Has the sapphire glass been fixed yet?

[Arni99]

My AW Series 2 sapphire display is still flawless. No need to upgrade to AW6.
Yes, it's processor is slow but it still does everything I need most like Apple Pay, sports tracking (addidas running app). Once had an aluminium AW3 with a scratched display after just a few weeks.

 

[mavis]

Sometimes what happens is, you can accrue minor hairline scratches on the oleophobic coating, but that should wear off as long as it’s not deep enough where it actually scratched into the display itself.

Yeah, that's what everyone always says. The thing is, my S3 had scratches deep enough to be felt with a fingertip ... multiple, deep, scratches. If oleophobic coating is only a few microns thick, those scratches wouldn't be deep enough to be felt with your finger. Mine were, and there were ... actually, I've typed this exact stuff before. Here's the thread from a couple of years ago, with pictures:

Sapphire quality?

No. The oleophobic coating is only several microns thick. These scratches are deep enough to feel with a fingernail. Here are four more. Again, I baby my watch - I have absolutely no idea how these scratches got there, as I've never dropped the watch, I don't use my Milanese loop band anymore...

forums.macrumors.com

Fortunately, my S4 doesn't have this problem - it's perfect after two years, like my S0 was, as well. So again, it really just comes down to luck of the draw as to the particular "batch" of sapphire you end up with.

 

[Broken Hope]

I had a series 2 for 2 years and a 4 for 2 years, flawless glass both times.

 

[NaitzabEZ]

I've used the Sapphire watches since Series 0 - all were sold 1 year later without a single mark/scratch. How is this a gimmic?

I've hammered them too

I never said it was a gimmick, i asked if it was one.. As a first time buyer im quite concerned, I love Apple tech etc but i want to make sure i make the correct decision, sorry if that bothered you.

 

[techno-Zen]

I never said it was a gimmick, i asked if it was one.. As a first time buyer im quite concerned, I love Apple tech etc but i want to make sure i make the correct decision, sorry if that bothered you.

I wasn't bothered but maybe misinterpreted your post..

Sapphire is the only way to go in my opinion

 

[parseckadet]

So 2y ago JerryRigEverything (Youtube channel) did his "scratch test" on two different watches (AW Edition Series 3 Ceramic) and a Tissot.

But the Series 3 I owned for ten months? Horribly soft "sapphire" display.

Anyone else notice a pattern here? Maybe it was just an issue with the Series 3. Every mention of any other series has indicated that there were no issues. I spoke about my Series 4 earlier, but I had a Series 0 SS and didn't have any issues with that one either. And I was even harder on that one.

 

[44267547]

I wasn't bothered but maybe misinterpreted your post..

Sapphire is the only way to go in my opinion

Apple needs to market the sapphire more. but I understand why they don’t either, not when most consumers won’t be provoked to upgrade and spend the extra $400 simply because of the sapphire display. That, and most of them are not pedantic like we are about our Apple watches on site like this. Nonetheless, I would happily pay Apple prices just to have the Sapphire alone, I’ve never had a scratch on any of my Apple Watch displays.

 

[Toratek]

Plenty of scratches on the cases of all my SS AW’s, but never even the slightest mark on the crystals. Wish I could say the same for my Omegas.

 

[ZipZap]

So 2y ago JerryRigEverything (Youtube channel) did his "scratch test" on two different watches (AW Edition Series 3 Ceramic) and a Tissot.

What ended up happening was that the AW scratched earlier than expected by the pick, where as the Tissot scratched on the expected pick level.

So my question, is this still an "issue"? Is Apple sapphire glass a gimmic?

Trying to decide on a series 6 model so this is quite important for me..


Link to vid: VIDEO

Apple does not use Sapphire Glass fas as I know.

 

[parseckadet]

Apple does not use Sapphire Glass fas as I know.

Congrats on refusing to read the thread.

Also, from https://www.apple.com/watch/compare/:

Aluminum models have Ion-X glass displays. Stainless steel and titanium models have sapphire crystal displays.

 

[NaitzabEZ]

alright, some mixed comments but i decided to cancel my alu navy for a graphite ss, thanks for info you guys

 

[ZipZap]

Congrats on refusing to read the thread.

Also, from https://www.apple.com/watch/compare/:

Sapphire Glass and Sapphire Crystal are not the same.

 

[johnyyz]

Sapphire Glass and Sapphire Crystal are not the same.

Yes they are. It’s a synthetic man made product that is produced in crystal form and then cut and polished into glass like product. A sapphire gemstone is different.

 

[ZipZap]

Sapphire glass, is made synthetically and isn't actually considered a glass but a crystal. The sapphire crystal is made in very high temperatures and it made up from crystalline aluminum oxides.

 

[44267547]

Sapphire glass, is made synthetically and isn't actually considered a glass but a crystal.

You’re missing the point though, sapphire is still glass. What difference does it make if it’s synthetic or not? It doesn’t change the composition in terms of the protection it offers, so why would it matter if it was organic, synthetic or a combination of a multitude of other elements? (Those are all rhetorical questions, it’s to provoke critical thought for you.)

 

[mavis]

You’re missing the point though, sapphire is still glass. What difference does it make if it’s synthetic or not? It doesn’t change the composition in terms of the protection it offers, so why would it matter if it was organic, synthetic or a combination of a multitude of other elements? (Those are all rhetorical questions, it’s to provoke critical thought for you.)

Taking that a step farther, for a watch face it's actually preferable that the sapphire be synthetic. Sapphires' color comes from impurities in the crystal, but a synthetic sapphire's creation is carefully controlled, to avoid introduction of those impurities.

 

[deeddawg]

Sapphire glass, is made synthetically and isn't actually considered a glass but a crystal. The sapphire crystal is made in very high temperatures and it made up from crystalline aluminum oxides.

Good grief, did you really not understand what @NaitzabEZ meant, even if they didn't use the exactly correct wording?

 

[MGrayson3]

My watch face is made from nucleons formed in the first three minutes after the big bang. Many of its atoms were born in the cores of supernovae. It survived both the Late Heavy Bombardment AND Disco. And it shows pictures of my cat. No scratches. Given that all the evidence points to my cat having diamond tipped claws, this is impressive.

 

[parseckadet]

Sapphire glass, is made synthetically and isn't actually considered a glass but a crystal. The sapphire crystal is made in very high temperatures and it made up from crystalline aluminum oxides.

You got me. You wanted to play "Well Actually" Police and I fell for it hook line and sinker. Thanks for making such a meaningful contribution to the thread. Hopefully you can hear my eyes rolling from wherever you are.