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Scratch Resistance - Sport Model Vs Stainless Steel

FrankySavvy

FrankySavvy

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 4, 2010
1,622
812
Long Island, NY
So after pricing and specs have been revealed. I am of-course torn.

I know what size I want: 42mm

I know what bands I want: Black Sports Band

Does a $200 premium warrant the Sapphire Display and SS Look?

What does everyone think?
 
FrankySavvy said:
So after pricing and specs have been revealed. I am of-course torn.

I know what size I want: 42mm

I know what bands I want: Black Sports Band

Does a $200 premium warrant the Sapphire Display and SS Look?

What does everyone think?
Click to expand...

The think the space grey sport looks better than the SS. More sleek.

However, we already know how well the dark anodizing holds up on the iPhone...
 
FrankySavvy said:
So after pricing and specs have been revealed. I am of-course torn.

I know what size I want: 42mm

I know what bands I want: Black Sports Band

Does a $200 premium warrant the Sapphire Display and SS Look?

What does everyone think?
Click to expand...

In the UK it's a £180 premium.

And, I'm with you on the decision, except I'm almost certain to go for the Sport. Everyone's talking about scratches and so on -- do they really think the Sport is going to be shoddily made and covered in scratches by the end of the first week?

Are people's current watches covered in scratches?

I find it very hard to justify the extra money for what I think is a dubious benefit.

Besides, I actually genuinely prefer the space grey Sport.
 
profmatt said:
In the UK it's a £180 premium.

And, I'm with you on the decision, except I'm almost certain to go for the Sport. Everyone's talking about scratches and so on -- do they really think the Sport is going to be shoddily made and covered in scratches by the end of the first week?

Are people's current watches covered in scratches?

I find it very hard to justify the extra money for what I think is a dubious benefit.

Besides, I actually genuinely prefer the space grey Sport.
Click to expand...

I was trying to search, do most cheap to mid-range watches have regular glass covers? My armitron has held up very well, not sure if it has sapphire.
 
profmatt said:
Everyone's talking about scratches and so on -- do they really think the Sport is going to be shoddily made and covered in scratches by the end of the first week? Are people's current watches covered in scratches?
Click to expand...

Scratch resistance has nothing to do with shoddy construction. An iPhone's aluminum housing is easily scratched and dented, which is the main reason people use cases.

Conventional watches are made of steel, not aluminum, and even they get scratched. Aluminum is far softer than steel, and therefore more prone to scratches. If you get the black aluminum one, it will be even more scratch prone because the difference in color between the anodized coating and the underlying metal will make the scratches far more visible.

----------
FrankySavvy said:
I was trying to search, do most cheap to mid-range watches have regular glass covers? My armitron has held up very well, not sure if it has sapphire.
Click to expand...

Typical watch crystal materials, in order of quality, scratch resistance, and cost, include the following:

1) plastic
2) mineral glass
3) sapphire

You will not find sapphire crystal on any inexpensive watches. Typically it's found on $1000+ models.
 
I was wondering - Is the grey applied on the Watch the same as the iPhone? On the phone it seems like a thin coating.

But the Watch is a thick casting or milling of aluminum that may have the grey coloring mixed in.

So, I'm wondering if you scratch the grey watch if it will be grey underneath anyway, in which case, it can be buffed out.

Apple made the aluminum harder to resist scratches and nicks, that would be pointless if the grey was a weak coat.
 
8CoreWhore said:
I was wondering - Is the grey applied on the Watch the same as the iPhone? On the phone it seems like a thin coating.

But the Watch is a thick casting or milling of aluminum that may have the grey coloring mixed in.

So, I'm wondering if you scratch the grey watch if it will be grey underneath anyway, in which case, it can be buffed out.

Apple made the aluminum harder to resist scratches and nicks, that would be pointless if the grey was a weak coat.
Click to expand...

This is a different aluminum then the iPhone, it's supposively much harder
 
8CoreWhore said:
I was wondering - Is the grey applied on the Watch the same as the iPhone? On the phone it seems like a thin coating.

But the Watch is a thick casting or milling of aluminum that may have the grey coloring mixed in.

So, I'm wondering if you scratch the grey watch if it will be grey underneath anyway, in which case, it can be buffed out.

Apple made the aluminum harder to resist scratches and nicks, that would be pointless if the grey was a weak coat.
Click to expand...

The grey color is a surface treatment; the case is anodized. There are various processes for anodizing aluminum. Some give a hard, durable coating, but those tend to have limited color choices and a less uniform appearance. Bright anodized colors, like the iPods, are usually softer and easier to scratch. The thickness of the anodized layer can also vary; a thicker coating is more durable than a thin one using the same process.

Since Apple hasn't described their process for the watch, we probably have to wait for someone to buy it and do some tests.
 
FrankySavvy said:
Does a $200 premium warrant the Sapphire Display and SS Look?
Click to expand...

It even warrants the sapphire alone.
The difference in scratch resistance is amazing vs. regular watch glass. Only time will tell how well the ion strengthened glass is going to perform, but sapphire crystal is really really hard to beat on watches.
 
MHenr said:
It even warrants the sapphire alone.
The difference in scratch resistance is amazing vs. regular watch glass. Only time will tell how well the ion strengthened glass is going to perform, but sapphire crystal is really really hard to beat on watches.
Click to expand...

This right here. I have a few watches with Saphire and a few without. I have worn one with sapphire nearly every day for about 4 years and the crystal is flawless. That watch has a slight convex to the crystal as well, so the center sticks out above the watch face. My watches without saphire all have slight scratches on them, despite being worn FAR less.

I can't say for sure, but I would be surprised if the anodizing is significantly different than what's used on the iPhones. They already have all the processes in place, it would be more economical to use their existing setups.
 
bnorthro said:
This right here. I have a few watches with Saphire and a few without. I have worn one with sapphire nearly every day for about 4 years and the crystal is flawless. That watch has a slight convex to the crystal as well, so the center sticks out above the watch face. My watches without saphire all have slight scratches on them, despite being worn FAR less.

I can't say for sure, but I would be surprised if the anodizing is significantly different than what's used on the iPhones. They already have all the processes in place, it would be more economical to use their existing setups.
Click to expand...

hmmm, decisions, decisions.
 
Let's put it this way, and it's pretty obvious if you think about it.

The more smooth and shiny the finish is, the easier it will be to see any damage to the surface.

This goes for most things.
You won't see a mark on an old farmers pine table with rough wood, but you will in a mirror finished wooden table.

The marks will still be there, but they won't be so noticeable.

It depends if we are taking dents type damage, in which case steel is obviously stronger, or surface scratches, when highly polished steel will show find scratches way way easier than a matt aluminium finish will.
 
In the same boat trying to justify the £180 extra for ss. However after reading some of the arguments on here seems the SS is the one I'm gonna go for.
 
freediverx said:
Scratch resistance has nothing to do with shoddy construction. An iPhone's aluminum housing is easily scratched and dented, which is the main reason people use cases.

Conventional watches are made of steel, not aluminum, and even they get scratched. Aluminum is far softer than steel, and therefore more prone to scratches. If you get the black aluminum one, it will be even more scratch prone because the difference in color between the anodized coating and the underlying metal will make the scratches far more visible.

----------



Typical watch crystal materials, in order of quality, scratch resistance, and cost, include the following:

1) plastic
2) mineral glass
3) sapphire

You will not find sapphire crystal on any inexpensive watches. Typically it's found on $1000+ models.
Click to expand...


i have a $550 swiss army victoriniox watch that has sapphire glass.

----------
FrankySavvy said:
hmmm, decisions, decisions.
Click to expand...

get the gold one, then you can be a cool kid.
 
I like the Stainless for looks and the Sapphire, though I think Sport is still very nice.

The problem for me is that the black stainless is the "poor man's edition." It's so difficult to get, only one model at $1099, I really want it. ha :(
 
The Sapphire Glass is what really is pulling me in, I would hate to get a scratch on the watch :( Also the stainless steel is more stylish, in my opinion. I also think the watch will be something you won't upgrade every year although I would probably keep the first edition even if I get a 2nd or 3rd gen.

I truly believe smart watches are the future and its a move in the right direction, so we are not phone screen zombies walking down the street.
 
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