Apple uses an impure watered down version of sapphire so they can't use that as a selling point. While Apple "sapphire" is indeed harder than Ion-X glass it scratches at 6-7 Mohs whereas real sapphire used by most watchmakers would scratch at 8-9 Mohs.
That's what their marketing team wants you to believe, sapphire glass is not that expensive to produce. You can even get a quartz watch with a similar type of sapphire as Apple uses for $50-60 on a market stall.
The SBSS already does a decent job at blending the screen.
I have no idea what Apples marketing department say, I just know from experience of the processes involved do cost significantly more. The quantities Apple order though should bring it down much like watch makers who currently put it into cheaper watches.
For those sorts of people I definitely recommend paying at least £700 for an AW with a more scratch resistant screen.
I’ve had 3 years with a standard AW and not had an issue with the screen scratching with any severity. A few light scratches that can be seen in certain lights has not bothered me. My Series 2 is now redundant in a drawer and having it pristine was not one of my demands personally.
I only buy SS because of the screen. Apple marketing is in full effect with ION-X glass because these screens scratch much easier than sapphire and similar to the iPhone (which is why I use a screen protector on the phone).
Good pic, but I don't like the combination, but the black lugs are potentially do able while the stainless look pretty bad (IMHO).
It will most likely sit at customs for 2 to 3 days then another 2 days once it takes off for Alaska
Series 3 came with a gray band?
Forgot there was a gray one, LOL
man, $100 for that gray band. thats some crazy corn
