% of people told us that this article helped them. Polishing your watch can decrease its value. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The whole point of crystal is that it glimmer, sparkle and shine. Turns out it makes a perfect glass scratch filler. Similarly, not only are toothpastes with whitening enhancements expensive, but they’re not going to do you any good in this case. Sand in one direction, across the direction of the worst scratches by moving the crystal back and forth over the paper. Squeeze a bit of the toothpaste onto the watch face. Learn more. After removing the scratches, consider taking some precautionary steps to, All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. There are some other possibilities, however. If you have gear to polish, this is the device for you. Make sure to keep a light pressure and consistent circular motion. A selection of staples for every type of endurance athlete. To clarify and offer insight as to how to care for each, we’ve defined them in the following section. How to Restore Shine to Old Crystal. The type of crystal can influence the price and value of a watch. For watch lovers, a fresh scratch on an otherwise flawless crystal is a devastating sight. While you don’t need to cover the band or strap, you might want to remove it to make the polishing process easier. You may also want to get a dust mask and/or latex gloves, but this is less vital. Before ordering the new band I wanted to see if I could fix the scratched crystal. These ones have a clear anti-fog lens for excellent visibility and the wrap-around style is also good for both comfort and breathability. It’s just not worth the risk. Consider returning the watch to the manufacturer and ask them to replace the watch glass. You’ll start by buffing away the deep scratches on the crystal. The Pros of Sapphire Crystals. The feeling can be even worse on a brand-new watch, or one that just returned from servicing. If you are doing it correctly and the scratches aren’t too deep, you should see them begin to disappear. The last watch crystal type in the market today is the sapphire made crystal. Genuine alpine-grade, Italian-made boots with a myriad of proprietary elements. Whatever the case, just remember that scratching your watch isn’t necessarily the end of the world. 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 … Put on your safety goggles. Many of those scratches can be dealt with fairly simply. Brands from Timex even to Omega use them. Now that you have the movement and the crystal out of the watch you can clean the case without damaging either. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. HiConsumption was established by gearheads for gearheads as a modern day men’s lifestyle publication, uncovering the greatest products in adventure, tech, gear, automotive, and style. Whether your watch is equipped with an acrylic, mineral, or sapphire crystal, the first method by which you can attempt to fix the scratches on your treasured timepiece is by hand-polishing it. Soft yet sturdy, this organic wool buffing and polishing wheel is perfect for putting a sheen on all your delicate gear, metals, watches, and more. If you use toothpaste, make sure it is not grainy as this can scratch the watch crystal. You’ll also want to avoid anything with colored dyes added to it, as you could end up imbuing the colors into your watch’s crystal. Secondly, There’s always one last option: sending in your watch for a replacement crystal.they likely still need to be making that very watch or at least have a stockpile of crystals at their disposal. We’re talking, of course, about scratches on your watch crystal. While it is almost impossible to determine the type of watch crystal by looking at it, a simple scratch test can be performed. After just a couple of minutes, you should see the scratches begin to disappear. Check the height of the crystal, the angle you'll need to sand, and make sure you won't sand the bezel--If that's a danger, tape it up or remove the crystal. They’re quite durable and resistant to scratches, but they are rather difficult to fix. You should never use heavy machinery or allow yourself to be exposed to dangerous particles without a solid pair of safety goggles. For watch lovers, a fresh scratch on an otherwise flawless crystal is a devastating sight. ($15). Tip You can buy diamond paste, also referred to as “diamond compound,” from a number of online sources, as well as jewelry or dental supply retailers. Sometimes, the watch crystal can come in contact with outside elements accidentally. With the right attachments, a bench grinder can be turned into a buffing machine. It’s very susceptible to scratching. This will keep the rest of the watch from being damaged in any way and keep the remaining polish from gunking up any of the moving parts. Unfortunately the watch crystal is very scratched up. While PolyWatch is fine for acrylic crystals, sapphire ones require a little more attention and care. Try taking your watch to a local watch repair shop and ask them to replace the watch crystal. Do not use any type of polish on a watch crystal you are unsure about, as this can cause damage. All you have to do is apply it to the crystal, buff it in carefully and diligently, clean up the excess, and you’re done. Take your microfiber cloth and buff the polish in small circles around the surface of the crystal. Fast-forward 20 years. Buff the watch face with a clean portion of your cloth, using the same circular motion, wiping all of the toothpaste clean. Or make sure to cover the bezel with the … Submerge the crystals in enough full-strength vinegar to cover all the crystals. Learn on something a little less precious. Take breaks in-between buffing to take a look at your work. You can use vinegar and a household cleaner to remove these stains. First, determine what type of crystal your watch contains. Polishing your watch crystal is extremely easy. First, take your painter’s tape and mask off the case of your watch – meaning everything near the crystal that isn’t the crystal itself, with special attention paid to the bezel (as it’s closest to the crystal). More Buying Choices $5.58 (4 new offers) Keeping the watch in motion will ensure that you don’t over-buff any one spot. Pick up either 0.5 Micron Lapping Paste by TEMO for $8 or 3 Micron DP3 Dia-Paste by DMT for $16, and repeat the same steps used on the acrylic … Wipe it onto the dry watch crystal. It’s also likely your watch has an acrylic crystal if it was manufactured before the 1980s. To remove deeper scratches, you may need to treat it more than once and apply greater pressure. Brass polish has a mild abrasive in it, so it will buff out light scratches found on the crystal. Protection. Then choose a polish appropriate to your type of watch crystal and buff the scratches out in a matter of minutes. Use toothpaste, Polywatch paste, or Brasso polish on an acrylic crystal. If the watch crystal looks plastic-like or is extremely lightweight, it is probably acrylic. There are a few different types of polish you could use to clean scratches off your watch crystal – and arguments to be made for each – but we prefer this all-purpose variety, as it works wonders when used properly and wont be too harsh on your delicate timepiece. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It’s also more important that you remove the watch strap or band in this case, as it could get in the way or accidentally be pushed against the machine. Wash your plastic crystal with soap and water. While you might consider this a non-necessity – as it isn’t technically used in the polishing process – we believe it’s important nonetheless. Your best bet is to go as basic as possible – plain, flavorless, white toothpaste. Whether you’re well-to-do or just trying to buy a worthwhile timepiece without breaking the bank, you can find one on our list of the best watches for any budget. All rights reserved, Primer: How To Remove Scratches From Watch Crystal, Victorinox Swiss Army 241532 Original Chronograph. Sapphire crystals are harder than mineral glass or acrylic crystal and are more likely to withstand cracks and breakage than other types of watch glass. This will prepare the device to properly buff the scratches from your watch crystal. $7.92 $ 7. Continue to … There are three common materials used as watch crystals. Before you polish, you have to get rid of the deep scratches. Polish Glass Scratches Away with Brasso. Take your watch in your hand, taped up and ready to go, and press the crystal with light-to-medium pressure against the buffing wheel. Use narrow masking tape to cover up the bezel of the watch to prevent damage. Designed specifically for polishing small items like watches and jewelry, this dual buffer system features a cast iron base for excellent stability and reduced vibrations. A simple scratch remover for acrylic watches, this polish can easily remove any superficial scratches from the crystal of your watch in about 2-3 minutes time. Keeping the watch in motion will ensure that you don’t over-buff any one spot. But before you send your tainted timepiece back for a crystal replacement, you may want to consider a home remedy. ©2020 Hiconsumption LLC. Removing Sapphire Watch Crystal Scratches. The wonderful thing about plastic and glass crystals is the fact that they can be custom cut, shaped, or trimmed to fit different watch cases. In fact, their hardness generally means that once a scratch is visible, it’s likely a crack that can’t be repaired. Apply a small amount of polish to the surface of the watch crystal. Avoid squeezing too much out of the tube, especially if you have a large watch collection – because you might want to use it again. This is the perfect time to clean the inside of the bezel to create the … Back in 2011 a Rolex 6062, a sought-after gold-cased calendar watch, sold for well over half a million dollars at Christie’s. Don’t rush the process and take as many inspection breaks as you deem necessary. Once you’ve found your simple paste, you can follow the same steps outlined above for the traditional polishing method. We’d also like to suggest that, if you’ve never used a bench grinder or buffer before, you don’t start by trying to buff the scratches out of a delicate piece of timekeeping everyday carry gear. Continue buffing the surface of the crystal with a clean, dry cloth until no trace of the polish remains. Diamonds are graded “10” on the Mohs scale, so use extra caution with diamond jewelry around your sapphire crystal. Though it is at the bottom of the totem pole as far as watches are concerned, acrylic was used even in high-end timepieces up through the ’80s. 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