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Solomander · 24 July 2013, 08:11 AM

I am involved in a discussion on another board of dive watch crystals. There is a sentiment that mineral glass or acrylic crystals scratch more easily than sapphire, but don't fail catastrophically. The urban myth is that sapphire crystals are more prone to shatter. I wonder if this is true. Has anybody had a sapphire crystal shatter after a hard impact? I slammed a Submariner in a car door once. The cyclops cracked, but the crystal was intact. I am very curious to see if this has happened to anyone

Joel

Thatguy · 24 July 2013, 08:13 AM

Have only seen pics on web. Usually involved being dropped in a hard floor.

SUBversive · 24 July 2013, 09:32 AM

AD around these parts used to say that they loved marble floors...

Z-Sub · 24 July 2013, 10:02 AM

Yes sapphire crystal is hard to scratch but not too hard to shatter.

Dr.Brian · 24 July 2013, 10:18 AM

Yes, they can shatter where mineral or acrylic probably would only scratch. Of course, then you'll have a big scratch on the crystal...

slashd0t · 24 July 2013, 10:27 AM

I believe this is one of the big reasons NASA chose the Speedmaster ... The crystal didn't shatter at all and reduced the chance of having small pieces of glass randomly floating around..

I'm sure I read that somewhere

joe100 · 24 July 2013, 10:33 AM

Ask NASA why they don't use sapphire crystals on their speedmasters, even today.

kilyung · 24 July 2013, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solomander

I am involved in a discussion on another board of dive watch crystals. There is a sentiment that mineral glass or acrylic crystals scratch more easily than sapphire, but don't fail catastrophically. The urban myth is that sapphire crystals are more prone to shatter. I wonder if this is true. Has anybody had a sapphire crystal shatter after a hard impact? I slammed a Submariner in a car door once. The cyclops cracked, but the crystal was intact. I am very curious to see if this has happened to anyone

Joel

All true. Plexi rocks.

cop414 · 24 July 2013, 10:58 AM

Many pictures floating around here and elsewhere on the web of shattered sapphire crystals, almost always from being dropped on a hard surface, so I would say that the assumptions are true?

24 July 2013, 08:11 AM	#1
Solomander "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Real Name: Joel Location: New York Watch: Sea Dweller Posts: 101	Damaged Sapphire Crystals I am involved in a discussion on another board of dive watch crystals. There is a sentiment that mineral glass or acrylic crystals scratch more easily than sapphire, but don't fail catastrophically. The urban myth is that sapphire crystals are more prone to shatter. I wonder if this is true. Has anybody had a sapphire crystal shatter after a hard impact? I slammed a Submariner in a car door once. The cyclops cracked, but the crystal was intact. I am very curious to see if this has happened to anyone Joel

24 July 2013, 10:02 AM	#4
Z-Sub 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So Cal, USA Watch: Not a ONEWatch Man Posts: 7,383	Yes sapphire crystal is hard to scratch but not too hard to shatter. __________________ SS Submariner Date "Z" SS SeaDweller "D" SS Submariner "Random" TT Blue Submariner "P" SS GMT-Master ll "M", Pepsi Pam 311, 524, 297

24 July 2013, 10:18 AM	#5
Dr.Brian 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Brian Location: CA dreamin' Watch: ing the market. Posts: 5,906	Yes, they can shatter where mineral or acrylic probably would only scratch. Of course, then you'll have a big scratch on the crystal... __________________ -Brian AUDENTES FORTUNA IUVAT 十人十色

24 July 2013, 10:27 AM	#6
slashd0t "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Jamie Location: Edmonton, AB Watch: This & That Posts: 771	I believe this is one of the big reasons NASA chose the Speedmaster ... The crystal didn't shatter at all and reduced the chance of having small pieces of glass randomly floating around.. I'm sure I read that somewhere __________________ /.

24 July 2013, 10:33 AM	#7
joe100 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Joe Location: New Mexico Watch: Explorer Posts: 12,840	Ask NASA why they don't use sapphire crystals on their speedmasters, even today. __________________ It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy. -TRF Member 6982-

24 July 2013, 08:13 AM	#2
Thatguy "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Real Name: Wayne Location: California Watch: Rolex, PAM Posts: 3,302	Have only seen pics on web. Usually involved being dropped in a hard floor.

24 July 2013, 09:32 AM	#3
SUBversive Banned Join Date: May 2011 Location: ri Watch: Sun Dial Posts: 14,346	AD around these parts used to say that they loved marble floors...

24 July 2013, 10:58 AM	#9
cop414 TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Apr 2012 Real Name: Tim Location: Pennsylvania Watch: 14060M Posts: 72,258	Many pictures floating around here and elsewhere on the web of shattered sapphire crystals, almost always from being dropped on a hard surface, so I would say that the assumptions are true? __________________ Rolex Submariner 14060M Omega Seamaster 2254.50 DOXA Professional 1200T Card carrying member of TRF's Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons TRF's "After Dark" Bar & NightClub Patron P Club Member #17 2 FA ENABLED

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