Sapphire crystals

[glam]

Hi , I am new to this site and have a question. I own a rolex presidential glacier blue platinum ladies datejust watch with the smooth bezel circa 2006. I have heard varying statements re: the crystal. Is the crystal on this watch a real crystal or synthetic? I bought it at Rolex in Switzerland. When I purchased the watch , they said real when I had an appraisal from a cert rolex delaer it stated synthetic. I just noticed this yesterday on the appraisal and got upset!!! Thanks so much and glad to be on the site!!

[mliebs8]

I know the paperwork that came with my Submariner says it's synthetic. I was suprised also.

[Engi]

Originally Posted by glam

Hi , I am new to this site and have a question. I own a rolex presidential glacier blue platinum ladies datejust watch with the smooth bezel circa 2006. I have heard varying statements re: the crystal. Is the crystal on this watch a real crystal or synthetic? I bought it at Rolex in Switzerland. When I purchased the watch , they said real when I had an appraisal from a cert rolex delaer it stated synthetic. I just noticed this yesterday on the appraisal and got upset!!! Thanks so much and glad to be on the site!!

All the crystals used in watches, if named "sapphire" are synthetic sapphire crystals. Rolex uses those for all of its models, the best crystals IMHO.

Ciao

Engi

[Brushpup]

It is genuine synthetic Sapphire. Man made in a lab, chemically the same and perfectly
clear.

[glam]

when is a real sapphire used??? why would it not be used? were they (real) ever used on any rolex's or other brands? I have a vacheron constantin malta and now am wondering about that.....thanks all!!!

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by glam

when is a real sapphire used??? why would it not be used? were they (real) ever used on any rolex's or other brands? I have a vacheron constantin malta and now am wondering about that.....thanks all!!!

Probably synthetic as well.

[TempoKing]

Originally Posted by glam

Hi , I am new to this site and have a question. I own a rolex presidential glacier blue platinum ladies datejust watch with the smooth bezel circa 2006. I have heard varying statements re: the crystal. Is the crystal on this watch a real crystal or synthetic? I bought it at Rolex in Switzerland. When I purchased the watch , they said real when I had an appraisal from a cert rolex delaer it stated synthetic. I just noticed this yesterday on the appraisal and got upset!!! Thanks so much and glad to be on the site!!

Relax...it is a Synthetic Sapphire .....crystal
Can you imagine if the crystal was made from natural
sapphire (?) that was transparent...

Humm...anyone ready with $5.000.000 in the bank ?

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by glam

when is a real sapphire used??? why would it not be used? were they (real) ever used on any rolex's or other brands? I have a vacheron constantin malta and now am wondering about that.....thanks all!!!

Glam, first pardon me for not sayin welcome to the forum.. Enjoy your stay here.

As in Tempo King's post above it would be cost prohibitive to make them from Sapphires in the earth. No watch is produced with these including your VC. It is not that it isn't "real". The Sapphire is maufactured for watches and other instruments and items. It is Sapphire..........man made in a lab, by companies like this one below.

http://www.rayotek.com/sapphire_opti...dows_domes.htm

[glam]

thanks brushpup!! makes sense now. lol. I have another question. My mom has a rolex stainless steel and 14kt gold pres from the '80's. fluted dial black face . Her "crystal" is plastic.she is always having to replace it. she , like I, never takes the watch off ; even to shower. why would rolex make plastic for 2-3000 watches (the price was 1500-2000 at the time , I think)? was this common then? do they still use it in some of their watches? I told her to call and ask if she can have it replaced with a sapphire crystal and they said they could not. I do not remember the reason why. It just seems odd to me..... forgive my ignorance on all of this.

[Brushpup]

Yes, they made them from plastic, or acrylic actually for more of their history than not. It was more impact resistant than glass. It scratches, but these can be polished easily with things like Polywatch or others. Talk to the watch makers about replacing them with sapphires. They fit differently is all I know. Ask in the the Tech forum here and a watchmaker will answer you better. Rolex no longer uses this material since sapphire is so scratch resistant.

[Balboa]

Originally Posted by glam

thanks brushpup!! makes sense now. lol. I have another question. My mom has a rolex stainless steel and 14kt gold pres from the '80's. fluted dial black face . Her "crystal" is plastic.she is always having to replace it. she , like I, never takes the watch off ; even to shower. why would rolex make plastic for 2-3000 watches (the price was 1500-2000 at the time , I think)? was this common then? do they still use it in some of their watches? I told her to call and ask if she can have it replaced with a sapphire crystal and they said they could not. I do not remember the reason why. It just seems odd to me..... forgive my ignorance on all of this.

Rolex acrylic crystals and sapphire crystals are not only different materials, but they are shaped differently and use a different type of gasket. They are not interchangeable.

Why does your mom "always" have to replace her crystal. Unless shattered, they can be buffed and polished to near new condition. I have 50's and 60's watches with the original crystals.

Mark

[mike]

Originally Posted by glam

thanks brushpup!! makes sense now. lol. I have another question. My mom has a rolex stainless steel and 14kt gold pres from the '80's. fluted dial black face . Her "crystal" is plastic.she is always having to replace it. she , like I, never takes the watch off ; even to shower. why would rolex make plastic for 2-3000 watches (the price was 1500-2000 at the time , I think)? was this common then? do they still use it in some of their watches? I told her to call and ask if she can have it replaced with a sapphire crystal and they said they could not. I do not remember the reason why. It just seems odd to me..... forgive my ignorance on all of this.

Welcome.

"Plastic" is a bit of a term used in the community to refer to acryllic crystals. Acryllic was used back in the day on most watches. Some still do as well as mineral crystals.

While acryllic is easier to scratch it, unlike most sapphire, can be buffed out easily by the user unless it's really bad. While sapphire is much harder (and there for harder to scratch, once done it is much more difficult to fix and usually is replaced.

Acryllic crystals are cheaper, but should be replaced after a time as they can develop stress cracks. (Rolex usually replaces at service. Last one I got was about $35 USD if I remember).

Acryllic "hides" fingerprints etc.. more so than sapphire and does not have quite the reflective qualities as sapphire.

An often overlooked reason acryllic was used in certain enviornments is the fact if broken acryllic will not shatter like sapphire. A big reason NASA mandated it's use in the space program.

And......It is so cool!!!

[glam]

great pics!!! Thanks for the info. I will pass to my mom... :). I dont think she realizes she can buff it herself.... glad to be on the forum!!!!

[kzm40]

Originally Posted by glam

great pics!!! Thanks for the info. I will pass to my mom... :). I dont think she realizes she can buff it herself.... glad to be on the forum!!!!

Toothpaste actually works quite well to...