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Affordable Men's Style

Win it: The 2013 Maratac Pilot Automatic

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Maratac 2013 Automatic Pilot Watch – $195.00

*Currently listed as out of stock.  More on that towards the bottom of the post… 

This thing is big.  It looks less like a standard time piece and more like some professional instrument Felix Baumgartner would have strapped to his arm while plummeting to earth.  The simplicity of the dial and industrial looking case only add to that utilitarian look.  But it’s a great look, and if you like your watches big (or you’re just a big human) then by all means proceed.

This is the next evolution of the extremely popular Maratac Pilot watch that has been selling out with consistency for the last couple of years.  100m water resistance, domed sapphire crystal, and a Citizen made automatic movement with a 40 hour power reserve.  Comes with a Maratac Zulu watch strap and a black nylon watch case.

Maratac Pilot 2013Straight on.  Simple but not boring.  And big. 

The face has slowly gotten more busy with each generation, and this model comes with outer minute markers, and an inner 24-hour / military time ring.  But even with the extra markings, it’s still relatively simple with its one sub dial for seconds, and no extracurriculars like a day window, date window, or tachymeter.

Maratac iceSpecial thanks to Mr. Freeze who lent out his lair for the photo shoot.  

But back to the bigness.  At 46 mm, the dial almost spans the entire top of an average size wrist (size comparison with other watches here).  But it’s comfortable to wear, and while substantial, it’s not brick heavy.  Yet it’s… big.  Their 39mm “mid size” is going to look smallish on some of us, and this 46 is pretty damn big.  Is it wishful thinking for a 41 – 42 mm version to get produced in the future?

Decidedly casual, this watch feels tough, looks tough, and could render your other non-dress watches to the back of the shelf if you acquired one.  But that’s the problem.  They’re perpetually out of stock.  For the last couple weeks the CountyComm website has said: “Check back on 1/15/13″.  That has since been moved to Friday 1/18/13.  Maybe you’ll be able to buy one then.  For now, if interested, you’ll just have to try and win one.

Enter here to win the Maratac Pilot. One entry per person. Deadline for entry is 11:59 pm ET on 1/17/13.

UPDATE:  Congrats to Anthony R. who won the drawing for the Maratac.

Comments

  2. My guess is that it would be different if I saw it in person, but this bears a close resemblance to the Merona watches at Target, although those are pretty small. Still looks nice though.

  4. If it’s anything like its predecessor, there isn’t a lot of clearance between the springbars and the watch’s exterior casing. I managed to fit some leather straps from Michael’s (featured on Reddit a while back) into their and haven’t removed them since I like how they look (and it would be a lot of work getting them back in there again).

  5. I’m guessing this is a Japanese (CItizen, as you say) movement in a Chinese made watch? Any indication on origin?

  7. I own the outgoing model. It’s quality, simplicity, and lack of branding make it a virtually unprecedented value in the ~$200 range. It’s earned a substantial following among “watch guys”, which is why it sells out quickly every time County Comm restocks.

    Another review: http://wornandwound.com/2011/12/28/review-maratac-pilot-watch/
    Mine: http://i.imgur.com/hDQ8r.jpg

    Both show the watch with different straps (dark and light leather, green nato), which is helpful. The black nato it ships with is pretty fugly.

  10. But where is it all assembled? Movement is Japanese, but that doesn’t mean made in Japan necessarily. Cheap Japanese automatics are made in China sometimes.

  11. Agreed – it’s gorgeous, but I can’t fall in step with the gigantic watch fad. I prefer the smaller Rolex Submariner (and clones) size family.