Maxtoid

Q: WARNING: Sapphire Screen Scratches!

Just a warning to those Apple Watch users that have the sapphire display and expect it to be as unscratchable as typical sapphire watch displays: It's not.

 

While showing a friend that the sapphire display doesn't scratch today, I took my pocket knife out of my pocket and used the blunt end of the nub that's used to flip the blade out and scraped it across the screen a little bit. Later in the day, I noticed scratches. I've tried everything to remove them, but they're permanent.

 

This means one of three things are possible:

 

1) There is a coating on the screens that even goo-gone can't remove (I tried, it didn't help. Scratches remain).

2) The knife that I used has a high-enough carbon rating that it ranks on diamond level and was able to actually scratch the screen. Unlikely since doing the same thing to a citizen watch I own with a sapphire display did not scratch it.

3) I received a Stainless Steel watch that accidentally was given a regular ion-x display.

 

Or, 4) These displays, while sapphire, aren't as pure as typical sapphire and scratched from something less hard than diamond?

 

At any rate, I am NOT pleased as you can imagine. Wanted people to know before they tried and scratched their watches too.

 

Here is the knife I used: http://www.crkt.com/M16-14-Titanium-Tanto-AutoLAWKS-Combo-Edge

 

Here is the video of the watch scratched: https://youtu.be/mzmg3rTuM2g

 

Here are some pictures of the scratch:

IMG_5083.JPGIMG_5084.JPG

Apple Watch, Other OS, 42mm Stainless Steel w/ Sport Band

Posted on Apr 30, 2015 11:51 PM

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Q: WARNING: Sapphire Screen Scratches!

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  • by anupfromcary,

    anupfromcary anupfromcary Nov 8, 2015 9:59 AM in response to wackerow
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 8, 2015 9:59 AM in response to wackerow

    THANK YOU ! I posted my story down but it worked like a charm !!!!

  • by nielskorte,

    nielskorte nielskorte Nov 9, 2015 8:27 AM in response to Maxtoid
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2015 8:27 AM in response to Maxtoid

    This really worked! took me about 15 minutes to remove the scratches. Don't even notice the oleophobic layer is gone, no more fingerprints than usual.

  • by Ccrisrize,

    Ccrisrize Ccrisrize Jun 20, 2016 5:57 PM in response to Maxtoid
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 20, 2016 5:57 PM in response to Maxtoid

    SO I couldn't help but notice that you said your knife is made of high enough grade carbon that makes it as hard as a diamond. The watch display is made of Saphire Crystal. The only thing that can scratch Saphire Crystal is a diamond, which is the hardest rock. Theres no wonder why your blade did scratch it. Not because it was a defective product or actually Ion-X Glass, but simply Because a diamond can scratch it.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jun 20, 2016 11:54 PM in response to Ccrisrize
    Level 7 (30,804 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 20, 2016 11:54 PM in response to Ccrisrize

    Ccrisrize wrote:

     

    SO I couldn't help but notice that you said your knife is made of high enough grade carbon that makes it as hard as a diamond. The watch display is made of Saphire Crystal. The only thing that can scratch Saphire Crystal is a diamond, which is the hardest rock. Theres no wonder why your blade did scratch it. Not because it was a defective product or actually Ion-X Glass, but simply Because a diamond can scratch it.

     

    As Maxtoid explained in a subsequent reply, 11 months ago:

    Maxtoid wrote (May 2, 2015):

     

    the sapphire wasn't scratched!

  • by bonjourc,

    bonjourc bonjourc Aug 12, 2016 12:33 PM in response to Maxtoid
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 12, 2016 12:33 PM in response to Maxtoid

    Your trick worked also for me! I went a bit overboard since I recognized the possibility of using glass top cleaner and cleaning pad combo and it worked perfectly! Mine wasn't so much of a scratch but rather a half-inch drop-like continued path that probably came from something that ate away the oleophobic coating. I went to the Apple Store and they recommended the 329 dollars unit-exchange option which seems like a very long stretch for me - so glad that what you suggested worked as the watch looks pristine again now!

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