Often, the readers of our blog ask me which replica watch is more viable: the one with acrylic glass, the one with sapphire crystal, or the one with mineral crystal? Replica watch manufacturers use all these materials in the production of knockoffs. It is difficult to give a short answer to this question. The reason is that everything depends on which perspective you look at it and what are the priorities of a watch lover. If the priority is the more advantageous price, then I would recommend a certain type of crystal. If quality is the priority, I would recommend another type. However, the common feature of different types of crystals is that they all have their pluses and minuses.
In general, the dials of replica watches have a functional purpose: to protect the face of the watch from potential impacts. At the same time, they have evolved over time, becoming an aesthetic element, as well. If we look through the prism of history, watches were not always protected by crystal. These appeared with first pocket watches, which could be easily damaged, being carried in a pocket full of other accessories.
Today…
Replica watch manufacturers follow the example of the original brands. Consequently, they also experiment with various types of crystals. The most common types in the replica industry are sapphire, acrylic, and mineral crystals. Let’s delve deeper into this topic so that you can make a clear difference and know which type of crystal is right for your next replica watch.
Acrylic crystal, otherwise known as plexiglass crystal
It is assumed that the first use of acrylic crystal in watches took place during the Second World War. Until the dramatic event, the watchmaking houses were experimenting with different types of glass, but they never put much emphasis on their anti-shatter properties. With the outbreak of war, senior and military leaders requested watches that could withstand all potential extreme conditions. As a result, watch manufacturers have come to integrate acrylic crystals. The reason for this material was its shatter-resistant properties, making them pretty “non-breakable”.
In general…
This material is quite malleable and soft. As a result of these characteristics, it resists quite well to breaks and shocks. As proof of its resistance, Omega itself pleaded in favor of this material for the construction of its Speedmaster that “visited” the Moon. A material that does not easily break into pieces, all flying without gravity in space, was the main priority of Omega, as well as NASA. The acrylic crystal was more than suitable to fit these requirements.
With the passage of time, the acrylic crystal began to show its shortcomings. Its softness, in fact, is an advantage on one hand, and a disadvantage on the other. As a result of its softness, it is very sensitive to scratches. And as watch lovers have become more and more pedantic about watches, these scratches gradually made the material fall out of favor. In contrast, watch lovers began to look for more viable alternatives in terms of scratch resistance. However, they forgot that in fact, the scratches on the acrylic crystal can be solved very easily. It is only necessary to apply a layer of Polywatch (or something similar) and wipe the face of the watch with a clean cloth.
Either way, replica watches with acrylic crystal are usually quite cheap compared to other types of crystal. But that does not necessarily mean that they are significantly less qualitative.
The advantages and disadvantages of acrylic crystal
If you intend to have a replica watch with acrylic crystal, here are the benefits and drawbacks you should expect.
Pros
- Be sure of its resistance to shutters and shocks. This type of crystal is great for sport, pilot, and racing replica watches. Watch lovers usually wear these accessories in conditions of physical activity or adventures. Respectively, these conditions increase the risk of impacts on the watch;
- You can process the scratches very easily, without spending a lot of money on special solutions and without calling a specialist. All you need is Polywatch (or something similar), a clean cloth, and a little patience;
- The price for replica watches with acrylic crystal is very cheap. In most cases, Chinese low-grade replica watches come with such a type of glass;
- This type of crystal does not impact the replica watch in terms of weight. Acrylic glass is a very light material;
the acrylic crystal adds a vintage flair to the replica watches. Even in the original watch industry, many brands integrate acrylic crystals into their vintage watches.
On the other side of the barricade, here are the cons you should expect:
- A replica watch with acrylic crystal is not as transparent and “clean” compared to other types of crystal (sapphire, for example). The visibility through the acrylic prism is not bad, but it’s significantly less clear;
- Scratches are formed very easily. You will have to be very prudent in how you take care of the watch, how you place it on the table, and how you interact with different surfaces because acrylic is very sensitive to its formation. So get ready to process this crystal quite frequently.
I recommend watches with acrylic crystal only to people for whom the low price is a priority. If, on the other hand, the financial situation allows you to opt for a relatively more expensive replica watch, it is better to avoid this type of crystal. Other alternatives can offer you a much higher quality.
Mineral Crystal
On a quality scale, mineral crystal is superior to acrylic crystal. Accordingly, replica watches with this type of glass are slightly more expensive. But, with a higher price, you also get much more viable replica accessories.
The mineral crystal appeared as a result of the watch industry’s evolution. The public wanted something more promising. Accordingly, the acrylic crystal had become a material specific to “low-range” watches. At the same time, the mineral crystal became a favorable material for “mid-range” watches. This is exactly what happens in the replica watch industry. The imitations with a relatively high grade of AAA quality frequently come with mineral crystals, though not always.
The difference between this type and the acrylic one is visible to the naked eye. The mineral crystal offers a more durable and harder structure, a more promising resistance to scratches, and a much clearer and cleaner transparency.
Compared to the acrylic crystal, the mineral one is significantly superior. However, it is inferior to other types of crystals (which we will discuss a little below). In general, the mineral crystal is a mediocre option, but quite acceptable and decent.
The advantages and disadvantages of mineral crystal
Here are the benefits and drawbacks of a mineral crystal replica watch:
- This is much more durable and tough than the acrylic version. If you have to choose between these 2 materials, do not hesitate for a second and opt for the mineral;
- The degree of resistance to scratches is much higher;
- The degree of resistance to corrosion is much more promising;
- The visibility is much clearer compared to the acrylic crystal. The mineral has a composition through which light penetrates more easily, without distorting the view. At the same time, this material provides clean clarity.
I recommend replica watch buyers opt for a mineral crystal if they know that the watch will be exposed to different resistance conditions. You can be sure that this type of material will last over time without breaking into dozens of pieces. And you can easily remove small scratches just by applying special solutions.
Weak points:
- The price of replica watches with mineral crystal is somewhat higher. Personally, I don’t see that this is exactly a disadvantage. After all, you pay a little more to get quality.
K1 Crystal
It is unlikely that you have met replica watches with K1 crystal, right? This is because factories do not use it in the manufacture of replica watches (yet). But I thought it would be good for you to know the term, to be better informed.
The K1 crystal is actually an upgraded version of the mineral one. The watch manufacturers had the intention to improve the structure of the ordinary mineral crystal and thus solve the pain points with which it is associated.
What is better in K1? Obtaining this material requires a slightly different technique, namely through heat treatment. Following the technique, the material becomes more shock, scratch, and shatter resistant. Special tools are needed to manufacture this material. Big brands have stocked up with such tools. As a result, they create their own K1 crystals which they patent under the brand name. A good example is the Seiko brand that integrates K1 crystal into its watches (divers in particular), which are known to the whole world under the name Hardlex.
In short…
Being an improved version of the mineral crystal, the benefits of the K1 crystal are obvious:
- The resistance to shutters is impressive. Some experts even claim that this material is even more resistant to shutters than sapphire crystal;
- The hardness of the material significantly prevails in comparison with mineral and acrylic materials. Only the sapphire crystal wins in this chapter;
- Scratches are not so easily formed.
Disadvantages of K1 crystal:
- The material is less malleable compared to its mineral crystal counterpart. Consequently, it can break if it falls;
- A watch with a K1 crystal is usually more expensive than one with a regular mineral crystal;
- Replica watch manufacturers still do not use this material in the replica industry.
Sapphire Crystal in replica watches
Definitely the best option for replica watches! Never hesitate to opt for an imitation with sapphire crystal because it has extremely many benefits.
Sapphire crystal is, among others, the material of choice of most Swiss brands. And rightfully so. With its appearance in the watch industry in 1960, this material still has no more promising alternative. And we are extremely fortunate to have this material in the replica watch industry.
When we talk about sapphire crystal, we are not actually referring to natural sapphire. These terms refer to different materials. The sapphire crystal in watches is actually a synthetic material and is based on an aluminum oxide compound. In terms of hardness, natural and synthetic sapphire is about the same level. At the same time, synthetic technology helped manufacturers to obtain a completely clean and impurity-free material, unlike natural sapphire.
There is no harder material than sapphire. This is precisely the reason why both brands and replica manufacturers opt for it. Apart from the fabulous degree of hardness, this material is also beneficial due to its resistance to scratches. Sapphire crystal replica watches are the most durable of all.
On the other side of the coin…
The sapphire crystal is not exactly perfect. The fact that the material is extremely hard reduces its flexibility. And without flexibility, the sapphire crystal is sensitive to shutters and cracks. It is not easy to impact the crystal sapphire due to its hardness. But if you succeeded, it will most likely crack irreversibly and crumble.
The benefits of sapphire crystal in a replica watch
- This material is the toughest of all. Even if it is prone to crack, it will take some effort to damage it due to its hardness;
- No other type of crystal can offer the transparency, clarity, and perfect visibility that the sapphire option offers;
- As a result of its hardness, the sapphire crystal is immune to corrosion.
The disadvantages of sapphire crystal in a replica watch
- From the whole range of replica watches, those with sapphire crystal are the most expensive;
- If the watch impacts strongly with an object or hard surface, the sapphire crystal is prone to cracks.
Which crystal is optimal for replica watches?
Now that you know the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of crystal types, it is easy to conclude that sapphire crystal is the most optimal for your replica watch. However, I recommend that you do not definitively exclude replica watches with other types of crystals from your wish list. The idea is that even the official brands continue to integrate mineral glass into their watches. And there must be a logical reason behind this decision. It means that the crystal is not as bad as you might have thought.
In the same context…
I recommend that you evaluate the replica watch not only on the basis of its crystal. You have to take things as a whole. What is the point of a sapphire crystal, if the replica watch runs on a lower-quality movement? Sometimes it is ok to accept a replica watch with mineral crystal if it has an AAA or Swiss-type mechanism and if its steel is grade 904L. I hope you understand what I want to suggest here.
Ideally, a quality replica watch involves a combination of sapphire crystal, Swiss clone movement, and 904L stainless steel. This would be the perfect “composition”. However, such a composition can cost quite a lot and not all of us would be ready to pay for it. Respectively, a slightly lower quality level would also be an optimal solution, even if this requires a mineral crystal.
Either way, now that you know the specifications of the crystal, I wish you to find the right replica watch model for you. By the way, you could take a look at AAAReplica, where you can find that perfect “composition” for your replica watch.