Oh how I love sapphire crystal...

[shortcrust]

I know people have scratch marks on their screens but mine really does seem impervious to all attacks. I've just bashed it for the hundredth time on the spiky metal curtain tiebacks near my kettle whist making a cuppa. Nothing. I bash it into walls and door handles on a daily basis. Nothing. There's been dust from shattered brick on the metal casing. The screen? Nothing. I love it.

Touch wood.

 

[Thepixelsedge]

I know people have scratch marks on their screens but mine really does seem impervious to all attacks. I've just bashed it for the hundredth time on the spiky metal curtain tiebacks near my kettle whist making a cuppa. Nothing. I bash it into walls and door handles on a daily basis. Nothing. There's been dust from shattered brick on the metal casing. The screen? Nothing. I love it.

Touch wood.

I'm having the same experience and I smack mine against a 2 ton safe on a daily basis. This safe is solid as anything and has a rough surface.

I buffed the scuffs out once just to try it and it made the watch look like new again... don't think I'll do that too often though... maybe yearly. That sapphire though, no problems, crystal clean

 

[Gav2k]

Yep same here. Was working on a machine at work and a part smacked my watch, not a mark. Hit it daily without an issue.

 

[rasputinj01]

I have been very happy with the sapphire crystal , I hit stuff all the time and no issues. My other watch is the Omega moon watch and I scratched that plastic on it a couple of times a month. I was sick of buffing it out all the time

 

[dr34mc4st3r]

same sentiments, my SS screen is still as good as new after a few months

 

[Newtons Apple]

Same here, worth every penny for the SS + sapphire.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Touch wood.

Shatters.

 

[Enygmatic]

I've hit mine pretty hard on a few door frames and desks... not a scratch. Definitely worth the price and whatever tradeoff there may be with glare/reflectivity (for my purposes, anyway).

 

[maflynn]

I couldn't get my head around the fact it shatters easier then the ion glass and the fact its not as visible in the sunshine. Its a great material don't get me wrong but I think for my needs and wants the ion glass was a better choice.

 

[telefono]

Most of my watches over the years had Sapphire Crystal for the reasons given here. Worth every cent

 

[Fuchal]

How exactly would you shatter something strapped to your arm? I know your chances are better with ion-x in the case that it happens, but if something hits my arm hard enough to shatter the sapphire, I'd imagine the ion-x isn't going to fare well either. I don't see dropping it as a risk.

 

[mcaswell]

I've almost dropped mine once or twice trying to get the sport strap around my wrist (think I've got the hang of it now though). Another concern would be the possible breakage of a strap (especially while jogging, cycling, etc.), especially with some of the third party straps (a few people have posts pics of broken straps).

 

[Donoban]

I couldn't get my head around the fact it shatters easier then the ion glass and the fact its not as visible in the sunshine. Its a great material don't get me wrong but I think for my needs and wants the ion glass was a better choice.

Doesn't make sense man. How often you going to shatter the glass on a watch? Like that statement is true for every watch ever made. The whole sunshine reflection this is way overstated.

But you have justified your purchase which is good for you.

 

[maflynn]

Doesn't make sense man. How often you going to shatter the glass on a watch? Like that statement is true for every watch ever made. The whole sunshine reflection this is way overstated.

But you have justified your purchase which is good for you.

I don't think the sunshine is overstated. I run and a number of times, I barely was able to see (in bright sunlight) the watch, I have to figure that the sapphire would be virtually unreadable in that situation.

As for the shattering, I'd say the risk of dropping a watch is more likely then scratching the glass. Just my opinion, its not based on any scientific study. Plus if I get a screen protector, I nullified the scratch resistant advantage of sapphire.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I couldn't get my head around the fact it shatters easier then the ion glass and the fact its not as visible in the sunshine. Its a great material don't get me wrong but I think for my needs and wants the ion glass was a better choice.

You're more likely to potentially scratch the ion glass from a simple brushing against something than taking a hard enough hit to shatter the sapphire crystal.

As for the shattering, I'd say the risk of dropping a watch is more likely then scratching the glass. Just my opinion, its not based on any scientific study. Plus if I get a screen protector, I nullified the scratch resistant advantage of sapphire.

How can you drop something that's tethered to the wrist? Surely you meant hitting it by a swing of the arm. Again, you're more likely to induce a scratch than shatter it, because it'd have to take an extremely hard hit.

 

[cambookpro]

I've hit my Sport a few times and luckily the screen is still perfect. The Ion-X glass seems pretty scratch resistant, though obviously it's not as tough as the sapphire.

 

[maflynn]

You're more likely to potentially scratch the ion glass from a simple brushing against something than taking a hard enough hit to shatter the sapphire crystal.

Not if I have a screen protector on it

How can you drop something that's tethered to the wrist? Surely you meant hitting it by a swing of the arm. Again, you're more likely to induce a scratch than shatter it, because it'd have to take an extremely hard hit.

Fumbling with the band, the band letting go. There's a number of posts in the third party band thread where for one type of nylon band, the screws on the lugs come undone. Stuff happens and its possible the watch can fall to the ground.

By the way, I'm not knocking the sapphire, I wished it was included in the sport, but for my needs, external viewing was a high need, I felt the shatter resistance was a better trade off for my needs. To put it another way, I'd increase the scratch resistance of the ion glass with a screen protector like my iPhone 6+

Overall given the premium price of AW, I opted for the sport and since I'm using it outside a lot the glass is a better solution for me

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Fumbling with the band,

Hence why it's a good habit to put it on over the bed, although it's a non-issue with the link bracelet which you need to insert your hand through before clasping it.

the band letting go. There's a number of posts in the third party band thread where for one type of nylon band, the screws on the lugs come undone. Stuff happens and its possible the watch can fall to the ground.

I guess that's the risk people take when they choose to invest in a cheapo third party band.

 

[maflynn]

Hence why it's a good habit to put it on over the bed, although it's a non-issue with the link bracelet which you need to insert your hand through before clasping it.

I guess that's the risk people take when they choose to invest in a cheapo third party band.

But like everything else in life one size does not fit all. While you're trying to convince me that Sapphire is superior in all ways, I stated my case that in my needs the sport watch/ion glass is a better fit.

To each his own, I stated why I like it, and I feel there's nothing wrong with sapphire but I'm happy with my decision

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

But like everything else in life one size does not fit all. While you're trying to convince me that Sapphire is superior in all ways, I stated my case that in my needs the sport watch/ion glass is a better fit.

To each his own, I stated why I like it, and I feel there's nothing wrong with sapphire but I'm happy with my decision

You didn't need to rationalize your decision in the first place. People will call you out for weak arguments.

 

[Mojopin]

You didn't need to rationalize your decision in the first place. People will call you out for weak arguments.

Yup, coming to a thread about love for the sapphire screen isn't the best place to post about what made you choose the Sport over the SS, just seems like over-justifying that you bought the cheaper version that's all.

 

[Enygmatic]

There are stories and articles showing cracked sapphire screens. I don't know; I can't discredit them. All I know is I've owned many watches with sapphire screens, and it would take an awful lot to crack/shatter them. My Watch has proven its resilience and toughness a few times (band, too, which I'm even happier about). Then again, it could just be that one awkward fall and BOOM. Then again... again... my watches rarely share the same risk of falling that a phone might.

I've seen videos of cracked screens, though. They never show exactly how the screen cracked (9to5Mac had an article with a decent breakdown), but the only ones I've seen for myself involved some idiot and a hammer on YouTube, and another purposefully performing an exaggerated drop test on Facebook. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I were to drop it, say, in the sink, and it hit just right, it would crack. But so would the Ion-X glass. If that's the same glass they use on iPhones, a 1.5 ft. drop from the couch to the floor is (evidently) fatal.

Scratches? There's no contest. That's my biggest concern, and likeliest damage.

Sunlight? I can't tell a huge difference between the two, after comparing them with a coworkers' while out in the field, but it is there. Not enough for me to be bothered, or give up the scratch resistance of the sapphire screen.

 

[redman042]

I decided not to get caught up in the detailed debate about sapphire vs ion-x... which shatters easier, which scratches easier, one is more reflective than the other, etc.

I picked the SS because I loved the look of the case far more than the aluminum, and I'm happy with the sapphire because I know it's more scratch resistant and the glossiness of it makes it look more classy. Yes it is more reflective but not enough to matter for a screen that you only glance at.

I've had my watch for almost three months and the sapphire looks brand new. The SS case has some scratches which indicates that I certainly hit the crystal against some things but it had no effect. I know the risk of shattering is there but it's unlikely and I do have Apple Care.

All that said, my wife chose a silver Sport and put a Milanese Loop on it. It was a great choice for her and she's had no issues with scratching or damage either.

 

[jonhcox]

My wrist banged against a brick wall Monday and I just knew I had scratched the sapphire. I know unless it is diamond I should be ok, but I was afraid to look at it for a few minutes. I sat down in my cube and took a good look and was relieved the crystal was clean. Had some scratching on the SS, but I buffed it with some Mothers Mag polish when I got home.

 

[shortcrust]

My wrist banged against a brick wall Monday and I just knew I had scratched the sapphire. I know unless it is diamond I should be ok, but I was afraid to look at it for a few minutes. I sat down in my cube and took a good look and was relieved the crystal was clean. Had some scratching on the SS, but I buffed it with some Mothers Mag polish when I got home.

That's how I am too. I always think "oh that's it, this time it just has be scratched".