Day 4: Sapphire Scratched!

[lagwagon]

It seems simply not putting an oleophobic coating on the sapphire would solve the problem, no? Am I missing something?

It's not really a problem though. Any mark on the coating will gradually disappear. For most people at least it shouldn't be a problem. The OCD however will probably be getting new replacements every week at this rate until they realize it's inevitable it will happen.

Watching the forums since launch and it's pretty ridiculous how many returns for replacements have happened over little things like this only delaying orders of people who haven't even seen their order yet.

 

[zmunkz]

Unfortunately diamonds are everywhere. Almost any woman in the U.S. who is engaged has one on their finger.

Hmmm... OP, are you frequently bumping into engaged women?

 

[xraydoc]

It seems simply not putting an oleophobic coating on the sapphire would solve the problem, no? Am I missing something?

Except it would get pretty greasy and smeary.

 

[mobutt]

True, however Apple may choose to do an EFFA capture to assess the scratch. I would make a GB appointment and call AppleCare. I'm pretty sure this early in the game they will take it in. The hard part will be waiting for the replacement. But, do it soon.
Apple employee here as well...

Oh it's hard waiting for a replacement. I had to send it in the first day, got it back the Thursday after.

 

[flur]

Except it would get pretty greasy and smeary.

I gotta say, mine gets pretty smeary anyway, and I keep my hands pretty clean. It seems like Apple could have saved themselves the hassle of people returning perfectly good watches by simply not including the coating, which isn't doing much now and is going to wear off anyway.

 

[xraydoc]

I gotta say, mine gets pretty smeary anyway, and I keep my hands pretty clean. It seems like Apple could have saved themselves the hassle of people returning perfectly good watches by simply not including the coating, which isn't doing much now and is going to wear off anyway.

Perhaps. Although your phone and iPad have the same coating.

 

[crayon@itouch]

You can still purchase Applecare+ within 60 days of purchase. Then you may claim against the damage you have experienced.

 

[Photography]

You can still purchase Applecare+ within 60 days of purchase. Then you may claim against the damage you have experienced.

This is called fraud and is wrong. That's like getting into a car accident without car insurance, then calling an insurance provider and telling them you want to buy car insurance without revealing that you were just in a car accident!

 

[Thraxis]

This is called fraud and is wrong. That's like getting into a car accident without car insurance, then calling an insurance provider and telling them you want to buy car insurance without revealing that you were just in a car accident!

While this might be true in theory I've had apple support actually suggest buying applecare after the fact so I could get a cheaper repair....they even offered to sell it to me on the support call.

 

[lagwagon]

This is called fraud and is wrong. That's like getting into a car accident without car insurance, then calling an insurance provider and telling them you want to buy car insurance without revealing that you were just in a car accident!

The OP's watch would have to be damaged in the first place. In this case it's more like a scuff on the top clear coat of the paint on a car. Yes there is a scuff but the paint underneath the clear coat is 100% unharmed. Just like the sapphire is A-OK and it's just a scuff on the oleophobic coating. I've had marks on past iPhones and they have disappeared over time leaving behind no scratches.

 

[H3rman]

As above, looks more like a mark in the coating than the sapphire. Others have said it will wear away with time. Why not try rubbing it with your finger for a few minutes and see if you can accelerate the process of wearing down the coating in that specific area and see if it starts to fade away.

If it does, then don't worry about it and just leave it, it will eventually disappear all together from use.

Also, can you actually feel it with your finger nail? If not, then it's not a mark in the sapphire itself.

 

[virginblue4]

I honestly don't get this. With all the torture tests, not one actually scratched the sapphire display and they were purposely trying to do so! What are people doing to their watches?

 

[grenhall]

Here you go.

Oleophobic coating kit

 

[MH01]

The coating over the sapphire is pointless, sure the sapphire will not scratch, but you will have streaks/marks where the coating is coming off. Not well thought out.

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This is called fraud and is wrong. That's like getting into a car accident without car insurance, then calling an insurance provider and telling them you want to buy car insurance without revealing that you were just in a car accident!

What if the fault was present in the car at time of purchase? You can still get insurance...

 

[kinster]

While this might be true in theory I've had apple support actually suggest buying applecare after the fact so I could get a cheaper repair....they even offered to sell it to me on the support call.

Yep, that's what the staff say in-store as well.

 

[Rodster]

I'm wondering when we'll start seeing the first batch of Apple Watch screen protectors.

 

[dyt1983]

edit: remove personal identifiable info not relevant to the thread.

 

[shenfrey]

I highly doubt the actual sapphire is scratched. Looks like it's just the oleophobic coating that's scuffed.

This. Happened to my watch, I sent it back for a replacement. I thought I would of been the only one, seems to be it's more common than I first thought.

 

[dogg]

So what's the point of having a scratch resistant sapphire display if its covered in oleophobic coating that scratches anyway? I feel like that defeats the purpose...

I am veering toward this opinion myself. I realise the reason for it but I don't know if it is the best solution for a watch that is going to get banged around, regardless of how much to try to keep it free from harm...

 

[shenfrey]

Day 4: Sapphire Scratched!

As above, looks more like a mark in the coating than the sapphire. Others have said it will wear away with time. Why not try rubbing it with your finger for a few minutes and see if you can accelerate the process of wearing down the coating in that specific area and see if it starts to fade away.



If it does, then don't worry about it and just leave it, it will eventually disappear all together from use.



Also, can you actually feel it with your finger nail? If not, then it's not a mark in the sapphire itself.

I'm annoyed because when I posted this on my watch everyone said to get it replaced and not a soul said it will sort it's self out. Now I am without a watch for 2 weeks when all along I could of just waited. Hard to see, but top left in picture. It's a lot more visible and obvious in person.

 

[grenhall]

I think in the Breitling forums it's been a pretty common discussion to remove the coatings on the crystal when they get marked up, and then replace the crystal next service if one prefers to have the coatings.

Yes that would've been the anti-reflective coating that Breitling applies both inside the crystal and outside. Not easily "scratched" but if you touch it with some abrasive cloths then you're sure to have a mark on it.

What I've learned the Apple Watch doesn't have an ar-coating but an oleophobic one which is easily removed with rubbing alcohol or during wear and tear.

 

[shenfrey]

Day 4: Sapphire Scratched!

It's not really a problem though. Any mark on the coating will gradually disappear. For most people at least it shouldn't be a problem. The OCD however will probably be getting new replacements every week at this rate until they realize it's inevitable it will happen.



Watching the forums since launch and it's pretty ridiculous how many returns for replacements have happened over little things like this only delaying orders of people who haven't even seen their order yet.

Well where were you when I complained about this problem? Instead EVERYBODY told me to replace it and that there was nothing I can do. Now it's ok and it will sort. It's self out? Last time I ever buy a apple product at launch, no matter how badly I want it. Just gonna wait and see the problems first and then make a decision.

 

[Pug72]

Beware that the mark isn't the remnants of the object the watch came into contact with.

My wedding ring is black zirconium that stays immaculate, I work with ladders and every now and then I strike my ring hard on them which sometimes leaves a mark that looks like a scratch. It isn't a scratch, it turns out to be aluminium.

The softer aluminium marks the hard zirconium. It's very difficult to remove though, usually have to use a razor blade, but it comes off leaving the ring spotless again.


Might be the same with the sapphire glass.

 

[wdfly]

Hmmm... OP, are you frequently bumping into engaged women?

if so what lines are you using and how far are you getting.

 

[ARTHURMCK]

Geniuses at Apple took a look at it and were baffled. Took it under the microscope in the back room and in their opinion it was a scratch.. They're sending that one up to the engineers and I should have a replacement in 3-5 days.