Why do watches use sapphire?

Because sapphire is essentially scratch-proof, it is the ideal material for watch crystals, especially on the front. The crystal occupies the most real estate on the face of the watch, making it the most vulnerable to accidental knocks and scrapes.

What is so special about sapphire?

Sapphires are among the most durable naturally occurring elements in the world. The only natural item that can scratch a sapphire is a diamond, which has a 10 on the Mohs Scale. The durability of sapphires makes them an excellent choice for engagement rings and other jewelry you plan to wear every day.

Is Sapphire Glass scratch resistant?

Sapphire crystal is used by the high-end watchmakers. Sapphire scores a solid 9 out of 10 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale, just below diamond, making it even more scratch resistant than mineral glass. Even though sapphire is harder than mineral glass, the extra effort is worth the payoff.

What can scratch sapphire crystal?

Sapphires are the crystalized form of the mineral corundum. These crystals are second in hardness only to diamonds, registering 9 on Mohs scale of hardness. What the hardness means is that sapphires can be scratched only by a diamond and, sometimes, other sapphires depending on variances in each crystals hardness.

Can you scratch a sapphire crystal?

Sapphire crystal can sustain scratches very well and can only be scratched with certain materials, basically diamonds and especially hard rock types.

What is the most scratch resistant watch crystal?

Sapphire
Sapphire is extremely strong and scratch resistant – making it the top choice for a fine timepiece. There are three main types of crystals used in watches: sapphire, mineral and acrylic. Acrylic is similar to plastic. It is light, durable and affordable type of crystal but prone to scratches.

Why are sapphire crystals used in watch faces?

Sapphires crystals are also used in watch faces because their hardness makes them one of the most scratch-resistant types of watch glass material available. Over the years, synthetic sapphire was developed and today, synthetic Sapphire synthetic or genuine Rubies are used.

Is there a connection between the sapphire jewel and the watch glass?

But there’s no real connection between the sapphire jewel used inside some watches and the watch glass. Other jewels such as diamonds are also used in watchmaking although synthetic rubies are very common. They are used to prevent friction between metal watch parts.

What are the pros and cons of sapphire crystal dials?

It also has impressive clarity, which can make the dial elements appear sharper and generally results in a clean, high-end feel. When untreated with anti-reflective coating, however (more on that below), sapphire crystal can also be highly reflective, which is detrimental to legibility.

How hard is synthetic sapphire?

Sapphire is a 9 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale. Sapphires can only be scratched by diamonds and silicon carbide. So replacing the glass on the front of a watch with synthetic sapphire means the watch probably won’t ever get scratches on the face, unless you attack it with a diamond for some reason.