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Old 20 May 2009, 08:45 PM   #7
padi56
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Real Name: Peter
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SecretSauce View Post
I have been reading a lot about the hardness of sapphire crystal (9.0 on the Mohs Scale) and the fact that only diamond is harder. However, it seems clear that one can scratch Sapphire crystal. I know, because I have managed to get a vary faint scratch on the crystal of my U-series SS Sub Date (ahhhrrrgggg!!!).

It has been suggested that only three things you normally encounter can scratch a sapphire crystal:
- another sapphire
- a diamond
- silicon carbide, which is used to make such things as faux stone wall paneling and stone garden furniture.

Is this true?

I am not sure if this has been raised recently, but can anyone shed some light on the issue?? What do I need to sheild my lovely watch from???

Thanks!
Have been wearing Rolex watches for well over 30 years with acrylic very easy to polish a scratch out.And with watches with Sapphire working as a dive guide and instructor for quite a few years before I retired.Have never encountered a serious scratch on any watch I was using Rolex or others.And my watches were used as tool watches and had quite a hard life.Most Rolex watches today get a very very pampered life and if scratched easily fixed with modern day abrasives like diamond paste.I have in the past used 3 micron to remove the main scratch going across the scratch first,it takes a fair bit of elbow grease.Just a tiny bit on a cloth like a spectacles cloth or similar.Then just a fine polish after with the quarter micron,and scratch will be gone,and good as new. Cost for the two tubes in the UK around £20 expect cheaper out of the UK.And far cheaper than a new crystal takes a bit of time,if scratch is very deep then should replace, sapphire can chip around the edges if struck quite hard..
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