Probably but since Apple nor Corning even confirm Apple uses Gorilla Glass despite it being common knowledge it would be had to identify the generation. However since gen 4 is now available I don't see any reason why Apple would use gen 3 unless there is a BIG pricing advantage or restriction on availability.
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Sapphire vs. ion-x glass.. Will the sport watch scratch?
- Thread starter Afluffykitten
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Probably but since Apple nor Corning even confirm Apple uses Gorilla Glass despite it being common knowledge it would be had to identify the generation. However since gen 4 is now available I don't see any reason why Apple would use gen 3 unless there is a BIG pricing advantage or restriction on availability.
Ion-X glass vs. sapphire crystal
Ok, we know Ion-X glass is more shatter resistant and sapphire is more scratch resistant, but does anybody know by how much? Perhaps the shatter resistance difference is negligible? Is Ion-X glass more scratch resistant than mineral glass? If yes, then Ion-X is quite scratch resistant, and perhaps in the real usage not much difference between the two.
I ask because I'm planning on getting the 42mm Space Grey Sport and also the Milanese Loop. I could and would spend an additional $200 and simply get the SS 42mm Milanese, if sapphire is better than Ion-X.
Btw, do you think the Milanese Loop would clash with the Space Grey Sport? I looked at that combo on MixYourWatch and it looked ok. Oh, by getting Space Grey and Milanese Loop vs just the SS Milanese I would have two bands (black Sport Band + Milanese).
Ok, we know Ion-X glass is more shatter resistant and sapphire is more scratch resistant, but does anybody know by how much? Perhaps the shatter resistance difference is negligible? Is Ion-X glass more scratch resistant than mineral glass? If yes, then Ion-X is quite scratch resistant, and perhaps in the real usage not much difference between the two.
I ask because I'm planning on getting the 42mm Space Grey Sport and also the Milanese Loop. I could and would spend an additional $200 and simply get the SS 42mm Milanese, if sapphire is better than Ion-X.
Btw, do you think the Milanese Loop would clash with the Space Grey Sport? I looked at that combo on MixYourWatch and it looked ok. Oh, by getting Space Grey and Milanese Loop vs just the SS Milanese I would have two bands (black Sport Band + Milanese).
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Difference between Ion-X and Sapphire glass?
I see the regular Sport version will have the Ion-X glass while the more expensive versions will be featuring Sapphire glass. Naturally the Sapphire glass is supposed to be the better, more durable version. But I'm wondering if the Ion-X glass will be more prone to scratches and such?
I see the regular Sport version will have the Ion-X glass while the more expensive versions will be featuring Sapphire glass. Naturally the Sapphire glass is supposed to be the better, more durable version. But I'm wondering if the Ion-X glass will be more prone to scratches and such?
IonX is Apple's fancy term for Gorilla Glass 4. It's more shatter resistant compared to Sapphire Glass but Sapphire Glass is more scratch resistant.
No doubt the glass will scratch compared to the sapphire. The sapphire is way more durable. The Ion-X Glass is the same as your iphone 6/6+ and it will scratch
Are you sure about this? I read somewhere that IonX is Gorilla Glass 4. As far as I know the iphone 6 doesn't use that glass.
I thought I read here that the iPhone 6/6+ had IonX treated glass. No matter, it will be much more prone to scratching compared to sapphire.
The watch, just being a wearble, will expose it to alot of harm. How you not ever bashed you watch into something? I have many times
You know what would really tickle your fancy?
What would you think of the ion-x glass/sapphire glass and composite/ceramic back if they were flipped. What if the SS or even the Gold Apple watch had ion-x glass?
Can't you just hear the Apple Marketing now?
"Apple Watch and Watch Edition will be brilliantly topped off with the new Apple Formula Patent Revolutionary Highly Resistant Anti-Microbial Ion-X Glass, it's like nothing you have ever felt or seen before."
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I guess to be fair, we need to find watches that sport the identical ion-X Glass.
Saying that my Rolex has sapphire glass and barely has any scratched after 10 years and my iPhone 6 has a few scratched after 6 months is not really a good argument. Given that the surface area of iPhone is much much greater than the surface area of a watch face.
What would you think of the ion-x glass/sapphire glass and composite/ceramic back if they were flipped. What if the SS or even the Gold Apple watch had ion-x glass?
Can't you just hear the Apple Marketing now?
"Apple Watch and Watch Edition will be brilliantly topped off with the new Apple Formula Patent Revolutionary Highly Resistant Anti-Microbial Ion-X Glass, it's like nothing you have ever felt or seen before."
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I guess to be fair, we need to find watches that sport the identical ion-X Glass.
Saying that my Rolex has sapphire glass and barely has any scratched after 10 years and my iPhone 6 has a few scratched after 6 months is not really a good argument. Given that the surface area of iPhone is much much greater than the surface area of a watch face.
Every Gorilla glass generation is "Ion-X", as it is made using ion exchange process.
As far as scratch resistance goes, sapphire is much tougher. Sand (Quartz, chemically mostly the same as glass, just in crystalline form) could easily scratch Gorilla Glass, while sapphire would remain scratch free.
From what I been reading many people here want the sapphire glass with the aluminum, and I surprised no one has brought up the question; if there maybe a chance to have the ionx glass changed out for the sapphire glass. after all other places are offering cases, platinum watches (brikk), stands, and etc. why not a crystal. I'm starting to see a number of after market items being rumored and just waiting for the watch to be released. ( just something to think about!)
Sapphire is not all that much better than the mineral glass in most watches, and I would assume the same is true for the IonX glass in the 
Watch. It certainly is not $200 better. DCRainmaker, a guy that tests fitness watches, claims to have never had an issue with scratches on any of the watches he has used, most of which are not sapphire. It was in reference to the sapphire fenix 3, which he sees little reason to spring for over the mineral glass.
Sapphire, all around, may be better, but it isn't $200 better. Now as a whole package, maybe, but I wouldn't base the decision on sapphire alone. In fact, in a sports/fitness situation, I would almost say you may prefer the shatter resistance over scratch resistance.
I think most of you are falling for the sapphire name and marketing. Yes, it is really good at resisting scratches, but it is also very brittle, and I believe, has a lower level of clarity.
Watch. It certainly is not $200 better. DCRainmaker, a guy that tests fitness watches, claims to have never had an issue with scratches on any of the watches he has used, most of which are not sapphire. It was in reference to the sapphire fenix 3, which he sees little reason to spring for over the mineral glass.Sapphire, all around, may be better, but it isn't $200 better. Now as a whole package, maybe, but I wouldn't base the decision on sapphire alone. In fact, in a sports/fitness situation, I would almost say you may prefer the shatter resistance over scratch resistance.
I think most of you are falling for the sapphire name and marketing. Yes, it is really good at resisting scratches, but it is also very brittle, and I believe, has a lower level of clarity.
I am just wondering how many of these shattered Apple Watches we will see around.
I started off with Seiko divers as a kid. Eventually graduating to Panerai and Rolex and I have never had a problem with scratched watch faces.
I am still undecided. Probably order both the black sports and black SS and decide after i get it in hand.
My problem is there is just too much time until we can order and try them for ourselves in the store. I need just to make a quick decision and be done with it.
I started off with Seiko divers as a kid. Eventually graduating to Panerai and Rolex and I have never had a problem with scratched watch faces.
I am still undecided. Probably order both the black sports and black SS and decide after i get it in hand.
My problem is there is just too much time until we can order and try them for ourselves in the store. I need just to make a quick decision and be done with it.
I do love how so many people here boast about wearing Rolex's and whatnot.
I never knew half of MR membership owned £15k rolexes
.
FWIW, if you have enough money to take a rolex rock climbing (which I highly doubt, btw), you wouldn't be worrying about whether you should spend an extra $200 on a watch.
Go with whatever style you like. If you get a small scratch, put a screen protector on it, or get it buffed out. It's really not a bid deal. For me, I like the matte black with the black band. Crazy that I think one of the cheapest watches is the nicest looking.
I never knew half of MR membership owned £15k rolexes
.FWIW, if you have enough money to take a rolex rock climbing (which I highly doubt, btw), you wouldn't be worrying about whether you should spend an extra $200 on a watch.
Go with whatever style you like. If you get a small scratch, put a screen protector on it, or get it buffed out. It's really not a bid deal. For me, I like the matte black with the black band. Crazy that I think one of the cheapest watches is the nicest looking.
Sapphire is not all that much better than the mineral glass in most watches, and I would assume the same is true for the IonX glass in the
Sapphire, all around, may be better, but it isn't $200 better. Now as a whole package, maybe, but I wouldn't base the decision on sapphire alone. In fact, in a sports/fitness situation, I would almost say you may prefer the shatter resistance over scratch resistance.
I think most of you are falling for the sapphire name and marketing. Yes, it is really good at resisting scratches, but it is also very brittle, and I believe, has a lower level of clarity.
Sounds like you are getting the non sapphire watch the way you are running sapphire into the ground. Sapphire is not just marketing, it is used by most of the quality watch companies because of it resistance to scratching.
"Lower lever of clarity". LOL!
Um... U less you know something we don't, the sapphire screen on the SS Apple watch and the saphore screen on the edition are EXACTLY the same.. So if he's worried about scratching he doesn't have to get the Edition. He can just get ghe SS Apple watch
I am actually getting neither version. You are correct, sapphire is used by many luxury watches. That does not make it the better material in all cases. Also, from my reading, sapphire tends to have reflection issues, and is not as clear as mineral glass. Enough for someone to notice, probably not. All I am saying is that sapphire isn't some miracle material. It is more resistant to scratches, but more likely to shatter, making not ideal for some situations. More expensive with a fancy name does not mean better.
I was referring to sports v apple. The SS is best value in my books, and the silver one. Sports and SS black will scratch in time, so will normal SS , but you can polish scratches out of silver SS.
Just for my two cents, these are two watches that I've had for about the same amount of time.
The Orient is a watch that I've had for about 2-3 years, and it's been through multiple dings on concrete, and it's been knocked on the corners of doors where the pointy parts are.
This watch has given me so much confidence in sapphire watch faces that I don't really worry about doing anything with this watch. I once accidentally hit a wall with it on and paint came off of the brick and made a terrible looking mark from the edge across the front, and I was able to just wipe it right off.
From my personal experience with sapphire, I believe that the small area that makes up a watch face won't be enough to really make a difference in its ability to shatter.
I also included the back of this watch since it's a mineral crystal (the same material as the second watch) face. From my experience with this watch, I don't think that you would need to worry much (if at all) about the side that touches your wrist. (I know the backs will have different coatings.)
The second watch is one that I hesitated to post, but I figured I'd post it anyways since it shows how a normal watch would stand up to what I've done to my sapphire watch crystal. It has a mineral crystal on the front, so it isn't the same as Ion-X or gorilla glass, but it is a fairly sturdy material. If you want a good indication of how scratch-able the Ion-X will be, you may want to check out what current owners of the moto 360 and pebble steel (not the original plastic) are saying. Ion-X is looking a lot like a generic replacement for Gorilla Glass.
TL;DR:
1. That's the sapphire-faced watch I've owned for 2-3 years. The back is mineral crystal.
2. The second is a mineral crystal watch (for baseline comparison of same treatment).
3. Look at the moto 360 for apple watch sport scratch-ability predictions.
The Orient is a watch that I've had for about 2-3 years, and it's been through multiple dings on concrete, and it's been knocked on the corners of doors where the pointy parts are.
This watch has given me so much confidence in sapphire watch faces that I don't really worry about doing anything with this watch. I once accidentally hit a wall with it on and paint came off of the brick and made a terrible looking mark from the edge across the front, and I was able to just wipe it right off.
From my personal experience with sapphire, I believe that the small area that makes up a watch face won't be enough to really make a difference in its ability to shatter.
I also included the back of this watch since it's a mineral crystal (the same material as the second watch) face. From my experience with this watch, I don't think that you would need to worry much (if at all) about the side that touches your wrist. (I know the backs will have different coatings.)
The second watch is one that I hesitated to post, but I figured I'd post it anyways since it shows how a normal watch would stand up to what I've done to my sapphire watch crystal. It has a mineral crystal on the front, so it isn't the same as Ion-X or gorilla glass, but it is a fairly sturdy material. If you want a good indication of how scratch-able the Ion-X will be, you may want to check out what current owners of the moto 360 and pebble steel (not the original plastic) are saying. Ion-X is looking a lot like a generic replacement for Gorilla Glass.
TL;DR:
1. That's the sapphire-faced watch I've owned for 2-3 years. The back is mineral crystal.
2. The second is a mineral crystal watch (for baseline comparison of same treatment).
3. Look at the moto 360 for apple watch sport scratch-ability predictions.
Attachments
"Will the sport watch scratch?"
Yes! Next question please.
If people are complaining at how easy it is to scratch an iPhone 6 display then it will be twice as easy to scratch a watch that is under constant exposure with the same glass. Remember that Apple really wants you to buy the more expensive models so the basic ones come pre-gimped out the gate.
Yes! Next question please.
If people are complaining at how easy it is to scratch an iPhone 6 display then it will be twice as easy to scratch a watch that is under constant exposure with the same glass. Remember that Apple really wants you to buy the more expensive models so the basic ones come pre-gimped out the gate.
I guess for me the real question is what is the product cycle going to be like? If they're going to come out with a new version every year I would get the cheapest version now to try it out and upgrade next year if I like it. If they're going to come out with a new version in 3 years then I'll go with the stainless higher end now.
Android Wear will not delay development to allow Apple to keep up. Nether will any other platform like Pebble. Apple can't afford to sit on new and improved sensor's and S chips while the rest of the world marches ahead. If it is a 3 year cycle or more the
Watch will be dead and irrelevant before gen 2 comes out.I would bet Apple stock that a 2ed gen will be available by fall of 2016.
my Tag with a sapphire crystal face has been immaculate for the passed 5-6 years. the watch has been beaten to hell and back with dings and imperfections to the stainless steel, but the sapphire face itself looks new like the day i got it.
sapphire all the way.
sapphire all the way.