how to buff watch crystal

If you’re going to try this DIY solution, There are a few things you should know ahead of time – both to keep your watch from acquiring additional damage and to save yourself a little time and money.there are a few things you should know ahead of time – both to keep your watch from acquiring additional damage and to save yourself a little time and money. Keeping the watch in motion will ensure that you don’t over-buff any one spot. There are some other possibilities, however. Deep scratches need to be treated more than once and use sandpapers. They’re quite durable and resistant to scratches, but they are rather difficult to fix. Any of these will remove enough material from the crystal to eliminate such scratches. Similarly, not only are toothpastes with whitening enhancements expensive, but they’re not going to do you any good in this case. We’ve outlined it step-by-step below – including a list of necessary supplies. We suggest purchasing some of this USA-made 1-micron DMT DP1 Dia-Paste to get the job done properly. In fact, their hardness generally means that once a scratch is visible, it’s likely a crack that can’t be repaired. Polishing your watch can decrease its value. I installed a $1,800 patio door for a customer. You should never use heavy machinery or allow yourself to be exposed to dangerous particles without a solid pair of safety goggles. If your watch crystal receives minor scratches, it may be possible for the crystal to be refinished back to its original condition. Brands from Timex even to Omega use them. Ergonomically-angled so you don't botch that bottle pop. Learn on something a little less precious. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. While PolyWatch is fine for acrylic crystals, sapphire ones require a little more attention and care. This article has been viewed 67,656 times. While this method is not recommended or foolproof, it is a quick and easy way to test the crystal. Designed specifically for polishing small items like watches and jewelry, this dual buffer system features a cast iron base for excellent stability and reduced vibrations. ©2020 Hiconsumption LLC. Avoid squeezing too much out of the tube, especially if you have a large watch collection – because you might want to use it again. There are three common materials used as watch crystals. Fill the sink or basin with a towel, to prevent chipping, and undiluted white vinegar, and submerge the crystal for 30 minutes or more. If you are doing it correctly and the scratches aren’t too deep, you should see them begin to disappear. This will keep the rest of the watch from being damaged in any way and keep the remaining polish from gunking up any of the moving parts. Then, turn it on and, with the wheel spinning, apply a small amount of all-purpose polishing rouge to the wheel. You’ll start by buffing away the deep scratches on the crystal. Remove the crystal using the crystal lifting tool. The watch crystal is either made of glass, plastic, or synthesized sapphire crystals. Brass polish has a mild abrasive in it, so it will buff out light scratches found on the crystal. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. In high school I had this friend who used to polish out his watch crystal scratches with Brasso brass polish. Buff it with another clean, dry cloth. Take the watch into different light, look at it from every angle, scrutinize it entirely. Be sure to keep your fingers from the edge of the crystal so you have room to work the sanding stick. When worst comes to worst and if your attempts to solve the problem fail – or even make the problem greater – there’s always one last option: sending in your watch for a replacement crystal. Next, take a soft cloth and a little Brasso and polish the case thoroughly and buff with a clean soft cloth. Apply a small amount of polish to the surface of the watch crystal. It’s seen far less today, but that doesn’t mean its entirely gone. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 67,656 times. If your watch is inexpensive, it most likely has an acrylic crystal, sometimes referred to as plastic or hesalite. If you scour the various watch forums across the web, you’ll quickly discover that there are a number of timepiece fanatics who swear by using toothpaste, rather than a traditional polish, to repair minor scratches to their crystals. Mineral crystal is more scratch-resistant than acrylic crystal, and tends to crack or shatter under extreme temperature or when hit from an angle. Dry it with a soft cloth. And the rouge polishing compound could also be harmful to your vision. After just a couple of minutes, you should see the scratches begin to disappear. You won’t be able to enjoy your newly scratch-free watch if you can no longer see it. Sand in one direction, across the direction of the worst scratches by moving the crystal back and forth over the paper. Sapphire is highly resistant to scratches. Earth tones, natural materials, and touches of copper set this loadout apart. Keep the pressure light as you buff in a circular motion for 2-3 minutes. Take your watch in your hand, taped up and ready to go, and press the crystal with light-to-medium pressure against the buffing wheel. For watch lovers, a fresh scratch on an otherwise flawless crystal is a devastating sight. % of people told us that this article helped them. We’re talking, of course, about scratches on your watch crystal. Make absolutely certain it is secure. Consider returning the watch to the manufacturer and ask them to replace the watch glass. While you don’t need to cover the band or strap, you might want to remove it to make the polishing process easier. Follow the same first step as with traditional hand-polishing: mask off your watch’s bezel and case with painter’s tape. Once finished, simply clean the excess polish off the crystal and you should be done. Soft yet sturdy, this organic wool buffing and polishing wheel is perfect for putting a sheen on all your delicate gear, metals, watches, and more. How long and how much pressure you should apply depends on how deep and how badly the crystal is scratched. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Make sure you have enough thickness left on the crystal to get rid of even the deep scratches, it not, you will have to leave some of them. Make sure to keep a light pressure and consistent circular motion. The watch crystal is a clear cover that protects the dial and the internals. Overlap the pieces of tape to completely cover the metal around the watch crystal. Either way, a watch crystal is a component that enables your watch to take abuse without ruining its overall look and function. We’d also like to suggest that, if you’ve never used a bench grinder or buffer before, you don’t start by trying to buff the scratches out of a delicate piece of timekeeping everyday carry gear. Truly, it really doesn’t take much to get the job done. You’ll also want to avoid anything with colored dyes added to it, as you could end up imbuing the colors into your watch’s crystal. Pairing a slim fit with a seamless construction for comfort on the move. While this is not what we might call a particularly dangerous process, there’s still the possibility that something could slip and/or be flung into your eyes. As far as durability is concerned, acrylic doesn’t hold up that well. Including tips, tricks, and a selection of our favorite cold weather essentials. You don’t have to tape up the band or strap, but you might want to take it off entirely to make the process a little simpler. Continue to … Finally, remove any remaining polyWatch with a cloth. Gently move it opposite the buff, remove it from the wheel, then adjust to a new spot and repeat that process. First, determine what type of crystal your watch contains. They vary in price, toughness, repairability, and even clarity – so it’s worth looking into their benefits and drawbacks before ever purchasing a watch to begin with. This will also help prevent the risk of excess polish getting on your hands, all over your work station, or on the watch case itself. Gently move it opposite the buff, remove it from the wheel, then adjust to a new spot and repeat that process. Squeeze a bit of the toothpaste onto the watch face. Before ordering the new band I wanted to see if I could fix the scratched crystal. Whether your watch is equipped with an acrylic, mineral, or sapphire crystal, the first method by which you can attempt to fix the scratches on your treasured timepiece is by hand-polishing it. Take the case to the sink and with a little dish soap, hot water, and a toothbrush, brush all of the gunk off of the case. Simply apply PolyWatch to the watch crystal, polish the scratched areas for 2-3 minutes with great pressure against the scratches. The Pros of Sapphire Crystals. All you have to do is apply it to the crystal, buff it in carefully and diligently, clean up the excess, and you’re done. If you don’t have one, however, we recommend a bench buffer – like the Powertec BF600 Heavy Duty Bench Buffer pictured above – for this method. Your best bet is to go as basic as possible – plain, flavorless, white toothpaste. You can use vinegar and a household cleaner to remove these stains. This guide will explain the various crystal types and their strength/weaknesses - Sapphire crystals, mineral crystals, acrylic crystals … And, last but not least, you can have a custom crystal made – though this will cost you quite a bit, so you’ll need a flexible bank balance to make it happen. By Andrew Connor. But before you send your tainted timepiece back for a crystal replacement, you may want to consider a home remedy. So the first step is a 240 grain abrasive paper. Using painter’s tape will protect the rest of your watch from being damaged during the polishing process. Whereas some watches simply tell the time, others can gauge altitude, keep a log of lap times, or even track the phases of the moon. A simple scratch remover for acrylic watches, this polish can easily remove any superficial scratches from the crystal of your watch in about 2-3 minutes time. HiConsumption was established by gearheads for gearheads as a modern day men’s lifestyle publication, uncovering the greatest products in adventure, tech, gear, automotive, and style. Take your watch in your hand, taped up and ready to go, and press the crystal with light-to-medium pressure against the buffing wheel. It is a precious gemstone resulting from the combination of aluminum oxide and some elements of magnesium, copper, chromium, titanium, and iron. The most high-end and expensive of the bunch, sapphire is the holy grail when it comes to wearable timepiece crystals. Why You Aren’t Supposed to Polish a Watch. Glass crystals are also common in watches. However, it’s also extremely affordable and relatively simple to fix, provided that the damage isn’t too severe. Whether you’re well-to-do or just trying to buy a worthwhile timepiece without breaking the bank, you can find one on our list of the best watches for any budget. Turns out it makes a perfect glass scratch filler. Or make sure to cover the bezel with the … Back in 2011 a Rolex 6062, a sought-after gold-cased calendar watch, sold for well over half a million dollars at Christie’s. Fast-forward 20 years. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Remove-Scratches-from-Watch-Glass-Step-1.jpeg\/v4-460px-Remove-Scratches-from-Watch-Glass-Step-1.jpeg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Remove-Scratches-from-Watch-Glass-Step-1.jpeg\/aid10493284-v4-728px-Remove-Scratches-from-Watch-Glass-Step-1.jpeg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"