Related
Options

Fenix 6 sapphire - scratched glass/coating

Aem
over 2 years ago

Hi,

My Fenix 6 Sapphire after nearly 1.5 year looks like this:

So the bezel is in perfect condition and the screen has some superficial scratches, unnoticable under a finger/fingernail. I have read some threads containing rather ambiguous information about sapphire screen coating, that tends to come off. But all the pictures I've seen present rather long, single scratches, different from my case.

Have you encoutnered something simmilar? Is it a manufacturer defect, or just a 'feature'? Polish custommer support says it's normal. I would not agree, especially given the sapphire glass and the price tag. Not that I cannot use it anymore, but I would expect more durable product.

  • 0 over 2 years ago
    Aem said:
    Is it a manufacturer defect, or just a 'feature'?

    Neither. The glass is scratch resistant not scratch proof. Clearly you've scratched the glass at some time.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Don´t know how philipshambrook can know that "clearly you´ve scratched the glass" without beeing with you :-)

    To me it looks as if the coating has been sratched off to some degree and not the sapphire has been sratched. 

    What you can try without damaging the sapphire is: polish the coating off the sapphire using toothpaste (but protect the bezel with tape). It´s a common advice given in watch-forums with people experiencing the same as you do.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    What Geroelltrampel wrote is a good suggestion. There are a couple of discussions on how the hydrophobic and oleophobic coating on the sapphire lens can wear and scratch over time, and how to remove the coating with toothpaste, for example here. Disclaimer: Last time I did that myself was on another display, not a watch glass, so I can't vouch for the safety of the process.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Thanks guys, I'll try with a toothpaste :-)

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I have the same experience. I'd say it's definitely coated with something really soft, as I was able to do the same scratches (as my previous ones) with a knife. Which should not be possible even on a regular glass, as glass is higher on hardness scale. So i bought a screen protector and stopped caring.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to MattNoir

    Same here, lots of scratches on my sapphire 6x after 2 years of use but visible only when the screen is dirty. When I wipe it clean they are not visible. As many people have stated before it a additional coating that scratches, not the sapphire glass. Still dissapointed thought. I

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I preferred the non sapphire version because I knew that someday, somehow the crystal would get scratched no matter how hard it is, it's a beater watch after all.

    If I were you, before trying toothpaste, I'd buy a glass screen protector to see if the scratches would "disappear". If not, then I'd try Polywatch.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Voodooman

    That is true for the Fenix 6. When I was buying it 2 years ago it was my first garmin watch and I wanted the top model. After two years I know buying the sapphire was not worth it. The visibility is worse than GG, the factory coating is scratching and it costs much more. If I knew that before I would have bought a cheaper GG version and just put a screen protector on it.

    BUT... Garmin got smart with the Fenix 7 line and put the Multiband functionality, which is the real game-changer ONLY in the sapphire models. So you either pay a premium for the sapphire glass (again - not worth it) to get the multiband  or you basically get a fenix 6 with a touchscreen and some minor software additions. 

    That is a smart business move but still a dic*k move :)