Acrylic vs. Mineral vs. Sapphire crystals

Repmaniac · 04-10-2006, 04:39 PM

Acrylic vs. Mineral vs. Sapphire crystals:

This question comes up from time-to-time, and thought a brief explanation of what they are and how to tell what they are may be useful. Most collectors, WISâ€™, and members of this illustrious board already know, but for those that donâ€™t know, here it is;

First off, acrylic is a fancy name for plastic, or Plexiglas. Plexi, of course, is the least expensive. It is also the least likely to shatter and the most likely to become scratched. Mineral glass, even though it has been hardened by a tempering process, is more likely to break than Plexiglas. But it is also more scratch-resistant than that material. Synthetic sapphire is the most expensive glass crystal material and the most scratch resistant. Because it is so hard, it is also brittle, and shatters more easily than mineral glass. There is one other out there, which is kinda a laminate. It uses a base of mineral glass, with a layer of sapphire laminated on the outside. This hybrid offers the shatter resistance of mineral, with the scratch-resistance of sapphire. This stuff is proprietary, and Seiko uses it quite a bit. This is whatâ€™s called â€œsynthetic sapphire.â€

ahmadyk23 · 07-17-2010, 02:12 PM

ooo, i like that hybrid crystal... maybe the rep factories will start making them

guanaco · 07-17-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahmadyk23

ooo, i like that hybrid crystal... maybe the rep factories will start making them

They have, and it's a complete disaster. They're using it on the Ploprof nowadays, terrible, terrible crystal!

watchman1 · 07-17-2010, 08:09 PM

Thanks for the crystal lesson. That was good stuff.

redstars · 07-17-2010, 08:13 PM

tldr: sapphire if your budget supports it

watchman1 · 07-17-2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guanaco

They have, and it's a complete disaster. They're using it on the Ploprof nowadays, terrible, terrible crystal!

Would you please give an explanation as to why you are calling the crystal used in the Ploprof is a disaster? I ask because I was looking at purchasing the Ploprof. Thanks.

guanaco · 07-17-2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redstars

tldr: sapphire if your budget supports it

Too long?! It takes about 10 seconds to read the whole thing...

Quote:

Originally Posted by watchman1

Would you please give an explanation as to why you are calling the crystal used in the Ploprof is a disaster? I ask because I was looking at purchasing the Ploprof. Thanks.

http://www.replica-watch.info/vb/sho...hlight=ploprof

watchman1 · 07-17-2010, 09:05 PM

Wow. Thanks. Disaster is the right word..... I guess I'll be waiting until the next version addressing this issue comes out.

guanaco · 07-17-2010, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watchman1

Wow. Thanks. Disaster is the right word..... I guess I'll be waiting until the next version addressing this issue comes out.

That makes two of us my friend, I can't believe they're selling that crap! I'm also waiting for V2, hopefully 'happy feet' will be fixed, although I'm sure they won't fix it.

04-10-2006, 04:39 PM	#1
Repmaniac ADVISOR Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Third pen from the gate Posts: 1,441	Acrylic vs. Mineral vs. Sapphire crystals Acrylic vs. Mineral vs. Sapphire crystals: This question comes up from time-to-time, and thought a brief explanation of what they are and how to tell what they are may be useful. Most collectors, WISâ€™, and members of this illustrious board already know, but for those that donâ€™t know, here it is; First off, acrylic is a fancy name for plastic, or Plexiglas. Plexi, of course, is the least expensive. It is also the least likely to shatter and the most likely to become scratched. Mineral glass, even though it has been hardened by a tempering process, is more likely to break than Plexiglas. But it is also more scratch-resistant than that material. Synthetic sapphire is the most expensive glass crystal material and the most scratch resistant. Because it is so hard, it is also brittle, and shatters more easily than mineral glass. There is one other out there, which is kinda a laminate. It uses a base of mineral glass, with a layer of sapphire laminated on the outside. This hybrid offers the shatter resistance of mineral, with the scratch-resistance of sapphire. This stuff is proprietary, and Seiko uses it quite a bit. This is whatâ€™s called â€œsynthetic sapphire.â€ __________________ Words of Wisdom From the Barnyard - Don't eat the cow pies.

07-17-2010, 08:09 PM	#4
watchman1 Dark Overlord Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The greatest country in the history of the world! Posts: 542	Thanks for the crystal lesson. That was good stuff. __________________ Gens: Rolex: TT Date Just Tag Heuer: Carrera Calibre 16 Reps: Breitling: 2 Superocean Steelfish X-Plus (Blue and Black dial), Avenger Skyland Tag Heuer: Link, Carrera Calibre 16 (2), Grand Carrera Calibre 8, Grand Carrera Calibre 17, Aquaracer Calibre 16 Chronograph DD Panerai: 005, 090, 111, 243, 127 Rolex: Submariner, LV, DSSD, DJ (Full Gold), DJ Turn-O-Graph Chopard: Mille Miglia Gran Turismo XL Omega: Planet Ocean (a Fakemaster UPO), 42mm Pumpkin PO (WBK), 45.5mm Pumkin PO

07-17-2010, 08:13 PM	#5
redstars VIP MEMBER / SUPPORTER! Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 173	tldr: sapphire if your budget supports it __________________ The Coyotes are still hungry, what now? --R2D4

07-17-2010, 09:05 PM	#8
watchman1 Dark Overlord Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The greatest country in the history of the world! Posts: 542	Wow. Thanks. Disaster is the right word..... I guess I'll be waiting until the next version addressing this issue comes out. __________________ Gens: Rolex: TT Date Just Tag Heuer: Carrera Calibre 16 Reps: Breitling: 2 Superocean Steelfish X-Plus (Blue and Black dial), Avenger Skyland Tag Heuer: Link, Carrera Calibre 16 (2), Grand Carrera Calibre 8, Grand Carrera Calibre 17, Aquaracer Calibre 16 Chronograph DD Panerai: 005, 090, 111, 243, 127 Rolex: Submariner, LV, DSSD, DJ (Full Gold), DJ Turn-O-Graph Chopard: Mille Miglia Gran Turismo XL Omega: Planet Ocean (a Fakemaster UPO), 42mm Pumpkin PO (WBK), 45.5mm Pumkin PO

07-17-2010, 02:12 PM	#2
ahmadyk23 Who has the Best Sub? Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 14	ooo, i like that hybrid crystal... maybe the rep factories will start making them