Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 vs Garmin MARQ Gen 2
Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 (#1, best overall) vs Garmin MARQ Gen 2 (#3): in our Luxury & Style scoring the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 totals 9.6/10 and the Garmin MARQ Gen 2 8.9/10, the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 leading on Brand Heritage and Design & Craftsmanship. Both list at $1,299.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 | Garmin MARQ Gen 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1299 | $1299 |
| Display | 2.13" OLED, 3000 nits | 1.3" AMOLED |
| Case | Titanium | Grade 5 Titanium |
| Band | Handcrafted Hermès leather | — |
| Exclusives | 24 animated watch faces | — |
| Water Resistance | 100m | — |
| Crystal | — | Sapphire |
| Battery | — | 16 days smartwatch |
| GPS | — | Multi-band GNSS |
How they differ in real use
Built from our luxury style smartwatches scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 and the Garmin MARQ Gen 2 made our Top 5 Luxury & Style, at #1 (best overall) and #3. Pinnacle of fashion-tech collaboration celebrating 10 years of Apple-Hermès partnership. 24 exclusive animated watch faces and handcrafted bands unavailable elsewhere, with full Ultra 3 capabilities. Purpose-built luxury tool watches for specific lifestyles: Aviator, Captain, Golfer, Adventurer, Athlete. Grade 5 Titanium with functional bezel markings providing professional utility.
We score luxury & style on Materials (30%), Design & Craftsmanship (30%), Brand Heritage (20%), Features (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 totals 9.6 out of 10 and the Garmin MARQ Gen 2 8.9. The widest gap is Brand Heritage, where the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 scores 10 against 8 for the Garmin MARQ Gen 2 — horological prestige. Design & Craftsmanship also separates them: 10 for the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 versus 9 for the Garmin MARQ Gen 2.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Display — 2.13" OLED, 3000 nits on the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 versus 1.3" AMOLED on the Garmin MARQ Gen 2; Case — Titanium on the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 versus Grade 5 Titanium on the Garmin MARQ Gen 2.
Both list at $1,299 as of January 27, 2026. Owners praise the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 for 24 exclusive Hermès watch faces and handcrafted leather bands; the most common complaint is extremely expensive. Owners praise the Garmin MARQ Gen 2 for grade 5 Titanium and lifestyle-specific editions; the most common complaint is very expensive ($1,900-2,400).
Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3
- 24 exclusive Hermès watch faces
- Handcrafted leather bands
- Full Ultra 3 capabilities
- 10-year anniversary collection
- Extremely expensive
- Bands scratch easily
- Same hardware as Ultra 3
Garmin MARQ Gen 2
- Grade 5 Titanium
- Lifestyle-specific editions
- Functional bezel markings
- Full Garmin feature set
- Very expensive ($1,900-2,400)
- Heavy for daily wear
- Garmin UI not luxury-feeling
Which should you buy?
The Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 is the better fit for fashion-tech enthusiasts and hermès collectors — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Brand Heritage and Design & Craftsmanship. The Garmin MARQ Gen 2 is the better fit for luxury tool watch enthusiasts and garmin power users. The Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 is a poor fit for value-conscious buyers; the Garmin MARQ Gen 2 is a poor fit for budget shoppers.
Choose the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 if
- Fashion-tech enthusiasts
- Hermès collectors
- Luxury Apple users
Skip it if
- Value-conscious buyers
- Rough outdoor use
Choose the Garmin MARQ Gen 2 if
- Luxury tool watch enthusiasts
- Garmin power users
- Lifestyle-specific use
Skip it if
- Budget shoppers
- Traditional luxury watch seekers
Common questions
Is the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 better than the Garmin MARQ Gen 2?
In our Luxury & Style ranking the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 scores higher overall, 9.6 to 8.9, with the biggest advantage in Brand Heritage. The Garmin MARQ Gen 2 does not out-score it on any criterion we weigh.
What is the main difference between the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 and the Garmin MARQ Gen 2?
The headline spec difference is Display: 2.13" OLED, 3000 nits on the Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3 versus 1.3" AMOLED on the Garmin MARQ Gen 2. In use, the gap that matters most is Brand Heritage (10 vs 8 in our scoring): horological prestige.