Garmin MARQ Carbon
TL;DR – it’s 11g lighter and $800/£700 more expensive than MARQ Gen 2 (Oct 2022), based on Epix Gen 2 inside.
Garmin recently introduced the MARQ Carbon collection, a trio of luxury modern tool watches. For the first time, Garmin has introduced lightweight carbon, branded as Fused Carbon Fiber that comprises 130 layers of the material. The hardware includes the earlier 4th generation of Garmin’s Elevate optical HR sensor.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is renowned for its lightweight and durable properties. By utilizing 130 layers of Fused Carbon Fiber, Garmin has managed to create a watch collection that is both incredibly strong and remarkably lightweight. This engineering feat is accomplished by rotating each layer of carbon to a unique angle, which enhances the structural integrity of the material. The resulting block undergoes a combination of heat and pressure to mold it to the shape of the watch housing, producing an exquisite spiral design pattern that is both rugged and lightweight.
The MARQ Carbon Edition has 3 models, not 6/7
The MARQ sub-brand represents the luxury end of several of Garmin’s product ranges. Thus the MARQ Athlete is the Epix, the MARQ Golfer has the features of Approach and the MARQ Commander is the daddy of the Tactix.
MARQ Athlete – Carbon Edition
The MARQ Athlete is designed for the ultimate multisport enthusiast. In addition to tracking daily activities, this watch offers preloaded sports profiles for various activities, including trail running, swimming, hiking, rowing, indoor climbing, and more. Users can also access animated workouts for cardio, strength, yoga, and Pilates. Advanced metrics such as endurance score, hill score, and training readiness help athletes measure their performance and recovery. The MARQ Athlete also provides features like PacePro™, Garmin Coach, and real-time stamina tracking, making it an essential tool for any athlete.
MARQ Golfer – Carbon Edition
Golfers, meet your new best friend – the MARQ Golfer. Loaded with data from over 43,000 courses worldwide, it offers features like Virtual Caddie, which recommends clubs based on wind, elevation, and swing data. A shot dispersion chart quickly highlights potential hazards based on your club choice. The PlaysLike distance feature adjusts yardage for elevation and environmental conditions, providing a more accurate view of each shot. Green Contour data, along with an active Garmin Golf™ app membership, enhances the golfing experience by offering insights into slope direction and course details.
MARQ Commander – Carbon Edition
For those in need of a tactical tool, the MARQ Commander is designed for the most demanding missions. It boasts a stealth design and is equipped with features suitable for day and night use. The watch offers a screen that’s readable even when wearing night vision goggles. Stealth mode ensures user security by stopping GPS positioning and disabling wireless connectivity when required. Additional features include a dual-position format display, Jumpmaster, and advanced aviation tools like direct-to-navigation and real-time weather reports.
All the Feature for Every Kind of Adventurer
Each model in the MARQ Carbon collection shares a common set of premium features, including dual frequency GPS with SatIQ technology, preloaded maps, point-to-point navigation, stress tracking, Pulse Ox, jet lag advice, Body Battery energy monitoring, smart notifications, Garmin Pay, incident detection, LiveTrack, on-board music storage, and access to all the apps and watch faces on the 3rd party Connect IQ store.
How to Guide: use Garmin PAY with most banks – here
Garmin MARQ Carbon – Thoughts
It’s unlikely I’ll be able to afford a Garmin MARQ Carbon to review, so the thoughts here are based on the specs and features that I see on a daily basis from across the Garmin range.
This is undoubtedly a great watch that can do great things with its features and sensors. However, unlike a luxury, analogue timepiece it’s not an investment. Or, at least, it’s not yet proven to be an investment-grade purchase. A 30-year-old Omega or Tag might sit in a safety deposit box but I would bet that a 30-year-old Garmin will have unsupported features and a battery that no longer works…maybe it’ll sit in the bin? If not it’ll be forgotten in a drawer somewhere.
That’s just the reality.
If you want an awesome watch that will definitely set you apart from your buddies on the golf course or on a Sunday bike ride or weekend adventure then – go for it, knowing that you can afford the next version in 3 years’ time.
Availability and Pricing
The MARQ Carbon collection is now available for purchase, with suggested retail prices starting at $2,950.
Visit: Garmin store on Amazon
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Are you sure it has the 5th Gen HR sensor. Looking at the pictures on Garmin’s web site, looks like the Gen 4. Also the specs just say Elevate, not 5th.
It’s a nice looking watch, but that is a hefty price.
ty, good spot I got my gens mixed up. it’s 4th
Thanks guys. Is there actually a 5th gen HR? Seems odd if there is it wouldn’t be on their highest end watch. I have an Enduro 2 and hate the dull screen. Looking to upgrade to AMOLED, so this is an option. I am a big runner, so running features are most important.
yep there is 5th gen (has ecg) and the ATHLETE version of marq has pretty much same features as FR965 and Epix Pro
Many thanks! Sounds like if I want AMOLED, a large 51mm face and all the new features, Epix Pro Gen 2 is the way to go. Thanks again.
yep that sounds sensible
thank you for any support: https://geni.us/GarminEpixPRO51
For that price I’d rather buy a classic timepiece that will last 10 or 20 years. This one has AMOLED so will probably last 2-3 years before getting a burn in 😉
I have seen a marq or chronos twice in real life I think. Once at a fairly swanky safari lodge in Zimbabwe and once on a man exiting a VIP lounge at the Adis Ababa airport. I’m sure in both cases buying another or three was no issue.
The justification I have heard that makes sense is people in a line of work with a “uniform” requirement that is incompatible with a fenix or forerunner, for example a white shoe lawyer, who wants all the features but needs to be wearing an upscale watch. That makes sense. (But the market seems fairly small.)
I’m kind of surprised that what looks like a case CNC-machines from a compressed carbon fiber block is more expensive than titanium. I would expect the actual material to be cheaper and the machining cost to be similar or a little cheaper for the CF because they don’t have to have the same polish and anodization steps.
Of course price does not have to be connected all that closely to cost. Garmin is essentially selling an epix with a fancier case at 3X markup. It isn’t 3X more expensive for Garmin to produce.
I wonder if this is also a way to try out materials and processes in a small batch that might scale in some way to a mass market in some future fenix/epix release.
The titanium case of the Apple Watch Ultra is nicer than the injection molded fiberglass resin plus a bezel and back plate of the fenix design. The Apple materials are actually closer to the marq range. At some stage Garmin may need to up the game in the fenix/epix to justify the price premium.
yes i would assume its cheaper from a raw materials point of view but maybe the manufacturing/layering process is expensive. i think that’s the expensive part of carbon bike frames
interesting thought about trying it out for the future. this would work well for a forerunner 975
I owned the Marq 1 Aviator and I own now the Marq 2 Aviator. I bought both watches on Ebay Marketplace with a pretty could discount (especially the Gen 1) and this watch, with the Ti case and strap feels awesome and looks awesome. The ceremic bezel and the Ti look are just beautiful. While I love the looks of the carbon, this watch looks kinda generic and has more in common with the Instinct Tactical than with the Marq Ti version (when it comes to looks). But I think it’s great that Garmin is not afraid to experiment with different materials and I hope that one day all of that will spill down to “cheaper” watches with a more affordable price tag.
Maybe a carbon bezel for the Fenix X or Epix V(ictory)??
My thoughts as well about the possible cost advantage. But if they do have a veblen line, they might as well run with it, give those willing to demonstratively hand over even more money a way to do so.
And I’d imagine the Marq line to be quite far from being a cash cow product, lots of fixed costs not only for having yet another variant of their watch platform (easy enough, apparently) but also for setting up “adequate” advertisement, distribution and so on. For each Marq actually sold, how many will languish in some display case at an airport luxury gadget stall until the replacement generation arrives? You certainly won’t see Marq going through dramatic clearance sales, in this section of the market that is something that Is Not Done. You silently pull back the unsold examples, perhaps stock them up to appear generous when one of the sold ones has a defect. An even bigger markup for the carbon variant might be the difference between breaking even and running the line at a deficit hoping for some halo effect (and you give their own upper echelon something adequate to wear?).
And it also makes the titanium variants appear *less* stale, despite e.g. elevate 4, because now they aren’t just behind Fenix/Epix, they are also tied with the es newer, even more expensive Garvin variant.
Yeah, 130 layers of carbon fiber, no thanks. I need weight saving for my road bike, but for watch, I’d rathe take full titanium.
And +100 on this not being usable in 10 years. At least, it’s much cheaper than the original Apple Watch gold something (saw recent news – https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/02/original-apple-watch-now-obsolete/)
I would guess (although an educated one) that carbon fiber would be more resistant to scratches and damage than titanium. Titanium is a rather soft (and very light) metal. Carbon fiber if done properly is neigh indestructible. I guess we’ll see how it plays out but it’s a very interesting material option
Depends on the titanium alloy. Pure titanium is softer than stainless steel used in these applications.
All this effort for watch that will last 5 years ish due to display and battery life? No thank you. Make this watch easy to upgrade, will make it more sense, more people may buy.
For a watch that will be technically obsolete in 3 years, the price is crazy
Interesting that the Elevate 5 is used, but you can’t see the rings from the Epix Pro, which might make an ECG message possible at some point?
The Sleep Coach function doesn’t seem to be included either?
Carbon is of course the big deal, as it makes the watches really lightweight
elevate 4, my bad
But Garmin proprietary magnetic charger
3 times the price of my Epix Pro but less capable. No Elevate V5 and no ECG and no flashlight. Gonna pass on this!