Watches tend to come in different sizes, colors and materials, of course. In this article we are going to focus on the crucial part of each watch – the crystal itself.
After all, you can change the belt of your watch to any style anytime you want, but its heart and what it represents will always remain the dial, and if the crystal scratches or ruins quickly, your money will be considered lost. Also, be aware of the fact that the type of crystal used on your dial can easily affect the value of your watch.
So what is the most desirable material for a crystal to be of good quality? Although most quality watches offer a certain type of protection, it is good that you know exactly what you’re looking for. Sapphire crystal and mineral crystal are the two most commonly used ones, while you can find also watches with plexiglass (or plastic, in other words). As plexiglass is the least durable material of the three, we are going to tell you a little bit more about the sapphire crystal and mineral crystal so that you know how to choose the option that will work for you best.
Sapphire Crystal
Sapphire crystal is the one usually used in luxury watches, and it is the most expensive crystal used on dials. It is very strong and both scratch and shatter resistant – meaning it serves as a very good protection for your watch. So if you are someone who is a bit, well, clumsy, or you plan to use your watch on a daily basis, in different situations, then investing in a good quality watch with a sapphire crystal should be your priority. However, when compared to the mineral crystal – although it is less likely to scratch, it is more likely to break.
Mineral Crystal
Mineral crystal is a glass crystal that has been treated both with heat and with chemicals in order to become scratch-proof. In comparison to sapphire crystal, mineral crystal is less durable, because under certain circumstances, this glass coating can scratch or shutter. Once scratched, this type of coating can’t be restored – it needs to be replaced. Still, compared to the sapphire crystal, it is actually less likely to break.
How to judge it’s sapphire or mineral
If you are unable to tell whether the watch you are holding is made out of sapphire or mineral crystal, and you don’t have access to trustworthy information or professional tools that can give you the correct answer, there are a few tricks you can use to tell the difference.
-Drop some water on the glass, if the glass are sapphire, the water will concentrate and look like water ball, if the glass is mineral, the water can’t concentrate and flat.
-An another way to tell them apart is with a scratch test, a stainless steel knife or screwdriver will scratch a mineral-glass crystal but not a sapphire one.
Hopefully, this article will help you make the choice that is right for you!