An Overview of the Three Different Types of Watch Crystals

Crystals are considered as the windows to your timepiece as they are made to protect and withstand any environmental damage. They are durable components that are made of different materials that vary in strength, durability, and cost. If you’re just getting started in the timepiece-modding scene, understanding how one crystal is different from another is an essential skill that you need to learn.

Understanding the different types of crystals

Timepiece modders need to be familiar with the different types of timepiece components to see if the products in the market’s costs are true to their worth in value. Ultimately, knowing the tradeoff of each material’s advantages and disadvantages can help you make a smarter purchase.

If you’re not sure how to compare the crystal for your modding builds, here is an overview of the three types of crystal and their different advantages:

1. Acrylic Crystals

These types of crystals are durable enough to withstand multiple scratch marks. You can identify an acrylic mark by noticing its clouded texture and hearing a familiar plastic-like sound by tapping on the surface.

Since it’s lightweight, it’s the most affordable crystal in the market. However, the price you pay is its low scratch resistance. It can even end up being cloudy over time due to wear and tear. On the other hand, it has shatter-resistant properties, which make it a good purchase for heavy-duty activities. Know that this type of crystal is mostly used for children’s watches.

2. Mineral Crystals

These crystals are clearer compared to acrylic crystals and offer higher scratch resistance. They produce a high-pitch sound that’s similar to glass, together with a blue tint, which is noticeable by applying a drop of water on the crystal.

Mineral crystals, or Hardlex, are built from ordinary glass that’s been chemically treated to increase its scratch and shatter-resistant properties. Although they offer better clarity, they aren’t as durable as acrylic crystals. Mineral crystals are reasonably cheap and are also fairly inexpensive to replace, which is why their replacements are much more common compared to repairs.

3.  Sapphire Crystals

As the luxury option for timepiece aficionados, sapphire crystals offer astounding clarity, which is matched by its durability against scratches even from metal objects. Dropping water on it reveals a pinking white tint.

As one of the hardest elements on earth, sapphire crystals have superior scratch and crack resistance, making it the prime choice for premium timepieces. One of the reasons these crystals are expensive is because they’re created from costly manufacturing tools. Its most prominent feature is its anti-reflective coating, which can make it appear as if the crystal itself is invisible due to its astounding transparency.

Although they’re the most expensive material component for watches, they’re also the most prone to shattering due to its brittle materials. This is why heavy blunt force can easily break it even if it has high scratch resistance.

Conclusion

Familiarizing yourself with the different types of crystals can help you be a better buyer. Whether you’re attracted to a single dome or a flat design, you should also look into what material the crystal is made of. Doing this will allow you to gauge your options, which will define whether or not you can swap out its parts for a replacement crown to make a personal build.

When it comes to buying watch parts, you need to make sure that you’re buying from a credible supplier with a wide selection of brands and models to choose from. If you’re looking for a reliable supplier of timepiece components to complete your watch, check our catalog of crystal Seiko mod pieces and find the perfect fit for your build!