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Bezel Instinct 2 Solar is not fitting perfectly to the screen? There's a gap in between

Rockel83
over 2 years ago

I've a new Instinct 2 Solar Tac. since this week now. And I'm really happy with this watch!

But I noticed that the bezel is not fitting/touching the screen, and there's a gap between screen and bezel.

The Instinct 2 Solar Tac. has a slightly curved screen and so I guess all solar editions have.

It's prety hard to see though, but I think think gap is just the curvation difference of the screen from middle to side.

I suppose or I can imagine that this is probably because the non solar versions have a flat screen, where the bezel would fit then, just like all the Instinct (1) with flat screen. And it could be possible that there's only one type of bezel for the instinct 2, so they could use one and the same bezel production for the solar (with curved screen) and non-solar (with flat screen) version.

But I was actually wondering if other Instinct 2 Solar owners see the same on their watch.

Because I think it's a bit strange for a "rugged outdoor watch" from this price point. This gap could collect a lot of debris, dust, sand, mud etc. now, without having the possibility to rinse it out or clean it. Especially with outdoor activities.

They could not have changed bezels from other types of watches, since the Instinct 2 Solar Tac. is their only watch in the "coyote color".

So maybe I will have a production error? Or maybe all the solar edition have this because of the curved screen and a possible universal bezel?

If it's the last thing, then I don't understand why they did not have used a small thin rubber or plastic compensation ring or seal. To compensate the curved screen distance to the bezel.

It's a bit hard to get it clearly on picture, but the gap is this big that I could easily put a piece of paper under it, maybe even 2 on top of each other.

  • 0 over 2 years ago
    Rockel83 said:
    But I noticed that the bezel is not fitting/touching the screen, and there's a gap between screen and bezel.

    Yes, there is a gap, but why should it be a problem? I own the watch since March, daily run and do MTB often in dirt, sand, dust, and mud, swim and dive in the sea, as well as in rivers and in murky waters, and still the watch looks the same like new. If you are afraid it would collect some dirt, then I can assure you that Instinct 2 looks in fact better after all that time, than Instinct 1st gen without the gap did. Perhaps the gap eats all the dirt Smiley

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to trux

    Well, like I've mentioned. I was wondering if it was a production error since I find it quite strange for a watch of this segement and price point. It looks/ feels unfinished.

    So now it's clear that it's probably not a production error and more watches have it. Then it's probably because of my other thought, cost reduction by producing only one kind of bezel for 2 kinds of screens.

    I've also mentioned why I could see it as a possible problem. And I actually don't understand why they just didn't compensated it with a verry cheap and simple sollution as an aditional compensation ring for the solar edition.

    The solar edition is about €100 more expensive then the non-solar edition. So using the same bezel is probably a cost reducton step, which is fine. But a €0,05 compensation plastic/ rubber ring would not have been a major deal, to give it a bit more of a "premium" finish on a €450 watch.

    And good to know that it's handeling dirt, sand, dust pretty well, but still think this €0,05 extra expense was better for avoiding it.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Rockel83

    Send you recommendation to Garmin: Share Ideas | Garmin, or simply get a refund and buy a watch appealing you better. I am afraid your Instinct will not be retrofitted with a rubber sealing, so it you really find it inacceptable, you better get a different watch while you can do it without a charge.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to trux

    Or just read over my verry first sentence...

    I suppose people may still have questions on a forum right?

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Rockel83
    Rockel83 said:
    I suppose people may still have questions on a forum right?

    Exactly, and others can reply.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to trux

    But "sending in the watch" is your standard recommendation on replying to questions then?

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to trux
    Rockel83 said:
    to give it a bit more of a "premium" finish on a €450 watch.

    Perhaps Garmin is just trying to be as good as Rolex: Bezel Gap Is This Normal?? - Rolex Forums - Rolex Watch Forum

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Rockel83
    Rockel83 said:
    But "sending in the watch" is your standard recommendation on replying to questions then?

    If it is the only solution to the problem, then certainly yes. You better get a watch fulfilling your expectations, than staying frustrated with a watch not appealing you. And for this problem, there is indeed no other solution, as far as I can see (apart of rubbing some silicone into the gap).

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to trux

    So give me one good reason why I should check Rolex fora for a Garmin related question.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to trux

    Well, the reason why asking this question here was to look if this was normall in the first place. Because to me it actually felt like something was missing there. I was actually thinking of something to fill it up with too before asking this question here. But I don't want to ruin my watch, since I like it. And I first wated to know if it's normall.

    But I've put a screenprotector on the glass already, which also minimizes the gap.

    At least it's good to know that it's normall like the way it is...