Adhering to Marathon’s strict military ethos, the Marathon GPQ (General Purpose Quartz) NGM Black Quartz Ref. WW194004-BK-NGM is a no-nonsense mil-spec field watch designed and officially issued to infantry troops, incorporating a robust case that is almost indestructible, innovative tritium gas tubes for round-the-clock illumination and a performance driven high-torque quartz engine for extreme precision during coordinated military operations.


Marathon GPQ NGM Black Quartz Ref. WW194004-BK-NGM

Military watches unceasingly draw the fascination of watch collectors from all over the world with its rich heritage. Other than being extremely robust and functional, military watches hark back to countless momentous events in history when troops relied on them as valuable equipment in the field. Wrist watches are unquestionably an indispensable tool when it comes to military operations such as coordinating tactical movements and navigational purposes. Of the many established brands that supply, or once supplied watches to the military, Marathon is a name seemingly overshadowed by other familiar offerings in the market. However, it is certainly one of the hidden gems in the world of military watches. 



Astonishingly, Marathon’s heritage dates back to more than a century ago since 1904 when it was founded as Weinstrum Watch, subsequently named as Wein Brothers. In 1939, what we know today as Marathon Watch was established in Montreal, Canada by Morris Wein, the first of the current fourth generation in the Wein family that are still presently carrying the proud tradition of producing reliable instruments for the measurement of time, temperature and distance. Today, Marathon watches are designed in Canada and hand-assembled with the highest standards in La Chaux-De-Fonds, the beautiful watchmaking town of Switzerland.

Made in Switzeland, Approved by US Government

Manufacturing military-spec watches for the military has been one of the core focuses of Marathon since 1941, being one of the world’s only watch companies to hold a current contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. This being said, all of Marathon’s purpose-designed timepieces are absolutely tough as nails, constructed to adhere to strict military requirements and ready to take a beating under adverse conditions.

In line with military specifications, the Marathon GPQ is housed in a lightweight, highly-impact resistant fibershell case construction that is truly built for task. Measuring with a compact case diameter of only 34mm, a lug to lug distance of 41mm and a thickness of 12mm, this is a compact military field watch that will remain incredibly comfortable on the wrist throughout the entire day, a design trait especially crucial for long and gruelling military missions.


Based on the GG-W-113 specifications since 1960s

Staying faithful to the original GG-W-113 specifications from the 1960s, the sleek and symmetrical case profile portrays an attractive masculinity that strikes a pleasing balanced appearance as a result of its tonneau-shaped case and short lug design. The fibershell case of the General Purpose Quartz also has a passive matte finish. This matte finish aids in protecting infantry positions as this finish does not provide a reflective surface which would occur on a normal metal case. Accompanying its 16mm lug width, the supplied black heavy-duty nylon strap ensures the watch stays secure on the wrist.

The case only gets a breakthrough from its symmetry by its protruded sand-blasted push-pull crown for easy manipulation. Its L-shaped lugs are flushed with the overall case, and further features the drilled lug holes to allow easy strap change. Flipping it over, we get the composite 316L stainless steel caseback, allowing it to achieve 30m of water resistance that satisfies the specifications of the military. Right on the caseback, we get the essential government markings and specifications engraved. These provide credentials on the GPQ as manufactured following the specifications of the US Government. All that said, it's certainly safe to say that it will fit in the lives of both watch collectors and the military.

Tritium gas tubes and MaraGlow™ that glows 24 hours

Underneath the flat scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, the Marathon GPQ NGM Black Quartz Ref. WW194004-BK-NGM presents a clean and sterile matte black NGM (No Government Markings) dial that only displays elements that are absolutely essential. Arabic hour numerals and secondary 24-hour markers are crisply printed in white for maximum legibility.



Speaking of legibility, the dial features a total of 14 encapsulated self-illuminating tritium gas tubes, with 12 on each on every hour marker and 2 for the minute and hour hands, allowing for a continuous glow even without the need for a charge from an external light source. The tritium gas tube used at the 12 o’clock is distinguished with a vibrant orange glow in contrast with the rest of the tubes that glow with a green hue, giving the piece wonderful orientation with just a glance down at the wrist.

Manufactured in accordance to US Government MIL-PRF-46374G

Underneath its robust exterior, the Marathon GPQ NGM is driven by the Swiss-made ETA Caliber F06 high-torque 3 jewel quartz movement. Unlike the typical run-of-the-mill quartz movement, the ETA Cal. F06 is built with largely metallic parts for additional durability. When it’s time for a battery change, the movement is equipped with an EOL (End-of-Life) indicator for accurate timekeeping.

In all, Marathon products are manufactured with the utmost care and go through various quality control measures. This attention to quality is presented in the Marathon GPQ NGM Black Quartz Ref. WW194004-BK-NGM, combining military toughness with refined craftsmanship from their military watches of yesteryears. The world of military-style tool watches is becoming increasingly popular in the market, where consumers have a whole range of options to choose from. Still, not all have the right to get approved by the US Government until today and able to stand out with its unique design that is not seen on the market. The Marathon General Purpose Quartz stands out from the rest in this way since day one, and besides that, their watches always built with a purpose in every aspect that offers startling value for money for us watch collectors.