Is Garmin finally adding a proper rotating crown to its watches?

Garmin might finally be adding a proper rotating crown to one of its watches. It looks like part of a new control system, but still built with the same rugged, sealed design the company is known for.

The idea is to ditch moving parts and use magnetic sensing instead, which should help with durability and water resistance. We’ve mocked up a concept image to show how it could look, based on early design cues.

A proper crown may be on the way

It looks like Garmin is moving closer to adopting a full-fledged rotating crown for its watches. This isn’t just about a button that spins freely. The design includes the ability to track that rotation, so it could be used for navigation, scrolling or other forms of input. If implemented, it would mark a first for Garmin in terms of offering meaningful crown-based interaction.

The system doesn’t rely on traditional mechanical encoders. Instead, it uses a Hall effect sensor, which can detect the movement of a nearby magnet as the button rotates. That allows the device to track rotation without any physical connection between the moving parts and the electronics. It’s a more durable approach, especially for wearables exposed to mud, rain, sweat and pressure – all of which are important for the typical Garmin user.

The crown is separated from the sensitive electronics by a protective sidewall. It’s a design approach we’ve seen used in high-end dive watches, though usually in a more mechanical form. Here the idea is to keep everything sealed and rugged, while still adding a richer interface.

You can see below a concept image showing how the upcoming watch might look. It’s informed by materials linked to ongoing Garmin hardware work. Notably, it shows two flat buttons on the left and a rotating crown on the right – a clear departure from the brand’s typical layout.

Still very much under wraps

The combination of magnetic sensing, sealed housing and a rotating control element suggests Garmin is looking at options beyond the standard five-button layout. A crown could be particularly useful in mapping or zooming contexts, or even as a replacement for touchscreen input during workouts or cold-weather use. Other brands like Apple, Suunto, Zepp Health and Google already offer fully-functional rotating crowns as part of their smartwatch controls.

This is something to watch for in upcoming releases. If Garmin brings this feature to market, it would likely debut in a high-end model or a more design-focused line like Venu or Vivoactive, where the build justifies the added complexity. If the design proves itself, Garmin could look to expand it across more of its lineup over time. Either way, it’s a clear sign the company is still exploring new ways to refine the user experience.

This article originally appeared on Gadgets & Wearables, the first media outlet to report the story.

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