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Old 10 April 2010, 06:16 AM   #41
kyle L
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Watch: Rolex Explorer I
Posts: 10,278
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmsrolls View Post
John,

IMO, scratches are a non-issue. I have owned and worn my 45-year old Speedy Pro for six years. I have polished my crystal once and that was when it first arrived.

As our young friend Kyle L can testify, replacing a shattered sapphire crystal can be expensive. The watch has to be completely dissembled to insure no shards got into the movement. Repair would run in the $800-$1200 range.

Not so with hesalite. It will not shatter and if it were to get so badly scratched as to require replacement, the cost would be $100 or so.

Fr. John†
Yeah, if I had the choice between the hesalite and the sapphire, I would go plastic. Even though you get scratches, just stick some polywatch on it and you are good to go! It cost me $700 just to get a service, and I had to replace the hands, dial because the little particles inside scratched it. Also, I think plastic gives a warmer look to the watch, and it shows less fingerprints. Here's a picture, it hurts just to look.



If you manage to crack the plastic crystal, it will be significantly less.
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