Where Are Marathon Watches Designed and Built?

When choosing a high-performance timepiece, the origin of design and manufacturing matters. It speaks volumes about the precision, quality, and heritage behind every watch. Marathon, a name synonymous with military-grade durability and Swiss craftsmanship, uniquely blends Canadian design with legendary Swiss watchmaking. This international collaboration is one of the reasons Marathon watches are trusted by armed forces, professionals, and serious watch enthusiasts around the world.

Designed in Canada, Built in Switzerland

All Marathon watches begin their life at the brand’s headquarters in Canada, where each model is purpose-built with direct input from military professionals and first responders. Every design decision—from case shape and bezel grip to visibility and movement accuracy—is informed by the real-world needs of those operating in extreme conditions.

Once the watch design is completed, it travels across the Atlantic to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the historical centre of fine watchmaking. There, each timepiece is hand-assembled and rigorously inspected by skilled Swiss watchmakers, ensuring that every unit meets the brand’s uncompromising standards.

Why Swiss Manufacturing Matters

Swiss-made isn’t just a label—it’s a mark of quality, tradition, and performance. Marathon's factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds places it among the world’s most revered horological institutions. With a history of watchmaking excellence that spans centuries, this region is known for:

• Exceptional craftsmanship

• Stringent quality control

• Innovative mechanical and quartz movement engineering

• Meticulous detail in every component

By choosing to manufacture in their Swiss-based factory, Marathon ensures that its watches not only meet military and government specifications, but also stand up to the expectations of watch collectors and professionals alike.

A Heritage of Reliability

Founded in 1939, Marathon Watch Company has over 80 years of experience supplying precision timekeeping instruments to militaries worldwide, including the United States Armed Forces and Canadian military. Marathon remains an active watch manufacturer supplying NATO-standard timepieces to the U.S. Government today.

Unlike most commercial brands, Marathon doesn’t simply design watches for aesthetics. Each watch is a functional piece of equipment, developed for practical use in harsh environments—whether under the sea, in the cockpit, or on the battlefield.

Best-Selling Watches Built Across Two Continents

Some of Marathon’s most iconic watches showcase this seamless blend of Canadian design and Swiss manufacturing:

• GSAR (Government Search and Rescue) Automatic: Built with 316L stainless steel, tritium gas tubes, and powered by a Swiss automatic movement, this dive watch is standard-issue for elite units

• TSAR (TritiumSearch and Rescue) Quartz : For those who prefer a quartz movement, the TSAR offers similar rugged specs with the low-maintenance convenience of a battery-powered movement

• Stainless Steel Navigator with Date: Designed for pilots and airborne units, the Navigator features a durable 316L surgical-grade steel case and high-contrast dial for instant readability, even at altitude

Each of these watches represents the very best of what Marathon has to offer—tactical design, Swiss precision, and military-level reliability.

A Timepiece with Purpose

In an industry often driven by trends and luxury, Marathon remains grounded in purpose. The company has never lost sight of its mission: to build watches that serve. Whether you're a soldier, a first responder, or simply someone who demands performance from your gear, a Marathon watch is more than a timepiece—it’s a trusted tool born from decades of experience and built to endure.

Explore the full collection of watches designed in Canada and made in Switzerland here, and experience why Marathon continues to set the standard for military and professional timekeeping.