High-quality sapphire crystal watches from MIYEN MUNICH
Nowadays, a sapphire crystal is part of every high-quality watch. It is not without reason that this material bears the name sapphire. It is the third hardest transparent material on earth and therefore extremely scratch-resistant. Whether SEA TRAVELLER, ABYSS, MONACO or VOYAGER, whether automatic watch or quartz watch - no matter which watch model you choose, we rely exclusively on first-class sapphire crystal in the manufacture of all our MIYEN MUNICH watches. But what makes sapphire crystal such a special material for watchmaking?
The special features of sapphire crystal
In the world of luxury watches, sapphire crystal watches stand for a combination of elegance, robustness and technical performance. However, this is not normal glass or the naturally occurring gemstone sapphire, but an elaborately produced synthetic sapphire with a crystalline structure. With a Mohs hardness (scale for determining the degree of hardness of materials) of 9 on the Mohs scale from 0 to 10, sapphire is the third hardest transparent material in the world. This hardness gives the glass extremely high scratch resistance, making it ideal for use as watch glass. Under very specific conditions (e.g. when subjected to high force with hard objects), sapphire crystal is not invincible, but for everyday use, a watch with sapphire crystal remains optimally protected and does not scratch.
Scratches on sapphire crystal watches are often mistaken for abrasions from other materials such as aluminum. However, these can be easily and simply removed with an eraser.
Good reasons to buy a watch with sapphire crystal
Durable, reliable and stylish at an unbeatable price-performance ratio. The sapphire crystal men's watches from MIYEN MUNICH retain their flawless appearance even with daily use, and one of the most important aspects of sapphire crystal is its aforementioned exceptional hardness due to its chemical structure. Sapphire crystal is therefore particularly valued by watchmakers for its scratch resistance and durability. However, sapphire only really became a trend material in the watch industry in the 1980s. Until then, most watch manufacturers used mineral or acrylic glass for the crystals of their watches. Today, the transparent sapphire material is not only used for the production of the cover glass, but also for the case of some watches.
Another advantage of watches with sapphire crystal is the improved readability of the dial. Sapphire crystal is very translucent and has a high degree of transparency, clarity and light refraction, which makes the watch easier to read in a wide variety of lighting conditions. The refraction of light from the watch is noticeable to the eyes as a reflection, which is why the surfaces of the sapphire crystal must be anti-reflective coated.
With a sapphire crystal watch, you have a watch that stands for lasting value. Thanks to their durability and the use of high-quality materials, watches retain their value over time and can even increase it. When you decide to buy a sapphire crystal watch from MIYEN MUNICH, you are choosing a watch that will remain as radiant and precise throughout your life as it was on the first day. Experience comfort and functionality at the highest level.
Take the test: How to recognize a sapphire crystal watch
It is difficult to tell with the naked eye whether the glass of your watch is high-quality sapphire crystal or, for example, cheaper plastic glass or mineral glass. To find out, there is a very simple and quick trick
that reveals the real sapphire crystal thanks to its unique crystalline structure - the water drop method.
For a direct comparison, it is best to place a watch with mineral glass or conventional glass next to your sapphire crystal watch. Before starting the test, the surfaces of the cover glasses should be thoroughly cleaned so that no grease or dirt remains. Then apply a drop of water to the surface of each watch glass. If you do not have a pipette to hand, you can simply moisten your fingertip under the tap and carefully place the drop on the cover glass. You should already be able to see a difference. On conventional glass, the drop of water runs off immediately and leaves a streak. The opposite is the case with sapphire glass. Due to the crystalline structure of sapphire, the drop of water runs off much more slowly and with greater difficulty, leaving no streaks. With this simple trick, you can check at home whether your watch has a high-quality sapphire crystal.
How much does a sapphire crystal watch cost?
A watch with a high-quality sapphire crystal is not only a prestigious object that stands for elegance and exclusivity, but much more an investment in quality and longevity. But what costs are associated with the purchase of such a watch? The price range for sapphire crystal watches is wide and depends on many different factors in addition to the brand, design and functions. Due to the complex production and processing of the sapphire crystal, the watches tend to be in the higher price segment. In our MIYEN MUNICH online store, you can obtain high-quality watches from as little as €199.00, because our mission is to make quality and value accessible to everyone. We provide you with watches that you can wear with pride without having to spend a fortune.
The production of high-quality sapphire crystal
The most commonly used manufacturing processes for sapphire crystal are the Verneuil process and the Stepanov process. Synthetic and high-purity aluminum oxide is mainly used for the production of crystalline sapphire, as the strength of the sapphire crystal ultimately depends on the purity of the aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide is heated to over 2,000 °C until it melts. Once the crystal has solidified, the elaborate grinding and polishing process follows, in which round crystals are turned into flat pieces of high optical quality.
In addition, sapphire crystal is further refined with special coatings when it is used to manufacture watches. This process is known as anti-reflective coating. Depending on the quality of the sapphire crystal, it can be anti-reflective on one or both sides. Without this step, sapphire crystal watches would refract the light too strongly, which can result in reflections that limit the legibility of the watch. With the help of anti-reflective coating, up to 99% of the light reflections perceived by the eye can be removed.
What is the difference between sapphire crystal and mineral glass?
Sapphire glass and mineral glass are two common materials used in the manufacture of watch crystals. However, they differ significantly in their hardness, scratch resistance and cost, which makes them suitable for different applications and uses by the watch wearer.
The biggest difference between the two watch glasses lies in their hardness. Sapphire glass has an exceptional hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, while mineral glass only achieves a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale. Mineral glass is therefore much more susceptible to scratches and external influences.
Sapphire glass also offers outstanding clarity and transparency that remains intact for many years, as it does not scratch as easily as mineral glass. Mineral glass, on the other hand, can show scratches and signs of wear and tear over time, which can even make it difficult to read.
Due to all these aspects, sapphire crystal is generally more expensive than mineral crystal and is usually only used for higher-priced watches. Mineral glass, on the other hand, is inexpensive to produce and tends to be in the lower price segment. The choice between watch crystals should depend on how the user intends to use the watch. Anyone who attaches great importance to scratch resistance, long-lasting quality and everyday use of the watch should opt for sapphire crystal. However, if you are looking for an inexpensive watch that will be used as an accessory from time to time, then mineral glass will probably be sufficient.
