First scratch. But what a hell of a scratch!
It is expected that every watch we own will get it's dents and scratches over time. If not, it means you are keeping it in the box and not enjoying your new watch.
Funny that I have developed this subconscious/automatic hand movement that whenever passing next to a door/wall/other people, my hand will fold back as if to protect the watch that I'm wearing.
So I find it to be a surprise that I got a scratch on my new (bought last December) Seiko 5 GMT which I love wearing.
What I find more surprising is the fact the watch got scratched on the glass (and not for example the basel or the case). And even more, I'm surprised the hardlex gets scratches so easily! Now I have many watches with scratches, some with hesalite covers. Yet never did I experience a scratch on the glass.
You can see in the photo the scratch below the 10 o'clock (down towards the 9 o'clock) marker. Question: what can I do with this? Polish the hardlex glass? Or mod and replace it to sapphire instead? What will be your course of action?
Polywatch should fix it.
Polywatch should fix it.
This is mineral glass. They would have to upgrade to something higher grade than that.
I did the mod to sapphire on my Seiko 5 so I would suggest doing that. The tools and sapphire crystal are reasonably priced and after a couple of YouTube videos you should be able to do it.
I did the mod to sapphire on my Seiko 5 so I would suggest doing that. The tools and sapphire crystal are reasonably priced and after a couple of YouTube videos you should be able to do it.
I'm a bit worried doing that myself. Maybe a technician can help me.
Where did you source the tools and glass?
I'm a bit worried doing that myself. Maybe a technician can help me.
Where did you source the tools and glass?
I had the same hesitation when I did mine so I definitely understand that. For the crystal, check Long Island Watches or Namoki Mods. They carry most of the parts you would need to mod a Seiko. You can get the tools off Amazon. You will mainly need a case back removal tool and a crystal press. A decent pair of tweezers would probably help as well.
I'm a bit worried doing that myself. Maybe a technician can help me.
Where did you source the tools and glass?
Something else to keep in mind if you do the mod. The rated water resistance on the watch will not be garunteed unless you get it pressure tested.
I'd send it to someone who mods regularly and get them to put a sapphire in it.
Good luck mate 🤞🏻
hardlex/mineral just sucks....
Within a couple weeks of owning my Sinn 556 I knocked it pretty hard on a doorknob and put a big scratch on the AR coating of the crystal.
Now it’s officially my watch.