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Garmin MARQ Gen 2 Athlete Smart Watch
Ref. 010-02648-41
The MARQ series began as Garmin's attempt to build a tool watch that could sit alongside mechanical luxury pieces without pretending to be one — something made from materials serious enough to justify the category. The Athlete is the sport-first member of that family, distinguished from its siblings by a DLC-coated bezel engraved with VO2 max and recovery time markings: working data, not decoration. At 46mm in grade-5 titanium, the case carries less weight than its size suggests, which matters during long training blocks. The AMOLED display reads clearly in sunlight in a way that older transflective screens rarely did, and the QuickFit rubber strap swaps without tools — useful when moving between training and something requiring slightly less rubber. Battery life of up to 16 days in smartwatch mode, or 42 hours with GPS running continuously, is substantial enough that charging becomes a scheduled habit rather than an interruption. The preloaded TopoActive maps include NextFork, which shows the name and distance of the next trail junction rather than making you read a moving map mid-run.
- Reference
- 010-02648-41
- Brand
- Garmin
- Case size
- 46mm
- Case thickness
- 15mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Functions
- Chronograph
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Silicone strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Learn more about Garmin
Gary Burrell and Min Kao founded Garmin in 1989 — the name is a contraction of their first names — to build GPS receivers for aviation and marine use. Consumer navigation came later, and wearables later still.
Unlike most names in this directory that arrived from outside watchmaking, Garmin is not a licence. It designs and builds its own devices, writes its own software and runs its own satellite-positioning stack, which is why its watches do things Swiss houses do not attempt.
The fenix line established the template in 2012: a rugged multi-sport GPS watch with mapping, altimeter and week-long battery life. Forerunner covers running, Instinct the hard-wearing end, Venu the smartwatch end, and the MARQ line puts the same electronics in titanium and sapphire at Swiss prices.
Battery life is the differentiator. Where most smartwatches are measured in days, Garmin measures in weeks, and in solar-charging models sometimes in months.
These are instruments rather than heirlooms, and they date the way electronics date — but for anyone who actually trains, they are among the few watches on the market that earn their place.
- 1989
- Founded by Gary Burrell and Min Kao.
- 2003
- The Forerunner brings GPS to running watches.
- 2012
- The fenix line defines the multi-sport GPS watch.
- 2019
- MARQ places the electronics in titanium and sapphire.
- 2020
- Solar charging extends battery life to months.
No longer listed
No retailer we track is currently selling this reference. The specifications below are kept for reference, and the page returns to normal if it is listed again.
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
Worth knowing
- 46mm is a large watch with real presence
- 15mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Garmin MARQ Gen 2 Athlete alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 010-02648-41 | H77912135 | T1624089706100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,599 | £990 | £1,455 |
| Case size | 46mm | 46mm | 43mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Silicone strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | — | — | 80 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its highest recorded price. It's ranged between £1,039 and £1,599, today it's £1,599.
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