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

[Pinchy]

I actually do baby my watches and I still managed to put a squiggly scratch on my 2021 sub saphire. Don't know how... I'm guessing at a marble table at a restaurant.

[Jim_K]

Like others, I have a small chip on the edge of my 14060M's crystal, I knocked it on a door frame many many years ago. I can feel it with my fingernail, but can't see it, so I've left it. I bought the watch new in 2006 and besides this small chip, my crystal is perfect and it does not live an easy life.

My 16220 (think that is the reference), a 1996 Datejust that I also purchased new, has been dropped multiple times on to ceramic tile kitchen floor, and the sapphire is in perfect shape. Once I dropped it hard enough to put a large dent in the case right at the 9:00 marker, but the crystal wasn't effected at all. It must of fell "right".

My wife as a two tone ladies Datejust from 1999 for which the crystal was smashed. Cleaning up the kitchen counter, she swept it off with some other items, it landed face down and smashed into dozens of pieces. A service and crystal replacement and it was as good as new.

Back when I was in college and decided to buy myself my first "premium" watch, I passed on an Airking and purchased an Omega Constellation almost just because the Omega had a sapphire and the Airking only had plexi.

I was young and dumb and didn't want to spend 1/3 more on the airking and get a plexi crystal. Now I know better, should of bought the airking as I'd probably still have it.

This was back in 1987. If my memory is correct, the Omega was $750 and the Airking was around $1000 even. Buying that first piece as a college student and spending $1000 was all the money in the world to me........if only I had now back then what prices would do!

[fskywalker]

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




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This picture reminds me my 16610’s close encounter with the safe metal door edge




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[inadeje]

I’ve had two instance’s of crystal damage.

Rolex Daytona - 12 o’clock edge of crystal chip. No idea how/when it happened.
YM II - Center of crystal, odd swirl scratch, almost round. No idea how/when it happened.

Both times crystal replaced at minimal cost during service.

[jets]

SIL dropped on ceramic bathroom tile.




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[ryangambrill]

Originally Posted by 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.

Exactly This

I chipped mine. The replacement cost was less than a date night with the wife. Maybe $100-$200. Don’t know exact cost but remember thinking “well that was not very much”.

Wear the watch and don’t worry about it.


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[ogbeans]

Well…..I put my arm back to put on my north face backpack and one of the black plastic buckle knicked my Tudor gmt and scratched the crystal. Yes a deep scratch smhhhhbb

[subdownunder]

Over 12 years I chipped the crystal, cracked the ceramic bezel and dented the case.

All from general daily wear.

Sent it for service and got it back better than new.

So don't try to protect your watch, wear it enjoy it and Rolex will look after it at service.

[Db7566]

Originally Posted by ogbeans

Well…..I put my arm back to put on my north face backpack and one of the black plastic buckle knicked my Tudor gmt and scratched the crystal. Yes a deep scratch smhhhhbb

Zero chance plastic scratched the crystal.


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[NeoAnderson]

mother in law diamond ring

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by Db7566

Zero chance plastic scratched the crystal.


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Correct. Plastic is not hard enough to scratch crystal. You need diamond to scratch sapphire, or something as hard as a diamond.

[BOA]

Where the second hand is pointing is where I chipped mine pretty good, which I figure will lead to a replacement crystal during the next service. It's an easy-to-feel deep nick when I run my finger around the edge, but the clean, sharp edge of that table on the face is the most vulnerable area to get nicked, and I've got some others on my explorers 1 & 2 that are so small they would be hard to photograph, but I can feel them. After a couple of years of wearing a watch often, they have a tendency to happen. Meanwhile, the crystal on my meteorite Day-Date has more of a beveled edge to it and has no nicks whatsoever.