Dot-like blemishes on the screen -- any way to fix?

[wmy5]

I've been using my series 4 for more than a year now. I noticed that there are several dot-like blemishes on the watch face, as shown in the picture. It is a sapphire crystal screen. I have no idea why they exist. They don't seem to be scratches though: the glass is completely smooth. Does anyone have similar experience? I wonder if there is a way to get rid of them.

I do have AppleCare+ and I haven't used incidents yet. However, I don't think cometic damage like this is covered.

Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[alpi123]

I'm sorry to disappoint you but it's not a real sapphite crystal screen. It's just a coating on top of the glass layer.

Regarding your issue, I can't help here. If I were you, I'd bring it to the Apple Store, just in case they actually can offer you a replacement (for them it could be more than cosmetic damage).

 

[wmy5]

I'm sorry to disappoint you but it's not a real sapphite crystal screen. It's just a coating on top of the glass layer.

Regarding your issue, I can't help here. If I were you, I'd bring it to the Apple Store, just in case they actually can offer you a replacement (for them it could be more than cosmetic damage).

Thanks for the suggestion. I am aware that the front glass may not be as good as real watches, but these kind of blemishes shouldn't even appear on regular ion-X glass right?

 

[waw74]

if I had to guess, it's from the band rubbing against the screen, the pattern looks similar

try a "nonabrasive, lint-free cloth" with a bit of water and see if that helps

How to clean your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Learn how to clean your Apple Watch and band.

support.apple.com

 

[iamasmith]

Hopefully the above are right and I'm wrong.

There's a common report that the DLC coating on the black Milanese loop is harder than the Sapphire screen material and this, when the band comes into contact with the screen, can result in abrasions.

It will certainly cut through any top layer like the oleophobic coating applied but can actually abrade the screen.

Incidentally the oleophobic coating does tend to wear under some circumstances. My S3, for example, has a circular area covering most of the middle of the screen that looks foggy at certain times and this I think maybe one of the downsides to swimming with it regularly.

 

[marmiteturkey]

I'm sorry to disappoint you but it's not a real sapphite crystal screen. It's just a coating on top of the glass layer.

Are you sure about this? I’ve never seen it described this way - the sapphire on the SS and edition watches is always described as a crystal, not a coating (I’m not sure how you would coat glass with sapphire)

 

[44267547]

I've been using my series 4 for more than a year now. I noticed that there are several dot-like blemishes on the watch face, as shown in the picture. It is a sapphire crystal screen. I have no idea why they exist. They don't seem to be scratches though: the glass is completely smooth. Does anyone have similar experience? I wonder if there is a way to get rid of them.

I do have AppleCare+ and I haven't used incidents yet. However, I don't think cometic damage like this is covered.

Any help will be much appreciated.

That Almost looks like some type of ‘pitting’ on the display from your picture. But to be honest, it’s difficult to tell from that angle on your picture. Your only real option is to have Apple assess it in person and move from there.

 

[alpi123]

Are you sure about this? I’ve never seen it described this way - the sapphire on the SS and edition watches is always described as a crystal, not a coating (I’m not sure how you would coat glass with sapphire)

If you haven't watched this, do so. It will answer your question.

 

[iamasmith]

If you haven't watched this, do so. It will answer your question.

Being clear about this the video does NOT claim that this is a coating on top of the glass but that the aluminium oxide material (which is what a synthetic sapphire is anyway) may not be as 'pure' as the one used on the Tissot and therefore not as hard.

A natural sapphire is, however, an impure aluminium oxide crystal anyway.

Sapphire - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Donnation]

Unfortunately, those are scratches. While the screen is incredibly durable, it’s not scratch proof and those are definitely scratches. Apple won’t do anything and call it normal wear and tear.

 

[wmy5]

Unfortunately, those are scratches. While the screen is incredibly durable, it’s not scratch proof and those are definitely scratches. Apple won’t do anything and call it normal wear and tear.

The strange thing is unlike other scratches I experienced, I cannot feel them by touching the surface. They are smooth. But they could be micro scratches.

I talked to Apple supports and sent them this picture, they allow me to request a screen repair by express replacement. I guess I will need to use one of my AppleCare+ incidents this time.

 

[Strangedream]

I wonder how this happened, I never had micro scratches on my SS S2 and I used it almost every day.

Anyways, you probably gonna have to pay a deductible for that as you guessed. Good thing you have AC+.

 

[wmy5]

I wonder how this happened, I never had micro scratches on my SS S2 and I used it almost every day.

Anyways, you probably gonna have to pay a deductible for that as you guessed. Good thing you have AC+.

Just to follow up on this matter. I asked Apple about 2 weeks ago to send me an express replacement under the reason of "screen anomaly". I returned the original watch immediately and Apple removed the hold on my credit card. The strange thing is as of now Apple hasn't charged the deductible yet. When does Apple usually charge the incident fee after the removal of hold?
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[Strangedream]

Just to follow up on this matter. I asked Apple about 2 weeks ago to send me an express replacement under the reason of "screen anomaly". I returned the original watch immediately and Apple removed the hold on my credit card. The strange thing is as of now Apple hasn't charged the deductible yet. When does Apple usually charge the incident fee after the removal of hold?
[automerge]1572156504[/automerge]

I’m not sure about that, the only time I was charged a deductible I paid cash upfront. Check your bank statement to see if there’s any pending transaction from Apple?

 

[Otflyer]

Just to follow up on this matter. I asked Apple about 2 weeks ago to send me an express replacement under the reason of "screen anomaly". I returned the original watch immediately and Apple removed the hold on my credit card. The strange thing is as of now Apple hasn't charged the deductible yet. When does Apple usually charge the incident fee after the removal of hold?
[automerge]1572156504[/automerge]

I recently received an express replacement watch under AppleCare because, the crown was defective. Apple didn’t charge me.

 

[nalk7]

My guess is it’s the olephobic film on top of the Crystal that’s scratched.

 

[wmy5]

My guess is it’s the olephobic film on top of the Crystal that’s scratched.

Probably. I have been staying away from milanese loop since then. It's too easy to scratch the watch with the milanese loop. I ordered a leather loop instead.

 

[nalk7]

Probably. I have been staying away from milanese loop since then. It's too easy to scratch the watch with the milanese loop. I ordered a leather loop instead.

Yeah my S3 Edition had micro hairline scratches on the bottom curved part of the display, after reading this it might very well be the Milanese loop, I used to wear the black one of that watch and it’s very possible that it might’ve come in contact with the display when taking it off

 

[wmy5]

Yeah my S3 Edition had micro hairline scratches on the bottom curved part of the display, after reading this it might very well be the Milanese loop, I used to wear the black one of that watch and it’s very possible that it might’ve come in contact with the display when taking it off

oleophobic coating is just a thin layer of transparent material deposit to the glass, so I don't think scratching it will be visible. I think it is the sapphire crystal itself that is scratched. DLC coating on the milanese loop is harder than sapphire.

 

[Brien]

As others have said, the marks line up with the width of the milanese band. It has likely rubbed the oleophobic coating off your screen.

 

[44267547]

oleophobic coating is just a thin layer of transparent material deposit to the glass, so I don't think scratching it will be visible. I think it is the sapphire crystal itself that is scratched. DLC coating on the milanese loop is harder than sapphire.

If you scratch the Oleophobic coating, it is visible, but to a very minor extent, where the scratches should dissipate as the coating eventually will start to naturally wear off.