In the world of watches, sapphire mirrors have become an indispensable component of high-quality watches due to their hardness, transparency, and corrosion resistance. It does demonstrate high scratch resistance in daily wear, effectively resisting slight friction and collisions in daily life. However, even such tough materials can leave marks under harsh usage conditions or direct impact from sharp objects, especially those obvious and deep scratches, which not only affect the aesthetic appearance of the watch but may also cause concern for the watch owner. So, how are these stubborn scratches repaired?

1、 Preliminary assessment and preparation

When a sapphire watch mirror with scratches is sent to a professional watch repair shop, a detailed preliminary evaluation will be conducted. This process includes determining the depth, length, location, and whether it affects the overall structural strength of the mirror. At the same time, potential damages such as the integrity of the sealing ring will be checked around the mirror to ensure the comprehensiveness and safety of subsequent repair work. Based on the assessment results, corresponding repair tools and materials will be prepared. For the repair of sapphire crystal mirrors, commonly used tools include micro grinders, polishing wheels, fine sandpaper, and specialized polishing paste. The selection and use of these tools require extensive experience and exquisite craftsmanship to ensure that the repair process does not cause secondary damage to the mirror.

2、 Fine grinding and polishing

For scratches on sapphire mirrors, especially shallow scratches, fine grinding and polishing methods are usually used for repair. Use sandpaper or grinding wheels of appropriate thickness to preliminarily polish the scratched area, in order to remove surface unevenness and preliminarily fade the scratches. This step requires caution as excessive grinding may expand the scratch range or reduce the transparency of the mirror. Subsequently, replace with finer sandpaper or polishing wheel, and apply an appropriate amount of polishing paste to perform a more detailed polishing treatment on the scratched area. The tiny particles in the polishing paste can rub against the surface of sapphire under high-speed rotation, further smoothing the surface until scratches are almost invisible. During this process, it is necessary to continuously check the polishing effect to ensure that the repaired area maintains consistent glossiness and transparency with the surrounding mirror surface.

3、 Deep scratch treatment

For scratches that are deep and difficult to remove through simple grinding and polishing, technicians may use more complex repair methods. For example, using laser technology or chemical etching technology to accurately locate and treat scratches. Laser technology can remove scratches by instantly vaporizing the material on the scratched surface with a high-energy beam; Chemical etching technology uses a specific chemical solution to slightly corrode the scratched area, and then restores the surface smoothness through subsequent polishing. However, it should be noted that although these methods can effectively remove deep scratches, they may also cause certain damage or alter the original properties of sapphire mirrors. Therefore, before deciding to adopt these repair techniques, communicate fully with the owner to ensure that both parties have a clear understanding and expectation of the repair effect.

Scratch repair on sapphire watch mirrors is a delicate and complex task that requires technicians to possess extensive professional knowledge and practical experience. Through fine grinding, polishing, and possible deep scratch treatment techniques, the original appearance and performance of the watch mirror can be effectively restored. However, it is worth noting that prevention is always better than cure. In daily wear, we should pay attention to avoiding the watch from coming into contact with sharp objects or taking it off during intense exercise to reduce the possibility of scratches. Only in this way can our sapphire watches always maintain their dazzling brilliance.