Two sides of Acrylic Crystals on Vintage Replica Watches

Two sides of Acrylic Crystals on Vintage Replica Watches

Since all contemporary Rolex fake watches are decorated with crystals craft from highly scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire, older fake Rolex timepieces were manufactured with crystals made from a plastic-like material known as acrylic. The first Rolex watch to ever be fitted with a sapphire crystal was the reference 5100, it is a Rolex’s first-ever quartz watch that was made as a limited series and powered by the Beta-21 movement. The reference 5100 debuted to the public in 1970; however, acrylic crystals continued to be fitted to certain lines of Rolex watches into the early 1990s.
Acrylic crystals are less scratch resistant than their later-era, sapphire counterparts, and will inevitably develop small marks and scratches on their surfaces, even though they do not receive any rough treatment. Sapphire has a hardness of 9 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, while acrylic plastics typically have a rating of around 3 or 4. Most commonly encountered metals and minerals have a hardness rating that ranges anywhere between 5 and 8, which means that when the majority of hard objects come into contact with an acrylic crystal, they are possibly to leave some sort of mark or scratch.
While acrylic crystals do acquire blemishes rather easily, light scratches and scuffs can often be remedied whenever they manage to occur. Any damage sustained by a sapphire crystal seems to be permanent, while more minor marks on acrylic crystals can be easily removed at home within a few minutes, by simply using any number of commonly available polishing compounds, and a soft cloth.
They are generally better at surviving significant impacts, although acrylic crystals are significantly less scratch resistant than their later-era, sapphire counterparts,. Hardness ratings relate to scratch resistance, instead of overall durability. Sapphire crystals are very “hard” and difficult to omega; however they are prone to chipping and shattering should a significant impact take place.
Acrylic crystals are inherently more flexible, and better at accommodating hard effects; however when they do manage to break, they often crack but hold together, instead of shattering and falling into the watch. No matter when a sapphire omega replica watch crystal does manage to break and shatter, the tiny, incredibly hard crystal shards create permanent marks on the surface of the dial, and ultimately get into the inner-workings of the movement, requiring the fake watch to be professionally cleaned and serviced.
The smooth, hard surface of a sapphire crystal gives a watch with a more modern and refined appearance and touch, and its superior hardness ensures that the face of the fake watch will look clear and pristine for years to come. A lot of collectors appreciate acrylic crystals for the warm, vintage appearance that they bring to a watch on the other side of things.

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