Thoughts on SAR Watch...

I had one. I eventually got rid of mine but I still look at them, actually I'm kind in a deal for a heavily modified one with work done by IWW (extra super luminova application, handset from Eddie Platt's PRS-2 Dreadnought, sterilized caseback, beadblasted finish, domed sapphire crystal with Zeiss Gold ET anti-reflective doating [on the inside surface of the crystal].

It is a interesting watch in the sense that the creator, Bob of MWR, known on these forums as "BobHWD" designed the watch using the features of dive watches that he felt were key to a good dive watch. I believe Bob (a saturation diver also) himself deigned to say that the SAR was the ultimate dive watch, after a saturation diver wrote that he breached the seal on the SAR during a saturation dive. I think Bob said the SAR was not meant for saturation dives.

Still, I am not a saturation diver. I don't even know what conditions a saturation dive entails. I like it because its a big, heavy watch that is easy to read. Everyone says that the made for bracelet which is $125 or so extra is a must have for the watch. I had a generic oyster braclet for the watch, and also felt that the made for SAR bracelet was probably a better match because of the construction (316L steel) and the solid end links.

Here's a review
http://www.equationoftime.com/forums/PilotForum/index.cgi?noframes;read=97

Here's another "made from the ground up" dive watch:
http://www.netisto.com/dn.htm
 
Hello all,

Yes, as PsychRN has pointed out, I am indeed "Bob" of MWR. I would like to clarify some issues relevant to the current discussion. First of all, while I am a SAR Diver, I am doing most of my work with Open Circuit SCUBA and surface supplied air. I am by no means a saturation diver. Saturation divers spend days to weeks living in a diving bell, hundreds of meters underwater, while breathing a helium mixture.

Yes, I did help design the SAR, but it was never designed for saturation diving. There is no helium release valve on the SAR, such as found on the Rolex Seadweller. The SAR watch was designed for the Canadian Government's SAR-Techs, and quite frankly they had no interest in a helium release valve. In that respect, the SAR was designed to their specifications culling knowledge from various experts from several fields including divers and engineers.

To clarify the issue with the "breached seal." I do not believe it happened under saturation diving conditions. If I recall correctly, it happened while wearing a hot suit, and alternating hot with very cold water. That is a very harsh test for almost any watch. I've personally tested the SAR to its rated depth using a static test chamber, and I have absolutely no qualms about using it on any operation I might be called to participate in.

The point to remember is that the SAR was built to a specification for a specific organization and my conversations with actual SAR-Techs indicates they have had no problems with the SAR under their actual day to day operations. That in a nutshell is all that is required of the SAR.
 
Thanks for the informative responses and weblinks. Basically I just wanted a large rugged watch that looked cool. Sounds cheesy but hey whatever floats your boat, right. I am not a diver, as of yet anyway, but I love the way dive watches look. All business and not cluttered like so many watches today. That and the fact that they seem to have the best illumination on the face of most watches. I hate wearing a watch I can't read. Anyway, thanks for the input.

Oh, that Dreadnought is HUGE! What a sweet watch but the prices I've seen for it put it way outside what I would pay for a watch. They just are not THAT important to me.
 
Very cool watch! On my list of things to buy when my cashflow improves again along with a trip to IWW for some work to the hands, sterilized and PVD coating :) When you think about it $485 is pretty much a bargain for a high quality watch these days
 
You might take a gander at the Seiko Diver series of watches as well. They are affordable automatics with quite a cult following...

The SAR is indeed a very attractive watch. Very clean dial and I like the 'diamond cut' knurled crown. The 2824-A2 is a good Swiss movement as well. You should have no problem getting this serviced when/if necessary. The sapphire crystal (w/cyclops eye) and anti-reflective coating are pluses also. There are quite a few good quality features to this watch.

Divers are a very popular choice with a 'rugged' quality about them. This looks like a good solid choice when/if considering this style of watch.
 
BobHWD,

Do you perhaps know if there will be an Marthon SAR with Tritium vial lighting?

I love my SAR 2003 but Super Luminova just doesn't do it for me, I can load it with my E2e+KL1 head and yes it's extremely bright for 10 minutes but when I go to sleep and wake up 1.5 hours later I can't read the dial. This doesn't happen with my Traser watch, which is not as bright as the freshly charged "super" Luminova but is allways visible at night.

Is there perhaps a company that could mount H3 vials on the 2003 SAR watch hands ?

Best Scouting wishes from Holland,

Bagheera
 
I have found SuperLuminova to be very reliable. I have a Sinn EZM3 and the hands are ALWAYS visible - with no artificial charging I can wake in the middle of the night and the hands will be easily visible.
 
A Marathon SAR with tritium vials has been discussed. The big issue is getting a Government contract. You see, Marathon does not make watches for the civilian market per se. They won't make watches just to please watch collectors. If we can get a Government order for SARs with tritium vials, it would be easier to get them made.

A Marathon SAR can be converted over fairly easily. All one has to do is disassemble a Marathon General Purpose Watch. Remove the hands and dial. Broach the hands and put them on the SAR. The dial feet will match no problem.
 
Are there plans for a 2004 surplus release of the Marathon SARs, and when this year? This is one sweet looking diver watch for sure!
 
I have heard rumors that future runs will be quartz :grumpy:
 
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