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Solar watches explained

Introduction to Solar watches

Be honest, how many watches have you got squirrelled away somewhere because you love them, but the battery ran out and you’ve never replaced it?

It can be really frustrating to have a watch you love, but can’t use without going out of your way tog et it working again. They end up back in the box and shoved away again until the next time you have a spring clean.

There are ways you can bring a watch back to life even if it has been hiding for a decade. These kinds of watches have been around for a long time, but some people remain sceptical on their reliability. These watches are solar powered and made by pretty much every major watch brand you can name.

Solar-powered watches can be hidden away in a box for years and still work when you get round to finding them. They’re also much more environmentally friendly than their battery-carrying counterparts. 

The most popular example of a solar-powered watch is the Citizen Eco-Drive. 

If you’re looking into solar smartwatches, at the moment, Garmin is the undisputed market leader in this market.

Garmin Instinct Solar (Tidal Blue) Power Bundle | +PlayBetter 2200mAh Portable Charger & HD Screen Protectors...
Garmin Instinct Solar (Tidal Blue) Power Bundle | +PlayBetter 2200mAh Portable Charger & HD Screen Protectors...
  • [GARMIN INSTINCT SOLAR POWER BUNDLE] - Garmin Instinct Solar Outdoor GPS Smartwatch, USB Charging...
  • [SOLAR CHARGING & ALL-DAY MONITORING] - Battery is not a problem! The Instinct solar engages the...
  • [RUGGED, POWERFUL OUTDOOR GPS WATCH + ON-WRIST HEART RATE] - Constructed to U.S. military standard...
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Let’s have a deeper look into what solar watches are about.

Solar watch technology is better than ever

Solar power is incredibly similar to luminous watches. There are actually different ways a watch can harness the energy from sunlight. A solar-powered watch that you bought 10-20 years ago isn’t going to be the same as the one you might buy today. Things change. It would be like comparing one of those clunky MP3 players to your iPhone. Sure, they both play music, but the tech is significantly different now.

Since the earlier days of solar-powered timepieces, there have been some huge steps in their ability to harness and store energy. An Eco-Drive, for example, can last up to 8 years if you get the right model.

Another improvement we see today is that designers have ditched some of the more questionable aesthetics we saw between the 70s and 90s. These designs were down to the need for incorporating the solar panels into the watch. Nowadays, solar watches look just like any other.

So, don’t judge whether or not you want to buy a solar watch in 2020 off the back of that dusty, clunky one you might have in a cupboard somewhere. It’s apples and oranges.

Solar watch tech doesn’t just rely on direct sunlight

Despite the name, solar-powered watches can get a charge from more than just direct sunlight. You can charge one with artificial light, too! So today’s solar-powered watches are going to be a lot more reliable than their predecessors, thanks to the evolution of the source of their charge.

It’s almost impossible that you’ll be shielded from the sun long enough for your solar-powered watch to die. Knowing that you can utilise artificial light means you’re probably always going to be near a source of energy for a quick boost.

solar charging

Constantly on charge

One huge benefit to having a solar-powered watch is that they are constantly charging. This means the power reserve is only relied on in times of absolutely no light source. As mentioned, specific Eco-Drive models can last up to 8 years in no light. Which, unless you’re living in some dystopian post-apocalyptic underground bunker with no electricity, you watch won’t die.

There are two things to remember about a watch that is constantly charging. Small and frequent recharges actually degrade the battery life, eventually. Your watch can only take so many recharges before the battery quality begins to deteriorate. 

Seiko, who make some excellent solar watches, recommend a battery replacement once every decade. Not too much to ask, is it?

This means you watch can perform for more than this ten year period. An Eco-Drive comes with a replacement battery. Testing has shown that a Citizen battery can retain over 80% of its capacity over a 20 year lifetime. So this ten year figure is a minimum!

If you switch to smartwatches such as Garmin on the other hand, you will get longer times between charging and up to 30 days in some cases. The Garmin Fenix 6X Solar is one such example with it’s battery lasting up to 21 days in the solar version.

Made by brands you can trust

Buying a solar-powered watch doesn’t mean you have to look at cheap ones made by brands you’ve never heard of. Big brands like Citizen, Seiko and Casio (check out the G-Shock Tough Solar) are some of the better quality options available. Garmin has recently released a Solar sportswatch that knocks the competition out of the water. So if you’re into big outdoor adventures, check this out.

Buying a big brand means you get quality, accuracy and reliability for many years. You’ll also get peace of mind knowing your timepiece comes with a guarantee.

There’s an abundance of decent options from multiple brands. You can find a make you love in a style that reflects your personality.

Conclusion

The first solar watch came out in the 1970s and since then the tech has gone through some impressive changes. The earlier styles were big and heavy because they needed to accommodate large solar panels. Thankfully, we’ve refined this and you can now own a watch you love that will stay with you for 20 years or more.

Your solar-powered watch will be equally reliable as their quarts counterparts. If you’re into environmentally-friendly products that look great, get yourself a solar watch.

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Jacquelyn Ellis
www.superwatches.com

September 30, 2020 By Jacquelyn Ellis 3 Comments Filed Under: Buying Guides, Fitness & Sports Watches, News, Reviews Tagged With: solar, Solar watches

Garmin Tactix Delta – Solar Edition

Background

Before the release of the new Solar range, Garmin introduced solar technology to the Fenix 6s and 6, the Instinct and Tactix Delta.

The biggest attraction toward this was to those who’s activities see them outdoors for hours on end. Be it a hike or run. The long battery life serves these enthusiasts well. This is in direct comparison to the popular offerings like the Apple Watch Series 6. Which has a notoriously short battery life.

Power Glass

The battery on the new Solar range from Garmin is extended by using Power Glass. Therefore this acts as a dedicated layer between the protective lens on top and the display.

It’s not rocket science figuring out what this Power Glass actually does. The clue is in the name. It harnesses the power of direct sunlight and boosts the battery. In some circumstances, the boost is sufficient enough to totally eradicate the need to ever charge it. This is a showcase of modern technology and a step towards a more eco-friendly future.

The Instinct Solar has a few other tricks to show you. As well as this new charging feature, it comes in new variants: Surf, Tactical and Camo. Each offers a unique feature to enhance your experience. For example, compatibility with night vision goggles and a stealth mode or tidal information enabling you to ride the waves all day.

There’s also an exciting new addition in the form of a solar Tactix Delta…

Garmin tactix Delta Solar, Solar-Powered Specialized Tactical Watch, Ruggedly Built to Military Standards,...
Garmin tactix Delta Solar, Solar-Powered Specialized Tactical Watch, Ruggedly Built to Military Standards,...
  • The solar charging lens uses sunlight to extend battery life and custom power manager modes to...
  • Carry out the mission, and train with a rugged yet sophisticated watch, featuring an always-on...
  • Includes preloaded TOPO maps, a public land map, ski maps for 2,000 ski resorts worldwide,...
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Tactix Delta Solar

The Tactix Delta Solar version if the 4th release in the Tactix range. It was developed off the Fenix range, mostly. Developed to military standard, the Tactix Delta Solar uses solar technology to enhance the battery life. Power Mode also gives you 24 days with outdoor sunlight exposure and 21 indoors. 

Features you can find on the Tactix Delta Solar are the stealth mode we mentioned, shared with the Instinct Tactical. This will disable wireless connections, turn off your location sharing and delete user data from the memory. 

The design is purposely rugged. It has an Always-On display of 1.4 inches, a sapphire lens offering scratch-resistance, a black steel bezel, a reinforced tactical nylon band with quick-fit technology and the back is PVD-coated steel. This all comes in a deep black colour.

There’s a special model with an APC – applied ballistic calculator. This will cost an additional $250. Really, it will only be needed by genuine military personnel. 

If you’re looking for a multisport watch with GPS and cool features to show off, you’ll love this. It’s more of a lifestyle piece with tactical characterisations and practical functions. It’s extremely high-quality and offers endless durability.

Materials

  • The lens is made of sapphire crystal
  • The bezel is diamond-hard, made of carbon-coated steel
  • The case is reinforced fibre polymer
  • The strap comes in nylon or silicone

Lens

If you know anything about watch glass you know sapphire crystal is extremely resistant to scratches. The material used here is so hard it sits second to diamond. 

The domed lens is expensive to make but more scratch-resistant than flat-faced counterparts. This is thanks to load distribution. Actually, the curve isn’t totally visible unless you’re looking from the side.

Bezel 

The bezel is coated in a special layer of steel. It protects the watch against scratches and general wear. The material is called DLC and is a carbon one grade down from diamond. 

Case

The case is metal and has an additional PVD coating. PVD stands for physical vapour deposition. This means it offers advanced hardness and thermal resistance.

Strap

‘QuickFit’ technology features on the strap. So, a nylon or silicone band can easily be swapped for another one.

Garmin tactix Delta Solar Power Bundle | +Black Silicone Band, PlayBetter 2200mAh Portable Charger & HD Screen...
Garmin tactix Delta Solar Power Bundle | +Black Silicone Band, PlayBetter 2200mAh Portable Charger & HD Screen...
  • [GARMIN TACTIX DELTA SOLAR POWER BUNDLE] - Garmin tactix Delta Solar Edition Tactical GPS...
  • [SOLAR CHARGING & BUILT TO MILITARY STANDARDS] - Battery is not a problem! The tactix Delta Solar...
  • [TACTICAL FEATURES + MAPPING] - Tactical-specific features include Jumpmaster Mode, waypoint...
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Is the Garmin Tactix Delta Solar durable?

Yes! Additionally to the rugged materials used to make it, the Tactix Delta is water-resistant to 100m and built to military-standard.

Garmin doesn’t tell us specifically which standards the Tactix meets. There is an indication on the back by way of an engraving detailing “MIL-STD-819, “10atm”and “thermal shock”.

tactical fitness

Conclusion

In comparison to the Fenix 6X Sapphire (the closest and best model to use) the Tactix Delta Solar offers better materials, a few additional features and optics. The main advantage is the Military-grade tactical touch.

It’s a purely functional device. Both the Fenix and Tactix offer an incredible range of features spanning fitness, everyday life, sports and outdoor adventure management on a large display. This is all available to enjoy for a long, long time with their exceptional battery life.

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Maygen
Maygen

Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader and an experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.

December 13, 2020 By Maygen Leave a Comment Filed Under: Brands, Buying Guides, Fitness & Sports Watches, News, Reviews Tagged With: Garmin, Garmin Tactix, solar, Solar watches

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