in low light situations. A tube is located on each hour marker, each hand, and at the 12-hour marker in the bezel. Tritium tubes are self-illuminating gas tubes which contain an isotope of hydrogen that glows consistently for years without the need to pre-glow in the light. Metal crown. On the previous version the crown was plastic. It's still a non-screwdown crown, however.

Almost all of the dial’s space is in use. Just below 12 is the brand name and above 6 it reads “U.S. GOVERNMENT”. There are also text/markings relating to the tritium tubes, with a radiation symbol at 3 and “H3” at 9, which refers to “hydrogen 3”, the molecular makeup of tritium. If this is too much text or clutter, Marathon also offers a sterile no-date version (retains the H3 and radiation symbol) which has a cleaner look. They glow without requiring exposure to light thanks to the constant shedding of electrons, courtesy of the small-scale (and safe) radioactive decay taking place in your watch. Looks. Yes, I care about looks. Yes, I noticed that the new Growler aircraft is cooler looking than the Prowler (although that old girl grows on you). The Navigator's aesthetic is super cool. A mix of modern and old school, and it just looks so purposeful, I love it. The Marathon Pilot's Navigator's is made in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland to guarantee the highest level of quality and accuracy in manufacturing. Powered by a Swiss made, high torque, 3 jewel ETA F06 Quartz movement, the Pilot's Navigator guarantees you a high degree of accuracy in timekeeping. This tough movement will operate for 5+ years before needing a battery change. The ETA F06 movement is accurate to -0.3/+0.5 seconds per day and also includes an End of Life (EOL) indicator that will advance the seconds hand once every 4 seconds to inform you that a battery change is needed. Replacement battery is a 371 cell. Sapphire crystal. Though, personally I prefer the acrylic glass as it's a lot easier to maintain (to polish off the scratches, etc.) Thankfully, the flat sapphire crystal doesn't protrude much. It's almost flushed with the rotating bezel, so this should help protect the crystal.

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The Marathon Military Navigator Pilot's Quartz is a highly accurate watch built to strict military specifications under MIL-PRF-46374G. Designed for pilots, parachutists, and law enforcement, the Military Navigator Pilot's Quartz is made to withstand the many challenges that are faced in a professional or everyday environment. The Marathon Pilot's Navigator combines military durability with Swiss craftsmanship. An accurate timepiece that will satisfy you for years. The Military Navigator Pilot's Quartz now uses a Sapphire Crystal. The Military Navigator Pilot's Quartz is made in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland to guarantee the highest level of quality and accuracy in manufacturing. Powered by a Swiss made, high torque, 3 jewel ETA FØ6 quartz movement, the Military Navigator Pilot's Quartz guarantees you a high degree of accuracy in timekeeping. The ETA FØ6 movement is accurate to -0.3/+0.5 seconds per day and also includes an End of Life (EOL) indicator that will advance the seconds hand once every 4 seconds to inform you that a battery change is needed. Replacement battery is a 371 cell. The Military Navigator Pilot's Quartz uses self contained Tritium gas tubes to ensure constant visibility in low light situations; therefore, a gas tube is placed on each hour marker, hand, and at the 12 hour marker in the bezel. Tritium tubes are self illuminating gas tubes which contain an isotope of hydrogen, meaning they will not dull down in brightness like normal photo-luminescent (glow in the dark) paint which requires an external light source to create a glow. On the wrist, the Navigator wears very well. The asymmetrical case looks bigger than it feels and the added bulk of the bezel gives it a lot of mass. Yet, it’s also fairly thin and the lug-to-lug is relatively short, so it will fit smaller wrists. Aesthetically, it’s simply very cool. The classic military elements mixed with the vintage feel of the domed crystal, finished off with the modern resin case come together for a unique watch.