Has your sapphire screen scratched yet? [MERGED Scratched Sapphire Display threads]

[Honey Badger]

Ummm. I assume you are being sarcastic.

IonX glass has less scratch resistance than sapphire.

You sir assumed correctly. But I gotta say I was really torn between the SS and the Sport about the glass because I was under the impression that the sapphire would not scratch and so this thread does make me feel a tad bit better about my decision just to be honest. I do know though that the Sport will be more likely to scratch.

 

[KojiH]

You sir assumed correctly. But I gotta say I was really torn between the SS and the Sport about the glass because I was under the impression that the sapphire would not scratch and so it does make me feel a tad bit better about my decision just to be honest. I do know though that the Sport will be more likely to scratch.

Excellent.

I was torn between the two as well but ended up going with the stainless steel because I thought it would be easier for me to polish out swirl marks and case scuffs compared to the Sport's anodized aluminum.

But seeing that the Sport models are shipping sooner now makes me question my decision as I continue to wait for my stainless steel to arrive...

 

[qliu34]

the problem is, I ware a tag for two years same way I ware the apple watch, not a single scratch on the tag watch face. I did not bump it into anything hard, otherwise I would notice.

Yes, that's a heavy knock, clearly. Sapphire is reasonably scratch proof, but if you slam anything hard into it - just like with glass, it will gouge sapphire. So my thoughts are that it's a gouge more than a scratch, given the state of the stainless steel. Must have scraped something nasty.

 

[AFDoc]

Ummm. I assume you are being sarcastic.

IonX glass has less scratch resistance than sapphire.

LoL... yet I have no scratches.... Guess some are more careful.

 

[KojiH]

the problem is, I ware a tag for two years same way I ware the apple watch, not a single scratch on the tag watch face. I did not bump it into anything hard, otherwise I would notice.

Just a thought but perhaps it's because of the way the Apple Watches crystal curves out and goes edge to edge on the front whereas many traditional watches have a wide metal bezel that protects the crystal from impacts.

 

[edlex]

Yeap, got the edge as well.

That's was a pretty hard hit if it chipped the DLC coating. You say you didn't feel it happen?

 

[AFDoc]

the problem is, I ware a tag for two years same way I ware the apple watch, not a single scratch on the tag watch face. I did not bump it into anything hard, otherwise I would notice.

You bumped it hard enough to get a scratch...... Guess a $6 screen protector would have been a wise purchase.

Sorry you're scratched.... I suspect you aren't the first and won't be the last.

 

[Honey Badger]

Excellent.

I was torn between the two as well but ended up going with the stainless steel because I thought it would be easier for me to polish out swirl marks and case scuffs compared to the Sport's anodized aluminum.

But seeing that the Sport models are shipping sooner now makes me question my decision as I continue to wait for my stainless steel to arrive...

You certainly have a point that the aluminum sport has its cosmetic negatives. I think I will eventually end up with a SS model, but probably a 2nd gen. I was all set on the SS for the 1st gen but then I tried on the Space Gray and thought it looked pretty cool, but I then had the cosmetic worries.

In many ways, this 1st gen is one big beta test.

 

[DynaFXD]

You bumped it hard enough to get a scratch...... Guess a $6 screen protector would have been a wise purchase.

Or, you accept that exposed items get nicked and you live with it and move on while enjoying the smooth feel of a hard surface under your finger and not some vinyl slip cover. What's the point of buying a finely engineered object just to preserve it for 'the next guy'? You get to eat the depreciation and the 'next guy' gets a like new item for half the cost. S****w him or her on that. They can go cheap and get a used item with minor dings, but I get the best years out of it and get to put those dings there.

Sorry you're scratched.... I suspect you aren't the first and won't be the last.

For sure, no protection is infallible It someone wants to preserve 'like new' condition then best to leave that rascal wrapped ..... in the shipping container on a shelf

 

[WilliamG]

the problem is, I ware a tag for two years same way I ware the apple watch, not a single scratch on the tag watch face. I did not bump it into anything hard, otherwise I would notice.

Because everyone loves car analogies: this is analogous to me driving a Ford for several years without a scratch, and now I have a Honda and I clipped a wall after three days. That means the Lamborghini is a poorly-made product.

It's obvious from the damage you clipped something. You may not have noticed, but you did. That took a nice nick into the stainless steel, too. There's nothing remarkable about the Apple Watch construction. It's stainless steel + sapphire glass. Any other watch that's stainless steel would show the same damage. The screen damage would be dependent on the angle of attack, so to speak.

Either way, I'm sorry it happened, but it's certainly not Apple's fault.

 

[phpmaven]

If you can feel it with your fingernail, you likely bumped into something that will scratch sapphire. It happens.

deleted

 

[joshneedham]

Silicon Carbide can be an ingredient in some concrete mixtures, and is harder than sapphire and will scratch it.

 

[KPOM]

I don't remember bumping into anything. I can feel it with my fingernail. I also tried microfiber cloth, and the scratch can't be removed. It feels pretty deep too.

It does have an oleophobic coating. If that's all that's scratched, don't worry about it. The coating will wear off over time. It's nearly impossible to actually scratch sapphire. I've had sapphire crystal watches for years.

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Man, I am so glad I got the Apple Watch Sport with the Ion-X glass!

Because you like even more scratches? Anything that scratches sapphire will easily scratch glass.

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You sir assumed correctly. But I gotta say I was really torn between the SS and the Sport about the glass because I was under the impression that the sapphire would not scratch and so this thread does make me feel a tad bit better about my decision just to be honest. I do know though that the Sport will be more likely to scratch.

My guess is that it is either a gouge on exactly the right cleavage so as not to shatter, or a superficial scratch on the oleophobic coating that will wear off over time. It is EXTREMELY difficult to scratch sapphire. I've had sapphire crystal watches for years. The cases scratch, the mechanisms fail, the bands wear out, but the crystals look as good as new for years.

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You bumped it hard enough to get a scratch...... Guess a $6 screen protector would have been a wise purchase.

Sorry you're scratched.... I suspect you aren't the first and won't be the last.

Seriously? A screen protector? Would you recommend a plastic Swatch protector for a Rolex? You'd rather your watch look stupid 100% of the time? It's rare for a sapphire crystal to be scratched. I'd rather take my chances or pay for AppleCare+ than put a plastic screen protector on it.

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the problem is, I ware a tag for two years same way I ware the apple watch, not a single scratch on the tag watch face. I did not bump it into anything hard, otherwise I would notice.

I think it might just be the oleophobic coating. If you can't feel it, then it's likely that's all it is. If that's the case, some rubbing alcohol will speed up the process of wearing off the coating and you'll get back down to the scratch-free sapphire.

 

[WilliamG]

Do we know for sure that the Apple Watch has an oleophobic coating? I hadn't read anything about it (Apple makes no mention of it at all), so genuinely interested. My SS Apple Watch tends to smear VERY easily.

I know Apple was granted a patent for oleophobic coating on sapphire, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's for this generation of Apple Watch?

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...n-an-oleophobic-coating-on-sapphire-more.html

 

[KojiH]

I don't think we know for certain if there is an oleophobic coating but it has been speculated in multiple threads.

My question is if the Watch designers opted to use sapphire for its superior scratch resistant quality versus IonX glass on the Watch Sport why would they then apply a coating on the surface of the sapphire that is so prone to scratches and wear. Seems counterintuitive. Of course some traditional watch brands have done similar things by applying anti reflective coatings on BOTH the inside and outside of their crystals. It never made sense to me.

But even if a coating is indeed on the crystal it would only be a couple of microns thick and so I don't think a scuff in the coating would be palpable as a gouge or a groove when running fingers over the area.

 

[Treebs]

That's not a scratch, that's a cracked screen. I can see in one of the pictures it is creating a prism and in that you can see the edge of the sapphire. You banged it on something pretty hard to put that deep of a knick in the stainless steel and it lines up perfectly with the crack in the sapphire. That sucks but sapphire doesn't handle high velocity impacts very well.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Do we know for sure that the Apple Watch has an oleophobic coating? I hadn't read anything about it (Apple makes no mention of it at all), so genuinely interested. My SS Apple Watch tends to smear VERY easily.

I know Apple was granted a patent for oleophobic coating on sapphire, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's for this generation of Apple Watch?

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...n-an-oleophobic-coating-on-sapphire-more.html

Apple has a patent on applying an oleophobic coating to sapphire, but that's not proof they've actually done so here. The Consumer Reports test showed no scratches with the hardest pick, so if there is a coating, it is somehow as hard as sapphire and well-adhered to the crystal.

 

[FrankieG889D]

This happens to all watches.

 

[DynaFXD]

Do we know for sure that the Apple Watch has an oleophobic coating? I hadn't read anything about it (Apple makes no mention of it at all), so genuinely interested. My SS Apple Watch tends to smear VERY easily.

Yes. It states plainly in the user manual that both surfaces (Sapphire and ion-x) have an oleophobic coating that will wear off with time. Don't have a link handy, sorry. But search around at the Apple site. It is unequivocally stated as such.
As far as what that coating is, how it works, and the philosophy of adding a coating to sapphire, search here for other threads that go over that. Short answer, no one knows as Apple hasn't said squat about it, other than the aforementioned user guide and some reported conversations with tech support regarding removing it with some scouring.

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Apple has a patent on applying an oleophobic coating to sapphire, but that's not proof they've actually done so here. The Consumer Reports test showed no scratches with the hardest pick, so if there is a coating, it is somehow as hard as sapphire and well-adhered to the crystal.

See my reply to WilliamG above.

 

[TC400]

Yeap, got the edge as well.

Did you get Apple Care for it?

 

[roddenshaw]

Excellent.

I was torn between the two as well but ended up going with the stainless steel because I thought it would be easier for me to polish out swirl marks and case scuffs compared to the Sport's anodized aluminum.

But seeing that the Sport models are shipping sooner now makes me question my decision as I continue to wait for my stainless steel to arrive...

I have the sport, and I do lots of things that are liable to see the watch get scratched (work on my car, crossfit, etc). I'm not particularly worried about the aluminium, however. It has so far proven to be very strong/scratch resistant, but more importantly the glass is much more exposed than the watch case anyway. I haven't come across a scenario where the body of the watch is very likely to be scratched yet.

 

[WilliamG]

Yes. It states plainly in the user manual that both surfaces (Sapphire and ion-x) have an oleophobic coating that will wear off with time. Don't have a link handy, sorry. But search around at the Apple site. It is unequivocally stated as such.
As far as what that coating is, how it works, and the philosophy of adding a coating to sapphire, search here for other threads that go over that. Short answer, no one knows as Apple hasn't said squat about it, other than the aforementioned user guide and some reported conversations with tech support regarding removing it with some scouring.

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See my reply to WilliamG above.

Took some searching, but thanks.

http://help.apple.com/watch/#/apd707b42a5e

 

[jds4300]

I probably own 15-20 watches, some as old as 20 years old. Most have glass displays. Guess what? Not one has EVER been scratched or cracked. Am I extra careful when I wear watches? Absolutely not. They simply have quality displays. Not one is an Appple Watch. I'm really glad that I returned my $600, 42mm Black, Stainless Steel with so called sapphire glass after a mere 6 days of wear. I won't be blinded by the Apple brand again. Apple IS NOT A WATCH MAKER.

 

[roddenshaw]

I probably own 15-20 watches. Some as old as 20 years old. Most have glass displays. Guess what? Not one has EVER been scratched or cracked. Am I extra careful when I wear watches? Absolutely not. They simply have quality displays. Not one is an Appple Watch. I'm really glad that I returned my $600, 42mm Black, Stainless Steel with so called sapphire glass after a mere 6 days of wear. I won't be blinded by the Apple brand again. Apple IS NOT A WATCH MAKER.

I don't understand why anybody does not appreciate your last point from the very outset. The 'Apple Watch' does of course tell the time, but it is not really a watch, it is a small wrist-worn computer (or a fourth screen). Dedicated watches will always be able to do a better job at telling the time, just as with dedicated cameras vs smartphone cameras.

Some might argue that Apple is to blame for the misunderstanding, but beyond their marketing they have tried to set reasonable expectations with regards to functionality and battery life.

Incidentally, could you explain your 'so called sapphire glass' comment? I thought it had been demonstrated that the SS and Edition do indeed use sapphire glass.

 

[qliu34]

So the sapphire screen does have oleophobic coating on it. This seems very counter productive to have on the sapphire. If both sport and apple watch screens get scratches from the coating, then there is no point getting apple watch for the sapphire glass.

Also, I guess I am not the first. There is another person scratched his sapphire apple watch too.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7021615?start=0&tstart=0