Acryllic vs Sapphere Crystal...

[Trurolexer]

Hi, just killing time question where's do you like most the acryllic or sapphere crystal? Me, honestly more like to acryllic. The Rolex with acryllic look more beautiful to me. Maybe someday Rolex made shappere crystal with a acryllic model, who's know? What about you? Please your reply here. Thanks Guys!!!



Best Regards, TR.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I do like that the acryllic crystals are domed, but for everyday use I would prefer the sapphire crystals since they're (almost) scratch resistant. I hope that Rolex will introduced a domed sapphire crystal on (at least) the DJ like the current DD's have (as only models in the Rolex range, btw.).

[mike]

For me the acryllic crystal will always have that special something sapphire can't give.

[Dan Pierce]

I agree with Mike. The plex crystal hides fingerprints, exhibits a rich luster, and can easily be polished back to new.
dP

[McQ]

Great picture Mike! Now I'm going to have to add a vintage model to my "buy list". I like the looks of the acryllic, but doesn't it scratch easily?

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by McQ

Great picture Mike! Now I'm going to have to add a vintage model to my "buy list". I like the looks of the acryllic, but doesn't it scratch easily?

Easy? No. But it will scratch. Brasso, Polywatch, or even toothpaste can be used to polish the acryllic back to new.
dP

[Trurolexer]

GREAT pic Mike as always!!! Acryllic more beauty I think.

[tomc1944]

The looks of acryllic is, to me, much more appealing.

[neilgader]

Does anyone know the difference in thickness between the Acrylic and the Sapphire? Does that difference account for the dome construction?

Neil
Red Sub 3.3mil

[Gurmot]

I've had both and I prefer acrylic every time. I sometimes get glare from a flat mineral crystal whereas the domed acrylic seems to let light through in a different way.

I think the acrylic is particularly nice without the cyclops. So smooth and clean, just beautiful.

Here is my 40 year old 5513 sub.

[BuffaloRolex]

There's just something about acrylic. It's much "warmer."

[jasper]

Plastic is Fantastic. Hey that rhymes!

[mike]

They don't look bad on an old GMT either.

[roadcarver]

Sapphire for me since it is durable for everyday use, but somehow acrylic looks warm for some reason. It also hides finger print very well.

[technicaldirector]

^^Mike, those shots are killer! That GMT is pure perfection!

Acrylic hands down. I chose my Tudor Snowflake Sub and my 16030 DJ because of their warm vintage acrylic crystals. I lust for a 1675 or 16750 to complete the collection....oh and a 1680 if I can ever afford one.

I just cleaned up my rough Tudor with some polywatch- that stuff works wonders!

For good measure:

[Trurolexer]

Mike, you have all my DREAM watches...

[BiG JeEzY]

I think I would still prefer Sapphire crystals over the arcylic ones. I think what makes me like them more are that they are reflective and are cut really smoothly as if they are perfectly flat. They are more durable despite that fact they can still shatter.

I do have a GMT with the older acrylic crystal. The crystal really grew on me, at first I thought it was okay but now I love it too! The acrylic crystal hides the cyclops too.

[entropydave]

Sapphire for me - although I certainly can see the point re acrylic crystals!

[Paulie]

Gotta love the plastic!

[Peter Messmore]

I have had both and like sapphire much better, Peter

[RolexPete]

True story. I was cutting the lawn last summer and my wife comes out the front door with a look of horror on her face and something in her hands. I turned off the mower and see perched on her palm my Datejust 16220 with a shattered crystal. She was tidying up the house and dropped the watch crystal down on the new tile floor in the kitchen. I was upset, but she felt really bad so I didn't lay into her too badly. Sapphire crystal.

6 months later, she needs me to set the time and date on her Datejust mid-size. I am in the kitchen, and she hands it to my 5 yo son to hand to me. He hands it to me and in the transfer it gets dropped, face down on the tile floor. Shattered. Also Sapphire.

I guess at that point my wife and I were even. I put both watches away for a month, then found a watchmaker in CA who replaced both crystals and did a full service (there were pieces of crystal floating around the dial on both watches) for $900. OUCH.

I sold my 16220, and my wife still wears her DJ. We never take the watches off in or near the kitchen.

So, I now have a 1987 16030 DJ with acrylic crystal. Yes it has some scratches, but they can easily be buffed out with Polywatch, and if they are to deep for that, I can get them replaced much cheaper than sapphire. And I dont think it would shatter if dropped face down necessitating a full service.

My 16610 Sub doesn't have even a single nick on its crystal and I wear it to change the oil in my cars, dive, shower, rotate tires. Go figure!

[Safetrends]

On my 1601 and 1505 has crystal scratches, can someone post a link to buff out the scratches?

Thanks

[David Woo]

I love the look and feel of acrylic.
DW

[RolexPete]

Originally Posted by Safetrends

On my 1601 and 1505 has crystal scratches, can someone post a link to buff out the scratches?

Thanks

www.usepolywatchandbuffthescratchesout.com

Seriously though, I just use Polywatch. Are you looking for a link on how to do it or where to buy Polywatch or similair?

[Warnsboy]

Nice thread and great pics of some classics. I have both and prefer saphire for my daily wear.

[swatty]

The acylic appeals to me

[artbypaul]

I love my old school acrylic crystal! :)

[onkyo]

Acrylic for me despite the increased risk of scratches....

How can you not love it???

[ParisDakarBmw]

I like the acrylic, but there is something cool about the anti-glare on several watch brands. Breitling has a blue tone sapphire. The acrylic does buff out easy on the buffer, and a very fine rouge. (Don't try it on your watch. practice on a spare crystal, and remove the acrylic before hitting it with a buffer) bad, aweful, nasty things can happen!

[Hawk99]