they put an anti-reflective coating to remove reflection…?

 

Isn’t it possible to just remove (have a pro remove) the coating from the exterior of the crystal?

 

Find a DSotM or a glossy black 43.5mm Planet Ocean without AR on top.... very very difficult to read.

 

I've owned a bunch of Rolex's. None have AR (that I'm aware of anyway) and I can still read the time on them just fine.

 

flat crystal vs rounded/domed

 

There are pros and cons to both. Panerai does not put AR which is what you seem to prefer but it's very difficult to read. If you have a few AR scratches who cares - at least you have a nice legible dial. Not sure if the AR coating can be replaced by itself and where.

 

I would be interested in removing it entirely if it can be done so it looks like it was never applied.

 

I don’t know why they put it but I do know that I love the way the crystal almost disappears at most angles and I get to see dial depth. Im also not sure how a crystal AR can be so badly scratched without abuse. Besides, some people might still see Omegas as tool watches but at their price point they are, to me, jewelry which must be cared for. I have cheaper watches as beaters where I don’t care if the AR or the crystal itself gets scratched. For me the AR advantage is worth the trade off, it’s not that expensive to replace once it’s due for service.

 

I'm a big believer that, with a few exceptions, they should just put AR on the inside (not outside) with Sapphire crystal, that way there is still the benefits of Sapphire crystal watch face, and also some level of antireflective coating.
However, honestly, a Sapphire Crystal with scratched AR on the outside, still looks a ton better than hessalite with scratches throughout.. and this was the accepted norm until probably about the late 1980s when Sapphire become the new normal (or thereabouts I believe).

 

Okay but in acrylic's defense, you could take polywatch to it and remove the scratches. AR coating not so much.

 

I can appreciate the benefits, but at the same time I've a pair of speedmasters with some wear to the AR, and at certain angles it does look rather unappealing. I wouldn't really care if it was on my seamaster, but on a 'dressier' speedmaster it looks a bit out of place.

 

Sometimes I feel like a big fat idiot. Its difficult to go through life without banging into **** all the time. I wonder how I still have eyeballs. I only have two of those. With that being said...the AR coating is superficial. The sapphire is real. The point is anti glare.

 

Have to agree, the whole point of sapphire is that it is practically scratch proof and adding AR on top removes that advantage. I'm sure it helps sell more watches in a showroom though.

 

I love the ar reflective coating on the outside of Omegas. The crystal just disappears. Why wouldn't you want this feature on a luxury watch? Had plenty of other time pieces without ar on the outside and they are far too reflective and difficult to read at times.

 

To clarify: the issue isn't that the original gentleman does not want AR coating on his watch. He just doesn't understand why Omega applies it to the OUTSIDE. Most other watch makers apply it to the INSIDE (Oris even addresses this issue on their website). This way you get to appreciate the scratch resistance of the saphire crystal and still get anti-reflective benefit. The AR coating itself does scratch quite easily.

 

Im with you on this. Ive never understood Omegas approach to AR. Some of the PO models really need AR but why not put it on the underside of the crystal. Im sure theres a reason but surely the benefits are outweighed by risk of scratching. It makes even less sense with a dive watch. I live by the sea and my watches always take a dunking. All it takes is a grain of sand on the crystal and a wipe with a cloth and you have a scratch.

 

The PO has AR coating on the underside already (as well as on top of it).

1. Wear it and enjoy it
2. If it gets scratched and it bothers you, remove the outside AR (easy), and keep enjoying it
3. When time comes for a service decide if you want to replace the crystal for a new one with double AR coating, or keep it without AR outside (the inside one works, but of course not as well as with both)

And lastly keep enjoying the watch...

Not sure I understand why it's such a big deal to some.

 

I had a watch with AR coating on the outside and I loathed it. Scratched easily and you could see it against the light, when the whole purpose of the sapphire glass it is treating is to be scratch resistant. Put it on the underside only PLEASE.

 

And to give customers more reasons for whining.

 

I can tell my experience with Sinn U1 (AR on both side). The watch was tegimented and looked brand new even after quite some time. But on certain angles you could see the outside ar having some marks. The sapphire glass was without any marks. It was just annoying. Why would they put ar on the outside?On a 1000m diver?A tool watch? For what?

There is no point in changimg the crystal as the new one will have the same outcome but you can only send it to someone who can remove the outside ar.

Stupid. I just sold it in the end. Only because of idiotic ar on the outside on a tool diver

 

Another case of when less is more... (also applies to the HEV)

 

How are you guys scratching your AR coating? Had my 300m about 3 years now. It's worn daily and still looks perfect.

Built like a tank!

 

How are you guys scratching your AR coating? Had my 300m about 3 years now. It's worn daily and still looks perfect.

Built like a tank!

Agree. I had SMP300 for over 2 years almost a daily wear and didn't have any scratch on the AR coating. Now, over a year on my PO and the same results. I've never babied my watches but not rough on them either.

Sent from my SM-F926U using Tapatalk

 

Well the AR on inside and out will provide the least reflectivity. Personally I don't like it on the outside due to marks that always occur.
usually easy to remove.

 

Haha never get a vintage watch with an acrylic crystal. If AR coating stresses you, Acrylic stracthes will destroy your wellbeing.

 

Actually it doesn't. The watch in my avatar is my favorite watch and, while made in 2014, has an acrylic crystal. If I get minor scratches on it they can be easily removed with Polywatch. Also, being acrylic, there is an expectation the crystal will get scratched. The point of sapphire is to have a crystal so hard that it won't get scratched, but then Omega defeats that purpose by putting AR on the outside of the crystal that pretty easily gets scratched.

 

This is an interesting discussion. I'm planning on buying a watch soon with the additional option to add AR coating to the outside. Might just opt for inside AR only.

 

Great question! I've had my eyes on some Sinn models but can't bring myself to pull the trigger. The fragile exterior AR coating is a major turnoff!

 

I've owned my PO since 2005, never had a problem with AR scratches. The service center didn't even offer to replace the crystal when I took it for an overhaul in 2016. Sounds like a storm in a teacup to me.

Putting AR on the inner side has its own problem, namely risk of peeling off and falling on the dial. Rolex are now offering their Subs with AR inside, so they must have found a solution to that. I still see reflections on my Sub41, but not as many as on my SD43. The PO has almost zero reflections, probably my most legible diver.

 

I thought Omega had AR coating on both sides of the crystal?

 

It depends on the model. Speedy sapphire is coated only inside, all Sea range from both.

 

If it gets scratched, get it professionally removed.

 

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