WARNING: Sapphire Screen Scratches!

What does one trust more? All the positive Consumer Report tests, or the fact that many of us unintentionally managed to scratch the surface?

I did not test anything on my watch screen and I was careful not to put it beside anything that can potentially scratch it. Yet, after 5 months, I have a big scratch on the screen, one that you an even feel under your skin if you touch it. I have no clue where it is coming from, did I scratch it to a door handle, the corner of a table, or... But I can see the scratch and I know that I did not do any intentional effort to cause it, rather was even careful not to.

So, I don't care about those Consumer Reports. :-)

TheTrident wrote:

What does one trust more? All the positive Consumer Report tests, or the fact that many of us unintentionally managed to scratch the surface?

Consumer Reports, of course. They tested many, many watches. They record data carefully. They know what conditions things happened and under which they didn't.

No one is saying that the crystal is 100% scratch proof. It's unfortunate when you're one of the few people who damaged your watch. I'm sure it's very frustrating. However, it doesn't change the fact that, over all, the sapphire crystal is extremely scratch resistant.

I've had a Rolex with a sapphire crystal for 7 years. In that time it has not shown a single scratch. I'm rough on watches; this is the only watch I've ever had (other than my  Watch) that has never been scratched.

I have an original  Watch. So I guess that makes it 3 years old. I wear it alternately with the above Rolex. It has no scratches. As I said, I'm rough on watches. Sapphire is more scratch resistant than glass, but that doesn't mean that nothing can scratch it. A really sharp object will scratch it, just like a really sharp object will scratch anything.

Odd. Various testers, including Consumer Reports have tested the sapphire and found it extremely scratch resistant (equivalent 8 on the Moh scale - diamond is 10)

You might want to contact Apple support or go to a store and see what they have to say.

I have a Sport and, although I haven't tried to test it, I've certainly made no effort to protect it and it shows no scratches from keys, cutlery, coins etc

It might be that you have a defective unit. It does seem slightly odd that someone can attack it with a drill with no issue, but you can't scrape it with a knife

I believe this article and video may be helpful: http://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/28/apple-watch-sapphire-crystal-diamond-tester/

I have a £5k Tag and I managed to scratch the Sapphire, which itself costs more than a whole Apple watch.

You really shouldn't have taken a knife to it. Maybe Apple will replace if you tell them its defective but they probably won't do anything.

It may be you scratched the anti reflective coating. Some watch manufacturers put it on the inside of the watch, some on the outside. Which yields different results in the clarity of the crystal. The sports watch with its glass screen is said to be a bit more vibrant.

It may be a watch repairer can polish the sapphire, but if the coating is on the outside then that won't help.

Thing is, with watches, no matter the price, they will suffer a lot of damage if you wear then every day. You will bang it into things without even noticing and over time it will start to look weathered. Best bet, if you cant fix it, is just to accept thats the reality. You've made the watch your own now and if its anything like a normal sapphire mark, you won't be able to see it, unless its in direct sunlight.

( I used Brasso to take off the worst marks, it polished it up, not perfectly, but enough to dull the scratches a bit. )

Take notice that the Sapphire screen is not aligned with the stainless steel casing. Not an Apple watch.

Your so-called non-alignment is a combination of perspective, because the watch is at an angle, and reflections for a light source.

Apart, of course, from the minor detail that the OP knows where he got the thing

Perhaps check facts before posting

That's odd. I actually have the Stainless Steel 42mm and tried scratching it with a few different knives just to see how the glass would stand up and it's still perfect! I would definitely either Call Apple and see if you can get a replacement or go to the Apple Store. Good luck!

You do realize, don’t you, that ALL higher end watches, digital or mechanical, have sapphire crystals. Sapphire has been used for watch crystals for many, many years. Because of how hard it is to manufacture those crystals are usually round. Apple’s innovation is that they managed to make it rectangular.

szymonrules wrote:

That's odd. I actually have the Stainless Steel 42mm and tried scratching it with a few different knives just to see how the glass would stand up and it's still perfect! I would definitely either Call Apple and see if you can get a replacement or go to the Apple Store. Good luck!

If he’s honest he will tell Apple he intentionally tried to scratch the watch. He does not deserve a free replacement. Intentional or accidental damage is not covered by any warranty. The watch is not advertised as “scratch-proof.” No watch is.

Why would anyone, yourself included, intentionally try to damage an expensive piece of tech just to see if you can? And then expect a free replacement? It’s insane unless you’re making some YouTube video titled “Will It Blend.”