Scratched sapphire glass

[Daniel23456]

Hey folks,
I have got an explorer Y serial from 2002 pre owned.
I have recently seen under strong light very mild scratches on the crystal and micro scratches on the crystal that you only see under strong light up close.
To my understanding sapphire cannot be scratched at lease what I thought... Is that common for a sapphire glass that is 15 years old to be scratched? Thank you.

[machob55]

Sapphire can be scratched, but only by another piece of Sapphire or a diamond. It's directly below diamond on the hardness scale.

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[SDRider]

I scratched the sapphire crystal on my TAG-Heuer. It is pretty tough but you can scratch it.

[DavidUK]

Originally Posted by machob55

Sapphire can be scratched, but only by another piece of Sapphire or a diamond. It's directly below diamond on the hardness scale.

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or brick...

[machob55]

Originally Posted by DavidUK

or brick...

Ouch! Looks like that might need replacing.

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[mtgjr]

And it can chip.

[sensui]

easy repair and good thing it's not on that pretty dial instead.

[machob55]

Originally Posted by machob55

Ouch! Looks like that might need replacing.

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David, by the way that is a beautiful watch. Love the Champagne Tapestry dial.

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[roaddog359]

That would bug me.

[chessebj]

Originally Posted by Daniel23456

To my understanding sapphire cannot be scratched at lease what I thought... Is that common for a sapphire glass that is 15 years old to be scratched? Thank you.

Sapphire can be scratched by anything in the same hardness regime as sapphire itself. You'd be surprised what is in that same regime. For instance, being rubbed against a synthetic stone countertop, which can contain silicon carbide, is a common way of scratching sapphire crystals. You'd be surprised at how hard grit that finds its way into your pocket can be. Keep in mind that the Mohs scale is merely relative, and is fairly close to be logarithmic. Something that is a 9.1 on the Mohs scale is much harder than something that is a 9.

[173rdabn]

I simply replaced the crystal on my Explorer 1 as it bothered me. Replace it or live with it. And, yes, crystals do scratch in mysterious ways. Falling down drunk and hitting the sidewalk leaving Oktoberfest in Munich comes to mind. A scratched crystal was the least of the damage.

[Onikage]

When I first read about sapphire crystal in an Omega manual it stated clearly - 'can only be scratched by a diamond'. This is simply not true. If the dial clarity is affected I'd be concerned but if a bright light and magnifying glass is required to see them I'd leave them be.

[machob55]

Originally Posted by 173rdabn

I simply replaced the crystal on my Explorer 1 as it bothered me. Replace it or live with it. And, yes, crystals do scratch in mysterious ways. Falling down drunk and hitting the sidewalk leaving Oktoberfest in Munich comes to mind. A scratched crystal was the least of the damage.

Isn't it funny how one may not realize how one obtained a scratch on a watch crystal, but one's memory returns over a drunk fest. Hilarious...

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[Daniel23456]

Thanks guys, the only thing I wanted to know if it's certainly normal, cheers!

[MJ8]

Hi there
I bought a Submariner Date 2 weeks ago (brand new) and have already got 2 small hairline scratches on the sapphire crystal glass. Only really visible under direct sunlight if you look very closely.

Have no idea how they got there, took the watch to the AD to show them yesterday and they advised that since the scratch is on the crystal , the only way to get rid of it is by replacing the glass which will cost £100 + with a 6 week waiting time.

In the end just decided to walk out, just going to get the crystal replaced in 7 years when it goes in for a service and embrace the scratches :)

[Daniel23456]

Originally Posted by MJ8

Hi there
I bought a Submariner Date 2 weeks ago (brand new) and have already got 2 small hairline scratches on the sapphire crystal glass. Only really visible under direct sunlight if you look very closely.

Have no idea how they got there, took the watch to the AD to show them yesterday and they advised that since the scratch is on the crystal , the only way to get rid of it is by replacing the glass which will cost £100 + with a 6 week waiting time.

In the end just decided to walk out, just going to get the crystal replaced in 7 years when it goes in for a service and embrace the scratches :)

Hey!
I am quite surprised by your story I must say... I have had a SARB033 (Seiko) for about 6 month never have I have spared a beating with him, not a single scratch on the sapphire, but yet on a 7000$ there's?

[Likestheshiny]

I am quite surprised by your story I must say... I have had a SARB033 (Seiko) for about 6 month never have I have spared a beating with him, not a single scratch on the sapphire, but yet on a 7000$ there's?

Bad luck is funny that way.

[DavidUK]

Originally Posted by machob55

Ouch! Looks like that might need replacing.

The scratch and chips were after 15 years of daily wear. I never thought it worth replacing the crystal as I'd no doubt scratch it again! Anyhow, even in this state my AD gave me 50% more than I paid, in p/ex against a new DJ31 for my wife after I'd bought a Sub 16610 to follow the dive watch trend, and then found the DJ36 too small all of a sudden!

2 weeks later my wife's diamond bezel brushed against the Sub, and this was the result...



The Sub was the wrong choice for me after the glitz of a TT DJ, so I p/ex'd that at my AD for what I'd paid a few weeks earlier at a specialist, and got a great deal on a new DJ41...



I keep my arm away from my wife's watch now!...

[machob55]

Originally Posted by DavidUK

The scratch and chips were after 15 years of daily wear. I never thought it worth replacing the crystal as I'd no doubt scratch it again! Anyhow, even in this state my AD gave me 50% more than I paid, in p/ex against a new DJ31 for my wife after I'd bought a Sub 16610 to follow the dive watch trend, and then found the DJ36 too small all of a sudden!

2 weeks later my wife's diamond bezel brushed against the Sub, and this was the result...



The Sub was the wrong choice for me after the glitz of a TT DJ, so I p/ex'd that at my AD for what I'd paid a few weeks earlier at a specialist, and got a great deal on a new DJ41...



I keep my arm away from my wife's watch now!...

Very smart!

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