The watch industry has gone too far, offering a variety of watch choices ranging from simple to the luxury category. The components used in these watches also vary in parallel with their respective categories. Simple watches usually feature average-standard components, whereas luxury watches use premium-quality components. Among these watch parts, “watch crystal” is a notable and commonly discussed component in the watch community. It is known to be the protective glass and front face of every watch. The watch crystals feature different types, including acrylic, mineral, and sapphire, depending on the watch’s standard.
In today’s guide, we will conduct a detailed comparison between acrylic and sapphire watch crystals. We will discuss their core features, market-standard, and other relevant aspects. Let’s start the discussion.
What you find on the front face of every watch is actually a “watch crystal”. In simple terms, a transparent material covering/protecting a watch dial is known as the watch crystal. Even some modern watches feature the same crystal on the backside of the watch.
The word “crystal” does not directly relate to the crystal material itself; the watch crystal is composed of multiple materials, resulting in various types. The highlighted types include acrylic, mineral, and sapphire. Below are the features of a watch crystal.
You know what? Acrylic crystal is the most commonly used watch crystal in the market. It is manufactured using polymethyl methacrylate (a type of plastic material known as PMMA). The acrylic crystal feels like plastic, is lightweight, and budget-friendly. You will mostly find this type of watch crystal in watches like retro, vintage, and other related ones. The other known names for this watch crystal are Plexiglass and Hesalite crystal.
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A type of watch crystal manufactured with synthetic sapphire. It is considered to be a premium quality watch glass that is designed, manufactured, and tested under the supervision of lab experts. It features a crystal-clear view, is resistant to scratches, water, and dullness. Sapphire watch crystal is mainly used in luxury category watches and features long-lasting performance without any compromise.
Pros
Cons
This comparison guide concluded that both watch crystals (Acrylic vs. Sapphire) fulfill the requirements of users in their respective domains. They just differ in the belonging categories, where acrylic crystal suits the requirements of vintage and classic watches. Similarly, the sapphire crystal meets the requirements of luxury and modern standards. Moreover, the acrylic watch crystal excels in terms of impact resistance and lightweight preference. However, the sapphire watch crystal features extraordinary performance against scratches and serves for a longer period of time (even decades).
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