Watch crystals: Sapphire vs. acrylic

Which watch crystal is the best?

Benefits of a sapphire crystal:

1. Fantastic scratch resistance.

2. Long lasting and able to withstand a lot of hard wear.

3. Suitable for deep sea divers’ case builds.

Drawbacks of a sapphire crystal:

1. Can be difficult to replace if designed in an irregular shape.

2. Some manufacturers coat both sides with anti-reflective coating that can get marked.

Benefits of an acrylic display:

1. They look amazing and show off the dial and hands well.

2. Fairly impact resistant.

3. Quick and inexpensive to replace.

Drawbacks of an acrylic display:

1. Easily scratched.

2. Limited water resistance.