Sapphire crystal: form over function?

[Orr]

I’ve read a few posts recently where Rolex owners have had the bad luck of shattering their sapphire crystals and incurring a large replacement and service bill. This got me thinking – shouldn’t a sports watch which purports to be bullet proof have an acrylic crystal which although is more easily scratched wouldn’t shatter on even the slightest impact? I suspect it’s a case of form over function – a high ticket watch with a plastic crystal? That would never do!

But seriously, if an acrylic crystal was offered as an option by Rolex on their sports models would any of you consider it? (I in fact wouldn’t – but then I’m not a caver or diver).

This then got me thinking again - doesn’t the technology exist to produce a sapphire/acrylic laminate crystal which would offer the best of both worlds?

That’s probably enough thinking, time to take off my Sub and unload the dishwasher...

[mixedccr]

Sapphire for me. I've had my 16600 on my wrist in typical diveboat conditions, manhandling tanks of helium, oxygen, gensets and 100's of kilograms worth of equipment, penetration in wrecks and other overhead environments. The number of reports of damaged sapphires are disconcerting, but taken into consideration the number being sold worldwide and used day in and day out, its just bad luck perhaps and nothing more.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by mixedccr

Sapphire for me. I've had my 16600 on my wrist in typical diveboat conditions, manhandling tanks of helium, oxygen, gensets and 100's of kilograms worth of equipment, penetration in wrecks and other overhead environments. The number of reports of damaged sapphires are disconcerting, but taken into consideration the number being sold worldwide and used day in and day out, its just bad luck perhaps and nothing more.

Likewise most of my watches were used as Tool watches never had any problem whatsoever.

[Colnago]

I have two saphire crystals (DD and GMT IIc) and two plexi's (both DJ's).....I have not caused any damage to either of my saphire crystals........however I have scratched up my plexi's fairly badly.......and one looked like this after a cycling accident........do not assume the plexi is more robust, it's just robust in a different way, perhaps it can take more in the way of impact but it scratches, saphire does not scratch easily but maybe it can take less impact.....by the way, my wrist was fine, hardly a mark, you could assume that the impact wasn't enough to break or even badly hurt my wrist, I rode home after the accident (watch in pocket and hacked!)......before and after shots, they have been posted before but the before shot will make some cringe for sure, just be pleased to note the watch is now back to first class as shown in the second shot.....

[jmsrolls]

You have a point. My 44-year old Omega Speedmaster Professional has a hesalite (acrylic) crystal as do all Speedies flight certified by NASA. A crystal shattering in weightlessness could be disastrous with shards floating around.

Likewise, any crystal shattering risks damage to the movement and requires not only replacement of the crystal but a full service. That can be very expensive; i.e., in the $1000+ range. On the other hand, replacing the Speedy hesalite crystal is generally ~$150.

As for scratches, I fear chipping the raised crystal of my EXPII more than scratching the hesalite crystal. Scratches are easily buffed out.

Fr. John†

[082013]

Originally Posted by mixedccr

The number of reports of damaged sapphires are disconcerting, but taken into consideration the number being sold worldwide and used day in and day out, its just bad luck perhaps and nothing more.

Disagree it's disconcerting, agree it may just be the odd bit of bad luck. I have been on Rolex forums since 2003, and if I have heard of a dozen cases I'd be surprised.

[scottjal]

I don't think the statistics support the concern. Sapphire looks better and lasts longer for that 98% group.

[jmsrolls]

Hmmm. I bought this one in the early 1980's:



Over the twenty years I owned it, the crystal was shattered once and chipped twice - and this was a dress, not a tool/sport, watch.

That is why I worry about the raised crystal on my EXPII. At least the sapphire crystals on my Omegas are flush with the bezels.

Fr. John†

[Imtiaz]

Sapphire crystal for me.

The plexi scratches too easily and has to be polished up all the time.

[flyback]

Acrylic crystals start to collect a fine crosshatch of scratches almost immediately. They're worse than PCLs made of 24K gold. More so because every time you check the time you have to look *through* the crystal.

My friend and I have 1st-gen sapphire Datejusts that have seen a fair bit of action and yet have no discernible scratches whatsoever, even when viewed in bright sunlight. The scratch-free, colorless, original crystals make these decades-old daily-wear watches look brand new. Acrylic-crystal Datejusts made just one year before, on the other hand, really look their age.

Other than quartz movements, I'd say sapphire was the biggest thing to happen to wristwatches in the last 50 years.

The kinds of impacts that break sapphires are also the kinds of impacts that knock the movements of our mechanical watches out of kilter, unfortunately. I suppose for certain extreme applications an acrylic crystal would be preferable (provided that you polished it all the time), but only as a measure of last resort. If you're regularly hitting the crystal hard enough to shatter sapphire, a mechanical watch is the wrong answer.

[SLS]

I prefer the look of acrylic, plus it does not show the smudges, fingerprints etc that the sapphire does....But I am more comfortable wearing my sapphire crystal's in the water.
~Scott

[KJacques]

I've had both and probably prefer sapphire for it's scratch resistance, but it also holds more stains, fingerprints and other stuff far more fiercely also that are more difficult to remove. I really like the look of my acrylic crystal and although it had more scratches when it was newer and I was more careless, since I replaced the acrylic crystal 2 years ago, it has shown no scratches at all. Not even fine lines that can be discerned from my eye. The trick I have found is not to wipe it off unless under water or with mild soap. Don't use cloths or your shirt to clean it and and you won't scratch it. Mine goes everywhere including the gym, looks jewel-like and the crystal has not been polished.

[Skutt50]

I like the acrylic more than sapphire. I give it a polywatch treatment once a year and it is as clear as new. And as I understand it the plexiglass is replaced during normal service.

I have also damaged one quite badly (during a fire) and could remove the deep scratch with a fine sandpaper and polywatch. I am very convinced the blow (from the side) would have broken or at least chipped a sapphire crystal.