Why Sapphire Crystals are better than your Seiko Hardlex

For the majority of beginner Seiko watch modders, swapping out the crystal of your watch might be a curious concept. This might be immediately obvious if your crystal has a scratch or stain, but to the more thrifty watch owner, buffing and cleaning are much better options than replacing the whole piece. With that mindset, changing it purely for aesthetics might be a surprising choice.

The Watch Crystal Types

To fully understand this, let’s look into the most basic types of crystals. There are three types of commonly used crystals for watches: acrylic/plastic, mineral, and sapphire.

Acrylic or plastic crystals are cheap and replaceable, easily scratched, but easy to buff out. Unlike other crystals, these won’t shatter on impact, making it a durable option.

Mineral crystals, on the other hand, are closer to glass than plastic. Beautiful and more scratch-resistant than acrylic, these are the common crystals for a majority of reputable timepieces.

Sapphire crystals are the most beautiful of crystals — highly scratch-proof, easy on the eyes, and notably expensive. These are more commonly seen on high-end watches and most limited-edition watches.

The Seiko Hardlex vs Sapphire Crystals

The Seiko Hardlex is the trademark crystal of Seiko watches. It is classified as a mineral glass that has been tempered for increased durability. The beauty of the Hardlex lies in its cost-effectiveness and durability, sporting a long service life while being easily replaceable. Tough and classy, this is the Seiko crystal that withstood the test of time.

Sapphire crystals, on the other hand, are extremely scratch-resistant and are considered a gem in the world of horology. Watch modders and collectors alike love a timepiece with a sapphire crystal, as it makes for a clean and beautiful look. The crystal not only protects your watch’s dial and face but also enhances the overall aesthetic.

The Sapphire Crystal’s Coating

The beauty of the sapphire is not merely because it is scratch-proof, but it also lies in the tint. The sapphire crystal is mostly noticeable due to the bluish hue brought by the sun, which is actually the effect of the Sapphire Crystal’s anti-reflective (AR) coating.

Unlike the Seiko Hardlex or the acrylic crystals, sapphire is an extremely reflective material, making it hard to see through in certain lighting. To improve its legibility, especially when outdoors, AR coating is usually applied to the crystal. This layer of coating not only reduces the glare and optical interference, but it also protects the outer layer from scratches when applied at the exterior crystal face.

AR coatings can be an extreme bother to maintain because they present extremely visible scratches and will look messy when not removed or refurbished. This is why our selection of Sapphire Crystals has its AR coatings applied in the interior, as an outer coating is rarely necessary for them.

Aside from the reduced glare, the AR coating can come in differing hues, allowing for extreme customization of your Seiko watch’s face. Although the most common tint is blue, which is the popular and most commonly seen variant of sapphire crystal, they can also be ordered in clear AR coatings or even without AR coating at all.

Conclusion If you are looking for a sapphire crystal to modify your Seiko watch’s crystal, then we have various Seiko mod parts you can choose from. Get in touch with us today and see the various products you can use to modify your beloved timepiece.