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Garmin Fēnix® 8 43mm, AMOLED Unisex Watch
Ref. 010-02903-11
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Fenix 8 is the direct successor to the Fenix 7S Pro, and the 43mm case marks it as the compact end of the lineup — sized for wrists where the larger Fenix variants would overhang and catch. The gold PVD finish here is a soft, clean tone applied to the metallic accents rather than a heavy statement, sitting against the black AMOLED display in a combination that reads more composed than most sport watches in this category manage. At 14.1mm thick it is not a slim watch, but that figure is genuinely unusual for what sits inside: GPS, altimeter, compass, thermometer, heart rate, step counting, Bluetooth, and a dive rating that extends well beyond incidental water exposure. The sapphire crystal is there for trail and activity use, not decoration — it will take the kind of contact that would haze a standard mineral lens within a season. The grey silicone strap adjusts through moulded notches along its length rather than drilled holes, which means the fit stays consistent rather than gradually deforming around a single wear point. The buckle is conventional, which suits a watch that will come off and go back on frequently.
- Reference
- 010-02903-11
- Brand
- Garmin
- Case size
- 43mm
- Case thickness
- 14.1mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Stopwatch, Countdown timer, Alarm, Backlight, World time, Compass, Thermometer, Altimeter, Dual display
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Silicone strap
- Strap colour
- Grey
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
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.
Also in 2 collections
This watch appears in Chronograph Watches (1,043) and Titanium Watches (125).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
Worth knowing
- 43mm sits at the larger end
- 14.1mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 010-02903-11 |  H32612741 |  VEZ900121 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £779 | £790 | £799 |
| Case size | 43mm | 42mm | 43mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Silicone strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
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.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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