Scratch on sapphire crystal?

[Dallasdude77]

So, I'm new here and just discovered this forum right after making my first rep purchase from a non RWI dealer. I just received my watch yesterday and it was perfect! After admiring it for a bit, I put it back on its little pillow and back in the box so I could bring it with me to work and have some links removed on my lunch break. When I opened the box at the jeweler, I noticed the watch had shifted and the crystal was rubbing against the cardboard. When I took it out of the box I noticed a scratch on the crystal. Needless to say, I was mortified! I was hoping it was just a smudge, but after cleaning it, it was clearly a scratch :/ The website I ordered from claimed it was a sapphire crystal and from previous experience with genuine luxury watches, I know they just don't scratch that easily. Ive started a claim process with the dealer and he assures me they will take care of the problem, but I'm afraid he will just offer a discount on a future purchase or a refund with me fitting the bill for return shipping back to China. How common are crystal scratches on reps? Am I being too picky? The watch looks great but is it just going to continue to scratch?!?!? Here are some pics for you guys to look at. Is it worth the hassle to return? I'm in the process of ordering 2 watches from an RWI TD and I'm hoping to have better luck! Thanks, in advance, for giving a noob some advice.

 

[Lindt]

Pictures are really low quallity, please repost them in HQ


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[Roivster]

Check this out to see what type of crystal you have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuxJADNJ2fc

 

[timnic54]

The blue tinge on some of your photos suggests the crystal is AR coated, if this is so, then it is almost certainly Sapphire. It is possible the the scratch is in the AR not the crystal. Not an expert, just a suggestion.

 

[tripdog]

Photos are bad - can't really see anything, but cardboard is not going to be able scratch either saphire or mineral crystal .As already stated looks like it could be AR rubbed off. Solution - Take it all off with a Cape cod cloth.

 

[gmg_3]

why are you starting a claim if the watch was scratched AFTER you opened it?


This looks to be a affordable rep so I suggest just wearing it and maybe take the discount on the next watch.

 

[DonC]

Someone who has more time here can correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't return to China a big no no? I think customs coming in is a lot more strict.

 

[randomstring]

If it is just a scratch in the AR, I've heard of people polishing the AR off with a cape cod cloth to fix it.

If it's actually glass, it seems like there should be some kind of fill + buff routine like they do for car windshields, but I got no idea.

 

[replicated69]

The genuine Omega Planet Ocean sapphire crystal had AR on both the inside and outside. In fact most of the Omega have double AR...
So the maker is correct by doing both AR too but the quality might not be as durable...

You definitely can remove it using Autosol metal polish. Mask the bezel with masking tape and polish it off.
Don't worry it will not scratch the crystal , I polish my genuine Rolex crystals (No AR outside) at times.

 

[Dallasdude77]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I ordered some cape cod cloths and buffed the heck outta the crystal for about 20 mins with no visible results :/ Am I doing something wrong? Here are some hopefully better pics...scratches are obvious. Should I just chalk this up to beginner's bad luck, or is there something more I can do to get rid of the scratches? The dealer I purchased from offered to send me a brand new crystal free of charge, but I'll have to pay to have it installed and I'm afraid it will just scratch again...

 

[sarlan19]

I'd take that TD offer. Should not cost much to have it install or you could buy 40$ worth of tool and do it yourself. Check YouTube for tutorial.


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[tripdog]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I ordered some cape cod cloths and buffed the heck outta the crystal for about 20 mins with no visible results :/ Am I doing something wrong? Here are some hopefully better pics...scratches are obvious. Should I just chalk this up to beginner's bad luck, or is there something more I can do to get rid of the scratches? The dealer I purchased from offered to send me a brand new crystal free of charge, but I'll have to pay to have it installed and I'm afraid it will just scratch again...

Yes,those are scratches on the crystal. Take up the TD on his offer - you can install the crystal yourself, it's not that difficult - plenty of tutorials around to help you....

Also, if that scratch happened when the watch was in it's box then no way is that saphire - it's mineral.

 

[imajedi]

Yes,those are scratches on the crystal. Take up the TD on his offer - you can install the crystal yourself, it's not that difficult - plenty of tutorials around to help you....

Also, if that scratch happened when the watch was in it's box then no way is that saphire - it's mineral.

And if it's mineral, you can easily buff it out with polywatch or diamond paste. Cape cod will take off AR but likely not buff scratches off a mineral Crystal. Get some polywatch and buff that thing and it will probably look brand new.

 

[Conquerer]

I'm amazed the crystal got scratched while in a cardboard box... I'd never even imagine that happening, but that's definitely not saphire.

 

[DoubleA]

He didn't get it from a TD guys, read the OP.
Take whatever dealer up on their offer for a new crystal, order yourself some tools and a press. Do some reading here and give it a go. If you can screw in a light bulb you can adjust a bracelet. Read and reread, pulling the movement and popping in a new crystal isn't nearly as intimidating as it seems. While you're at it get some UV glue and a light and seal it up good when you press the new crystal.

Sent from the RWI mobile app

 

[Dallasdude77]

I GIVE UP!!! So tonight, the bezel insert fell off in the parking lot at work and by the time I realized it and found it, it was all scratched to hell!!! Let me reiterate, this watch was NOT purchased from a TD here on RWI. I ordered it from perfectwatches.cn after seeing a few that a friend had ordered there and BEFORE I discovered this forum. If you're a noob like me, please take my "tough lesson learned" to heart and only order from a TD here. Fortunately, the dealer has promised to issue a full refund, but seeing as how I have to ship it back to China, there is no telling how long it will take to get my money back :/

 

[ShiroTenshi]

Im seriously doubt that the dealer will refund your money...really.

Aftermarket bezel insert are cheap, and the crystal scratch can be polished with diamond paste.

 

[hurk]

Not a good first time experience...
once sapphire is scratched, not easy to repair. Better off getting a new one.

As for the bezel, try out the wanted section in sales. Ive picked up some tough to find parts off the sales section here.

Welcome to rwi!!

 

[vdusanv]

Hope you didn't pay much for the watch, find bezel on net, they are cheap, take a crystal from dealer. Hope you fix it.

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[tripdog]

I wouldn't get my hopes up about receiving a full refund to be honest - returning it to China will cost you money with no guarantee of it arriving/getting a refund.

A replacement insert can be found on Ebay for about $30, and IF the seller sends a crystal you'll need some tools to do the work yourself - more money spent again.

Maybe time to cut your losses - personnaly I'd move on, chuck it in a drawer and start looking for another watch.