Marathon GPQ (General Purpose Quartz) FieldvsVaer Calendar Field
lug2lug doesn't sell watches. Buy links open the brand's or seller's own site. Some links are affiliate links: lug2lug may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosures
Measurements
Catalog photos are all shot at the same flattering size. These aren't: every case below shares one millimeter scale.

GPQ (General Purpose Quartz) Field

Calendar Field
Diameter
34mm
36mm
Lug-to-Lug
41mm
lowest
43mm
Thickness
11.5mm
8.4mm
lowest
Water Resistance
30m
100m
highest
MSRP
$420
$189
lowest
Movement
Swiss High-Torque Quartz (3J, EOL)
Miyota 2035
Case
6 specsCrystal & Dial
1 specsMovement
1 specsPricing
1 specsReviews
Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.
Marathon GPQ (General Purpose Quartz) Field Watch owners widely praise its legibility, day and night, due to tritium gas tubes on every hour marker. Its small, lightweight 34mm case is noted as comfortable and ideal for smaller wrists, avoiding the bulk of larger watches. The Swiss High-Torque Quartz movement is appreciated for its ruggedness, accuracy, and lack of winding requirement. Some owners find the $350-420 price point a bit high, and one enthusiast considers the 30m water resistance a drawback. Overall, owners rate the Marathon GPQ (General Purpose Quartz) Field Watch highly for its exceptional legibility and comfortable, practical design.
The Vaer Calendar Field is widely praised for its exceptional value, featuring a clean, WWII-inspired dial, sapphire crystal, and 100m water resistance. Owners consistently highlight its thin, comfortable 36mm case with nice brushing and phenomenal dial and hand design, considering it a significant step up in case finishing compared to other quartz field watches in its price range. Some owners note the second hand does not perfectly align with markers and the lume is only serviceable, while one wishes for a brighter date window. Overall, owners rate the Vaer Calendar Field highly for its design and build quality at the price point.
Similar watches
Matched to the watches above on size, movement, style and price, microbrands first. Open any one to dig in.
Also compared
Comparisons nearby in the catalog: alternatives to the watches above paired against the matchup.







