Yes, the Garmin solar watches are resistant to scratching as they feature scratch-resistant Power glass lenses.
The brand Garmin manufactures its watch with several glasses, including Corning Gorilla glass, Sapphire glass, and Power glass for the solar watch models, which are known for their durability and resistance to scratching.
If you want to ensure the best protection against scratching, it is recommended to handle your Garmin solar watch with care and avoid exposing it too abrasive surfaces or materials. Wearing the watch on the inside of your wrist or using a protective case can also help to reduce the risk of scratching.
However, it’s important to note that the specific level of scratch resistance will depend on the materials used in the construction of the specific model of the watch.
So, if you want to exactly know if your Gramin watch is scratch resistant, then you need to go to your watch specification page on the web. Then look for any feature which mentions scratch resistance quality.
Is the Garmin solar glass of your watch scratch-resistant?
Of course, the Garmin Solar glass is scratch-resistant. The manufacturer of Garmin solar provides a Power glass solar watch lens. And, according to Garmin, this Power glass is resistant to scratches as well.
However, this glass type is not as strong and more scratch-resistant than the Sapphire glass type. The Sapphire models of the Garmin watch provide a more scratch-resistant crystal glass that is claimed as the third hardest mineral and just right behind the diamond.
Besides, Garmin also uses Gorilla glass that is resistant to scratches but not as much as Sapphire glass. This glass type is less susceptible to scratches and stronger compared to mineral glasses.
Usually, Garmin watches are equipped with this type of Gorilla glass to cover their OLED screen like Garmin Fenix 6. Yet, Garmin solar such as the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar watch, uses the Power glass that is also stronger, like the Gorilla glass covering the OLED screen.
Moreover, this Power Glass has a much higher ability to absorb sunlight. With the help of this incredible power glass, the solar thermal collectors of your Garmin solar watch can capture sunlight better.
And, its power glass lens helps to convert the absorbed sunlight into electrical battery power. By doing so, it extends the charging time of your solar-powered watch.
I have provided you with a table of some Garmin watch models with their scratch-resistant charging lens material and price. So, you can easily get an idea about the ability of these watches to withstand scratch.
| Watch models | Lens Material | Scratch-Resistant Ability | Price in Amazon |
| Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar-Powered Watch | Solar charging Power Glass™ lens | Scratch-Resistant | $949.99 |
| Garmin Fenix 6 Model Watch | Corning Gorilla Glass DX lens | Less susceptible to Scratches | $549.99 |
| Garmin Instinct Solar Watch | Solar charging Power Glass™ lens | Scratch-Resistant | $347.00 |
| Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire Model Watch | Sapphire lens | More Scratch-Resistant | $410.64 |
Can you place a screen protector on your Garmin solar?
According to Garmin, it is recommended that you not place any screen protector on your Garmin solar. This is because they claim that the screen protector reduces the captured solar intensity by the power glass lens of your watch.
The manufacturer uses this glass lens to draw back the sunlight, which is then converted into electrical energy to charge the rechargeable battery of your solar watch. This solar charging system is not intended for capturing indefinite power.
Yet, the Garmin solar features a Solar Intensity widget displayed as an icon on your watch face. It indicates solar intensity, lux levels, and the amount of absorbed sunlight.
However, it is reported that if you expose your watch directly to sunlight, where the solar intensity is 100%, the receiving lux conditions will be around 50k lux approximately or more.
But, if you put a screen protector on your Garmin solar, there is a possibility that the solar intensity won’t be 100%. This is because it prevents getting direct sunlight in, and thus, your power glass lens can’t capture more lux levels to recharge the battery.
Although, some users claim that their Garmin solar watch works perfectly with a screen protector. Besides, they also report that it doesn’t impede solar charging and the solar intensity is identical to without a screen protector.
Thus, they didn’t face any recharging issues by installing the screen protector on their solar watch. However, if there is less ambient sunlight, the protector will make solar intensity differences and affect solar charging.
Final thoughts
Well, in this article, I have tried to let you know clearly about these questions. So, you don’t have to be skeptical when it comes to choosing a scratch-resistant solar timepiece for your purchase.
Eng. Matthew Joseph Nandirio is the Founder of walkingsolar.
After graduating from the University of Houston in 2002, matt started working as a Solar Electrical Engineer for several multi-national solar energy companies.
He has a wide range of experiences including solar system requirement analysis, planning, maintaining, debugging and even solar device development through research.
He now shares his 20 years of expertise through his articles on the walkingsolar website.
Further, he is also the author of two books on Solar Technology, “Solar Power for Villages” and “DIY Solar System for Dummies”.