When you go to purchase a watch or an optical product of high standard, you may encounter terms such as mineral glass vs sapphire crystal. These materials play a significant role in extending the product life span and scratch-resistant power in addition to the general product quality. However, what are they, and which one is the best to fit your needs?
In this guide, we compare mineral glass vs sapphire glass with several parameters to make the correct choice.
What Is Mineral Glass?
Hardened mineral crystal, mineral glass, is a common material for mid-range watches and low-priced watches. It is fabricated out of silica, and it is chemically modified to enhance its durability and endurance to small scratches and shocks.
Major components of Mineral glass are:
- Manufactured from standard glasses through a hardening process
- It is cheaper to make.
- Offers simple scratch resistance
- May break when hard hit or when struck heavily
What Is Sapphire Crystal?
Sapphire crystal is a man-made substance where they crystallize pure aluminium oxide under high temperatures. It is artificial sapphire and not a natural one, but shares all physical properties, most notably, extreme hardness.
Important Attributes of Sapphire Glass:-
- It is almost as tough and solid as a diamond (Mohs scale of hardness 9)
- Extremely scratch-resistant
- Highly transparent and offers durability
- Production cost is generally higher
- May break under forceful impact
Durability Of Sapphire Glass Vs Mineral Glass: Which One To Choose
As far as durability is concerned, the scratch resistance and impact structural quality of sapphire glass vs mineral glass are very different.
Scratch Resistance
- Sapphire is much better at resisting scratches. There is hardly any chance that it could be lined with keys or coins, or even sand.
- Mineral glass, however, is more prone to scratching and wears out with time.
Impact Resistance
- Mineral glass is more shockproof. It is less breakable and bends a bit.
- Sapphire is extremely hard, but it is brittle as well. It can crack or shatter under the effect of a strong impact.
Cost Factor: Budget vs. Highly-Priced
Among the most striking aspects of mineral crystal vs sapphire crystal glass, one important difference would be the price.
- Mineral glass is very affordable and replaceable. It is widespread in low-cost and middle-level watches.
- Sapphire crystals are more costly to purchase; thus, the retail cost of the product is higher. It is normally applied in luxury watches and luxury eyewear glasses.
In case you have a low budget, you can settle in the middle with mineral glass. However, if someone wants luxury and durability, the choice to make is sapphire.
Transparency and Clarity
In consideration of mineral crystal vs sapphire glass, you may find the following differences:-
- Optical Clarity: Both of the materials provide excellent visual clarity. However, sapphire has a slight edge over light transmission and visual clarity. This is the reason it is a favorite in high-end watches and precision optics.
- Anti-Reflective Coating: Most of the luxury brands apply anti-reflective coating (AR coating) to make them easily readable in the presence of light, since sapphire is more reflective.
AR coatings can be put on mineral glass, too; however, they are not as effective and wear out faster.
Repair And Replace: An Important Factor To Consider
What would happen if your watch or gadget gets a direct hit and the crystal is damaged? Here is more clarity regarding mineral glass vs sapphire crystal repair and replacement.
Mineral Glass: In case of scratches or tearing, mineral glass is simpler and less costly to replace or buff.
Sapphire Glass: Due to being more wear-resistant and durable, it is more expensive to replace. It cannot be repaired in general; the final choice would be only get a new one.
Applications in Watches and Eyewear
Both the mineral vs sapphire glass are used for watch and eyewear purposes. Here are the examples of its application under different cases:
Watches: Mid-range watches, such as Seiko, Timex, and Casio, are made of mineral glass. Sapphire glasses are generally used by luxury brands such as Patek Philitte, Bvlgari, Rolex, etc.
Eyewear: Luxury eyewear brands use Sapphire glass for most of their offerings, while treated mineral or polycarbonate lenses are normally found in budget and mid-tier glasses.
Weight And Comfort With Sapphire And Mineral Glasses
When choosing between mineral vs sapphire glass watch, one must not compromise on the comfort levels.
- Sapphire crystal has a little bit of weight compared to mineral glass. In ultra-light uses (such as aviation or sports watches), weight can be a factor in the selection of material.
- The weight difference is, however, insignificant in the greater majority of daily uses, and it makes little difference with regard to comfort.
Does Sapphire Have To Be Better?
Although sapphire is a scratch-resistant and high-appearance gem, this does not imply that it is suitable for use by all people.
Mineral glass may be your favorite if:-
- You live on a shoestring budget
- You are likely to drop or bang your watch time and again
- You like cheap substitutes and low-cost maintenance
Sapphire glass may be your favourite if:-
- You need a luxury appearance that remains immaculate
- You operate in workplaces that experience scratches regularly (e.g., office, meetings)
- You buy or invest in timepiece-quality items
Another choice, K1 mineral glass vs sapphire, can be important to consider while making your decision between the materials.
Conclusion
It also comes down to preference and money, so sapphire crystal vs mineral glass, both are good options. Both materials come with certain advantages and disadvantages that should not be ignored. However, your level of comprehension regarding their distinguishing characteristics may facilitate your choice.
