watch glasses

While other features of a watch, such as the movement or complications, are often discussed, one component is often neglected: the watch glass. We want to change that with this article! The following is all about watch glasses and what distinguishes the different watch glass materials.

The Importance of Watch Glasses: Why They Offer More Than Just Protection

The glass is an indispensable part of every watch. It protects the dial and hands from dust and dirt, keeps water out and protects the sensitive components from direct contact. The time can be read perfectly through the glass, and the clarity and transparency of a high-quality, carefully treated watch glass will not be clouded over decades. But even if the glass of a wristwatch primarily serves a purely practical purpose, its influence on the appearance of a timepiece should not be underestimated. An undamaged watch glass with a chic curve can look absolutely classy, ​​ensure that the dial is shown to its best advantage and thus have a significant influence on the appearance of a watch.

sapphire crystal

Sapphire glass has been used in wristwatches since the 1980s. It is artificially manufactured sapphire - a material that is characterized by its hardness and durability. The synthetically manufactured glass now refines numerous brand watches and contributes to their high price. This is because the production of sapphire glass is comparatively complex, which drives up the costs. This is why sapphire glass, whose hardness is 9 Mohs and therefore almost as hard as a diamond, is mainly found on the exquisite dials of luxury watches.

mineral glass

When it comes to mineral glasses, a distinction must be made between untreated and hardened glasses. Untreated mineral glasses are like window glass. Such mineral glass is relatively easy to damage because, although it is much harder than plastic, it is still quite susceptible to scratches and is not immune to breakage under heavy loads. Mineral glass can be hardened using a chemical process, which makes watch glasses much more robust.

plastic glass

Plastic glass is the lightest of the watch glasses. Often referred to as Hesalit glass, Plexiglas or acrylic glass, plastic glasses are amazingly impact-resistant, but also have a low density. This means that they are quite soft - especially compared to sapphire glasses - and can therefore be scratched quickly.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Watch Glasses

All common types of watch glasses have their advantages and disadvantages. We would like to compare these clearly here in order to create a direct comparison.

Sapphire is particularly notable for its hardness, as described above. Marks on the hard glass are often not scratches, but simply abrasions that have come onto the glass from outside through contact with softer materials. These can be easily removed. This is different with plastic glasses: they scratch relatively quickly, but are easy to polish, which means that removing fine scratches is usually no problem. In terms of hardness, mineral glasses are in the middle ground. Mineral glass is more scratch-resistant than plastic glass, but more difficult to polish. If mineral glass watch glasses break, it cannot be ruled out that fine splinters could penetrate the movement. In the worst case scenario, this could result in serious damage to the movement. This is precisely the risk that is reduced by hardening the glass.

The clear advantage of plastic watch glass: It is wonderfully light and does not reflect. This is precisely where the disadvantage of sapphire glass lies. This is known for strong light refraction and the associated reflections, which can significantly impair the view of the watch depending on the incidence of light. To counteract this, special coatings are often applied to the glass, which can significantly reduce reflection. However, sapphire and mineral glass remain absolutely clear for many years and decades with appropriate care, while inferior plastic watch glass can become cloudy and yellow under certain circumstances. This is due, among other things, to the effect of UV radiation on the material.

Another distinguishing feature: glasses made of plastic have an osmotic property. They are therefore not necessarily completely waterproof. For this reason, they are usually reinforced in diving watches and are usually used in particularly thick shapes. In contrast, watch glasses made of sapphire glass and mineral glass are not osmotic.

How do I recognize the best watch glass?

Which material is best for watch glasses ultimately depends to a large extent on the individual preferences of the wearer. After all, all cleanly processed watch glasses offer protection against dust and the like and thus fulfill their main purpose. However, several important aspects should be considered when choosing a watch glass. First and foremost, you should consider which features and properties are particularly important to you personally. If, for example, you want a particularly light watch glass, plastic glasses are a good choice. If, on the other hand, you place great value on durability and a touch of luxury, the decision for sapphire glass is an obvious one.

In any case, it is essential to obtain detailed information and, if necessary, to seek professional advice. After all, all watch glasses have their plus and minus points that you should be aware of before making a purchase in order to make the best choice.

Conclusion

From Plexiglas to mineral glass and sapphire glass, various tried-and-tested materials are used in watches today. Which watch glass is best suited in a particular case is sometimes determined by the wearer's priorities, budget and planned use of the watch. In any case, it is worth taking a closer look at the exciting topic of watch glasses in order to be able to correctly classify the features that differentiate the options from one another and keep them in mind when buying a watch.