I’m embarrassingly a little late to this one, especially as someone who has constantly proclaimed his love for the asymmetrical-cased Marathon Navigator. But this new LE from Marathon just looks too good to miss on the site. Years ago I was moaning about the lack of a steel-cased Navigator option from Marathon but now, we have several versions to choose from. The latest is this new Marathon SSNAV-D Steel Navigator ‘Blue Yonder’ that offers all the function and utility I love about this watch, with a cool splash of color.
Marathon’s stuff is notoriously utilitarian. If you’ve been around the block, you’ve probably heard someone describe them as “pure function.” Their catalog walks the line between dive, field, and pilot categories with almost stubborn consistency. But even in that sea of tactical sameness, the Navigator has always stood out; especially the SSNAV-D variant. Originally built for Canadian SAR pilots and later adopted by the USAF, it’s one of those watches that looks like a dive piece at first glance, but clearly wasn’t made for beach weekends.
The “Blue Yonder” edition keeps all that rugged DNA intact. You still get the offset crown with the wide, protective shroud (a design that actually makes wrist articulation better, not worse), tritium tubes glowing perpetually from the dial, and the bi-directional 12-hour bezel. It’s all about quick, clean time tracking in chaos or … not-chaos.
But now, instead of the standard-issue look, Marathon’s dressed it up in Air Force blue. The name is a wink to the branch’s official song—“Off we go into the wild blue yonder”—and the look is anything but muted. A clean blue dial, blue bezel insert, pops of green and blue lume, and a bright red second hand. It just looks great even though some will still just complain that it’s a simple color update.
Under the hood, you’ll find an ETA high-accuracy quartz movement and if that price tag ($1,200) makes you flinch, I get it. But before anyone starts sharpening pitchforks, let’s be honest: accuracy and shock resistance are where quartz shines, especially in a watch designed for active use. This one is rated to ±10 seconds per year. And in a limited run of only 500 pieces, it’s the kind of spec-driven justification that collectors can actually get behind.
Navigators are also surprisingly wearable and I’m sure this one isn’t any different. The curve of the 41mm steel case gives it a low, ergonomic profile. There’s a screw-down crown, 100 meters of water resistance, and a sapphire crystal up top—so it’ll handle rain, rivers, and whatever else you throw at it. And despite all the military inspiration, the colorway makes it feel more like a sport watch than a field instrument.
This is the kind of watch that reminds me why I got into collecting in the first place. It’s practical without being boring, a little flashy without sacrificing purpose, and it carries just enough story to feel personal. The Marathon SSNAV-D “Blue Yonder” is available now for $1,200. Just 500 of them are out there, and something tells me they won’t stick around long.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.