Marathon 41mm Titanium GSAR: A Deep Dive into Specs | Veloce
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Marathon 41mm Titanium GSAR: A Deep Dive into Specs
By Nick·October 22, 2026· 6 min read
Marathon re-engineers its iconic 41mm GSAR, introducing a Grade 5 titanium case for the first time. This new model also boasts an upgraded Swiss automatic movement with a 65-hour power reserve, making it lighter and more capable.
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Marathon is taking its famous Government Search and Rescue watch, the GSAR, and building it in Grade Five titanium for the first time. This new forty-one millimeter Titanium GSAR takes the familiar tool watch platform and makes it significantly lighter, while also upgrading the movement inside.
The biggest change is the case material, moving from stainless steel to TAA-compliant Grade Five titanium. Marathon says this reduces the watch's weight on your wrist by thirty percent compared to its steel counterparts. The case measures forty-one millimeters in diameter, thirteen point five millimeters thick, and forty-eight millimeters from lug to lug. This is a robust size, but the lighter titanium should make it wear even more comfortably for a three hundred meters water resistant diver. It also features a twelve-hour bezel insert, making it useful for tracking a second time zone or elapsed time.
Inside, Marathon is using a Sellita SW two hundred dash two automatic movement in its "Top Grade" specification. This is a practical upgrade, boosting the power reserve from around thirty-eight hours in previous versions to a full sixty-five hours. This means you can take the watch off Friday evening and it'll still be ticking on Monday morning, ready to go. The movement beats at four hertz, or twenty-eight thousand eight hundred vibrations per hour, and has Incabloc shock protection for added durability in tough conditions.
The dial keeps its classic military time layout with both twelve and twenty-four hour scales, ensuring readability at a glance. You'll find tritium gas tubes on the markers and hands for constant glow, a signature Marathon feature that doesn't need external light to charge. The date wheel is now black to match the dial, a small but welcome aesthetic improvement, and a neat detail for any dialhead is the red "Ti" in "Automatic," a subtle nod to the element titanium. This new Titanium GSAR comes with a black FKM rubber strap and matching titanium hardware, all for two thousand seven hundred fifty dollars.
You can get the full rundown on this new Marathon GSAR over on the Veloce Journal.
Marathon 41mm Titanium GSAR: A Deep Dive into Specs — watch the reel or listen to the full narration.
Marathon is re-engineering its most recognizable tool watch, the Government Search and Rescue (GSAR), in a new material for the first time. The upcoming 41mm Titanium GSAR applies a Grade 5 titanium case to the proven SAR platform. It launches with a retail price of $2,750 and is slated for availability on November 17, 2026.
41mmCase
$2,750Price
65hPower Reserve
300mWater Res.
This new model, reference WW194006TI-0130, isn't just a material swap. It pairs the lightweight case with an upgraded Swiss automatic movement, bringing a significant increase in power reserve. It retains the core function-first DNA that has defined Marathon's watches for decades.
The Marathon 41mm Titanium GSAR (WW194006TI-0130)
The core of the GSAR has always been its uncompromising build for government and military use. This new version carries that forward, focusing on material science and mechanical upgrades. The objective remains the same; the execution is lighter and longer-running.
A New Mission: Grade 5 Titanium
The most significant change is the move from 316L stainless steel to a TAA-compliant Grade 5 titanium case. This specific alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) is known for its high tensile strength and superior corrosion resistance compared to commercially pure titanium grades. Marathon states this change reduces the watch's weight on the wrist by 30%.
The brand explicitly links the material choice to the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, an aircraft that relied on titanium for structural integrity in extreme environments. It’s a choice driven by capability, not convention. The case dimensions are familiar to anyone who knows the GSAR: a 41mm diameter, 13.5mm thickness, and a 48mm lug-to-lug measurement.
These proportions are already quite wearable for a 300-meter diver. The significant weight reduction from titanium should make that 48mm length feel even more manageable during long periods of wear. The entire case has a brushed finish, which suits its tool-watch purpose.
For the first time, Marathon's standard-production GSAR moves from stainless steel to Grade 5 titanium, reducing weight by 30% without changing its 300-meter depth rating.
Under the Hood: The Sellita SW200-2 Top Grade
Powering the Titanium GSAR is a Sellita SW200-2 automatic movement in "Top Grade" specification. This is a meaningful upgrade over the standard calibers used in previous iterations. A Top Grade movement is adjusted in more positions from the factory, giving it better potential for accuracy.
The most practical benefit is the extended power reserve, now rated for up to 65 hours. This is a substantial jump from the roughly 38 hours found in older SW200-1 powered models. A 65-hour reserve means you can take the watch off Friday evening and find it still running on Monday morning.
This move toward longer power reserves is a trend we've seen across the tool watch space, including in watches like the Yema Superman CMM.10. The movement includes 26 jewels, a 4 Hz beat rate, and Incabloc shock protection.
The Dial: Purpose-Built Legibility
The dial is the standard-issue Type II format, with a primary 1-12 hour scale and an inner 13-24 hour track for reading military time directly. Several subtle changes distinguish this titanium model. The date wheel at 4:30 is now black to match the dial, and the typeface has been updated.
A small detail any dialhead will notice is the "Ti" in "AUTOMATiC" rendered in red, a nod to the element's symbol on the periodic table. Illumination is one of Marathon's defining features. The GSAR uses tritium gas tubes on the hour markers and the entire hand set.
These self-luminous tubes glow continuously for years without any external light source. The bezel pip at 12 o'clock, however, uses MaraGlo, a conventional photoluminescent paint. This dual system ensures constant time-telling legibility while providing a chargeable marker for timing events with the bezel.
Built for the Depths: Core Dive Specs
The Titanium GSAR is a professional dive instrument through and through. It features a 30 ATM (300 meters / 1000 feet) water resistance rating, protected by a large, knurled screw-down crown. The unidirectional dive bezel has a 60-minute scale and a precise 120-click action.
A flat sapphire crystal protects the dial. The watch ships on a black Swiss-made FKM rubber three-piece strap kit with matching titanium hardware. FKM rubber is an ideal material for this application, offering high resistance to saltwater, chemicals, and temperature changes. The 20mm lug width also provides compatibility with a wide array of aftermarket straps.
The GSAR did not emerge from a design studio as a lifestyle accessory. It is part of Marathon's broader Search and Rescue (SAR) family, first developed in the 1990s to meet stringent Canadian government requirements for its SAR technicians. These watches were designed for some of the harshest maritime environments on earth.
Over the years, various SAR models have been used by government and military organizations, including the U.S. Marine Corps. The design brief prioritizes legibility, mechanical reliability, and extreme durability. Every feature, from the tritium tubes to the 24-hour scale, is a direct response to a real-world operational need.
This Titanium GSAR is the latest evolution of that lineage. It adapts the platform with modern materials and an improved movement while remaining faithful to the original mission profile. It's an instrument first, a watch second.
The Takeaway
The 41mm Titanium GSAR updates a proven tool watch with modern materials and a longer-running movement. It's built for users who need the toughness and 300m rating of the original but in a package that is 30% lighter, with a weekend-proof 65-hour power reserve.
Case
41mm x 13.5mm, Grade 5 Titanium, Brushed
Lug-to-Lug
48mm
Lug Width
20mm
Movement
Sellita SW200-2 Top Grade, automatic, 65h power reserve
Crystal
Sapphire
Water Resistance
30 ATM (300m/1000ft)
Crown
Screw-Down
Bezel
Uni-Directional, 120-Click, 60-Minute Scale
Illumination
Tritium Gas Tubes (Hands & Markers), MaraGlo (Bezel)
Strap
Black FKM 3-piece rubber strap with titanium hardware
Price
$2,750 USD
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the titanium GSAR and the steel GSAR?
The primary differences are the case material and the movement. The Titanium GSAR uses a Grade 5 titanium case, making it about 30% lighter than its stainless steel counterpart. It also contains an upgraded Sellita SW200-2 Top Grade movement with a 65-hour power reserve, compared to the ~38 hours in older steel models. Dial details like a black date wheel and red "Ti" lettering are also unique to this version, which is priced at $2,750.
What is a "Top Grade" Sellita movement?
"Top Grade" is one of Sellita's highest internal quality levels for a movement. Compared to Standard or Elaboré grades, Top Grade calibers are typically constructed with better components and are adjusted in five positions at the factory. This provides them with a higher potential for timekeeping accuracy and stability.
Why does the GSAR use tritium tubes?
Tritium gas tubes provide constant, self-powered illumination for up to 25 years. Unlike conventional luminous paint that needs to be charged by a light source, tritium glows steadily in all conditions. This is a critical feature for military and search-and-rescue personnel who require absolute legibility in complete darkness or low-light situations without fail.
Is the Marathon Titanium GSAR a limited edition?
No, Marathon has announced the 41mm Titanium GSAR as a standard-production model that will be part of its main collection. It is not a numbered or time-limited special edition. It will be available for order starting November 17, 2026.
How much does the Marathon Titanium GSAR cost?
The official United States retail price for the Marathon 41mm Titanium Large Diver's Automatic (GSAR), reference WW194006TI-0130, is $2,750 USD.
GALLERY
WRITTEN BY
Nick
I originally started VELOCE to put my skills to work, hone my app design and web development practices, and dive deeper into the world of horology. I wanted to learn more about the watches, the brands, and the incredible people behind them - the creators, the designers, and the collectors. I love discovering new timepieces and sharing their stories with the world. VELOCE is my ultimate passion project and hobby, the creative space I head to after my full-time job to build something I truly care about.
By Nick·October 22, 2026· 6 min read
