Messages: 311 Location: UK
Registered: November 2003
How to remove a scratch from a sapphire crystal.
Fri, 26 May 2006 09:52
How do you remove a scratch from a sapphire crystal? This seems to be a frequently asked question asked on TZ, so here is one answer to the scratched crystal issue.
It is VERY possible to polish a sapphire crystal and leave no trace of the offending starch. All you will need is some good quality diamond paste, a camera lens cloth (or similar) and a bit of elbow grease.
I scratched my Stowa Airman on a ceramic tile in my kitchen which left a 4mm long scratch on the crystal. I thought about the options and decided to give the diamond paste a go.
So I ordered some ‘3 micron’ for buffing and some ‘¼ micron’ for the finishing.
After ten minutes of buffing with my finger and the 3 micron, I could see that the scratch had all but gone and after a further five minutes it was no longer visible. I then gave it a 5 minute buff with the ¼ micron to leave the crystal looking like new.
Before
During
After
In total the paste cost £8 per tube, which is a huge saving compared to having the crystal replaced. I think it is well worth trying before sending it back to the manufacturer, you may save yourself a fair chunk of money and not have the disappointment of being without your watch for a couple of months!
- markbtn