Sapphire versus mineral crystal ??

When reading/watching Seiko reviews it’s almost compulsory to pile on the fact that they use hardlex instead of sapphire. It is common knowledge that sapphire is more scratch resistant but direct comparisons between the both materials aren’t common.

Been wearing hardlex Seikos for years now and none of them have a single scratch on their crystal, so anecdotically I’d say hardlex can’t be as bad as many think.

The only comparison backed by a minimum of data thar I’ve seen lately was that by @benswatchclub: https://youtu.be/p-KRwrU-a2g

Hardlex lands between mineral and sapphire in his study.

I've never damaged Hardlex in nearly 20 years of Seiko's.

My Mrs' Khaki King survived a horrific motorcycle accident with the sapphire crystal unmarked (bezel is gouged)

Sapphire is better, but I wouldn't let it put me off..plus there's the option of upgrading it to sapphire in the future when you're a bit more flush if you truly bond with the watch.

It's not even on my radar when I'm buying, like WR. So far I've chipped one sapphire which needed replacing, I've bought one with mineral with an existing scuff which I repaired with Polywatch Glass, and I've scuffed several acrylics, all repaired with Polywatch.

Only think that rustles my feathers on mineral is the scratches but polywatch and it’s fine so meh for me no big deal.

I was pro-mineral, because at the end of the day there’s polywatch.

But now a brick has taken a tiny chunk out of the edge on my Orient, and I am annoyed.

And now I am wondering if there’s a watch modder nearby who can upgrade my Crystal for me, because though I can probably do it myself after buying a press and a new crystal, I am convinced I will mess it up.

Meanwhile, there are dings in the steel of my Pagani, but it’s bezel and crystal, sapphire and ceramic respectively, are fine.

Can’t win.

I buy a old iPad screen protector made from armor suit from Amazon and I cut a screen protector for every single one of my G-Shocks. Sapphire or not and you can't even tell it's on it leaves no residue and it's very affordable the last about a year to year and a half depending how hard you use it. Every single one of my watches on my profile have a screen protector and you can't even tell

Mineral scratches after some time. I am not very rough with my watches, nor do I baby them. It's adequate most of the time. I don't care about the crystal unless I'm getting bad value. You'll be fine.

I have a Seiko SKX009 that I've worn for over 22 years (only on and off for the last 2 years since I got back into watches and it got less wrist time) but in that time my SKX was through everything. From 30m deep dives in the sea to working on building sites (including laying paving slabs in my garden) and bar a few small scratches it's great. In fact, I'm really happy with the beat up nature of my watch, he and I have been through a lot and he's matured like a fine whiskey.

I was gonna update the crystal and replace the bezel insert but damn I'm happy I didn't. I recommend Seiko as the peoples watch and it won't let you down.

I might on metal 6900, thanks for insight.

Value for money I think that Victorinox Sapphire with triple Anti reflex coating is quite good.

I love my Mako II, it’s kind of the watch that got me into watches but yeah that mineral crystal gets scratched with my lifestyle.

Get the hardlex now, swap to sapphire later. Problem solved 👏

I scratched the mineral on my Seiko 5 within the first week. Dinged it off a doorway and put a nasty gash in it. Replaced it with a double domed AR sapphire and never looked back. It made the watch easier to read as well.

Most of my watches have a mineral crystal and all except one have scratches (the scratch-less seiko 5 is new and I have babied it). So no doubt fhey scratch easily. That being said I don't disqualify a watch just for the glass being mineral. I just try to be careful.

Most of my watches have mineral or Hardlex. Two are 10+ years old and have been worn for many years, and one, a Seiko, got some scratches from having it in my pocket with keys. I buffed them out with PolyWatch Glass Polish (which takes much longer than the acrylic stuff).

My newer watches from the last year are still pristine (a watch box helps).

Anecdotally, my Apple Watch with an "Ion X" mineral glass screen has been worn daily for 6 years and has no noticeable scratches, so I'm not particularly tough on watches (despite cycling, doing yard work, home repairs, etc.)

I voted for Sapphire only and even turned my nose up but then I realized half my watches are mineral crystals 🤦🏻‍♂️

Only one of them has a scratch on the crystal. They are tougher than expected.

Nothing wrong with a scratch or two. And there will always the an opportunity to upgrade the crystal at som point 😊 I personally prefer the piece of mind sapphire gives me. But a softer crystal gives the dial a warmer glow IMO, acrylic even more. And that is worth something too!!

Those that think that sapphire doesn't scratch are going to be disappointed.

Sapphire or acrylic preferred. Mineral is fine but if scratched, good luck correcting that with anything short of replacing.

Of course I did kill a Rolex DJ because when dropped, the sapphire imploded through the dial, well into the movement. Totaled the watch.