Question About Watch's "Sapphire Crystal"

[dj_mocok]

Just wondering, how tough/scratch resistant is this sapphire crystals on watch?

Is it only marketing or it's actually working?

Will it prevent scratch from, say, when I'm walking and then I accidentally hit my wrist (watch) on the brick wall and rub it against the wall a bit?

Or different watches have different grades of sapphire crystals? Is the one from Tag Heuer any good?

Thanks.

 

[Assorted]

I have a silverish Tag with crystal window thing, and it never scratched. I'm also very careless, I bump into every corner.

 

[marvin]

A sapphire crystal should be a sapphire crystal. It's all crystallized aluminum oxide.

The only materials you're likely to run into that will scratch sapphire crystal are other sapphires, diamonds and silicon carbides. Diamonds and sapphires are fairly rare, but silicon carbides are used in steel tools, ceramics, and artificial stone. These can scratch a sapphire crystal.

They're a lot better than the primary alternative, hardened quartz, since the list of materials that will scratch quartz is much larger.

 

[FalconP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_mocok /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just wondering, how tough/scratch resistant is this sapphire crystals on watch? Is it only marketing or it's actually working? Will it prevent scratch from, say, when I'm walking and then I accidentally hit my wrist (watch) on the brick wall and rub it against the wall a bit? Thanks.

I used to have an old Tudor that my father passed on to me. A beautiful watch: sapphire crystal and all. One day while walking in the streets I accidentally slammed it on a granite pole and it got completely defaced -- one of its hands got broken; very expensive to repair.

So nowadays I wear cheap watches.

 

[VR6ofpain]

A sapphire crystal is superior to mineral glass in the sense that it is more scratch resistant, but it is also more expensive. Cheaper watches usually have mineral glass 'crystals', while nicer watches use sapphire crystals.

 

[3x331m]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_mocok /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is it only marketing or it's actually working?

I have an automatic Vector (No longer available) for the last 10 years, and I could not find a scratch on the crystal, even under magnifiers. I guess that it does the job pretty good.

 

[dj_mocok]

So say, I put my watch in my pocket, and also my keys in the same pocket, walked around a lot, would it be scratched?

I think they should provide some sort of rough guidance of what can sapphire crystal can survive, and what will scratch it, because "scratch-resistant" is very vague.

 

[Assorted]

I always do that, and it never scratches. I've even ran it against brick wall and it's still fine. Trust me, the metal on your band would scratch first.

 

[dj_mocok]

Nice to know that. The old formula1 Tag that I lost before, it got some minor scuff marks, but after 10+ years, I still didn't see any noticeable scratches on the bracelet.

 

[fatcat28037]

I've worn an Omega Seamaster daily for three years, the sapphire crystal looks like the day I bought it.

 

[tjkurita]

The case material will probably scratch a lot sooner than a sapphire crystal. They are, for all intents and purposes, scratch-proof. Marvin said it well. But I have heard of incidences where a sapphire crystal will shatter. Well, I've heard it's possible. I've never actually seen it or heard anyone else say they've seen it. I've been a watch idiot savant for years.

Unless you are a Navy Seal or involved in some very serious activities, I would not worry too much about the crystal. The watch will probably break before the crystal scratches.

 

[dj_mocok]

On the manual it says it measures 9 on MOH scale, whatever that means and whatever how hard it is.

 

[nickknutson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_mocok /img/forum/go_quote.gif On the manual it says it measures 9 on MOH scale, whatever that means and whatever how hard it is.

To put in perspective, a diamond is rated at a 10...the scale only goes to 10.

 

[dj_mocok]

Alright, one of you should volunteer to scratch-test your sapphire-crystal watch and post the video here.

 

[kin0kin]

the only place my watch ever scratch is the body...the glass never scratches.