From Golden Bell to Sapphire: The Evolutionary History of Watch Crystals

　　From the evolutionary history of watches, wristwatches gradually developed from pocket watches. The early pocket watch was invented by a German man named Nürnberger Ei. He spent nearly eight years making a clock for the French king of that time, but the clock he designed developed a time discrepancy every year, forcing the French king to give him a few gold coins annually to be solely responsible for the maintenance and calibration of this clock. Furthermore, the pocket watch he designed at that time was as large as a goose egg, called the “Nuremberg Egg”, featuring an outer “golden bell jar” as a protective cover to protect the watch from water vapour and dust erosion as much as possible.

　　Centuries later, with the rapid development of craftsmanship and technology, the creation of colorless transparent glass allowed glass to appear on watches as a protective cover. Later eras saw the use of organic glass and mineral glass, until the 1960s when synthetic sapphire technology began to be applied to watches. Today, sapphire watch crystals have become a hallmark of luxury timepieces.

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　　Compared with ordinary glass, sapphire watch crystals are superior in durability and offer a clearer, more transparent viewing effect. In particular, its hardness can reach Mohs level 9, second only to diamond and equivalent to seven times that of steel, making it highly resistant to scratching.N Factory WatchesMost models feature a sapphire crystal, which is not only durable and scratch-resistant but also provides clear visibility for easy timekeeping. Under sunlight, it refracts a range of charming colours from different angles.

　　However, the harder a material is, the more brittle it becomes. Sapphire crystal is not shockproof and should be protected from impacts, heavy pressure, or drops. Furthermore, although nothing in nature is harder than sapphire except for diamonds, some synthetic silicon carbide materials can reach a hardness of 9 and can also scratch sapphire. Therefore, special care should be taken to avoid contact with diamonds, sandpaper, nail clippers, and artificial stone surfaces to prevent scratching.