Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission.
How to Easily Remove Scratches from Your Watch Crystal
A fresh scratch on an otherwise flawless crystal is a devastating sight.
By
Shane Griffin
Courtesy
For watch lovers, a fresh scratch on an otherwise flawless crystal is a devastating sight. The feeling can be even worse on a brand-new watch, or one that just returned from servicing. But before you send your tainted timepiece back for a crystal replacement, you may want to consider a home remedy. First you need to determine what can be done — and that depends on the type of crystal you’ve scratched.
Up until the 1980s, nearly all watches came equipped with an acrylic crystal to protect the dial and hands. Acrylic is used for its low cost and its capacity to be polished. A trip to the watch forums in search of scratch-fix techniques for this crystal type will yield about a dozen different remedies. Everyone seems to have the “correct” way of doing it, when, in reality, it’s hard to go wrong as long as you follow directions. The most commonly endorsed polishing agents are Polywatch, Brasso, Displex and toothpaste. The process consists of (1) covering up the bezel with tape, so as not to damage it during polishing; and (2) using a soft polishing rag (or something similar), to work a small amount of your chosen substance into the scratch in a circular motion. In general, it should take a couple of minutes to get rid of the scratches, as long as they’re not too deep. If your watch has very deep scratches, it might be worth paying for a crystal replacement.
Although acrylic crystals are still used on less expensive watches, many manufacturers have moved on to mineral glass. Mineral glass is created with a melting process involving glass and hardening minerals, a process that creates a material seven times harder than acrylic and far more scratch and impact resistant. That’s all well and good, but unfortunately this hardness creates difficulties when it comes to polishing. Many watchmakers simply recommend replacing these crystals, as the cost is negligible when compared to the parts and labor involved in doing it yourself.
Sapphire crystal is used by the high-end watchmakers. Sapphire scores a solid 9 out of 10 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale, just below diamond, making it even more scratch resistant than mineral glass. With its awesome capabilities, sapphire comes at a premium. Depending on the kind of watch you own or where you go for repairs, a sapphire crystal replacement can run anywhere from $75 to $250. A little bit of research and some elbow grease can restore your crystal for less than $30. Even though sapphire is harder than mineral glass, the extra effort is worth the payoff. But before diving into our sapphire-polishing process, take note: this remedy should be reserved for crystals with an internal anti-reflective coating, unless you are okay with removing said coating. Additionally, this remedy works best for shallow scratches. Repairing deep scratches is much more labor intensive, and you can end up with a distorted crystal.
Protect your bezel from the diamond paste with masking tape, in the same way you would protect wood trim when painting a room.
Step 2: Begin buffing.
Apply a small amount of 3µ paste to the scratch, working it in a firm circular motion with the cloth. After a few minutes, you should start to see the scratch disappearing.
Step 3: Continue buffing.
Once the scratch has faded, wipe away the excess and apply the .25µ paste. Pick a new spot on your cloth and begin the same circular motion as before. This ultra-fine paste will give your crystal the glass-like finishing it once had. When you’re satisfied with the disappearing act, wipe away the excess paste and inspect your work.
Step 4: Repeat (if necessary).
If the scratch remains, rinse and repeat from steps two and three. If it’s gone, rinse and wipe away residue or fingerprints with a watch cloth.
Everything You’ll Need
0.5 Micron Lapping Paste by TEMO $7 3 Micron DP3 Dia-Paste by DMT $17 Scotch Blue Painter’s Tape by 3M $3 Microfiber Cleaning Cloth (6 Pack) by MagicFiber $9
Milwaukee Boot Co.'s Pfister boot is made of quality leather and features a Goodyear welt construction, which allows the boot to be resoled. You can take 15 percent off a pair of your own when you use the code PATROL15 at checkout.
This is your first chance to get a refurbished MacBook Pro or MacBook Air with an M1 chip directly from Apple. The M1 chip marks Apple's departure from the Intel chips it used for the previous decade, a change that leads to huge improvements in battery life and performance.
Casio's legendary G-Shock line is not only a utilitarian achievement but is also just super stylish. You can find G-Shocks everywhere, from space to the street. This one is a bit pared back compared to others, which makes it an excellent addition to any fit any time.
Solo Stove took the 360 Airflow Design that made its fire pit so exceptional and turned it into a charcoal grill that is perfect for backyard hangs. This bundle comes with the grill, a grill stand, a cover, a carry case, plus briquettes and starters to get you going.
If you want a mask with more protection and versatility than a simple cloth mask, check out this one from Outdoor Research. It has adjustable straps to keep your fit dialed and comes with three replaceable filters that block out 95 percent of particles.
TRX, designed by a Navy SEAL squadron commander, still stands out as one of the best home workout systems, which is saying something considering the competition in that category. This bundle includes everything you need to work out from home, plus TRX's Rocker, a foam roller that is borderline sadistic (in a good way).
This chair from Humanscale is our pick for the best leather office chair you can buy. Marking the transition from manual adjusting chairs to self-adjusting chairs, this one does everything for you, handling all recline tension and tilt functionality itself.
Hydro Flask really needs no introduction at this point, so when you can get a 32-ounce wide mouth with its Temp-Shield insulation at 31 percent off, you do it.
J.Crew knows how to make a wardrobe staple as well as anyone. These pants go with anything and come in a bunch of sizes and colors, so you can make them your go-to for everyday wear.
Making more coffee from home now? So are we. Ditch the Mr. Coffee and unlock all the flavor your freshly roasted beans have to offer with a french press. It is super simple to use and really does make exceptional coffee.
You really can't have too many masks around, so jump on this deal from Vistaprint and stock up. If you buy three or more masks, you can use the promo code to get 25 percent off. They come in a range of colors and patterns and also have an insert for a filter.
Engineered for homes with pets, the Dyson V7 Animal captures dust, animal hair, allergens and deep cleans carpets. It is also super rare to see this price on a brand new V7, as opposed to the refurbished ones we tend to see these days.
Stasher bags are one of our favorite alternatives to single-use plastic wrap and bags. They keep your food fresh, contain no BPA and are dishwasher and microwave safe. Plus, you can also use them for marinades or sous vide thanks to their Pinch-Loc seal.
This is our pick for the best big and tall office chair, but that doesn't mean it won't work for those of us that are more vertically challenged. The ergonomics on this chair are excellent, ensuring that you stay comfortable for the long haul.
A midweight insulated jacket is a must-have in every outdoor enthusiast's wardrobe. This one from The North Face is packed with features, including a DWR finish to fend off light rain, post-consumer recycled insulation and is packable for easy stowing (or for use as a travel pillow).
For a lot of us, a quick look out the window reveals that winter is not quitting any time soon, meaning weatherproof boots are still required. These are our Smart Spend pick as the best affordable snow boots, so picking them up on sale really is the smartest spend you can make.
With spring just about a month away, it is time to pick up your go-to sneakers for the season. The Vans Authentic is always in style and, in this iteration, comes in a clean white leather rounded out with gold metal eyelets.
Four-way stretch, seamless construction, and extreme breathability make this our pick for the best premium workout shirt. It is simple, and simply good.
This smart vacuum senses when it is full, locks itself back into its port and empties without any work on your end. It also keeps a record of its ventures into your home, making for more efficient journeys in the future. This combo includes an Echo Dot for only $10, which is a valuable add-on that has many more benefits than just the vacuum connectivity.
If you have trouble waking up, especially in the winter, getting an artificial light to simulate sunrise is a great option. This alarm clock features nature sounds to wake you up, tap snooze and an auto-dimming display.
This is one of The North Face's most iconic silhouettes. Supremely warm, this jacket comes in four retro colorways and has a relaxed cut that is both street-ready and mountain-ready.
This OLED smart TV from LG has built-in Alexa, an ultra fast a9 Gen 3 AI 4K processor and emits some of the crispest blacks and colors you've ever seen on a television. Right now is the time to buy as brands prepare to roll out the newer models.
You may be skeptical about bidets, but it is the best thing you can do for your bum. Seriously, once you start using it, you'll never go back to wiping with plain old toilet paper.
MagSafe is the future of charging, so pick one up while its on sale. It can charge any iPhone 8 or later, as well as AirPods models with a wireless charging case. It also charges faster than wired chargers and older wireless chargers.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io