A warning about acrylic: take it off and put it somewhere safe temporarily if you need to put on bugspray. I sprayed myself all over with extra-strong bugspray awhile back, then looked at the time and realized that the part of my watch that had been sticking out past my cuff during the spraying had gone from like-new to heavily hazed and/or etched. The time was still readable through it but it looked horrible.
It wasn't something that rubbed off with ordinary cleaning, but admittedly I did not know at the time that there were polishes or plastic cleaners that might do the job. It wasn't yellow but it had an odd satin texture like a headlight that had become fogged.
I really like your channel . Was literally trying to pick a Sugess acrylic vs sapphire Crystal and was looking for which one to pick … great infos as always
I love domed chrystals. I have domed Acrylic on my Vostok Amphibia. I have domed mineral on my Orient bambino v4. Two vintage watches;1950s Pobeda, Hmt pilot 1970s both domed acrylics. Seiko open heart 4r39a flat Hardlex, badly scratched already. Parnis sun moon gmt flat mineral front and back, standing up well.
Thanks for that sharing that... great to hear about your experiences with different crystals. It is interesting that you Hardlex seems to be the worse scratched of all - how do you find the domed acrylics? I imagine those would be even more prone to scratching?
Thanks Brian... is that true? I am somewhat surprised if so... it was not hard to come by the information on the different materials when I was researching this. Well, if it is so, then I sure hope this video takes off! :)
I have the exact same Seiko watch. There crumbled a small piece of the glass at 3, but for the rest there barely are any scratches. Seems pretty hard and scratch resistant but vulnerable to breaking.
Thanks for sharing that - curious that's more like what one would expect of sapphire... you mean to say it has a crack on one spot but otherwise no scratches? The Hardlex in my orange monster certainly has a couple of small nicks on it. Cheers, Ivan.
Yes exactly. The glass is almost in prestine condition but theres a small crack on the side. This probably happens quite easily because the glass doesnt sink all the way into the case. The glass surface slightly sticks out of the case, thats why it is cracked at a spot at the side. Looks a bit like a manufacturing fail which is a bit disappointing. You dont expect that from a Japanese quality brand like Seiko. Real shame because otherwise it would have been in nearly perfect condition. It certainly has less small scratches than some other watches which i have been wearing the same amount of time. Anyways, the nice thing about the Seiko is the movement. Its very accurate, even more accurate than some of my dad's swiss mechanical watches. Makes me kinda wonder why swiss automatic watches are so much more expensive than swiss quartz. Despite it's low price the Seiko movement ranks right up there with swiss competitors which are 10x the price.
Oh wow, awesome man, great to hear about the accuracy you have found. I have found it a bit variable TBH... my SKX is one of my most accurate automatic watches... it has behaved like a COSC chronometer from the start... some of my Seiko Invicta on the other hand, I couldn't stand the factory regulation of +20 sec/day (still within rated range mind you) and regulated them myself. Actual Seiko pieces tend to be better but there is still a range in my experience.
When i was a boy, i had an old timex from the 1960s or so. Acrylic crystal. It broke right across after hitting the floor. Didnt cost me anything and was full of scratches so no big deal.
Thanks for sharing that... it's rather weird that an acrylic piece would've broken from a fall onto floor... perhaps it wasn't actually acrylic? If you get a piece of acrylic in hand you will find it hard to break even if thrown from several stories high. A hammer in hand perhaps will do...
Distortions on the acrylic comes from the round dome too. I habe some very fat acrylic on my watch and it scratches easy ish...but they are cheap and easy to replace in most cases
Thanks for your latest video. Very interesting indeed about these crystals...Yet generally speaking, when you look at a really nicely made watch...It doesn't really matter what the brand name is, ....There seems to be a certain quality, that seems quite magickal about them.
Thanks for that mate, glad you found it interesting. I think there are indeed differences in crystal quality, particularly with mineral glass which can sometimes look very average!
My 4 domed acrylics 3 Russian and one Indian all look perfect. My Vostok Amphibia is my daily wearer. The acrylic on this is very thick. It is pristine at the moment. People use Brass polisher on them. My Orient is my most beautiful watch with its huge domed mineral crystal. Pristine after 2 years dress use. Over a very long time the early acrylics get a patina (yellowing ) which I love. I am 72 years old and have older girlfriends and ex wives with patina. Ah the richness of life. I have a 1939 Russian watch coming. 78 years old. I will let you know about the crystal.
Thanks for that, great stories Neil! I think I'm gonna have to get a Bambino some time, it's just such a classic. Do let us know how the 78 year old piece looks like when you get it! Cheers, Ivan.
You shouldn’t be able to scratch sapphire. To remove such scratches properly would take so much effort and equipment that it’s probably better just to change the glass!
My preference is sapphire, than acrylic, than mineral in that order. I hate mineral crystal its garbage, it will scratch and be a pain to repair, I'll always pay up for the sapphire which is bullet proof in my opinion. Another thing I like about acrylic is it seems the most smudge resistant, I am constantly wiping my sapphire crystals off LoL
Yeah fair points there Donn... mineral glass comes across as a compromise between the two in some ways, although info I have found seem to indicate it's closer toward sapphire in being scratch resistant (some acrylics scratch if you look at it wrong), and closer toward mineral in being shatter resistant. The smudges on acrylic are most likely hidden by the scratches :D
something I might mention is that Acrylic watch crystals while incredibly scratch prone are also incredibly easy to polish. Even ordinary toothpaste can be used in a pinch but will take some time.
I think acrylic and mineral gets a bad rap...i have basic timex for everyday knocking about dishes, yard, maintenance, repairs etc...i don't care if it gets banged or anything worn almost everyday for now 7 months no AR obviously and it lies flat and frankly the two scratches it got I used I think it was Oral B toothpaste in a paste mix somewhat coarse and it within minutes of minor effort it took them out. I have to say its completely transparent no reflective light and honestly it changed my perception. Add to that I had a armourlite hardened mineral that was flat and never got scratched it had a 5 year run as a daily beater its as good as Hardlex if not better it too was flat crystal. Your chart is great but honestly completely disagree with distortion and transparency which would be good and low IMO experience. Good video check that very good cam here as Jody recommended you and as I live downunder well gotta support watch fiends in Oz keep up the good work.
Thank you very much for the support and those thoughtful comments - I always enjoy hearing of others' experiences, one of the best things about running this channel. On top of that, always great to hear from fellow Aussies! :)
As to fellow Aussie; like Jody I am an expat Brit 8 years in Oz...it really is great to support Aussie based watch reviewers, pity the watch makers and strap makers are not of the same quality YET...its funny I can buy a Kangaroo nato in USA but yet to find one here such are the issues we face living here, but you guys are first rate thoroughly enjoyable to listen too and learn from.
Ah thanks for sharing that! Well most Aussies are British by origin or ancestry, so after 8 years that makes you pretty much Aussie :) Thank you very much for the support, it's great to have!
Huge interesting topic! The big difference seems to be only one of the materials is a crystal. I haven't seen a grading standard. But it does seem not all sapphire crystal is created equal, something other than Verneuil's process. Could be imperfections creepy in at some point or in finish processing? It now seems like sapphire crystal could be used on all but the cheapest watches. Can scratches be DIY polished out of acrylic?
Thanks for sharing that info, it's much appreciated! Yes indeed, scratches can be buffed out of acrylic - I believe there is a specific polish for this, although some others say you can use brass polish.
I'm trying to decide what type of crystal be the best in terms of epoch accuracy, but also maybe in look improvement, for a restoring seiko 5 80s vintage (7009-3040), Regards.
Seller may not allow water droplet test. I think testing can be done with light. Sapphire crystal will show blue sapphire color refraction of sun which will be a pinpoint in the date lens. You will also see a blue refraction from your cell phone flashlight. No blue refraction means walk away from high end diver. What do you think?
Good thought however all I have read indicates that it is not possible to tell the difference visually... the blue refraction is a result of anti reflective coating (or a fake coating in copies) rather than a property of the sapphire itself. Many higher end sapphire do have this... but the effect can be copied in knock offs.
Thanks for reply. I'm getting into collecting watches so being able to spot a sapphire crystal on a brand which should always have them is one way to spot the imposter. I've done a bit of reading but nothing seems conclusive. I've seen the blue refraction in pictures and videos but have read nothing about the veracity or use of this effect. It could be a reliable indicator of anti-reflective coating which is commonly applied to sapphire. (The blue refraction is a gorgeous sapphire blue in my high end Italian watch. Happily for me, my crystal does have a white hue when viewed from the side and it passes the water test.) I've read that mineral glass is too course to take AR coating and it is not needed anyways. Damn those clever homage watches. They are getting better and better...and I have to be more vigilant.
Noob moment ahead. Sir, you are correct that presence or absence of blue refraction is not an absolute indicator. The brand I am researching applied clear and blue refracting AR to the underside of their crystals. It depends on year and model. The fact that my example has blue refraction is a good indicator only for that specific model and year of production. So, testing for sapphire in the field with light is IMO still worthwhile but has limited value. To parrot what I've learned so far, tap test for sound, water droplet test, and touch test for room temperature feel are the best. It must be a combination of all these results that gives confidence.
Thanks for the further update, useful to know. I don't trust myself to be able to discern temperature difference by touch (really talking about specific heat here). Sound might doable especially if you have a mineral glass reference you are willing to risk marking. So it's mainly the droplet test for me ;)
To complete my thoughts on getting into watch collecting...sigh. I was looking at 1:1 replicas and the better ones have sapphire crystals. Replica photos look so good that it would be very difficult for me to spot a fake in the field. Even the Asian 7750 movement in fakes is a version of the Valjoux found in real examples. Sapphire testing is still an important skill but the presence of sapphire is not conclusive for authenticity. Cheers from the Northern Hemisphere.
I'm pretty down on hardlex, it's just window glass and I find it scratches easily and can't be polished easily. Would rather have acrylic so I can polish it out.
Thanks for sharing that Hamish. Hardlex can be scratched of course, and not easy to get rid of scratches once it happens. However, based on my reading it's not just plain window glass... and based on experience it does seem to be tougher than the typical "hardened mineral glass" you get in many run-of-the-mill watches. Nonetheless, I feel your pain!
there suppose to be 4 categories. Acrylic, Sapphire, Mineral and Hardlex .Most cheaper fashion watch Minerals are NOT hardened or is equivalent to Hardlex at all. I heard Hardlex from some sources Hardness index is 8. Why you have not even touch on this? or i missed.
Thanks for that. Hardlex is a brand name, not an actual name for a material. It is hardened mineral glass, and many say it's no better than those used by more typical brands. I have not had any cheap fashion watches with non-hardened glass, and in fact have not seen any info to substantiate this. Also quoted hardness rating for hardened mineral glass ranges from 5-7, if you have a source that claims 8 I would like to see it. I think for watch enthusiasts, there will probably be very few pieces of interest that do not use these categories I have covered.
There is actually not much price difference between mineral glass and the sapphire. For instance you can find a Parnis pilot watch with mineral glass for $70 and the one with a sapphire glass for $85. I don't understand what is the big deal.
Breaking a acrylic crystal or cracking it ! Mine is cracked in a corner trying to justify a plastic acrylic crystal. Or a Hardlex/Gorilla glass or sapphire crystal 🤔😷 the best seal makes the difference!
Haha I guess I could cut down on my tendency to gasbag! But ah, you are only referring to the words... a picture conveys a thousand words, and a video... millions! ;)
Word of advice, no offence intended: If common knowledge dropped so hard, that the basics are just knowing your 1st name and last name, and the details between X and Y are too sci-fi >>> GOOGLE! What you think and what the facts are, are like South Pole and North Pole. If you google the difference between Mineral and Sapphire, you will find on page one 1st link, details that are on a scientific level. For example, sapphire crystal measures very high at 9 Mohs scale, while diamond measures 10. Basically its stronger than almost everything. While mineral crystal is usually at 7+ (from what I remembered, please verify that). Gorilla Glass, like normal glass is ~6. Usually to scratch something it needs to have a higher durability than that of what you're trying to scratch + force of impact. Use google, then inform us about facts. Acrylic is another word for plexiglass or plastic. The difference between mineral and acrylic is so high, that its like comparing iron with steel. And based on your video, you're not that sure, but you guess its more closer to sapphire. And you cant find the details on google, really?????????????? I know there's lots of people that google on youtube instead of actual google, and listen to amateurs commenting on stuff. After one bad video they think they know it all. So its your job to research sh/t for them and tell them facts. Because based on your laziness or incompetence, you're providing bad information or at beast inaccurate. And they are gonna use that information and spread that to others. And sooner or later, common knowledge is gonna be just your first name and last name. Just like common sense is overthinking it. Best of videos!
Thank you very much for your comment friend. I'm actually a bit lost on the first name and last name thing... you only listed one name am I right? ;) This was a summary of what I could find, doing my best to explain it succinctly. It's not supposed to serve as a definitive reference, and my job is... well, not what you think it is. Thanks for watching, peace to you, and hope your day gets better :)
Its all about how you phrase it. If you say "I think, it's closer to sapphire than plastic" thats not good. If you do complaisances, like "think of acrylic as iron, and mineral as steel and sapphire as titanium" your viewers are gonna get it. More than what you told us. So he can imagine it. Plus, like I said, you can't say you cant find statistics when the internet is full of them. Your summery wasnt that of someone that knows his stuff, but what he thinks based on what he heard, not read. Tho, its good you didnt get it the wrong way, or at least you're not showing it :) Problem was, that someone told me what they understood by watching this video, and i was perplexed. Another sad thing, that this might be the best video on youtube explaining the difference between X and Y. In this world there are two types of people, people that learn from the internet and those that get dumber. Help people get smart, not the other way around. Your intention is good, I acknowledge your will and dedication. But do it right. The name thing, means: today's basic knowledge is only knowing your first name and last name, everything else is irrelevant. Unlike the old generation, when science was a curiosity and attempts of hardcore discussions were seen even from common people. Now a days, everyone doesn't know anything. And the generation "i dont care" makes common sense and logic only into a subjective thinking surrounding their 5m aura. Anyways, was meant as an exaggeration/ironic joke. PS: your last remark, 'day gets better", wasnt my frustration getting the best of me, but the fact that i mention above. PS2: "It's not supposed to serve as a definitive reference.." well, you do talk 80% of the video about the difference between them and what you think of them. Dont try excuse yourself by contradicting yourself. Also, dont say your job isn't this. You're the one presenting watches and talking about them, im the one watching your vids and work in the army and still know more about what you just said and claim to know in this video. And you can learn it too in 10min of google time.
Thank you very much for the detailed reply - I definitely appreciate the time and effort! Ah I see now about the first and last name thing, now that would be a strange world to live in!! Let me clarify - you implied that my info is bad, inaccurate, even wrong... however it seems that I haven't actually conveyed any wrong info, correct? What misunderstanding did your friend have? Please let me know if I have said anything that is factually wrong. I get it about the phrasing you describe... but that's an issue of style and is subjective. Care is taken to present correct info... I could've gone into MOHs scale and other numbers but I chose not to, this was intended to be light. And I think you made some wrong assumptions... let you in on a secret, I do almost no research on UA-cam, so in fact all this I got from reading *not* hearing ;) I maintain that this is not meant to be definitive... that are scientific sources for that. By it's very nature one should assume that UA-cam content is amateur unless you see evidence otherwise... I for one am certainly amateur and not an expert or professional in this matter. If people have different concept of this, that I'm afraid is a misunderstanding. However I still do my best to be accurate! There will be mistakes, but heck professionals I work with make mistakes too. I also maintain that this is not my job... that may be the perception and/or preference of some... but my perception wins out here. This is a fun hobby for me, and just happens to have gathered interest and support ;) PS. The analogy of sapphire being like titanium is erroneous... titanium is stronger and more durable than steel but interestingly is softer (scratches easier)... so if I had said that I would definitely be getting negative comments about it. But I get where your coming from!
A warning about acrylic: take it off and put it somewhere safe temporarily if you need to put on bugspray. I sprayed myself all over with extra-strong bugspray awhile back, then looked at the time and realized that the part of my watch that had been sticking out past my cuff during the spraying had gone from like-new to heavily hazed and/or etched. The time was still readable through it but it looked horrible.
Wow how dramatic!! Thanks for the warning - was the damage permanent?
It wasn't something that rubbed off with ordinary cleaning, but admittedly I did not know at the time that there were polishes or plastic cleaners that might do the job. It wasn't yellow but it had an odd satin texture like a headlight that had become fogged.
Thanks for the update and again for sharing this tip - hope it will help others here!
So like, it should be by SPECIAL REQUEST only? ;)
But acrylic is cool! Anyway if you have thoughts, do put them down, otherwise it's just a one liner without any reasoning ;)
All five watches are synchronized to second :)
Thanks - chalk it up to my OCD :)
@@PerthWAtch Thank you for mentioning OCD. Now I know why I was so amused about it. :))
I'm saying that with tongue-in-cheek of course ;)
I really like your channel . Was literally trying to pick a Sugess acrylic vs sapphire Crystal and was looking for which one to pick … great infos as always
Thanks for that - glad this was helpful!
This vid should have been 3 mins.
Fair point... but then you would've missed out on 10 extra minutes of scintillating content! ;)
I love domed chrystals.
I have domed Acrylic on my Vostok Amphibia.
I have domed mineral on my Orient bambino v4.
Two vintage watches;1950s Pobeda,
Hmt pilot 1970s both domed acrylics.
Seiko open heart 4r39a flat Hardlex, badly scratched already.
Parnis sun moon gmt flat mineral front and back, standing up well.
Thanks for that sharing that... great to hear about your experiences with different crystals. It is interesting that you Hardlex seems to be the worse scratched of all - how do you find the domed acrylics? I imagine those would be even more prone to scratching?
I have a screen protector on my hardlex crystal... Is that Heresy?
Nope... you can do that if you want, I don’t have a problem with that ;)
When you mention "transparent aluminium" from Star Trek, it should be noted that sapphire itself is a form of aluminum oxide.
Yep that's probably where the script-writers got the idea from!
Excellent review Ivan and could be first on YT to broach this subject in detail.
Thanks Brian... is that true? I am somewhat surprised if so... it was not hard to come by the information on the different materials when I was researching this. Well, if it is so, then I sure hope this video takes off! :)
I have the exact same Seiko watch. There crumbled a small piece of the glass at 3, but for the rest there barely are any scratches. Seems pretty hard and scratch resistant but vulnerable to breaking.
Thanks for sharing that - curious that's more like what one would expect of sapphire... you mean to say it has a crack on one spot but otherwise no scratches? The Hardlex in my orange monster certainly has a couple of small nicks on it. Cheers, Ivan.
Yes exactly. The glass is almost in prestine condition but theres a small crack on the side. This probably happens quite easily because the glass doesnt sink all the way into the case. The glass surface slightly sticks out of the case, thats why it is cracked at a spot at the side. Looks a bit like a manufacturing fail which is a bit disappointing. You dont expect that from a Japanese quality brand like Seiko. Real shame because otherwise it would have been in nearly perfect condition. It certainly has less small scratches than some other watches which i have been wearing the same amount of time.
Anyways, the nice thing about the Seiko is the movement. Its very accurate, even more accurate than some of my dad's swiss mechanical watches. Makes me kinda wonder why swiss automatic watches are so much more expensive than swiss quartz. Despite it's low price the Seiko movement ranks right up there with swiss competitors which are 10x the price.
Oh wow, awesome man, great to hear about the accuracy you have found. I have found it a bit variable TBH... my SKX is one of my most accurate automatic watches... it has behaved like a COSC chronometer from the start... some of my Seiko Invicta on the other hand, I couldn't stand the factory regulation of +20 sec/day (still within rated range mind you) and regulated them myself. Actual Seiko pieces tend to be better but there is still a range in my experience.
When i was a boy, i had an old timex from the 1960s or so. Acrylic crystal. It broke right across after hitting the floor. Didnt cost me anything and was full of scratches so no big deal.
Thanks for sharing that... it's rather weird that an acrylic piece would've broken from a fall onto floor... perhaps it wasn't actually acrylic? If you get a piece of acrylic in hand you will find it hard to break even if thrown from several stories high. A hammer in hand perhaps will do...
Distortions on the acrylic comes from the round dome too. I habe some very fat acrylic on my watch and it scratches easy ish...but they are cheap and easy to replace in most cases
Thanks for sharing those thoughts!
Thanks for your latest video. Very interesting indeed about these crystals...Yet generally speaking, when you look at a really nicely made watch...It doesn't really matter what the brand name is, ....There seems to be a certain quality, that seems quite magickal about them.
Thanks for that mate, glad you found it interesting. I think there are indeed differences in crystal quality, particularly with mineral glass which can sometimes look very average!
My 4 domed acrylics 3 Russian and one Indian all look perfect.
My Vostok Amphibia is my daily wearer. The acrylic on this is very thick. It is pristine at the moment. People use Brass polisher on them.
My Orient is my most beautiful watch with its huge domed mineral crystal. Pristine after 2 years dress use. Over a very long time the early acrylics get a patina (yellowing ) which I love.
I am 72 years old and have older girlfriends and ex wives with patina. Ah the richness of life. I have a 1939 Russian watch coming. 78 years old. I will let you know about the crystal.
Thanks for that, great stories Neil! I think I'm gonna have to get a Bambino some time, it's just such a classic. Do let us know how the 78 year old piece looks like when you get it! Cheers, Ivan.
Awesome video mate.plzz tell me how to remove scratch from mineral & sapphire glass watches???
You shouldn’t be able to scratch sapphire. To remove such scratches properly would take so much effort and equipment that it’s probably better just to change the glass!
My preference is sapphire, than acrylic, than mineral in that order. I hate mineral crystal its garbage, it will scratch and be a pain to repair, I'll always pay up for the sapphire which is bullet proof in my opinion. Another thing I like about acrylic is it seems the most smudge resistant, I am constantly wiping my sapphire crystals off LoL
Yeah fair points there Donn... mineral glass comes across as a compromise between the two in some ways, although info I have found seem to indicate it's closer toward sapphire in being scratch resistant (some acrylics scratch if you look at it wrong), and closer toward mineral in being shatter resistant. The smudges on acrylic are most likely hidden by the scratches :D
something I might mention is that Acrylic watch crystals while incredibly scratch prone are also incredibly easy to polish. Even ordinary toothpaste can be used in a pinch but will take some time.
Yes, I think I mentioned most of that did I not?
Wow these spruiking posts are getting very coordinated!
I think acrylic and mineral gets a bad rap...i have basic timex for everyday knocking about dishes, yard, maintenance, repairs etc...i don't care if it gets banged or anything worn almost everyday for now 7 months no AR obviously and it lies flat and frankly the two scratches it got I used I think it was Oral B toothpaste in a paste mix somewhat coarse and it within minutes of minor effort it took them out. I have to say its completely transparent no reflective light and honestly it changed my perception. Add to that I had a armourlite hardened mineral that was flat and never got scratched it had a 5 year run as a daily beater its as good as Hardlex if not better it too was flat crystal. Your chart is great but honestly completely disagree with distortion and transparency which would be good and low IMO experience. Good video check that very good cam here as Jody recommended you and as I live downunder well gotta support watch fiends in Oz keep up the good work.
Thank you very much for the support and those thoughtful comments - I always enjoy hearing of others' experiences, one of the best things about running this channel. On top of that, always great to hear from fellow Aussies! :)
As to fellow Aussie; like Jody I am an expat Brit 8 years in Oz...it really is great to support Aussie based watch reviewers, pity the watch makers and strap makers are not of the same quality YET...its funny I can buy a Kangaroo nato in USA but yet to find one here such are the issues we face living here, but you guys are first rate thoroughly enjoyable to listen too and learn from.
Ah thanks for sharing that! Well most Aussies are British by origin or ancestry, so after 8 years that makes you pretty much Aussie :)
Thank you very much for the support, it's great to have!
Huge interesting topic! The big difference seems to be only one of the materials is a crystal. I haven't seen a grading standard. But it does seem not all sapphire crystal is created equal, something other than Verneuil's process. Could be imperfections creepy in at some point or in finish processing? It now seems like sapphire crystal could be used on all but the cheapest watches. Can scratches be DIY polished out of acrylic?
Thanks for sharing that info, it's much appreciated! Yes indeed, scratches can be buffed out of acrylic - I believe there is a specific polish for this, although some others say you can use brass polish.
I'm trying to decide what type of crystal be the best in terms of epoch accuracy, but also maybe in look improvement, for a restoring seiko 5 80s vintage (7009-3040), Regards.
Mineral glass I would think
Interesting video ! Thanks
Most welcome - thanks for watching!
sapphire is very reflective and makes the watch difficult to read under some lighting conditions. functionality wise, i think acrylic is the best.
Thanks for sharing the thoughts!
Seller may not allow water droplet test. I think testing can be done with light. Sapphire crystal will show blue sapphire color refraction of sun which will be a pinpoint in the date lens. You will also see a blue refraction from your cell phone flashlight. No blue refraction means walk away from high end diver. What do you think?
Good thought however all I have read indicates that it is not possible to tell the difference visually... the blue refraction is a result of anti reflective coating (or a fake coating in copies) rather than a property of the sapphire itself. Many higher end sapphire do have this... but the effect can be copied in knock offs.
Thanks for reply. I'm getting into collecting watches so being able to spot a sapphire crystal on a brand which should always have them is one way to spot the imposter. I've done a bit of reading but nothing seems conclusive. I've seen the blue refraction in pictures and videos but have read nothing about the veracity or use of this effect. It could be a reliable indicator of anti-reflective coating which is commonly applied to sapphire. (The blue refraction is a gorgeous sapphire blue in my high end Italian watch. Happily for me, my crystal does have a white hue when viewed from the side and it passes the water test.) I've read that mineral glass is too course to take AR coating and it is not needed anyways. Damn those clever homage watches. They are getting better and better...and I have to be more vigilant.
Noob moment ahead. Sir, you are correct that presence or absence of blue refraction is not an absolute indicator. The brand I am researching applied clear and blue refracting AR to the underside of their crystals. It depends on year and model. The fact that my example has blue refraction is a good indicator only for that specific model and year of production. So, testing for sapphire in the field with light is IMO still worthwhile but has limited value. To parrot what I've learned so far, tap test for sound, water droplet test, and touch test for room temperature feel are the best. It must be a combination of all these results that gives confidence.
Thanks for the further update, useful to know. I don't trust myself to be able to discern temperature difference by touch (really talking about specific heat here). Sound might doable especially if you have a mineral glass reference you are willing to risk marking. So it's mainly the droplet test for me ;)
To complete my thoughts on getting into watch collecting...sigh. I was looking at 1:1 replicas and the better ones have sapphire crystals. Replica photos look so good that it would be very difficult for me to spot a fake in the field. Even the Asian 7750 movement in fakes is a version of the Valjoux found in real examples. Sapphire testing is still an important skill but the presence of sapphire is not conclusive for authenticity. Cheers from the Northern Hemisphere.
I'm pretty down on hardlex, it's just window glass and I find it scratches easily and can't be polished easily. Would rather have acrylic so I can polish it out.
Thanks for sharing that Hamish. Hardlex can be scratched of course, and not easy to get rid of scratches once it happens. However, based on my reading it's not just plain window glass... and based on experience it does seem to be tougher than the typical "hardened mineral glass" you get in many run-of-the-mill watches. Nonetheless, I feel your pain!
Mineral crystal has a mohs scale rating of 5, hardlex 8, sapphire 9, diamond 10. Hardlex is extremely good for entry level pieces.
Ah thanks! Very helpful to know the Mohs rating for those!
What is that watch in the middle
It has the explorer markers
I need it so bad lol
Harvard Ford it’s an ingersoll I think..I might have spelled it wrong but I think they’re pretty affordable super cool looking
Haha yes, it's an *Ingersoll* , model is *Lawrence GMT IN3218BK* - further details listed in the video description if needed. Cheers, Ivan.
Love the Chinese watch. Very classy looking timepiece.
Am interested. 🤔
It’s classy indeed 👍
there suppose to be 4 categories. Acrylic, Sapphire, Mineral and Hardlex .Most cheaper fashion watch Minerals are NOT hardened or is equivalent to Hardlex at all. I heard Hardlex from some sources Hardness index is 8. Why you have not even touch on this? or i missed.
Thanks for that. Hardlex is a brand name, not an actual name for a material. It is hardened mineral glass, and many say it's no better than those used by more typical brands. I have not had any cheap fashion watches with non-hardened glass, and in fact have not seen any info to substantiate this. Also quoted hardness rating for hardened mineral glass ranges from 5-7, if you have a source that claims 8 I would like to see it. I think for watch enthusiasts, there will probably be very few pieces of interest that do not use these categories I have covered.
There is actually not much price difference between mineral glass and the sapphire. For instance you can find a Parnis pilot watch with mineral glass for $70 and the one with a sapphire glass for $85. I don't understand what is the big deal.
For Parnis it may be a lower grade, likely quite different to what the Swiss might use...
Breaking a acrylic crystal or cracking it ! Mine is cracked in a corner trying to justify a plastic acrylic crystal. Or a Hardlex/Gorilla glass or sapphire crystal 🤔😷 the best seal makes the difference!
How interesting! Thanks for sharing :)
Acrylic,is not unbreakable ,I cracked one just replacing old for new😱
How dramatic! Yes that's right, it is not an invincible material.
Model of tje middle?
What?
So many minutes to convey so little info
Haha I guess I could cut down on my tendency to gasbag! But ah, you are only referring to the words... a picture conveys a thousand words, and a video... millions! ;)
Word of advice, no offence intended:
If common knowledge dropped so hard, that the basics are just knowing your 1st name and last name, and the details between X and Y are too sci-fi >>> GOOGLE!
What you think and what the facts are, are like South Pole and North Pole. If you google the difference between Mineral and Sapphire, you will find on page one 1st link, details that are on a scientific level. For example, sapphire crystal measures very high at 9 Mohs scale, while diamond measures 10. Basically its stronger than almost everything. While mineral crystal is usually at 7+ (from what I remembered, please verify that). Gorilla Glass, like normal glass is ~6. Usually to scratch something it needs to have a higher durability than that of what you're trying to scratch + force of impact.
Use google, then inform us about facts. Acrylic is another word for plexiglass or plastic. The difference between mineral and acrylic is so high, that its like comparing iron with steel. And based on your video, you're not that sure, but you guess its more closer to sapphire. And you cant find the details on google, really??????????????
I know there's lots of people that google on youtube instead of actual google, and listen to amateurs commenting on stuff. After one bad video they think they know it all. So its your job to research sh/t for them and tell them facts. Because based on your laziness or incompetence, you're providing bad information or at beast inaccurate. And they are gonna use that information and spread that to others. And sooner or later, common knowledge is gonna be just your first name and last name. Just like common sense is overthinking it.
Best of videos!
Thank you very much for your comment friend. I'm actually a bit lost on the first name and last name thing... you only listed one name am I right? ;)
This was a summary of what I could find, doing my best to explain it succinctly. It's not supposed to serve as a definitive reference, and my job is... well, not what you think it is. Thanks for watching, peace to you, and hope your day gets better :)
Its all about how you phrase it. If you say "I think, it's closer to sapphire than plastic" thats not good. If you do complaisances, like "think of acrylic as iron, and mineral as steel and sapphire as titanium" your viewers are gonna get it. More than what you told us. So he can imagine it. Plus, like I said, you can't say you cant find statistics when the internet is full of them. Your summery wasnt that of someone that knows his stuff, but what he thinks based on what he heard, not read.
Tho, its good you didnt get it the wrong way, or at least you're not showing it :)
Problem was, that someone told me what they understood by watching this video, and i was perplexed. Another sad thing, that this might be the best video on youtube explaining the difference between X and Y.
In this world there are two types of people, people that learn from the internet and those that get dumber. Help people get smart, not the other way around. Your intention is good, I acknowledge your will and dedication. But do it right.
The name thing, means: today's basic knowledge is only knowing your first name and last name, everything else is irrelevant. Unlike the old generation, when science was a curiosity and attempts of hardcore discussions were seen even from common people. Now a days, everyone doesn't know anything. And the generation "i dont care" makes common sense and logic only into a subjective thinking surrounding their 5m aura. Anyways, was meant as an exaggeration/ironic joke.
PS: your last remark, 'day gets better", wasnt my frustration getting the best of me, but the fact that i mention above.
PS2: "It's not supposed to serve as a definitive reference.." well, you do talk 80% of the video about the difference between them and what you think of them. Dont try excuse yourself by contradicting yourself.
Also, dont say your job isn't this. You're the one presenting watches and talking about them, im the one watching your vids and work in the army and still know more about what you just said and claim to know in this video. And you can learn it too in 10min of google time.
Thank you very much for the detailed reply - I definitely appreciate the time and effort! Ah I see now about the first and last name thing, now that would be a strange world to live in!!
Let me clarify - you implied that my info is bad, inaccurate, even wrong... however it seems that I haven't actually conveyed any wrong info, correct? What misunderstanding did your friend have? Please let me know if I have said anything that is factually wrong. I get it about the phrasing you describe... but that's an issue of style and is subjective. Care is taken to present correct info... I could've gone into MOHs scale and other numbers but I chose not to, this was intended to be light. And I think you made some wrong assumptions... let you in on a secret, I do almost no research on UA-cam, so in fact all this I got from reading *not* hearing ;)
I maintain that this is not meant to be definitive... that are scientific sources for that. By it's very nature one should assume that UA-cam content is amateur unless you see evidence otherwise... I for one am certainly amateur and not an expert or professional in this matter. If people have different concept of this, that I'm afraid is a misunderstanding. However I still do my best to be accurate! There will be mistakes, but heck professionals I work with make mistakes too.
I also maintain that this is not my job... that may be the perception and/or preference of some... but my perception wins out here. This is a fun hobby for me, and just happens to have gathered interest and support ;)
PS. The analogy of sapphire being like titanium is erroneous... titanium is stronger and more durable than steel but interestingly is softer (scratches easier)... so if I had said that I would definitely be getting negative comments about it. But I get where your coming from!
Why to be so rude for an educative vid. Perth Watch pointed out he is not sure, so you have a room to research......and to be polite....
Hatrious Are you on drugs😱