A scratch on your watch face is the most terrifying nightmare for any watch enthusiast. I’ve been there, I know what it means. Worse than that can be only a couple of scratches that not only frustrate you desperately but also creates a feeling of urgency in finding the closest repair shop.
Visiting a repair shop is always an option. But, before you do it, take into account that some home remedies could help you perfectly with this issue. To begin with, you could start by investigating what you can do and what you can’t. Depending on the type of your scratched watch crystal, some measures can help you pretty well. For the ”what you can’t do” scenario, the repair shop visit is inevitable. But for the “what you can”, chances are that you remediate the issue fast and “painless”.
I can feel your concern about interfering with the construction of your timepiece. And it’s normal. But, if you rely on the following steps, it’s highly likely to have your watch looking brand-new.
Begin with analyzing the type of crystal
Mineral Glass
Try to remember what type of glass you opted for when you bought your watch. Let’s assume it’s mineral glass. The manufacturing process of this type of glass involves a melting procedure in which glass is combined with certain minerals. The combination of such materials provides a hardening effect on the glass, which in turn, results in a pretty durable glass. In terms of scratch-resistant properties, mineral glass is more potent than acrylic glass but less potent in comparison to sapphire crystal. In terms of resistance, the mineral glass rates about 5-7 points from 10, on the Mohs scale.
Experts consider this type of glass pretty acceptable. But, it has certain downsides. Specifically, this type of glass is hard to polish effectively and smoothly, due to its hardness. In such contexts, replacing the mineral glass will cost you significantly less than the effort and stress involved in solving the problem by yourself.
So, the first conclusion is: in case of scratches on the mineral glass, visit the repair shop. The expert will quickly replace it and you’ll forget the stress.
Sapphire Crystal
There is no single luxury watch brand that doesn’t use sapphire crystal glass. This type is the main material of high-standard watches. Solid and unbelievably resistant to scratches and impacts, the sapphire crystal rates at 9 points on the Mohs scale. Considering all resistance and durability properties, this type of glass is categorized as a premium-quality one.
As a general rule, sapphire crystal watches are not cheap, regardless if it is an authentic or a replica watch. Most probably, the replica device has cost you about $500, or even more. Not to mention authentic luxury watches whose price is at least about $5000. In such a context, the repair or replacement of the scratched sapphire crystal is neither cheap. Depending on the type of watch and the repair expert you visit, the price for the service can range between $80-$250. It is not excluded to finding much cheaper service around $50, but always make sure about the service quality.
Either way, don’t skimp on this money; the effort is huge and is worth all money.
Before deciding to leave your watch to the repair expert
Inspect how scratch-affected is our watch. You can solve it by yourself in case the scratches are shallow. The sapphire polishing process you are going to perform will accurately remove them, providing a nice and refreshed look. If on the other hand, these are deep and aggressive, our best recommendation is to consult the expert to avoid aggravation.
What exactly can you do?
Before initiating the process, you need to protect the bezel of the watch, so that any components you are going to apply won’t affect the bezel coating.
After this protection step, you will have to apply a tiny amount of 3µ paste that you can find on Amazon on the watch face. Be as accurate as possible and don’t extend the paste on the whole surface, but only on the scratch or scratches that frustrate you. It is necessary to gently rub the cream circularly with a soft cloth until you observe that the scratches begin fading.
The process is not over, even if it seems that the scratches become unobservable. With another piece of clean cloth remove the excess of the first-step paste and apply a new layer of 25µ paste, which you can also find on Amazon. Repeat the circular rubbing process. This kind of paste has a phenomenal ability to provide a great finishing aspect, reminding you about the watch you initially had. The rubbing process should not last more than a couple of minutes until you are satisfied with the final result.
If there are still any signs of scratches remained, you can repeat the 25µ paste application and re-take the rubbing process. When it’s all done, simply remove the residues with a clean cloth.
That’s all. Basically, all you need for the finishing process is a clean cloth, a 3µ paste, a 25µ paste, and a little patience on your part.
Wounding up
All of us would be glad to see no scratches on the face of your timepiece. But if it happens, you already know what are the first measures to consider. In other order of ideas, I always recommend customers opt for the sapphire crystal glass. As you have seen above, this material provides significantly higher protection against shocks and damages. Respectively, there will be fewer chances to cause a scratch. Many customers consider that mineral glass will also do. And they are right, but only to a certain extent. If you plan to buy a long-lasting timepiece, it is inevitable to observe, at least, minor scratches on it. And it’s improbable that you want it on your watch. So, the sapphire crystal should be viewed as a long-term investment, providing you with long serviceability and perfect condition for many years to come.
if you are out of ideas about where to find a high-quality timepiece with a great sapphire crystal, the AAAeplica store is a reliable place. The store verifies accurately the quality of all offered watches so that you wear them proudly without worrying about their functionality.