What You Need to Know About Sapphire Crystals in Watches

What comes to mind when you hear the word sapphire? You probably picture a deep blue gemstone. Indeed, sapphire is one of the most beautiful stones today, but here’s a fun fact: the real color of sapphire is actually transparent. How does it get its deep blue color, then? 

Auguste Verneuil, a French chemist, developed a process to create synthetic sapphire crystals in which alumina powder is deposited into an oxyhydrogen flame that creates the sapphire-like material similar to the natural gemstone. 

Sapphires have a high-melting temperature of 2040 degrees. Aside from its appearance, it’s popular because it’s highly resistant to scratching and contains strong materials. Therefore, sapphire crystal is used in watch glasses today. 

Sapphire Crystal as Watch Glass 

Back when pocket watches were still a thing, a spring cover protects the watch crystal and dial. However, when wristwatches were introduced and became popular, pocket watches disappeared along with the spring cover. Wristwatches that time had to be protected at some point, and watchmakers then were faced with the challenges of how to protect them. 

Thankfully, the synthetic production of sapphires through Verneuil’s process came to light. In turn, it produced pear-shaped crystals that are cut, polished, and fitted to the right size for the watch crystals. 

Due to the production process and the raw materials used, sapphire glass is expensive. With that, watch crystals that are made of sapphire glass fall under the category of luxury watches. 

Buying a Watch: All About the Crystal

Many think that the watch crystal affects a huge part of the decision-making process when buying a watch. The truth, however, is that it doesn’t because the watch crystal alone doesn’t make the watch more robust. With that, you need to look into the overall quality of the watch. 

A simple tip when buying a watch is to choose a watch that you love. Also, be clear about what you like and dislike about watch models to guarantee that you get the right watch for you in the end. 

With so many brands of watches out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for you. When it comes to crystals, a watch with a plastic crystal may appeal to some people. For some, especially watch collectors, the appeal of collecting watches lies not only in the watches’ ability to tell time, but also in the stories they have to tell.

The Right Watch

Knowing about sapphire crystal and their role in watches is crucial. However, you need to remember that the watch crystal alone will not determine the quality of the watch; therefore, when shopping for a watch, it all comes down to your preference and checking the overall quality of the watch. That’s the only way to help you make the right decision. 

Conclusion

Use this information to help you stay informed, especially if you’re fond of buying watches. That way, you can guarantee that you will get the best watches to suit your needs. Watches are an investment, so learning as much as you can about them can go a long way to ensure you’re making the right choices. 
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