Billburns
macrumors 6502
Who said it doesn’t scratch? It scratches at a much less hardness scale than real sapphire..
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Scratching the $1300 dollar Apple Watch - is it really 'Sapphire'?
- Thread starter smellysox8
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Who said it doesn’t scratch? It scratches at a much less hardness scale than real sapphire..
matrix07
macrumors G3
Luba
macrumors 68000
Interesting video, but at Mohs 6 and 7, it might be the coating that's scratched. What do you think? The line through 12:00 is Mohs 6, and 1:00 is Mohs 7, and finally the scratch line through 2:00 is Mohs 8. After he puts a flame to the screen to burn away the coating, at 12:00 and 1:00 it looks more like smudges. I don't see scratch lines. At 2:00 I do see scratch lines. Also if the flame burned away the coating completely why do we see different tones (colors) on the screen? Should it all that's left be the scratches?
Take a look and tell me what you think? I want to be wrong since then I would save money getting the aluminum with the Ion-X Glass, plus with the Ion-X Glass the screen is slightly more clear than the sapphire, since the Ion-X Glass reflects ambient light less.
I have no idea, but how much would Apple save by making, say a 50% sapphire crystal display? Would it be worth it for Apple to cheat? Lie?
Take a look and tell me what you think? I want to be wrong since then I would save money getting the aluminum with the Ion-X Glass, plus with the Ion-X Glass the screen is slightly more clear than the sapphire, since the Ion-X Glass reflects ambient light less.
I have no idea, but how much would Apple save by making, say a 50% sapphire crystal display? Would it be worth it for Apple to cheat? Lie?
Maybe they are using a different sapphire formula to help with the light issue vs pure sapphire at a cost of some hardness but still beets ion glass in real world use.
Luba
macrumors 68000
Interesting theory as Consumer Reports said series 0 sapphire went up to Mohs 9. With direct sunlight on AW0 it almost completely washed out the display. AW2 a big improvement due according to Apple 1000 nits, but maybe also a different sapphire formula as you say.
But watch video again at Mohs 6 and 7 it looks more like smudges to me, after he heated away the coating. At Mohs 8 it looks more like scratches.
Whats the point of having a coating on if the coating is a lower Mohs scale than sapphire? Thats just plain stupid.
It is real sapphire. Please stop with this nonsense. This thread (and that video) are utterly ridiculous. I apologize for ever responding as clearly we aren't going to come to any sort of agreement.
There is also not a "coating" besides maybe oleophobic that scratches. Please just stop it it with these threads.
Watch buyers prize sapphire crystal. There is an expectation that goes along with using that phrase. The Tissot meets that expectation at a very low price point. Apple uses the expectation to sell its watches but fails to meet the expectation.
This may be lost on most of the Apple buyers because they are buying tech and not a watch in the truest sense. But, if one forks over $1300 for a watch that says it has a sapphire crystal, it should be a watch grade sapphire crystal.
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Its impure sapphire that is not watch grade. If Tissot can put a pure sapphire on a watch for $300, Apple can do it for $700 or $1300. The video is spot on.
This may be lost on most of the Apple buyers because they are buying tech and not a watch in the truest sense. But, if one forks over $1300 for a watch that says it has a sapphire crystal, it should be a watch grade sapphire crystal.
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Its impure sapphire that is not watch grade. If Tissot can put a pure sapphire on a watch for $300, Apple can do it for $700 or $1300. The video is spot on.
BarracksSi
Suspended
That Tissot’s sapphire is uncoated.
Let’s see him do it to a $7000 Omega instead. He can afford one, after all, with all these YouTube video hits.
(FYI, some Omega owners — such as those with a Planet Ocean dive watch, for example — get annoyed by the anti-reflective coating showing scratches, so they remove the outer coating by polishing with diamond paste... and you’re bitching about Apple?...)
KarimLeVallois
macrumors 68030
BarracksSi
Suspended
Paid per post, maybe? “Grasstroturfing” used to be the term.
tmcjilton
macrumors newbie
I have both SS and Sport of every generation of Apple Watch. They were all subjected to serious scraping and banging. The SS watch crystal does not scratch easily. My series 0 AW lasted years without any scratches on the crystal. The Aluminum watches scratch easily however.
FYI: If anyone has a SS watch that has scratches, it can easily be removed with SS polishing cloth and light pressure. I use Cape Cod Stainless polishing cloths and they make a SS Apple Watch look brand new, and not just the body of the watch, the crystal comes clean too. For this reason, I believe that there is a coating on top of the crystal that is what actually scratches because I don't think the SS polishing cloths would buff a scratch out of crystal.
FYI: If anyone has a SS watch that has scratches, it can easily be removed with SS polishing cloth and light pressure. I use Cape Cod Stainless polishing cloths and they make a SS Apple Watch look brand new, and not just the body of the watch, the crystal comes clean too. For this reason, I believe that there is a coating on top of the crystal that is what actually scratches because I don't think the SS polishing cloths would buff a scratch out of crystal.
That coating you're referring to on top of the sapphire display, is known as the oleophobic coating. Its an organic material that essentially is used to help prevent against minor scratches, but it does eventually wear off.
Billburns
macrumors 6502
Def not anti apple but atleast I can admit apple doesn’t make the perfect product they claim to make
Taking a razor blades and physically attempting to damage the watch doesn't have anything to do with Apple being perfect. Their products are the highest quality products available on the market for the price point, you do receive a premium item in return. These videos might be interesting, but they are not conducive to world world exposure to the Watch.
Luba
macrumors 68000
I had the last two AW in steel, but I'm seriously thinking of going aluminum this time. The aluminum display scratches easily as compared to the steel display. Could you elaborate just a bit more on "easily"? I've lightly banged on things while reaching into a drawer or lightly banged the display against the wall or door when there are crowds of people in a hallway. Would those incidents have caused a scratch on a aluminum display?
I sold mine to a friend but I'll see him tomorrow, it has a pretty obvious scratch Ill see if I can remember to snap a picture of it.
virginblue4
macrumors 68020
After having my SS series 0 since launch day, the screen was in perfect condition, until about a month ago.
There is a now a small scratch that’s deep enough to feel with your fingernail. I have absolutely no idea how it got there.
You can only see it under direct light, but I’ve since upgraded to a SS S3. I’ve passed it to my partner who isn’t bothered by the scratch.
So it’s extremely unlikely to scratch, near impossible. But it can happen.
There is a now a small scratch that’s deep enough to feel with your fingernail. I have absolutely no idea how it got there.
You can only see it under direct light, but I’ve since upgraded to a SS S3. I’ve passed it to my partner who isn’t bothered by the scratch.
So it’s extremely unlikely to scratch, near impossible. But it can happen.
Sapphire crystals get scratched and you don't need something as hard as diamond to do it. If you take one of the Mohs picks that are on the lower #s and apply enough pressure you can scratch sapphire. Similarly, out in the real world if you hit the crystal with enough force it can lead to scratching. I've used the first generation steel AW, S2 White Ceramic, and have the S3 gray ceramic. The first 2 got scratched. If you look up fer557 on youtube, I did a video of the scratches on my S2 white ceramic. I, however, am much harder on my watches that I think most people are. My mom has a first generation steel, she's been wearing daily for 2 years. After one year, apple replaced it since it HR sensor fell off. I don't even see hairline scratches on her crystal and I don't remember her scratching the previous one. And she wears it for everything, working out, gardening, etc.
The sapphire apple uses, I think is pretty good, perhaps not as good as other sapphire watches I have used, but the difference is very small. Not all sapphire is created equal that is for sure. The other issue is most watches have a bezel, some protrude more than others, but they help protect the crystal. The AW crystal bends into the case so at the corners there is no bezel protecting it. So it makes sense that that is where I typically get deeper scratches since that area takes a more direct hit.
Finally, in regular use I don't see these scratches, I have to get a light and examine the crystal at an angle. I'm not bothered by the scratches, it's part of having a watch. The white ceramic case of the S2 on the other hand, is the most scratch resistant case I have ever used.
The sapphire apple uses, I think is pretty good, perhaps not as good as other sapphire watches I have used, but the difference is very small. Not all sapphire is created equal that is for sure. The other issue is most watches have a bezel, some protrude more than others, but they help protect the crystal. The AW crystal bends into the case so at the corners there is no bezel protecting it. So it makes sense that that is where I typically get deeper scratches since that area takes a more direct hit.
Finally, in regular use I don't see these scratches, I have to get a light and examine the crystal at an angle. I'm not bothered by the scratches, it's part of having a watch. The white ceramic case of the S2 on the other hand, is the most scratch resistant case I have ever used.
Luba
macrumors 68000
Ah, in the video it does look like he’s putting, perhaps extra, pressure on the sapphire? Whereas in the Consumer Reports video it’s consistent pressure through all the picks and it looks like CR is applying light pressure.
You say not all sapphire is created equal, is he correct in saying perhaps Apple is using less than pure sapphire? As in only 75%? Or 80%? I have no idea, but didn’t think you could have blends of sapphire? I though sapphire was sapphire.
Lennyvalentin
macrumors 65816
Not sure what makes people believe sapphire is impervious to scratching except by itself or harder materials. This is not true, and it's also not how reality works. You can scratch sapphire with hardened/tool steel, it's just harder to scratch it than other, softer materials. Wearing occurs anyway.
The reason diamond-coated tools are used to work sapphire is so that it won't take forever, and/or wear down the tools too badly working the material.
Also, your display's propensity to scratch is roughly inversely proportional to the amount of damns you give about the device you wear. If you're the kind of person who thinks the only care they need to show their watch is applecare, then you'll scratch it in short order, regardless of the sapphire screen.
I didn't purchase applecare for my O.G. sport model, and the only visible scratches on my gorilla glass screen is two tiny, wispy hair-fine marks that only show up if you shine light just the right way and look closely, and this watch is now over 2 1/4 years old and I've worn it every day since I bought it, all day long, wherever I go.
It looks good still because I give a damn about my purchases.
I don't want to speculate if apple uses sapphire that has more impurities than other manufactures, I have no way of knowing. But even sapphire has a range of hardness, not all sapphire has the exact same hardness. An analogy would be diamonds, diamonds are diamonds, but some are better than others.
I totally agree, that's why I'm more likely to get scratches than say my mom. I would highly recommend people buying the ceramic edition to get Apple Care. Minimum service cost for out of warranty service for the ceramic version is $800.