That’s very irritating. My experience is that sapphire crystals are definitely scratch-able. I did a large one on my Oris Big Pilot sitting at a meeting table once. Replacement or living with it is the only option.

 

I'm too ocd to live with it, so replacement is probably the only option. I'm just so disappointed that a rolex sapphire would get scratched so easily. I also expect that rolex will say it's normal wear and tear and therefore not covered by the warranty.

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

 

Use a diamond paste (purchased from Amazon for about $10).
I used 1 micron paste and it worked wonders; removed all scratches and brought it like new.
Just make sure you mask off everything around the crystal and the crevices between the crystal and the case as well.
I used an oil base paste so needed some care in clean up afterwards, but the result was well worth it.

Linked is a thread with a tutorial on how to do so with pics:

Photos: Managed to remove scratches from a sapphire...

Several members described their experience in removing scratches (polishing) sapphire crystal. Sapphire could get easily scratched by diamond (my wife's ring in my case), granite or marble stones. I managed to get rid of an annoying scratch (between 3 & 4 O'clock). a Good experience with happy...

www.watchuseek.com

BTW, I did not use a dremel tool; just a good ol elbow grease and it worked wonders.

GL, but do so at your own risk.

 

Thanks for the tip. Im not too good at fixing things and would be worried about making the problem worse. If rolex won't cover it and the replacement cost is reasonable, I'd probably prefer to wear the cost.

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

 

My 14060m needed the sapphire replacing as it had a few tiny chips. It wasn't that expensive I think 50 or 80, but have to service at same time if an AD I believe. I'd be grumpy if it happened again but I guess there are a few things harder than their type of sapphire. Especially on a sandy beach.

 

Some people assume that sapphire glass is un-scratchable. They are wrong. That is why all my watches have protective film over the crystal. In case of problems such as this one.

PRODUCT_Classic Watch

Mobile Protection Film, Pontree is a green company that designs, develops,and sells digital accessories. Since its foundation in 2008, Pontree has been best-known as the premium protection brand 'Healing Shield.'

www.healingshield.co.kr

Now there are Chinese made ones and they are pretty good, but I have exclusively used the Korean brand because of the quality. Protect the crystal and it should go well beyond 15 years.

 

Or you could always look at it this way.....
YOU went to the beach today.....
WE have a blizzard scheduled (beginning now for 24 hours) and 20 inches of snow including 30mph winds with gusting to 60mph.
OUR beaches will experience storm surge and flooding at high tide today.
At least it will be warm at 16 degrees-F
Great watch by the way....

 

Sapphire crystals can be scratched, so it is not a warranty issue. Beach sands can damage your watch if dragged over the face while being sandwiched against something that is unyielding, hence best to rinse your watch off if there is a chance of anything still sticking to it before it has a chance to rub against anything else. Replacing the crystal is the best option, but if you think similar activities may scratch it again then maybe put it off until you accumulate a few more scratches.

 

The Mohs Hardness Scale And Chart For Select Gems

The Mohs hardness scale measures a mineral's resistance to scratching. Find the traditional scale and a chart of select gems.

www.gemsociety.org

 

Most things will not scratch a sapphire, but diamonds aren't the only things that can. Plenty of other materials are high enough on the scale to do it. Tungsten or silicon carbide could both do it, and they're both common in enough in modern life. There's also the question of if the crystal has an antireflective coating, which could be much easier to scratch.
Clearly we just need someone to make a synthetic diamond watch crystal! Then we only need to worry about a handful of really rare materials! You'd still want to avoid boron nitride, though.

 

Agree it could just be the AR coating. Tough for us to tell from the photos. Still a very nice watch OP.

 

Sand (quartz) shouldn't do it, but quartz is pretty hard stuff. Maybe it's worth making sure it's not fractures in the crystal as opposed to scratches. Might be hard to tell for sure.

 

Couple thoughts from a guy who doesn't own a Rolex but values tools and their use as well as patina..

1. It would make my stomach turn to see that, initially at least.

2. If it was my only Rolex I'd likely get the crystal replaced because I'm too OCD and that's a nice watch for sure.

3. If it wasn't my only Rolex or (insert other > 5-10k+ watch) then I'd make that explorer my go anywhere, do anything watch and let it accumulate all of the scratches and patina it can over the rest of your life (within reason). You'll always see that scratch on the crystal and it'll remind you of that time on the beach with your family/friends/whoever.

Just my 0.02. Nice watch

 

Agreed! It sucks that the watch became scratched - strange as I’ve worn a seiko diver with sapphire to the beach many times and still don’t have any scratches on the crystal. That said, scratches on a proper toll watch like that look at home and make it seem authentic to me

 

Sand will do it. I haven’t had scratches in my watches lately, and a few i wear to the beach are hardened mineral rather than sapphire. I have a few small scratches on the ‘gorilla glass’ on my Garmin, but i don’t think i would spend the extra for the sapphire version. Never considered getting it repaired.

 

Did you check to see if they were real scratches in the sapphire? ie, sometimes what looks like a scratch can be the particules traces left behind by a softer material that rubbed the surface.

 

came back from the beach today and washed off my 6 month old Explorer with water, only to find 2 large scratches on the crystal. Naturally I was pissed off, but also surprised since I thought only diamond could scratch sapphire - I was nowhere near any diamonds! I also didn't feel any rocks his my watch / arm. I cant figure out how it happened but also why it happened.

In 15 years I've never had this happen to me and I'm wondering whether the quality of the rolex crystal is perhaps not as good as others? Does anyone know if this will be covered by warranty? I assume the only option is replacement and that these scratches cant be polished out. Any feedback would be appreciated. I've attached a couple of photos to show the scratches at 6 and 12. View attachment 16398871 View attachment 16398872

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

I scratched a old sub doing yard trimming bushes...and those bushes weren't made of diamonds! LOL
Now you can really wear it and enjoy it...and when it goes off to RSC well...wash,rinse,repeat!

 

Well, stress is defined as forced/area and all materials have elastic property, fatigue properties and yield stress...which help defines material hardness and its tendency to eventually fail in prolonged time, or evemtually get irreversible damage , esp. with appropriate acute forces applied( i.e. shear stress)

Material engineers, do correct me or help elaborate. After all, i did not do well in this course elective, back in days, and im an ee.

Btw diamond paste help "mask" scratches on sapphire glass. Gluck op

 

Word of warning if you send it in to Rolex. Theres a chance they'll insist on a service on top of the crystal replacement cost as they will say the watch has been mis treated. Although given the age of the watch they'll likely just charge you for the crystal but it wont be cheap. Theres a standard replacement charge as well but I cant remember how much. Maybe £100? Your AD might be able to help you out though and have a word with the SC. Mine stepped in with one of mine and managed to walk them back from about £1000 all in! (service, crystal and crystal replacement fee).

 

I wonder how much they will charge. Keep us posted

 

Leave it as is. An Explorer should have some battle scars.

 

I wish I could think like that!!

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

 

came back from the beach today and washed off my 6 month old Explorer with water, only to find 2 large scratches on the crystal. Naturally I was pissed off, but also surprised since I thought only diamond could scratch sapphire - I was nowhere near any diamonds! I also didn't feel any rocks his my watch / arm. I cant figure out how it happened but also why it happened.

In 15 years I've never had this happen to me and I'm wondering whether the quality of the rolex crystal is perhaps not as good as others? Does anyone know if this will be covered by warranty? I assume the only option is replacement and that these scratches cant be polished out. Any feedback would be appreciated. I've attached a couple of photos to show the scratches at 6 and 12. View attachment 16398871 View attachment 16398872

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

I had a submariner I wore steadily for 32 years….never scratched the crystal. I’d be upset too!

 

I've had sapphire crystals scratched by things other than diamonds (both Rolex and other brand watches). I guess hard and sharp enough will do it. Like sharp metal or sharp rocks. I wouldn't try to polish it myself (acrylic is a different story).

 

Thanks for all the feedback. The lesson for me out of this episode, is that I should get a seiko diver for the beach and other sports activity. I don't mind picking scratches on the watch, but the crystal is a different matter and clearly the sapphire is not quite as tough as I thought it was. Disappointing given that rolex markets its watches as being built for adventure, but it is what it is.

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

 

There's a nothing wrong or weak regarding Rolex sapphire crystals. Wear a more suitable watch for the beach, gshocks are great.

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk

 

Beach sand particles can be "sticky", a grain or two can sit on a surface and will need to be brushed off, but if it is your watch then rinsing is best. As a diver I often find beach sand can be sitting on hard surface items and not fall off, thus I usually give my spearguns and dive fins a dunk as a form of rinse off before departing from a shore dive. I think this tendency to stick is to do with the saltwater drying off as the grain sits on the surface, such as the alloy barrel of my speargun and the plastic parts.

 

None of my watches are scratched
My Wifes 31MM Date just is scratched to death and shes not even hard on the thing
Mine I beat the hell out of.....I am pretty certain some rolex crystals are soft

 

For reference, my 16710 GMT-II is currently with Rolex Melbourne for a full service. I ticked the box for a new crystal and it’s listed on the quote for Au$174.36 (excluding GST).

In my case the installation cost is part of the service, so I don’t know what they’d charge to just replace just the crystal.

Cheers,
Noel

 

For reference, my 16710 GMT-II is currently with Rolex Melbourne for a full service. I ticked the box for a new crystal and it’s listed on the quote for Au$174.36 (excluding GST).

In my case the installation cost is part of the service, so I don’t know what they’d charge to just replace just the crystal.

Cheers,
Noel

Thanks Noel, that's helpful. I assume the NZD price will be similar. Not high enough to stress over.

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

 

If you have the crystal replaced, it will likely be with a service crystal, (tiny 's' inside the laser etched coronet). Not necessarily a big deal, just not 'original'.

 

Sand can do some nasty things to watches. Started wearing my G-Shock to the beach a couple years ago for this reason. Also like that I don't have to worry about losing an expensive watch in the ocean. My advice, just keep it as is until it's ready for a full service and buy a beater watch for the beach.

Sent from my Galaxy S20 using Tapatalk