Has anyone scratched the a sapphire screen?

[Gibson88]

Just wondering now that the Ultra has a flat display if I should get a glass screen protector.

I know the sapphire displays are very scratch resistant but I’m just wondering if anyone has actually marked them?

 

[yepp]

It's possible to get sapphire scratched. My friend scratched the screen on her stainless steel series 8. I have seen/inspected it myself. There were definitely several small scratches on the sapphire.

 

[tardman91]

Theoretically, the only thing that scratches sapphire is diamond. 🤷🏻‍♂️
A lot of sapphire “scratches” on watches are really just marks in the anti-reflective coating that many watch manufacturers use.

 

[antiprotest]

Theoretically, the only thing that scratches sapphire is diamond. 🤷🏻‍♂️
A lot of sapphire “scratches” on watches are really just marks in the anti-reflective coating that many watch manufacturers use.

But when you work in a diamond mine...

 

[TheBigDog]

'Sapphire'

 

[BenGoren]

To put yourself in the proper frame of mind, first imagine that you’re wearing the watch as they perform the various tests in this video:

Now, assuming you were wearing the watch at all times … which are you more worried about: whether or not your watch’s display is scratched, or how you’re going to begin your new life as an amputee with serious PTSD?

“You do you,” of course, but do so knowing that a screen protector for the Ultra makes about as much sense as putting a sports car bra on your bulldozer’s blade.

b&

 

[MrGimper]

Theoretically, the only thing that scratches sapphire is diamond. 🤷🏻‍♂️
A lot of sapphire “scratches” on watches are really just marks in the anti-reflective coating that many watch manufacturers use.

This. You have a very scratch-resistant material, and Apple coat it in a thin, easily scratchable oleophobic coating.

 

[parseckadet]

Not sure why the screen being flat would make you think you need a protector if you didn't before. The design of the Ultra makes the screen less likely to be scratched, not more.

But I will say this. I've owned watches with sapphire crystals for 20 years now. This includes wearing the Apple Watch every day since the series 0 came out (have always had the sapphire screen). I shell out the extra money because I saw what my dad's Citzen watches looked like without the sapphire, and they were always scratched to hell. In all this time, I've never scratched a sapphire crystal.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I have a friend who came home very drunk and stumbled into his brick wall, just outside his front door. He must have really been moving as he must have tripped, glanced off the wall with the right side of his head, shoulder, right arm and hip where damaged by the rough brick surfaces.

His right arm and hand looked like hamburger meat from elbow to little finger. The only area that was not hurt was where his stainless steel Apple Watch with sapphire screen was buckled to his arm. The stainless had deep scratches along the side that contacted the wall and the sapphire screen had a tiny mark on the rolled edge of the screen where the stainless was nuked. The sapphire is very tough yet can be damaged under the worst conditions. He was not wearing an Ultra, it was a series 7.

 

[Nhwhazup]

Not sure why the screen being flat would make you think you need a protector if you didn't before. The design of the Ultra makes the screen less likely to be scratched, not more.

But I will say this. I've owned watches with sapphire crystals for 20 years now. This includes wearing the Apple Watch every day since the series 0 came out (have always had the sapphire screen). I shell out the extra money because I saw what my dad's Citzen watches looked like without the sapphire, and they were always scratched to hell. In all this time, I've never scratched a sapphire crystal.

Same here. I have a Rado watch with sapphire crystal - worn it for close to 20 years - still don’t see any scratches on the face.

 

[Johnly]

All my watches with sapphire screens remain perfect. Never used protection on them. It’s more likely it would shatter vs getting scratched and that would take serious abuse of the watch.

 

[Gibson88]

Well this has reassured me, think I’ll go naked!

 

[mavis]

Only one of my SS Apple Watches had scratches on the screen when I sold it - multiple deep but small scratches. So IMO it depends on the batch of sapphire you happen to get.

S0: perfect after 3+ years
S3: multiple deep scratches after <1yr
S4: perfect after two years
S6: perfect after one year
S7: still perfect.

So one of my five SS/Ti had inferior sapphire.

 

[jaymc]

My experience ...

S0: no scratches
S2: no scratches
S4: no scratches
S6: no scratches

So, no problems for me.

P.S. - didn't feel the need for the S8 since I have no need for temperature readings or the 1mm larger display.

 

[BB.King]

My aluminium S5 I had since release have few deep and surface scratches. No scratch on a week old ultra yet. Hit exposed brick wall few times while installing Ring cameras on the weekend. Not a mark on the screen or Ti body after washing off the dust.

Personal I will get a screen cover for the ultra couple years down then line once the oleophobic coating wears off. I have done the same with all my older ipads.

 

[applestein]

i've put two small scratches in my ss s7. i had an aluminum s6 before that though, and the sapphire is leaps and bounds better than the ion glass in my opinion. my s6 had chips and scratches all over it. it looked awful. my ss s7 has held up much better. just two very shallow scratches. pretty sure i got them from sand while golfing.

 

[Cosmo M3]

If you're wearing your watching everyday and you're able to damage or scratch your sapphire glass watch, you have worst things to worry about (like the rest of your body).

 

[C7 POWER]

I have had a Apple Watch SS since Series 0. Never have had a scratch on any of the sapphire screens, including my Ultra so far.

 

[risenphoenixkai]

One year and one day ago, my motorcycle hit an oil slick and went over on its side. I was travelling 100 kph at the time. I impacted the road on my left side and slid down the road for 80 metres before I came to a stop.

My Series 6 Apple Watch must have made contact with the road surface at some point, because there were extremely faint scratches on the screen from where the leather on my gloves had worn through against the asphalt. The scratches were only visible in bright sunlight at certain angles and did not impair screen readability at all.

Sapphire is much, much tougher than most people realise.

 

[mavis]

One year and one day ago, my motorcycle hit an oil slick and went over on its side. I was travelling 100 kph at the time. I impacted the road on my left side and slid down the road for 80 metres before I came to a stop.

My Series 6 Apple Watch must have made contact with the road surface at some point, because there were extremely faint scratches on the screen from where the leather on my gloves had worn through against the asphalt. The scratches were only visible in bright sunlight at certain angles and did not impair screen readability at all.

Sapphire is much, much tougher than most people realise.

Forget the watch - I hope you were ok! That sounds intense!

 

[risenphoenixkai]

Forget the watch - I hope you were ok! That sounds intense!

Thanks. It wasn't a good day.

The bike was totalled, and everything I was wearing got shredded to various degrees… but I walked away with a very mild concussion and a bruised butt. I got very lucky (and I was wearing the right kind of gear to make sure I had more than luck on my side).

I thought for sure I was going to be dealing with a dead Apple Watch that day too, but it survived almost as unscathed as I did. I was extremely impressed with how well it held up under literally the worst conditions I've experienced.

 

[syuketron]

I've scratched mine somehow. I don't know how but it's all scratched up

Some more pictures here

https://imgur.com/a/dXtvpLD

 

[DSTOFEL]

…..“You do you,” of course, but do so knowing that a screen protector for the Ultra makes about as much sense as putting a sports car bra on your bulldozer’s blade.

b&

Or….about as much sense as putting a sports bra on a pair of over-the-ear headphones. Oh wait….Apple actually did that 😊.