What Does it Take to Scratch/Knick Modern Rolex Sapphire Crystal?

[Marantz2270]

I'm asking this largely to quell the OCD I feel about a new Sub I have acquired in the last couple months. I've knocked the watch against doorways and computer surfaces without any concern. But...I just knocked my crystal against the glass of my iPhone, and this was the only thing I thought might be hard enough to scratch the crystal (being that it is hardened glass). I don't see anything from my painstaking appraisal of the crystal condition thus far, but just curious if anyone has had issues knocking the crystal against other hardened glass? Is the sapphire likely significantly harder than iPhone glass?

I know a handful of questions get asked on this forum that are considered silly and illicit some sarcastic responses. Maybe that's what I deserve for asking about this. I really adore the watch and just want to be a good steward of it, so thank you in advance for your patience in considering my inquiry.

[MrGoat]

I highly doubt you will hurt the crystal on your watch. Luckily, if you do they’re repairable. Wear the watch and enjoy it. My sub has a very tiny chip in the edge of the crystal that happened before I bought it, I’ve banged it on all sorts of stuff and had no issues. Meanwhile, I’ve replaced 5-6 iphone screens or back glass in the last 3 yrs.


Sent from my Apple privacy invasion product

[waynorth]

Originally Posted by Marantz2270

I'm asking this largely to quell the OCD I feel about a new Sub I have acquired in the last couple months. I've knocked the watch against doorways and computer surfaces without any concern. But...I just knocked my crystal against the glass of my iPhone, and this was the only thing I thought might be hard enough to scratch the crystal (being that it is hardened glass). I don't see anything from my painstaking appraisal of the crystal condition thus far, but just curious if anyone has had issues knocking the crystal against other hardened glass? Is the sapphire likely significantly harder than iPhone glass?

I know a handful of questions get asked on this forum that are considered silly and illicit some sarcastic responses. Maybe that's what I deserve for asking about this. I really adore the watch and just want to be a good steward of it, so thank you in advance for your patience in considering my inquiry.

In around thirty years of wearing nice watches with sapphire crystals, I have never scratched or nicked a crystal. I don't baby my watches and rarely take them off. One week I dropped an Explorer II on the wood floor and tile floor like three different times. I must have had butter fingers that week as I rarely drop a watch. The watch never skipped a beat. I have magnetized watches before though, and then they started running fast.

[Marantz2270]

Originally Posted by MrGoat

I highly doubt you will hurt the crystal on your watch. Luckily, if you do they’re repairable. Wear the watch and enjoy it. My sub has a very tiny chip in the edge of the crystal that happened before I bought it, I’ve banged it on all sorts of stuff and had no issues. Meanwhile, I’ve replaced 5-6 iphone screens or back glass in the last 3 yrs.


Sent from my Apple privacy invasion product

That is great to hear, thank you for your response!

[dialguy48]

Typically only diamond

[Rori]

Originally Posted by Marantz2270

I'm asking this largely to quell the OCD I feel about a new Sub I have acquired in the last couple months. I've knocked the watch against doorways and computer surfaces without any concern. But...I just knocked my crystal against the glass of my iPhone, and this was the only thing I thought might be hard enough to scratch the crystal (being that it is hardened glass). I don't see anything from my painstaking appraisal of the crystal condition thus far, but just curious if anyone has had issues knocking the crystal against other hardened glass? Is the sapphire likely significantly harder than iPhone glass?

I know a handful of questions get asked on this forum that are considered silly and illicit some sarcastic responses. Maybe that's what I deserve for asking about this. I really adore the watch and just want to be a good steward of it, so thank you in advance for your patience in considering my inquiry.

Nothing wrong with your question. This forum is exactly for that.
It all depends on the power of the impact or it’s angle. T he crystal is scratch resistant but not crash resistant.
I pay attention to door hinges and diamond rings. Those are a sapphire killers in my opinion.


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[joli160]

Don’t worry, your iphone is not going to mess up your watch.
A diamond ring would and scraping it along a brick wall as well.
Other than that tough as nails

[KathleenL]

I've whacked the crystal of my Lady Datejust against the edge of my desk quite a few times. Each time I've said, "ouch" even though I physically didn't feel a thing. I guess I was speaking for my watch... But, knock on wood, the crystal and watch show no damage whatsoever.

[Tbird]

I used a simple seiko for 12 years daily, sapphire crystal, and the watch is completely scratched and used, done everything,, but there is not one mark on the crystal.

[DCheeta]

Because we’re watch geeks we know about this thing called the Mohs Scale which rates the hardness of minerals. Diamond is hardest at 10, sapphire is a 9, and steel is 4. Not much can scratch the crystal, but an impact on a hard surface will of course shatter it. So enjoy it without worry, but don’t drop it on a tile floor!

I’ve read this here on TRF a few times and it’s good wisdom: if you’ve smashed your watch hard enough to shatter the crystal, you have more important things to worry about, namely the movement and any possible damage to it.

[Innocenti]

A few years back I bought a sapphire crystal watch , the sales person went to great lengths to explain the crystal could only be scratched by a diamond.
A week later and the watch had to be returned. Same guy took out the loupe to examine the glass which he showed me lots of tiny marks on the sapphire. He just wanted to make sure I’d seen them before it went off for repair.
At that time I and no one in the house owned diamonds.
Sapphire is scratch resistant but the hardness makes it brittle a plexi is much tougher in this respect but also softer and easier to scratch (and repair).

[Henrimontgomery]

High number scratches low number.

[Bob the brush]

I wear my watches for everthing, not scratched or damaged any with saphire crystals ever. I am not that cautious with plexiglass, just get minor scratches out with polywatch. Don't worry, just wear it and enjoy it!

[Rushne]

If you have a google on iphone screen hardness tests you will find they are scratched around 7.5 (if I remember correctly) MOHS hardness pens. Your watch crystal is around 9. So do not worry about it. Tough as nails. My old omega has survived all kinds of BS and not a single scratch on it.

[Pw92676]

I have a very small hairline scratch on ceramic sub. I cannot recall what happened but I suspect it occurred while bathing one of my dogs. The scratch is very small and doesn’t bother me.

[77T]

The future culprit that will chip the edge of your sapphire crystal is likely to be a metal door frame or door handle.

Could be a frame/edge of a car door, or a revolving door, or an elevator door, or your office door. More often than not it’ll be a quick move to grab it or while carrying something with both hands.

Just don’t let it be the fatal drop onto a tile or concrete floor…

Or rushing through a crowded airport…

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=9964098




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[Cigars&Watches]

Many years ago I had a Tag and walked into a metal door frame. I must have hit it just right because that resulted in a tiny crack to the edge which led to moisture seeping into the case. I sent it off for repair and it was never the same again. Two further repairs and still moisture gets in. Now it’s in a drawer at home, I don’t even use it as a paper weight.

Now I own Rolex.

Btw, if you happen to drop your watch or shatter the crystal like the above picture some previous advice I’ve read here says to pull the crown out so you stop the movement as tiny particles of crystal will get in there and cause some damage.

[Soultime]

I managed to do this to my YM.
It was when the hook at the end of a bungee cord hit it. Made me think to avoid my eyes with bungees!

Had two watches go in for service recently. Both looked fine but Rolex advised new sapphire crystals as they had both been knocked (apparently!?) and they couldn't guarantee waterproofing.

The good news is that replacement crystals were really cheap even at Rolex Service centre.

[PureCoconut]

I hate that I want to know the answer lol

[bullies]

Diamond ring scratched an OP39 I had a few years back. It went to RSC NY for a new crystal. Since it was a scratch and not a knock/drop etc it didn't need a service. Cost was about $315

[Feb_29]

Originally Posted by Marantz2270

I'm asking this largely to quell the OCD I feel about a new Sub I have acquired in the last couple months. I've knocked the watch against doorways and computer surfaces without any concern. But...I just knocked my crystal against the glass of my iPhone, and this was the only thing I thought might be hard enough to scratch the crystal (being that it is hardened glass). I don't see anything from my painstaking appraisal of the crystal condition thus far, but just curious if anyone has had issues knocking the crystal against other hardened glass? Is the sapphire likely significantly harder than iPhone glass?

I know a handful of questions get asked on this forum that are considered silly and illicit some sarcastic responses. Maybe that's what I deserve for asking about this. I really adore the watch and just want to be a good steward of it, so thank you in advance for your patience in considering my inquiry.

Well, I was shooting from my 1911 a couple of month ago and one of the empty casing landed on the top of my 116710BLNR leaving chip. The sapphire crystal is the same as on Sub. I have separate thread for this: https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=838619

[jets]

Originally Posted by 77T

The future culprit that will chip the edge of your sapphire crystal is likely to be a metal door frame or door handle.

Could be a frame/edge of a car door, or a revolving door, or an elevator door, or your office door. More often than not it’ll be a quick move to grab it or while carrying something with both hands.

Just don’t let it be the fatal drop onto a tile or concrete floor…

Or rushing through a crowded airport…

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=9964098




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

For a split second that looked like a meteorite dial

[JMGoodnight369]

I was at one of those drive-thru zoo safari deals and whilst feeding a wildebeest I knocked my 114270 explorer pretty hard on one of the metal bars attached to the window. That took a noticeable chip out of the crystal edge. Knocked it a second time on a door frame and another chip on the edge. I have since then bought references with bezels that are the same height as the crystal cause the tophat crystal is a magnet for chips. As for scratches I’ve done that too. Went rock climbing with that same explorer on and after a weekend trip on the crag there was a couple millimeter or two scratches. So yeah they can take a good beating but they are not as bulletproof as advertised. Unless there was actual diamonds on that rock face lol

[Marantz2270]

Many thanks for everyone's comments and insights on this matter! It really is helpful.

I strive to look after the couple of Rolexes I am fortunate to own without being over-vigilant, though occasionally I do get carried away! Lots of great facts and anecdotes here, I am very appreciative!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Marantz2270

I'm asking this largely to quell the OCD I feel about a new Sub I have acquired in the last couple months. I've knocked the watch against doorways and computer surfaces without any concern. But...I just knocked my crystal against the glass of my iPhone, and this was the only thing I thought might be hard enough to scratch the crystal (being that it is hardened glass). I don't see anything from my painstaking appraisal of the crystal condition thus far, but just curious if anyone has had issues knocking the crystal against other hardened glass? Is the sapphire likely significantly harder than iPhone glass?

I know a handful of questions get asked on this forum that are considered silly and illicit some sarcastic responses. Maybe that's what I deserve for asking about this. I really adore the watch and just want to be a good steward of it, so thank you in advance for your patience in considering my inquiry.

Well used my 16600 SD as a real working tool watch for many years underwater and it was well used and sometimes abused. Yes the watch got scratched quite a bit and would expect it had seen more real use than todays mainly pampered watches will see in ten life times. Yet no real damage to the watch crystal, and things like crystals easily replaced at normal routine service at a cost of around $100 on top of service cost. Sapphire being the second hardest material first is diamond but like anything hit it hard enough could break or chip around the edges.

[SaddleSC]

The edge of a sharp granite countertop in my kitchen (before the house was completed) but a tiny nick on the edge of my 16613LB crystal.
I had the crystal replaced at RSC...no big deal

[Solo118]

I believe my wife’s diamond ring caught one of my earlier Daytonas and left a scratch dead center. Also minor chips can happen on watches like the Daytona as the crystal is exposed

One quick note to anybody that experiences a shattered crystal:pull out the crown to hack the movement immediately! Tiny shards can get into your movement and do some serious damage.

[gerry100]

Nicks are different than scratches.

Scratches result from a harder substance forcefully applied to a softer surface.

Nicks result from sufficient impact energy focused on the small area of a relatively inelastic surface.

[JSolution]

Swinging the dog lead whilst walking smashed mine.

I have an awful scratch on my 116710ln that I have no idea how it got there, finding it hard to find someone to replace this crystal without going to RSC.

[RFC]

A sharp and protruding metal object will scratch it. If you drop it on a hard floor it may shatter. I’ve been a victim to both over the years.