I need a lifetime supply

[LittleWatchShop]

My neighbor just sent this in a text. I have replaced this crystal three times already!!!

 

I had to replace the bezel once too.

Edited April 27 by LittleWatchShop

[mbwatch]

Haha, tell him you're supposed to fill the pool with water before diving.

[RichardHarris123]

It least you know what to order. 

[mikepilk]

Could you fit a sapphire crystal?

My 'daily wearer' Breitling Aerospace is 22 years old and there isn't a mark on the sapphire crystal.  

[LittleWatchShop]

13 minutes ago, mikepilk said:

Could you fit a sapphire crystal?

My 'daily wearer' Breitling Aerospace is 22 years old and there isn't a mark on the sapphire crystal.  

I believe so. I thought about it the last time.

[JohnR725]

16 hours ago, mikepilk said:

Could you fit a sapphire crystal?

I unfortunately hear the salespeople in the store and sapphires definitely the way to go. Yes they can be broken but it's much more difficult than glass.

[mikepilk]

19 minutes ago, JohnR725 said:

much more difficult than glass.

What do you mean by 'more difficult' ?

[JohnR725]

7 minutes ago, mikepilk said:

What do you mean by 'more difficult' ?

Good question no idea I'm guessing is a dictation problem again.

Okay reading what I said it's more difficult to break? I guess I'm using the word difficult wrong okay let a quote myself in all change the wording

29 minutes ago, JohnR725 said:

Yes they can be broken but it's much more difficult than glass.

Yes they can be broken but it's much harder to do than it is to break glass

 

[caseback]

26 minutes ago, JohnR725 said:

Good question no idea I'm guessing is a dictation problem again.

Okay reading what I said it's more difficult to break? I guess I'm using the word difficult wrong okay let a quote myself in all change the wording

Yes they can be broken but it's much harder to do than it is to break glass

 

A great! So there will be no energy absorbtion by the glass.  

[mbwatch]

1 hour ago, JohnR725 said:

Yes they can be broken but it's much harder to do than it is to break glass

 

I guess I had been under the impression that sapphire was harder to scratch but easier to shatter than mineral glass. Wrong?

[mikepilk]

From what I've read it is more prone to shatter and exposed edges can chip. But my Breitling has received some hard hits to the sapphire - e.g. when I've accidentally hit it against the corner of a desk, and no visible damage done.

[JohnR725]

26 minutes ago, mbwatch said:

easier to shatter

If I remember when I go to work I will ask about the break ability of sapphire. But I was under the impression or my memory says that it's a selling point and I believe at least one of the people says that basically is indestructible. It's also why a lot of times though do upgrade standard glasses this sapphire is this much more.

[LittleWatchShop]

Grok sez this

...

[RichardHarris123]

I read the opposite, very hard to scratch but easier to shatter.

[SwissSeiko]

I've done multiple swaps from mineral to sapphire for clients. I usually recommend it if the watch is fairly beat up.

[Neverenoughwatches]

27 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

I read the opposite, very hard to scratch but easier to shatter.

As with both , it is impacts to edges that should be avoided. The internal stresses of sapphire could be higher than that of glass which make it more brittle but resistant to surface scratches. 

[JohnR725]

16 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

very hard to scratch but easier to shatter

I did remember to ask at work and minor complication? Well I suppose technically two separate complications. First off glass mineral glass versus Seiko's Hardlex Glass. Don't know if other companies have their own class or not and a basic class for crystals is probably not the same as window glass it would be more transparent. It becomes obvious if you're looking at a sheet of flat crystal glass versus window glass it's definitely more transparent you can see it when you look at the edges of it window glass looks green. No idea how that changes physical characteristics other than optical. Then we also have thickness like the Seiko five's there crystals are really sick compared to other things and I'm guessing that makes things different.

In the first link it talks about Sapphire versus mineral glass. One other thing is bothering me though when I'm reading this is where is the source material? What I mean by this is could we end up with multiple generations of salespeople quoting the same sales tactic or information and we don't actually know because you don't have a source reference?

Let me quote something off the website it's brittle oh dear I was sad? Except it's not immune to damage it can crack where shatter under extreme force or impact. So what is the definition of extreme force or impact? Then is that more or less extreme then mineral glass? 

Then regarding the price difference while back I had asked the owner where the Sapphire came from and basically wherever he can get the cheapest. So typically ordered from a variety of online supply watch parts in the US and  aliexpress China.. Then yes it does make a difference because we go through a lot of glass crystals and sapphire

https://thehorologylab.com/sapphire-crystal-vs-mineral-glass-which-is-best-for-your-watch#google_vignette

Then I guess one is glass not glass when it goes by another name? Hardlex Looks like it's purely a Seiko product but now I wonder if other watch companies have their own special glass? I didn't remember from past experience my favorite was people exposed to welding you can find little blobs a metal stuck to the watch case the crystal still intact but there's little burnt holes were bits of metal had actually burnt into the crystal but it was still there. Okay website below starts off with Sapphire sounds good but Apparently it can shatter easier then Hardlex.

https://theslenderwrist.com/hardlex-crystal/

One other thing is what I'm reading to websites would be back to I want to see the test results? Often times weren't looking for a subject will find websites where I basically called them these are better than that by the way but sometimes I'll find websites that I will call book review websites were basically the review other websites other material and don't really introduce anything new to the subject. As I said these websites look quite nice which is why I'm giving you a link but where's the test results the definition of extreme how extreme to break a sapphire versus a glass or Hardlex?

 

[LittleWatchShop]

I installed a new crystal...a glass one.  It was the last one of the set of three I had previously ordered.  After he breaks this one, I will go with sapphire.

This watch has an NH35A movement that runs like a beast!!  His first crystal was completely shattered.  The latter ones were cracked.  Imagine all of that force and the watch still keeps excellent time.  Truly amazing.

[MikeEll]

Sounds like he needs to take better care of his watch, or choose one better suited to his lifestyle.

[mbwatch]

2 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Imagine all of that force and the watch still keeps excellent time.  Truly amazing.

No bits of glass in the movement?

[LittleWatchShop]

no

This has been going on for about three years...perhaps a little longer.  So, I will probably revisit this in a year.  I am concerned that it will lose water resistance.  I test it to one atm only.  Enough to make it through a shower.