Sapphire, Mineral or Acrylic? A Guide to Watch Crystals

The clear cover over your watch dial is called the crystal. It protects the dial and hands, and it shapes how your watch looks every time you glance at it. There are three main types, and each has real strengths and trade-offs.

1. Acrylic (plastic) crystal

Acrylic, also called hesalite or plexiglass, was standard on most watches through the mid-20th century. You'll still find it on vintage-style pieces and many affordable digital watches.

• Pros: shatter-resistant, lightweight, has a warm and slightly domed vintage look, and light scratches can often be buffed out with a polishing compound.
• Cons: scratches easily and can look hazy over time.
• Best for: vintage-inspired designs, beater watches and anyone who doesn't mind a little character.

2. Mineral crystal

Mineral crystal is glass that has been heat- or chemically treated to make it harder. It's the most common crystal on mid-priced watches.

• Pros: clearer and more scratch-resistant than acrylic, and inexpensive to replace.
• Cons: can still pick up scratches over time, and a hard knock can chip or crack it. Unlike acrylic, scratches can't be polished out.
• Best for: everyday watches at accessible prices.

3. Sapphire crystal

Sapphire crystal is synthetic sapphire, the same mineral as the gemstone, grown in a lab. It rates a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, just below diamond at 10. In everyday life, almost nothing you'll run into can scratch it.

• Pros: exceptional scratch resistance, stays crystal-clear for years, and gives a crisp, premium look.
• Cons: it's harder but more brittle than acrylic, so a severe impact at the wrong angle can shatter it. It also costs more to replace, and without a coating it can reflect more glare.
• Best for: anyone who wants a watch that still looks new years from now.

Sapphire used to be found almost exclusively on expensive Swiss watches. Today it's common at accessible prices. Several watches in our collection use sapphire crystal, including the PAGANI DESIGN DD40 Automatic, the PAGANI DESIGN Rose Gold Automatic, the PAGANI DESIGN 1767 Automatic Diver, the BERNY Skeleton 3D Automatic and the BERNY Titanium Digital Quartz.

What about anti-reflective (AR) coating?

Because sapphire is highly reflective, many watchmakers add an anti-reflective coating that cuts glare so the dial looks like it has no glass over it at all. You'll often see it listed as "AR sapphire."

• Inner AR coating (on the underside) is protected from wear.
• Outer AR coating cuts more glare but can show fine wear marks over many years.

A tip: AR coating often gives the crystal a faint blue or purple tint at certain angles. That's normal.

Quick comparison

Which should you choose?

If you want your watch to look sharp for years with no fuss, choose sapphire, ideally with AR coating. If you love a vintage feel or want a tough, inexpensive beater, acrylic has real charm. And mineral is a sensible middle ground on budget-friendly watches.

Check the specs on any product page in our full collection. We list the crystal type wherever the manufacturer specifies it.