Hardlex is a Seiko proprietary type of hardened mineral crystal and comes in at least two different varieties (what goes in Seiko 5's is not the same quality of what goes into ISO divers). Joined: Jul 15, 2006 Messages: 1,845 Likes Received: 204. Sapphire = much more scratch resistant although apparently they shatter if dropped/hit hard although there have been very few accounts of this happening. It is commonly used in many Seiko models as it provides a good balance between cost and quality. It belongs to the Seiko 5 collection and can be submerged 100 m or 10 ATM. Filling Deep Gouges Clean the scratch with rubbing alcohol to remove dirt or wax. Well, glass is 6 on the mohs scale and that is easily polished. CONS. Hardlex Crystal Seiko SRP777 Review – The “Turtle” Diver’s Watch. Your best bet if you want to try and remove these scratches would be to entirely remove the crystal and try the polish on the entire crystal face. I have often wondered if it would be worth going to a optician lens manufacturer to see if they could polish old crystals at a decent price, I have a box full of 6309/6105 used crystals. I have just got rid of all the scratches from an old Rotary with an acrylic crystal using wet and dry 400 then 1200 then Brasso and it has bought it up like new. Don't forget that despite myths to the contrary all crystals can be scratched - sapphire crystals are just more resistant to surface scratches. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. If the scratches in your watch glass can’t be removed through polishing, consider replacing … I haven't really had any problems with Hardlex - in three years since I've been wearing the Seiko 5s, I've gotten maybe 4-5 scratches, and those were from some pretty extreme mishaps. But still it is possible to get good result, Look at this one, ok it is not hardlex, it is ordinary mineral glass. The kit includes abrasive pads of different grit, a sanding block, a polishing cloth and sanding fluid. If you're really worried, there are modders out there who will replace your Hardlex crystal far a sapphire... You get some scratches. Can watch owners repair or replace them? 66. Any thoughts on the stuff that you use to clean headlights? They do state that the hardlex crystal is scratch resistant. From my experience the eye catches the lack of uniformity more than the individual scratches. Wipe this off then repeat with the 2.5-micron paste, rubbing it until the paste is entirely gone. #1 Lio, Aug 11, 2009. shrap Loaded Pockets. People have no idea how hard hardlex is. Seiko patents it as a Hardlex crystal. It is essential that the crystal is thoroughly cleaned after each polishing step before moving to a finer grit. This is to ensure that any of the previous grit is removed as it will only scratch again when the finer grit is applied. For starters hardlex is much harder than glass, not quite as hard as saphire, but close. You've got a couple options, find someone experienced in lapidary and have them grind the marks out, replace the crystal, or get some cerium oxide polish and work at it- carefully. Key concept for minor dents & scratches: Remember, the paint outside of the damage is called your original "factory perfect" paint finish. This Seiko 5 SRPD55K1 watch is geared for men, has the case and armis silver plated IP steel, is circular and with black rotating bezel. The strut juts out at just the right angle, just the right height. Hard as Sapphire on the outside to reduce scratches yet as forgiving of sharp knocks as mineral. So supposobly if you are in high humidity or hostile envirenment. while sapphire will shatter. So, if you accidentally scratch your watch on a simulated-stone surface or a wall that incorporates some of these silicon carbide materials, it could scratch the crystal. Step 3: Continue buffing. Find the best Scratch Removal near you on Yelp - see all Scratch Removal open now. WillisJJ. I figure it is definitely possible to polish our Hardlex with the right abrasive, considering diamonds are faceted on an abrasive disk. I found out using a dremel at first only heats the crystal up. Sadly, acrylic is not as scratch resistant as glass. I'm wondering if I could fit some lap disks to my wet tile saw... A forum community dedicated to Watch owners and enthusiasts. In fact, their hardness generally means that once a scratch is visible, it’s likely a crack that can’t be repaired. Apply a small amount of 3µ paste to the scratch, working it in a firm circular motion with the cloth. There's some damage like scratches, thats to be expected with your daily watch. Come join the discussion about brands, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! May 6, ... Can they get scratched or break? I have an M9 Bulova Oceanographer that had some very serious scratches and gouges in the crystal. I know everyone seems to love Seiko 5s and divers and many of them have Hardlex so it can't be that bad, right? Then it blur's it then it has a awful time to reset back to getting it clear again. In my old Seiko 5 I've got at least 3-4 chips in the glass and its still holding up fine. These are some of the questions that anyone wanting to buy or already own a watch will surely have in mind – … Purchase: $127 Luminox A.6402 F-117 Nighthawk Apply the 3-micron paste onto the watch face with a cotton swab, then rub with a soft cloth over the face in a circular motion, concentrating on the scratch areas. Regular polywatch is for acrylic, so is useless on hardlex, although they have released a new diamond paste product for mineral glass. Done a couple of seiko hardlex glass crystals basically using process of wet/dry then diamond pastes. Seiko employs a variety of crystals for its watches, ranging from acrylic crystals on lower priced watches, to {Hardlex/Mineral, a crystal constructed of silicon and barium and heated to create hardness to withstand scratches and marring.} Up till now I have always used wet emery paper but it takes soooo long. Its functions include the following: Calendar with luminescent arrows. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I … This left the crystal mostly free of scratches but 2 or 3 deep scratches remained and … WillisJJ. Could I ask what grades of diamond paste you use. Usually, Acrylic glasses are found in Accutron, Bulova, Omega and Seiko watch brands. Superficial scratches, however, can be fixed in essentially the same manner as sapphire. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. A subreddit for discussion of wrist watches and pocket watches. I suppose by reasonable price I meant about $300 or less as the price from discount retailers like SkyWatches or CreationWatches. Yes I agree, the wheel is the best. If you’re looking for the ultimate car … Wet a soft cloth or … I used this on a moderately scratched Seiko Automatic with a Hardlex mineral crystal and it worked well with a little help! New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Check Latest Price. The crystal is much stronger than they use to be. I know sapphire will always be more durable, but I'm having a hard time finding a watch I really like with a sapphire crystal at a reasonable price. I'm really just having a hard time finding sapphire watches with designs I love at a reasonable price that are available in Canada or with reasonable/free shipping here. Mineral / hardlex are quite similar and aren't as scratch resistant but much more impact resistant. But on the plus side, it does not shatter as easily as glass, it is very light and it is cheap to repair. Highest Quality Repair. The process is as easy as it is to scratch Plexiglass: Cover up the bezel with tape to avoid damage. I'd order from Orient but they don't ship outside the US unfortunately. If you prefer, rather than assembling all the components you’ll need to remove a scratch, you can purchase a stainless steel repair kit from your local home improvement center or on line. Diamond can scratch them; so can man-made materials that incorporate silicon carbide, which, with a Mohs rating of between 9 and 10, is harder than sapphire. JavaScript is disabled. However using grit 400 or 600 paper to remove deep scratches is not a problem, the finer abrasives will make do rest. These brands commonly use them on their low-price and middle-class watches. Have you ever scratched a hardlex crystal? I found that 1000 then 6000 grit Japanese water stones did a great job of lifting out the scratches and leaving a flat subject to polish. I mainly use 10 and 2.5 from aliexpress. At the suggestion of a friend, I used Flitz Metal Polish on it. Yes it takes time. It chips out rather than shatter. Above is Seiko SARB065 “Cocktail Time” with Hardlex crystal. Discussion in 'Watches' started by Lio, Aug 11, 2009. I've been thinking about cleaning Hardlex but put off by a long process of buffing, and not knowing if it will actually improve. PolyWatch Glass Polish Glass Polish Scratch Remover Watch Glass Scratch Remover Make sure this fits by entering your model number. Hardlex is Seiko’s nomenclature or trademark for its mineral based clear glass. Seiko Genuine OEM Link for SKX007, SKX009, SKX175 Jubilee Bracelet #44G1ZZLK It is scratch-resistant. If many or deep scratches start with a 5cm roundel of 600 grit wet paper on a rotary tool. I was wondering the same thing. Is there anyway to polish out a scratch on hardlex? Any polishing no matter the materal is a process of applying finer and finer scratches onto a surface. Hardlex is essentially a mineral crystal, so glass. Hey guys, just wondering what your experiences with Seiko's Hardlex crystal are. Consider replacing the crystal if the scratch is too deep. Scratched hardlex crystal repair, any home remedy available? Sapphire = much more scratch resistant although apparently they shatter if dropped/hit hard although there have been very few accounts of this happening. $6.99. Lio Loaded Pockets. PROS. In my old Seiko 5 I've got at least 3-4 chips in the glass and its still holding up fine. I am VERY new to watch repair. C60 Trident Automatic - Black Bezel - $499 - Swiss made, with an ETA 2824-2 movement and a sapphire crystal. Here is something I posted on reddit.... Was the "sandpaper" the silicon carbide stuff or just plain ole sandpaper? The glass polish high-performance diamond polish for glass by PolyWatch removes small and medium scratches from watch glasses, smartphone, car, furniture, household, windows, and much more. Sapphire Snorkler - $345.00 ($172.50 with coupon code youtube50) - Sapphire crystal, Orient Caliber 48743 Movement. Over the weekend I finally had a go at tackling the badly scratched mineral glass crystal on my Dads old Seiko chrono. After a few minutes, you should start to see the scratch disappearing. Joined: Apr 25, 2007 Messages: 148 Likes Received: 274. so? One popular brand is the Scratch-B-Gone kit. you rather the crystal warping then losing the entire watch movement to the conditions. Mineral / hardlex are quite similar and aren't as scratch resistant but much more impact resistant. Once the scratch has faded, wipe away the excess and apply the.25µ paste. Carfidant Scratch and Swirl Remover. 66. After various experiments I've found that what works best is diamond paste of various grits, applied with a 1cm thick hard felt wheel. Steinhart Ocean Vintage - €330 ($447) - Swiss made, with an ETA 2824-2 movement and a sapphire crystal. Press J to jump to the feed. Your original paint finish is the very definition of "perfect" and it is superior to a repaint. but the idea is that for some diving watches mineral is better the sapphire becuase mireral will warp and distort. Many of the most affordable resellers that ship to Canada for cheap or free lack in selection. Being such, you can't polish it the same way you can a plastic or acrylic crystal. The scratches and breaks are not visible from most angles. Zacro Watch Band Strap Link Pin Remover Repair Tool Kit for Watchmakers with Pack of 3 Extra Pins 4.2 out of 5 stars 2,470. Always get nice result but I have better things to do with my life. Its mechanism is automatic with analog display and Hardlex glass. Willing to give anything a go to speed it up. Seiko loves to use it on many of their low to middle range watches Seiko loves to use it on many of their low to middle range watches Knowing the issues with impact resistance of mineral, some watch companies have made their own proprietary mineral crystals with enhanced properties. Job done in 20 minutes compared to hours with wet paper that no matter how fine always leave strange marks like pitting. Scratches are difficult to polish compared to acrylic crystals.T The Hardlex is the best tool watch crystal ever developed. Post Nov 18, 2007 #1 2007-11-18T19:14. Yes. I've seen videos where they use silicon carbide loose grit and water to smoother edges of a just sawn glass bottle. On the mohs hardness scale, mineral watch glass is 5, hardlex is 8, saphire is 9 and diamond is 10. I started first with wet sanding, using 1000 grit sandpaper followed by 2000, then 3000. In fact, a vehicle with original paint retains a higher (monetary & utility) value than a repainted vehicle. I just managed to scratch my Monster's hardlex crystal on the exact same ping pong table strut upon which I scratched my Sammie's crystal last month. I have some experience with polishing hardlex. Hardlex is just Seiko's name for mineral glass. I've got my eye on a Seiko to use as a beater, but it has quite a noticeable scratch on the glass (which iscalled hardlex). Now I need to do an old Citizen automatic, I am assuming it has a hardlex crystal. Less costly to replace the crystal. Explore other popular Automotive near you from over 7 million businesses with … While polishing watch glass will usually help remove scratches, sometimes a scratch or crack is too deep to repair with a simple polishing routine. It is essential that the crystal is thoroughly cleaned after each polishing step before to. 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