Solar Tactical

A new watch should always come in a sealed box. You may have received a refurbished one or a returned one. Depending on the regulations in your country, stores may or may not be required to state the box is not sealed. Where I live they are required to state it explicitly and offer the product at a lower price.

Having said all this, buying an opened product isn't really a bad thing. Sometimes, I do so to save on the price, especially when it is a digital gadget. If it comes from a store, they usually make sure it is in good condition, so it is mostly fine.

None of the Garmin Instincts I've seen have been sealed.

Do you actually speak from experience or are you just saying in general? I've seen multiple Garmin Instincts and none were sealed.

It's dumb but it's the way it is.

I just looked at my Instinct Solar Box.  No seal.  My fenix 6X box does have a plastic sticker/seal.

The Fenix lineup of watches from Garmin had a circular plastic seal to prevent the two parts of the box to separate but the Instinct watches just have a folder in tab that has to be pulled out. 

All the watches though have the plastic sticker over the face to protect it, if you’re watch is missing this, then there’s a possibility that the box was opened at one point.

LaurenceGough said:

Do you actually speak from experience or are you just saying in general?

I speak from experience. I have bought a new Vivoactive 3, then an Instinct Solar and they both came sealed with that plastic sticker.