What exactly is a "Synthetic Sapphire Crystal"?

[Balad1 0]

What exactly is a "Synthetic Sapphire Crystal"?

 

I see this term used on some of the less expensive watches.

[trailboss99 996]

A bit of an issue this one. Strictly speaking a "Synthetic Sapphire Crystal" should be lab grown sapphire but some of the dealers use this term to meen mineral glass. The way to tell is if the dealer is using "sapphire" to describe crystals as well as a "Synthetic Sapphire" (usually with no mention of mineral glass anywhere) it will be glass, if the terms used are "Synthetic Sapphire" and "mineral glass" then the Synthetic Sapphire will be just that.

 

 

 

Col.

[Brightlight 0]

What Trailboss said. Also all saphire crystals, assuming they are saphire and not mineral, are synthetic. You don't get natural saphire crystals for watches.

[nicnjon 0]

hi, which dealer here sell sapphire crystal for 44mm Pam casing.

Thanks

[Member X 91]

Ask Getat or Jackson Tse in the Trusted Dealers list (although getat is very slow at the moment!)

[Balad1 0]

Thanks for the information, I'll look closer at dealer descriptions when I see that term being used.

Edited November 22, 2010 by Balad1

[PGL 0]

I always wondered the same thing. Thanks for asking Balad. And thanks for answering trailboss.

[nicnjon 0]

Ask Getat or Jackson Tse in the Trusted Dealers list (although getat is very slow at thye moment!)

 

 

Thanks very much !!

[AllergyDoc 40]

Sapphire crystals are currently the best and most durable material available for watch crystals. They are synthetically made and rate 9 on the Moh's scale of hardness. The only thing harder, and capable of scratching a sapphire crystal, is a diamond which rates a 10 on the Moh's scale of hardness. Synthetic Sapphire (AL2O3), is produced from aluminum oxide. It is much less expensive than natural sapphire but is absolutely identical regarding structure, properties, and quality.

 

http://www.waldaninternational.com/sapphire.shtml

 

Member BME had an excellent post about synthetic sapphire, but it was either on the old RWG or I can't find it.

 

This doesn't answer the question: are you getting sapphire or mineral?