Scratches on MARQ Athlete

I have to say, I loved the watch, but I sent it back.  This pic just confirms my issue wasnt a one off.  This is exactly where I saw mine going in a short time.  Love the Garmin watches, and totally willing to the pay the premium price, but it has to be a premium product.  I ended up switching to a new Forerunner 945.  I wanted the features of the new watch and it was hard to go back to my Fenix 5 (let me know if anyone is looking for a Fenix 5 cheap ;) So I will stay with the 945 until i see the next Fenix......

Without the coating the scratches would have been unnoticeable and I would have stayed with the MARC.

I own a MARQ Expedition and beg to differ. My replacement watch has been great and I never even considered asking for a refund. 

I had a few scratches on the bezel but bought a titanium polisher and the watch is back to looking pristine. As for Garmin not using premium materials- I own a Rolex and two Omega watches and, trust me, they get scratched pretty easily too. 

For one, I am really happy that the MARQ series is (so far) supported by Garmin with software updates and I don't think this will change. Garmin's speedy response and proposed resolution to the issues I was initially experiencing was pretty impressive and something I did not expect.

If the Athlete didn't have a coating on the Bezel this threat would not have been started. If the bezel was like the Expedition the complaints here would not exist.

Like you, I have some watches that you mention and they all scratch and that is not the problem, its the coating that scratches that is the problem.

If the coating was Titanium colour it wouldn't be a problem because once scratched it would be the same colour as the actual titanium. But Garmin wouldn't want to coat it with the same colour, that would be useless. They coated it Black to look good when you buy it. These Black bezels WILL scratch.

The MARQ watches DO USE PREMIUM its just that Garmin decided to coat the premium material that when scratched looks terrible. I have no problem at all with scratches but do have a problem buying a watch and weeks later the bezel is mostly unreadable.

I see what you mean, agreed. 

Garmin Expendition MARQ is not comparable.  It's not DLC coated as far as I understand and see.  I also own several rolexes and they do scratch, except for the ceramic bezel daytona.  That thing is so far impossible to scratch (except for the bracelets of course).  I wish the garmin bezel was that. See the ceramic bezel below....

I wonder if it could be possible to exchange the bezel. And if yes - would it be possible to e.g. mount the Aviator bezel on the Athlete? It is for sure a modular design with standardized interfaces. If the bezel would be available as a spare part...

I don't see this happening....would be great if possible. 

Nice collection, I have the YM TT with plenty of scratches ad don’t care one bit since every scratch is the same colour as the material behind it. Too bad I won’t be enjoying the Marq Athlete as I refuse to buy it with that scratch magnet of a bezel.

Can you imagine Rolex adding paint to the bezels of the watches they make, they wouldn’t sell many at all. My gues is they would only sell 5% of what they make. They don’t call the watches they make premium, the buyers decide to call them premium.

Great idea, I too can’t see this happening but if they did offer a raw titanium bezel for the Marq athlete I’d buy the watch instantly even for a few hundred more.