Side by side

Marathon MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's QuartzvsPhoibos Wave Master

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Quartz
MarathonMSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Quartz
MSRP $1,450
Wave Master
PhoibosWave Master
MSRP $309

At a glance

10 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Quartz36mm
Wave Master42mm
Power Reserve
MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Quartz40h
Wave Master40h
Water Resistance
MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Quartz300m
Wave Master300m
MSRP
MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Quartz$1,450
Wave Master$309

Full specifications

Case

5 specs
Diameter
36mm
42mm
Thickness
18mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
48.5mm
Lug Width
18mm
22mm
Material
316L Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel

Crystal & Dial

2 specs
AR Coating
Inner
Yes
Lume
None
Super-LumiNova

Movement

2 specs
Caliber
Swiss High-Torque Quartz
SII NH35A
Type
Quartz
Automatic

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$1,450
$309

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Marathon MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Quartz

Owners widely praise the Marathon MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Quartz for its tool-like aesthetic, bright tritium lume, and satisfying bezel action, making it enjoyable to handle and use. One owner finds the 36mm case comfortable after an initial adjustment period, while another reports accuracy within a few seconds of atomic time. On balance, owners rate the Marathon MSAR (Medium Search & Rescue) Diver's Quartz highly for its superb value and enjoyable tool-watch characteristics.

Phoibos Wave Master

Owners widely praise the Phoibos Wave Master for its attractive wavy dial, bright lume, and comfortable engineer bracelet, with many considering it one of the best-looking watches under $300. The watch features a sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel, and owners report good quality for the price, with a subtle wave pattern on the dial appreciated for its unique style. While some minor finishing flaws like slightly crooked hour markers or an off-center outer ring have been noted, these are generally considered not visible during wear. One owner experienced a clasp breakage after four years, but Phoibos replaced it free of charge. Some owners wish the watch were larger than 40mm, and one notes the GMT hand and other details may not hold up under extreme close-ups. Overall, owners rate the Phoibos Wave Master highly for its distinctive dial and value, especially considering its build quality and features.

From video reviewers

The unidirectional ceramic bezel action is praised. The lume brightness is noted as a weakness. Reviewers disagree on the water resistance rating, with some stating 300M and others 200M.

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