Polywatch on Sapphire Crystal?

[B.F. Pigeon]

Good afternoon all,

Although this is more a tech question, I find one gets more views/traction on this part of the forum. If out of bounds, Mods please feel free to move/remove.

Within a few months of getting my first Rolex in 2018, my treasured 114060, I managed to somehow scratch the sapphire crystal. No idea how, but it happened.

There is (a) quite a deep little scratch under “oyster”, and (b) a (practically invisible) swirl mark between “Rolex” and the crown.



Although it hurt, these things happen and I soon got over it. Honestly, they are hardly visible.

However, I now found this little product in a local shop.



According to the packaging, this is a diamond paste that can remove scratches from “watch glasses”. Please note that it specifically mentions “glass” and not “sapphire crystal”. Yet still, I will be putting it to the test on my 114060. I have read about diamond paste being capable of buffing out scratches on Sapphire, so let’s give it a shot.

Before I crack on, does anybody have any experience with this product/polishing a sapphire crystal? Any particular things I need to be aware of?

Thanks,

Bill

[jltait]

I thought this was only for hesalite.

[DLRIDES]

There’s nothing to lose !

Scratches are polished from automotive windshields........................

[Bruno Datejust]

I don't know if I would do it. Glasses have even, mirroring surfaces and you risk to loose both, scratches and planar glass surfaces. Try best elsewhere first.

[bp1000]

I doubt it would touch sapphire, it’s incredibly hardy so not sure the paste would cut through to remove scratches.

I don’t know if Rolex use clear coating, I seem to recall they don’t, but if they do, it will remove that.

Don’t be tempted to use a lot of pressure as these things shatter.

[doramas]

Live with it. When it's his turn to go for a checkup, put a new sapphire on him. I changed my sapphire from a Datejust three years ago in a revision.

[joli160]

it’ll take some effort but will work

[B.F. Pigeon]

I just checked Polywatch's own website (https://www.polywatch.de/en/glass-polish) and there they advertise this particular product as a "high-performance diamond polish for all mineral and sapphire glass watch crystals". So, that is a little more promising than the text on the packaging.

Thanks for all the feedback. I am perfectly happy with the watch as it is, but I am curious about this particular fix and will give it a shot. I will keep you all informed on the process. With a bit of luck this will turn out to be a cheap and easy DIY fix.

[Seddyspaghetti]

Good luck. Would love to see how it turns out if you end up using it.

[Jimmy 1665]

You'll need a massive bucket of elbow grease and a rather large shed loaded with patience. Good luck!

[Jackie Daytona]

Diamond paste will do it. I have some that I use every now and then, but I think part of the difference that I suspect may come into play when applying it to a sapphire crystal is you would have to start with a pretty rough grit, where as a kit made for acrylic crystals would likely not have such an aggressive grit level due to the softer material it was intended for.

You would probably need to start at something like 2 micron initially and work your way down to .25 or so eventually to be unnoticeable.

It’s totally doable, it’s just how much time and effort and elbow grease you want to put into it.

Be cautious of getting it in the bezel as well.

[suligeo]

Don’t polish a sapphire with this stuff.

Take a good strong eraser and try if it’s just small deposit.


https://www.instagram.com/vintage_georgex/

[B.F. Pigeon]

Originally Posted by Jimmy 1665

You'll need a massive bucket of elbow grease and a rather large shed loaded with patience. Good luck!

Man, you were not kidding. My right index and thumb are still numb from the effort.

Patient prepped for surgery:






The work-progress-shots are rather shitty as I had to take them with my phone through a loupe:







Finishing up:



The result:





So, the main scratch is still there. It has however become much smaller and less deep.

According to the manual of the product, one needs between 4/6 3-minute sessions with a medium deep scratch. I spend a good three hours with 10 3-minute sessions. In between sessions one needs to wipe of the old polish, apply new and rest as it is really a demanding job. My index and thumb are still numb, five hours after finishing up. I hope all be better tomorrow.

My (intermediate) conclusion is that the product works on a Rolex 114060 sapphire crystal. It is hard labour and one needs to be patient, but one gets results. I would however also note that it is most suitable for very light scratches. So, if you have light scratches, with which you absolutely cannot live, this could help you a great deal. If it does not bother you; save yourselves the afternoon.

I will have another go on the crystal in the near future, see if I can get it definitively removed in the next session. All for the sake of experiment and education!

[fskywalker]

I have done it (one an Omega, never on a Rolex) with Diamond paste and my Dremel, using buffer tip that came with it. You need to do it evenly on a bigger area, will slowly take out sapphire material and go away. A watchmen may do it for you. Worst come worst if you don’t like it a crystal replacement will cure the problem


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[Tricolore66]

“A lot of people are talking about Polywatch”

Originally Posted by DLRIDES

There’s nothing to lose !

Scratches are polished from automotive windshields........................

[abozz]

Very good!!!! I use scotch brite for the clasp for 5m and the result was fabolous. Of course the saphyr is another history.

After and Before picture:

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[Thesonderwrist]

I am looking to polish my clasp on my sub and jubilee Datejust, what does this scotch stuff look like?


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[Jimmy 1665]

Originally Posted by Thesonderwrist

I am looking to polish my clasp on my sub and jubilee Datejust, what does this scotch stuff look like?


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This is the stuff... for your brushed steel bits, DONOT USE on your polished bits!

Scotch-Brite™ Hand Pad 7447
https://www.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/compan...3241244&rt=rud

[Jimmy 1665]

Great job, glad you didn't get too upset with their optimistic timings to complete!

If I get another crystal scratch, I'll wait until service for a replacement.

[GONZO2LR]

wow...glad it worked for you...looks good...

[173rdabn]

Won't work on sapphire.

[Seddyspaghetti]

nice, thanks for sharing the outcome!

[AJMarcus]

Polywatch won’t work on sapphire. If you think it did it’s an illusion. Two completely different compound surfaces. .

[B.F. Pigeon]

Just a small update; my thumb is still numb of the effort/pressure. It will take some time before I'll proceed with another round of polishing.

As for the comments that it this two-compound polywatch does not work on sapphire crystal; my above pictures are perhaps not very clear. In real life I really experience a noticeable difference. The scratch looks much smaller and has a lot less with less "catch" on the nail.

[Apheaven]

I have scratched a few sapphire crystals over the years. I used a dremel with the polishing pad and red rouge as an initial experiment which became standard operating procedure....The scratches have come out 100% every time within two minutes.

Not much risk trying on sapphire crystal since they are so hard. It’s another approach...I digress.


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