Garmin unveils MARQ series, a collection of luxury smartwatches
Garmin is marking its 30th anniversary by launching a new collection of watches called MARQ. Announced today, the luxury range consists of five devices including MARQ Aviator, MARQ Driver, MARQ Captain, MARQ Expedition and MARQ Athlete. The watches are designed to mark key areas of Garmin activity, aviation, automotive, marine, outdoor and sports.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
You will need to have deep pockets to opt for one of these devices as they retail upwards of $1,500. But for that price you’ll get a beautiful, very high-end, rugged, feature-packed smartwatch.
In terms of design, all of the devices are all built with a titanium casing and ultra-hard sapphire crystal lens. They also come with a ceramic bezel inlay to protect them from wear and tear.
The range shares the same underlying functionality. This includes an always on sunlight-readable display, GPS, a range of sensors including heart rate and pulse ox2, music storage, Garmin Pay and more. This is pretty much everything that you get on the Fenix 5 Plus model. But in a much better looking, more premium package. Battery life is an excellent 12 days in smartwatch mode to 28 hours in GPS Mode and up to 48 hours in UltraTrac™ mode.
“For the past 30 years, we’ve created products that have fueled people’s passions,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales.
“And now, we have reimagined the tool watch with MARQ, a series of extraordinary smart instruments, authentic in every detail, an inspiration for new adventures.”
Each model has its own distinct features. The strap materials, case finishes and bezels vary, too.
MARQ Aviator – $1,950
The monochromatic silver, in-flight wear watch comes with an aviation inspired “swept wing” design. There’s also a multi-link titanium bracelet with a security clasp. Features include aviation maps, Nexrad Weather Radar, airport information and Garmin cockpit integration. You can also use the GMT bezel for quick access to two additional time zones as well as airport codes.
MARQ Driver – $2,500
As its name implies, the most expensive of the lot is built for the car enthusiast and this is mostly down to its design. MARQ Driver features a hybrid-bracelet, a titanium shell with a soft inner material. It’s treated with a carbon grey DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coating to enhance durability in the vibration environment of racing. The timepiece comes pre-loaded with 250 well-known race tracks and offers features such as auto lap splits, live delta time and a track timer.
MARQ Captain – $1,850
For the water adventurers, MARQ Captain features a regatta timer bezel, coastal charts, tack assist and a port conditions watch face. The timepiece provides vital information to the mariner including the conditions of their port of choice, current wind speed, temperature and tide information. The watch is designed with a jacquard weave strap created especially for salt water environments.
MARQ Expedition – $1,750
Created for the adventurer, MARQ Expedition comes with TOPO mapping, a built-in altimeter, barometer and compass and compatibility with the inReach Mini satellite communicator. There’s also ClimbPro, which provides real-time information on gradient, distance and elevation gain. The thing is crafted from Italian vacchetta leather and is debossed on the back, allowing for good flexibility and excellent comfort.
MARQ Athlete – $1,500
At the “budget-end” is the MARQ Athlete. The timepiece comes with a silicone strap to make it sweat resistant and lightweight for serious training. Aspiring athletes will get lots of performance metrics including V02 max and a recovery time scale right on the bezel! Users can expect to get the full gamut of other Garmin stats to help them measure progress and improve form.
Garmin’s MARQ series is available on Garmin’s website. Those who pre-order now can expect to get their timepiece in about 3-5 weeks time.
Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!
