Fix a Scratched Watch Crystal: How to Polish Mineral Glass
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Time to read 7 min
Bring Your Watch Crystal Back to Life
We've all been there. That dreaded moment when you look down at your beloved watch and see it – a glaring scratch marring the perfect clarity of its crystal. Whether it's a mysterious scuff from daily wear or an unfortunate encounter with a doorknob, a scratched watch crystal can make even the finest timepiece look neglected. But what if we told you that many of these scratches don't have to be a permanent fixture?
Today, we’re diving into a common problem: scratched watch crystals, and more importantly, a powerful solution that can save you from costly replacements. I recently managed to scratch my trusty Seiko SRPE, which features a mineral glass crystal (also known as Hardlex), and I'm going to walk you through exactly how I brought it back to near-perfect condition.
Table of Content
Bring Your Watch Crystal Back to Life Fix a Scratched Watch Crystal: How to Polish Mineral Glass Understanding Your Watch Crystal: Acrylic, Mineral, or Sapphire? Introducing Your Scratch-Busting Hero: Polywatch Glass Polish Step-by-Step Guide: Restoring Your Mineral Glass Crystal My Results and Pro Tips for Success In a Nutshell: Your DIY Watch Crystal Repair
Fix a Scratched Watch Crystal: How to Polish Mineral Glass
Understanding Your Watch Crystal: Acrylic, Mineral, or Sapphire?
Before we jump into the fix, it's crucial to understand the type of watch crystal you have, as this dictates the best approach to scratch removal.
Acrylic (Plexiglass) Crystals: These are softer and more prone to scratching, but also the easiest to repair. Scratches on acrylic crystals can often be polished out with remarkable ease. For these, we highly recommend Polywatch Plastic Polish, a fantastic product specifically designed to restore the clarity of acrylic.
Mineral Glass (Hardlex) Crystals: A step up in hardness from acrylic, mineral glass (like the Hardlex on my Seiko SRPE) is more scratch-resistant but not impervious. When scratches do occur, they tend to be more noticeable and require a more robust polishing solution. This is where Polywatch Glass Polish shines, offering a solution for those tougher scuffs.
Sapphire Crystals: The hardest and most scratch-resistant of all watch crystals, sapphire is incredibly durable. However, due to its extreme hardness, neither Polywatch Plastic Polish nor Polywatch Glass Polish will be effective on sapphire crystals. If you manage to scratch a sapphire crystal, it generally requires professional intervention or a full crystal replacement.
Knowing your crystal type is the first step to successful scratch repair. For this guide, we're focusing on mineral glass and the power of Polywatch Glass Polish.
Introducing Your Scratch-Busting Hero: Polywatch Glass Polish
The Power of Polywatch Glass Polish:
For those stubborn scratches on mineral glass, Polywatch Glass Polish is a game-changer. Unlike its plastic-polishing counterpart, this advanced formula is designed for tougher materials and actually contains diamond powder to meticulously polish out those deeper imperfections.
Why It's a Must-Have
Why choose Polywatch Glass Polish for your mineral glass crystal?
Diamond Powder Formula: Its unique composition with diamond powder provides the necessary abrasion to tackle tougher mineral glass scratches effectively.
Two-Step Process: The repair and finish pastes work together to first remove deeper scratches and then refine the surface for a clear, polished look.
Cost-Effective: A single kit can save you significant money compared to professional scratch removal or crystal replacement.
DIY Satisfaction: There's immense satisfaction in restoring your own timepiece and giving it a new lease on life.
Comprehensive Kit: With most tools included, it’s a convenient all-in-one solution for at-home watch crystal repair.
What's in the box? Almost everything you need to get started:
Two syringes: one with a red repair paste and one with a white finish paste.
One wooden polishing stick.
Twelve polishing strips in two different grades (red and white).
What else will you need? A good quality watch cleaner (I used the Polywatch Cleaner Spray) and a soft microfibre cloth are essential for preparing and cleaning your watch throughout the process.
Must have Products Watch Polishing
Step-by-Step Guide: Restoring Your Mineral Glass Crystal
Step 1: Preparation
The instructions suggest taping off the scratched area, but since my scratches covered a large portion of the crystal, I decided to skip this step. However, for smaller scratches, masking off the area with painter's tape can help isolate the area to work on.
Step 2: The Repair Phase (Red Syringe)
Attach the Red Strip: Secure one of the red polishing strips to the wooden stick using the rubber band. Ensure the rubber end cap is on the other end for comfortable handling.
Apply Repair Paste: Dispense a small amount of the repair paste from the red syringe directly onto the scratches. Pro Tip: Less is often more! I initially applied too much.
Polish with Pressure: With consistent, high pressure, polish across the scratched area for three minutes. This is the most crucial step – maintain that pressure! You might get a cramped hand (I certainly did!), but perseverance is key for effective scratch removal.
Repeat and Check: My crystal required three passes to remove the scratches. After each three-minute polishing session, I cleaned the watch with the Polywatch Cleaner Spray and a microfibre cloth to inspect the progress. Repeat until the scratches are no longer visible to your satisfaction.
Step 3: The Finishing Phase (White Syringe)
Attach the White Strip: Once you're happy with the scratch removal, swap out the red strip for a clean white polishing strip on your stick.
Apply Finishing Paste: Apply the finishing paste from the white syringe to the crystal.
Polish for Clarity: Polish the glass again for another three minutes, maintaining constant, hard pressure. This step is vital for removing any micro-scratches left from the repair phase and achieving a clear, brilliant finish.
Step 4: Cleanup, Admiration and Prevention
Final Clean: Give your entire watch a thorough clean with the cleaner spray and microfibre cloth to reveal the stunning results.
Admire the results: Once all of the polishing residue has been removed you can admire you freshly polished watch crystal.
Scratch Prevention: They say prevention is better than a cure, and thats why now is the best time to use a watch crystal protector.
My Results and Pro Tips for Success
The transformation of my Seiko SRPE was remarkable! The scratches were almost completely gone. There were a few very faint marks near the edge of the crystal, which I attribute to my hesitation in getting too close to the bezel, rather than a product limitation. I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome, which saved me from having to get a new watch crystal.
Pro Tips for Optimal Results:
Tape Off the Bezel: Use painter's tape to carefully mask off and protect your watch bezel before you begin polishing. This prevents accidental contact and keeps your focus on the crystal.
Perseverance is Key: This is not a quick fix. You must persevere with constant, firm pressure for the recommended duration. Rushing or applying insufficient pressure will not yield the desired results.
Take Your Time: Allocate a good amount of time for this task. My repair took about 40 minutes of dedicated polishing and cleaning.
Clean Between Passes: Regularly clean the crystal between polishing passes to clearly assess your progress and ensure you're working on the right areas.
Deep Scratches & Dremel (Use with Caution): For particularly deep scratches, some users have noted success using a Dremel tool with the Polywatch Glass Polish. However, we have never tried this method ourselves and cannot officially recommend it due to the risk of damaging your watch if not handled by an experienced hand. It's simply an observation from other enthusiasts.
Work in Small Sections: If your crystal has multiple isolated scratches, focus on one area at a time for maximum effectiveness.
In a Nutshell: Your DIY Watch Crystal Repair
So, there you have it. You don't have to live with a scratched watch crystal. By following this guide, you’ve learned that a simple DIY repair is possible for most minor to moderate scuffs on a mineral glass (Hardlex) crystal.
The key takeaways?
First, confirm your watch has a mineral glass crystal, as this is the best solution for this product.
Next, trust the two-step process of Polywatch Glass Polish, using the repair paste to remove the scratches and the finishing paste to restore clarity.
Finally, remember that patience and consistent, firm pressure are essential for success.
A little time and effort with the right watch maintenance tools can save you from a costly watch crystal replacement and make your favourite watch look brand new again.
The Author: Will Parker
Will Parker is the Head of Media at WatchObsession and has been with the company since 2020. As our dedicated photographer, videographer and content creator, he has changed more buckles, straps and clasps than we can count and his own personal watch collection grows every year, although his strap collection is growing faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Polywatch Glass Polish on my sapphire crystal?
Unfortunately, no. Due to the extreme hardness of sapphire, Polywatch Glass Polish is not effective at removing scratches from this type of crystal. This product is specifically designed for mineral glass (like Hardlex) and will not work on sapphire.
How long does the entire polishing process take?
The total time can vary depending on the severity of the scratches. Based on my experience, a full repair on a moderately scratched crystal takes about 40 minutes, including the multiple polishing passes and cleaning in between. It’s important to dedicate enough time to the task and not rush the process.
Will this product work on deep scratches or chips?
Polywatch Glass Polish is highly effective at removing light to moderate scratches. However, it is not designed to fix deep gouges, chips, or cracks in the glass. For severe damage, we recommend a full crystal replacement by a professional watchmaker.
How can I tell what type of crystal my watch has?
If the crystal type isn't listed in your watch's specifications, there are a few ways to check. One common method is the "water drop test." Place a single drop of water on the crystal. On a sapphire crystal, the drop will bead up and hold a high, rounded shape. On mineral or acrylic, the drop will flatten out more and spread.
