Kensington Watches
Garmin Fēnix® 8 Unisex Watch

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Garmin

Garmin Fēnix® 8 Unisex Watch

Ref. 010-02906-11

Among our 91 Garmin watchesThis watch£779
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape

Price range £130 to £1,799 across 91 Garmin watches in stock.

The fēnix 8 is the direct successor to Garmin's fēnix 7 Solar line, and the changes are purposeful rather than cosmetic: an integrated microphone and speaker, leakproof pushers, and dive-rated depth give it capabilities its predecessor could not offer. The solar-charging lens is carried forward and extended — up to 28 days in smartwatch mode under reasonable sun exposure, which changes the relationship between a long trip and a charging cable in a meaningful way. At 47mm and 15.2mm thick it is a substantial presence on the wrist, but the titanium and fibre-reinforced polymer construction brings it in at 80 grams, which is considerably lighter than a steel sports watch of comparable diameter. The carbon grey DLC bezel and metal caseback give it a coherent finish without adding unnecessary weight. The QuickFit system means the silicone strap can be swapped without tools, which matters when a watch is crossing between activities. The built-in LED flashlight is the detail that earns its keep in daily use — not a gimmick once you have actually needed it in the dark.

Reference
010-02906-11
Brand
Garmin
Case size
47mm
Case thickness
15.2mm
Lug width
22mm
Case material
Titanium
Case shape
Round
Dial
Black
Functions
Chronograph, Date, Stopwatch, Countdown timer, Alarm, Backlight, World time, Solar powered, Compass, Thermometer, Altimeter
Water resistance
100m
Bracelet / strap
Silicone strap
Strap colour
Black
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.

All Garmin watches

Also in 4 collections

This watch appears in Chronograph Watches (1,043), Watches 44mm and Over (823), Solar & Kinetic Watches (133) 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

  • 47mm is a large watch with real presence
  • 15.2mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Best forSwimmingTravelTiming things
Less suited toSmall wristsUnder a shirt cuff

Compare alternatives

Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.

Fēnix® 8 Unisex Watch compared with 2 alternatives from other brands
SpecificationThis watchFēnix® 8 Unisex Watch010-02906-11CitizenRed Arrows Skyhawk A.T Super Titanium™ 47mm Mens WatchJY8110-51ESeikoCoutura SSC376P9 Two Tone Perpetual Solar Bracelet Watch - W2476SSC376P9
Price£779£799£510
Case size47mm47mm46mm
Water resistance100m200m100m
MovementSolarSolarSolar
StrapSilicone strapTitanium braceletStainless steel bracelet
This watch
  • Rated deeper
  • Costs less

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?

No. It charges from light, and the cell behind that is designed to last a decade or more.

What size strap does it take?

22mm. 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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