"Off we go into the wild blue yonder" is the opening line of the U.S. Air Force song, and it gave this watch its name. The Marathon Blue Yonder Limited Edition, reference WW194013SS-1301, is the first Steel Navigator ever finished with a blue dial and bezel.

It is a fitting tribute. The Navigator was born in 1986, when Marathon partnered with Kelly Air Force Base to build a pilot's watch for U.S. Air Force crews, and the Blue Yonder celebrates that connection with a colorway drawn from the open sky. The steel case has a Parkerized finish, a matte grey that sets off the blue dial and bezel beautifully. Marathon pairs it with a color-matched blue FKM 3-piece rubber strap kit and includes a blue travel pouch, which makes it as ready for gifting as it is for wearing.

Under the color, this is a full-spec SSNAV-D. The ETA F06.412 PreciDrive thermocompensated Swiss quartz movement is accurate to roughly ten seconds per year. A 316L steel case only 11mm thick, a screw-down crown and 10 ATM water resistance make it a capable daily watch, while tritium gas tubes, a sapphire crystal, a date at 4:30 and a 90-click bi-directional 12-hour bezel for a second time zone complete the pilot's toolkit. For Air Force families, aviation enthusiasts and Marathon collectors, it is a standout.

Blue Yonder SSNAV-D WW194013SS-1301: Key Details

• Edition: Blue Yonder Limited Edition Steel Navigator with Date
• Reference: WW194013SS-1301
• Case: 41mm Parkerized 316L steel, 11mm thick
• Movement: Swiss ETA F06.412 PreciDrive quartz
• Water resistance: 10 ATM with screw-down crown
• Dial and bezel: blue; bi-directional 12-hour bezel, 90 clicks
• Lume and date: tritium gas tubes; date at 4:30
• Crystal: sapphire
• Included: blue FKM 3-piece rubber strap kit and blue travel pouch

A sky-blue salute to the pilots who inspired the Navigator.