What shape of watch crystal do you prefer?
In looking at my watches, I realized that most of them have flat or domed crystals. But my three most recent purchases have all had top hat sapphire crystals or a domed variation of a top hat crystal. I find that I really like the vintage effect that a top hat style crystal creates. How about you all? What’s your favorite watch crystal shape?
10 comments
Sort by
Jay
My problem isn't that I want a watch....it's that I want ALL the watches.
Parkland, FL, USA
Member since
Last active: 1 day ago
Is top hat the same as ‘box crystal?’
If yes, then yes!
Is top hat the same as ‘box crystal?’
If yes, then yes!
Yes
Another question that can't be answered.
Totally dependent on the watch.
Yes
The top hat / box I think can drag more light onto the dial?
It could be my imagination and the 413 sakura dial would reflect like crazy with any crystal.
The other feature I dig is the extra scratch protection it gives the top of the case
that said - a big ol’ dome is always cool as well.
I voted flat, because I tend to prefer watches that are best suited to a flat crystal. That said, a nice boxed crystal is beautiful on a vintage style watch like the CW C65 Dune.
I actively dislike the 'milky ring' of top-hat / boxed sapphire crystals. Because they have become so prevalent on Chinese knock-off watches, in my brain I also associate a boxed sapphire crystal with 'cheap'. So rather than looking at a knock-off and thinking it's got great specs for the money, I end up looking at reputable watches (for example, the BB58) and thinking 'ugh, that looks cheap'.
Since I do a lot of watch photography, I prefer flat crystals since their much easier to photograph. Domed crystals are more difficult to manage reflections on😅
IME domed means there is always some glare, and not off at the edge as on a proper boxed crystal. Flat is flat, and has no character or interest whatsoever. Top hat is the vintage way to go, when they knew how to minimize case thickness and leave a nice radius for a shirt cuff to slide over.
Acrylic old school top hat FTW!
Bonus: #crotchshot also FTW....😂🤘🏻🤙🏻