Repairing a Scratched Watch Face — Is it Possible? Easy DIY Repair Tips
Determine the Style of Watch Crystal
The first thing you need to do before fixing a scratched watch face is ascertain the nature of your crystal. The most common types are:
Acrylic – Soft and easily scratched, but it can be polished out with a product like Polywatch4.
Mineral Glass –Offers more resistance to scratching than acrylic, may still get a scratch but can usually be buffed out
Sapphire — The hardest one, almost scratch-proof but still prone to hairline scratches.
Removing Minor Scratches
Removing Light Surface Scratches In many cases, light surface scratches on acrylic or mineral glass crystals can be repaired at home, using a scratch removal kit (for example from PolyWatch) or even with household items:
Polywatch – a specialized polish for acrylic watch crystals4
Toothpaste is a fine non-permanent scratch remover, take the non-gel kind and carefully massage it into scratch with a soft towel
Baking sodaWipe this solution over the scratch and continue until the scratch fades. Keep in mind that ithas a potent smell.
Put the polish or paste on the scratch, and use a soft microfiber cloth or cotton ball to buff it away. Push hard and rub in a circle. Repeat, as necessary until scratch has been removed4.)
Considering Professional Help
Larger scratches, cracks or chips in the crystalYou will likely have to involve a professional watchmaker for deeper flaws.watch face scratch repair (ad) Specific tools as well as compounds will allow them to remove the deeper scratches without scarring it.
Also, it is not advisable to do a DIY scratch removal if your watch has a sapphire crystal because the material is very hard and running the wrong buffer can result in damage(padding).
To summarise, minor scratches on acrylic or mineral glass watch crystals can be buffed out quite easily at home with a polish or even just common household items, but before picking up the nearest home remedy it’s necessary to determine whether you have one of those types. If your watch has deep scratches, cracks or a sapphire crystal, it is best to see an expert about replacing it before you cause more damage.