Another scratched Sapphire screen...

My wife’s 6X Pro Sapphire has this scratch across the screen. She’s adamant she hasn’t banged it and I can agree with that as there’s no serious bezel damage and the scratch is a perfect line across the screen. It’s definitely a scratch as you can just about feel it when running your nail across it.

Has anybody any luck in reducing such a scratch from a sapphire screen?

I know the obvious answer would be to contact Garmin especially as the watch it around 4 months old be she’s reluctant to be without it for 2 to 3 weeks whilst Garmin look at it. Long term, we’ll probably wait until the 7 is released and then send it to Garmin.

From Garmin - ‘Each Sapphire edition adds a scratch-resistant sapphire lens’. That’s what I’m questioning…



  • Apologies for questioning your comments but scratches do not appear miraculously. And in this case marks on the bezel are visible and appear to be approximately inline with the scratch. 

  • Thanks for your reply, sorry maybe I’ve wrote incorrectly. What’s meant to be said when banged was used is anything of note, nothing that would be enough to scratch a sapphire screen. I agree the bezel has minor marks but in the metal they’re hardly anything. Also the scratch is so perfect. It makes me wonder what could do that to a premium sapphire screen?

    I literally whacked my previous 6 Pro sapphire against a rock whilst scrambling and fearing the worst I took a look at my watch. I wiped away the rock dust from the face to leave a perfect screen. She’s done nothing at all like that. 

  • It looks like a scratch from a grain of sand to me.  One handful of sand can have everything from gypsum and soft organics to granite and diamond in it, so anything it possible.  There are a few threads discussing sapphire watch crystals scratches on WatchUSeek.  For example, this one: 

    www.watchuseek.com/.../

    Edit:  To answer your question about trying to remove/reduce the scratch - I didn't think it was possible, but diamond paste is mentioned in that thread if the scratch isn't too deep.  You could also try adding a screen protector, which should hide it very well, though.

  • F6 series Saphire has some kind of coating, unlike F5 Saphire that did not show scratches that easily.

    You can test it with a soft metal that should not be able to scratch Saphire because Saphire is way harder. But on the F6 it will easily leave a mark. In another thread someone polished the coating away and it was fine again.

    IMO Garmin really messed up there, what's the point of applying a easily scratchable coating on a really hard Saphire surface.

  • Might it be an anti-reflective coating? I've had annoyances with those, on other sapphire crystals I have, e.g. Citizen.

    edit: ah yes, it says so in the referenced thread. Seems silly to me; my sapphire Citizen is not only scratched but, after a few years, the AR coating has developed some annoying rainbow blotches… I'm hoping they will rub off over time. So perhaps this scratch here can more easily be polished out?

  • Not to make light of your situation but - I have seen literally MILLIONS of posts here (or on Facebook) going on about how the Sapphire screen NEVER scratches. And that anyone with a Sapphire screen that wants to get (shudder) a screen protector for their scratch-less Sapphire screen devices, that those people should question their existence and of course there's simply <no way> Sapphire screen could EVER get scratched. It's glass - OF COURSE it can get scratched.
    Sorry - I know that's ^^ not really very helpful in addressing your question, but I had to vent just a bit, and let's hope you can get something worked out.

  • To each their own experience.
    I got a F6 Sapphire Titanium for two years and one month and.... zero scratch on a 24/7 tool watch.
    Also I have not found any proof of soft coating on mine. The silver titanium bezel has made it work as protecting it too as my Fenix has been banged on door knobs, steel instruments, walls, rocks... many many times.

    Now sh*t happens. Your wife's scratched glass look quite deep.

    My mother (90 years old this year) got a diamond wedding ring for her 20th anniversary. It has "eaten" many objects from steering wheels to kettle handles and door knobs. It was a scratch machine on everything she touched. When we found it she stopped wearing it all the time. So, diamonds can be "aggressive".

    My question would be:  is your wife wearing any jewels which could scratch a sapphire glass ?


  • In the absence of other explanation I would also suspect jewellery. I gained a light scratch in my solar glass and the only likely cause I can think of is my DLC coated Oura ring. There were times when I would switch wrist for the watch (to give relief to the skin beneath), placing ring and watch on opposite sides and risking the two coming together.

    Nowadays I try to remember to always switch ring and watch together, especially in the shower or when going to bed, so that the two shalll never meet. No new scratches ever since. I imagine a diamond engagement ring (or other diamond or DLC jewellery) could cause havoc, given half a chance.

  • I got a mystery scratch (actually 2)  on my screen a month ago - it is very strange as I normal wear t-shirts or short sleeves. The one time I wear long sleeves for a formal event, next morning I notice two scraches - 2 absolutely straight lines. I assume there must have been something sharp up the shirt sleeve but never figured out what caused it.