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Scratched my SS AW4!?

J

jhill-evans

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 21, 2015
147
81
So I have the SS Series 0 and Nike Sport Series 3.. Obviously SS Series 0 had sapphire glass and I've treated it terrible yet the glass is immaculate. My girlfriend has also been wearing it since I had my AW3

The Nike Sport Series 3 is the same story.

Today... I caught my SS AW4 on a stainless steel hand rail and it scratched instantly! :mad:

Surely this shouldn't scratch so easy!?
 

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jhill-evans said:
So I have the SS Series 0 and Nike Sport Series 3.. Obviously SS Series 0 had sapphire glass and I've treated it terrible yet the glass is immaculate. My girlfriend has also been wearing it since I had my AW3

The Nike Sport Series 3 is the same story.

Today... I caught my SS AW4 on a stainless steel hand rail and it scratched instantly! :mad:

Surely this shouldn't scratch so easy!?
Click to expand...

But we don’t know all the factors how the impact happened.( i.e, How hard you hit it, angle), and it’s a metal door handle that can damage the Sapphire display. Is very scratch resistant, but it’s not completely impervious to damage either.

Have you taken a microfiber cloth and tried to lightly rub it to see if it will remove some of the scratch?
 
Ouch.. I feel the pain on this. Same thing happened with me on a metal door handle but mine was the ion-x glass. I upgraded to stainless steel to lessen the probability of this but looks like handles and railings are the achilles heal to the apple watch.
 
Relentless Power said:
But we don’t know all the factors how the impact happened.( i.e, How hard you hit it, angle), and it’s a metal door handle that can damage the Sapphire display. Is very scratch resistant, but it’s not completely impervious to damage either.

Have you taken a microfiber cloth and tried to lightly rub it to see if it will remove some of the scratch?
Click to expand...

I caught it as I turned to walk up some stairs when carrying a light box. I wouldn't say it was a light tap but it also wasn't a harsh bash (if that makes sense!). My point is I wore my Series 0 for years and bashed it millions of times and its immaculate - first catch and this one gets damaged...makes me wonder if this one just isn't as well built.

Maybe I have just been lucky in the past.. I don't know o_O

No luck with the microfiber cloth I'm afraid :(
 
darkside flow said:
railings are the achilles heal to the apple watch.
Click to expand...
To any watch with a sapphire crystal display including the Rolexes/Omegas/AP/etc. I don't understand why people think the sapphire crystal is a material developed and is exclusive to Apple.
 
jhill-evans said:
I caught it as I turned to walk up some stairs when carrying a light box. I wouldn't say it was a light tap but it also wasn't a harsh bash (if that makes sense!). My point is I wore my Series 0 for years and bashed it millions of times and its immaculate - first catch and this one gets damaged...makes me wonder if this one just isn't as well built.

Maybe I have just been lucky in the past.. I don't know o_O

No luck with the microfiber cloth I'm afraid :(
Click to expand...

Believe me, nothing is worse is seeing a scratch on your new, expensive Apple Watch, especially on a sapphire display that you expect to be more resistant to damage. However, as I mentioned, it must be the type of impact the way it hit the dispay that damaged it. The only other suggestion I can offer, is either add a screen protector which will conceal the scratch for the majority or you can try lightly dampening the microfiber cloth with water, don’t apply a lot of pressure on the scratch and see if it will it minimize it somewhat.
 
lalanik said:
To any watch with a sapphire crystal display including the Rolexes/Omegas/AP/etc. I don't understand why people think the sapphire crystal is a material developed and is exclusive to Apple.
Click to expand...

Damaged sapphire watch faces are certainly not exclusive to Apple - definitely not what I was saying.
 
Doesn't sound like it should have scratched from that. SS is "soft" compared to what materials should be able to scratch the sapphire that easily. I'd bring it back and ask for a replacement personally. I've done it in the past for similar reasons and have had them replace devices, especially if it's new.
 
I agree with this ^

You're in your return window and my experience is they don't check quick returns that much. I'll probably get flack for saying that but take advantage of the trillion dollar company's return policy if it works for you.
 
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This happened to me with a series 0 SS. I was upset at the scratch, and went to the store and nicely explained how sapphire shouldn't scratch. Although I had applecare+, the store person recommended I call apple and let them know my disappointment, which I did as I assumed Sapphire wouldn't scratch, one of my main reasons for getting the SS model. Apple over the phone did a replacement for free after I explained the situation and my expectations from the sapphire model, without using the AppleCare + coverage and with $0 out of pocket. Its a reasonable request considering how much you paid for the sapphire model. I let them know my Seiko and citizen watches with sapphire, certainly not too expensive either, had not had a single scratch on the crystal after years of owning them.
 
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kitt9000 said:
I let them know my Seiko and citizen watches with sapphire, certainly not too expensive either, had not had a single scratch on the crystal after years of owning them.
Click to expand...

I’m Also willing to believe your Seiko and Citizen watch also has a higher grade/coating of Sapphire being used as well, where as Apples Sapphire could be of a lesser composition or grade.
 
lalanik said:
To any watch with a sapphire crystal display including the Rolexes/Omegas/AP/etc. I don't understand why people think the sapphire crystal is a material developed and is exclusive to Apple.
Click to expand...

Lets also not forget that Apple uses low grade sapphire crystal. I have many Sapphire crystal watches and never a single scratch.
 
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In my experience, the sapphire glass on the stainless steel models isn't as durable, scratch wise, as people think. My SBSS Series 2 had scratches on the screen and I'm not rough with my watches at all..
 
So the stainless steel models have sapphire, and the aluminium models have the same ion-X as the previous generations?

I have an aluminium S4 on the way.
 
iSheep5S said:
So the stainless steel models have sapphire, and the aluminium models have the same ion-X as the previous generations?

I have an aluminium S4 on the way.
Click to expand...

Correct. The stainless models include the Sapphire display and all sport aluminum models include Ion-X Glass.
 
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Scott G. said:
In my experience, the sapphire glass on the stainless steel models isn't as durable, scratch wise, as people think. My SBSS Series 2 had scratches on the screen and I'm not rough with my watches at all..
Click to expand...
Correct because it is not a true sapphire crystal.
 
I'd definitely try to return/exchange it. If they refuse, I think you're still in the window when you can buy Apple Care, right? Buy it, then try again. There may be a replacement/repair fee, but if that's your only option (besides living with it) then that's what I'd do.
 
I thought I scratched my S0 SS watch, it turned out to be just a deposit on the screen that was difficult to buff out.
 
Huh. My Series 0 42mm SS display glass is still immaculate after 3.5 years and I only upgraded it on Monday. Now by immaculate I mean it has never scratched, but like you I hit it pretty good against stainless steel (fridge door handle) and it put a hairline crack down the right side that is hardly visible. Are you sure this isn't some sort of paint or something that rubbed off? Otherwise I wonder if it's actually micro fractures from the impact which kinda smushed the glass, making it look kinda like a scratch, if that makes sense? Either way I would take it to the store or call them up and tell them you're disappointed that stainless steel was able to scratch a sapphire crystal display glass and they may replace it for you.
 
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ZipZap said:
Correct because it is not a true sapphire crystal.
Click to expand...
Apple is really using sapphire, just that there are more impurities in their sapphire that's why it is not as durable.

Just like diamonds, there are many different grade, the lowest grade diamond is still a real diamond :)
 
sookainian said:
Apple is really using sapphire, just that there are more impurities in their sapphire that's why it is not as durable.

Just like diamonds, there are many different grade, the lowest grade diamond is still a real diamond :)
Click to expand...

Outstanding post. And that’s exactly true. The composition of the sapphire Apple is using may not be that of the grade of a sapphire that might be used on a higher end mechanical watch, but it is indeed Sapphire, but as you said, likely with impurities.
 
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