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Apple Watch’s sapphire display undergoes rigorous scratch testing, comes out just fine

Hammer Time: The Apple Watch gets its clock cleaned

UK-based electronics repair site iPhonefixed has gotten its hands on one of the sapphire crystal displays to be used in the mid-range and high-end Apple Watch models and put it through a bevy of quick scratch tests to see how it would fare.

After taking everything from sandpaper to a hammer and even a power drill to the cover, iPhonefixed’s testers were unable to put so much as a scratch on the sapphire surface. Overall it looks like the watch will be pretty durable.

It certainly looks like Apple has had better luck in its efforts with sapphire for this device than it did for the iPhone 6. The Apple Watch will likely be able to stand up to whatever potentially damaging situations it finds itself up against. You can see the full scratch test below:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70xGTRqElBY]

The Apple Watch goes on sale tonight, though it sounds like supplies will be pretty limited as demand for the device outpaces Apple’s ability to build them. Reviews presented the wearable as a handy, if not completely essential, tool to have if you own an iPhone, but also raised some concerns about performance, functionality, and even the social implications of wearing one in public.

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Comments

  1. Kyle - 9 years ago

    I’m more concerned about whether or not the stainless steel will scratch easily…

    • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 9 years ago

      The iPhone 4’s steel has held up really well over the years. Stainless steel is way more durable than aluminum. If I had to guess, I’d say the black sport model will look the worst over time. Same problem the iPhone 5 had were scratches would reveal the natural color.

      It will probably hold up pretty well against other steel watches too. It seems like they did a lot to reduce impurities.

      • Kyle - 9 years ago

        I’m hoping so!

      • twelve01 - 9 years ago

        I just think it’s great Jony Ive took the time to appear in this video.

  2. lincolnsills - 9 years ago

    Social implications of wearing one of… Mike, don’t make up content. The implications were about talking to your wrist in public.

    • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

      I didn’t “make up content.” If you read the linked article, you’ll see that one reviewer pointed out how rude he felt just because he kept constantly looking at it. He wasn’t talking to it. No one in the linked article mentioned talking to it in public. It was all about how wearing and checking it constantly can appear rude.

      • lincolnsills - 9 years ago

        We both seem to be correct, I referenced the videos you referenced the reviews. That is a ridiculous quote to reference regardless of your opinion of someone else’s opinion.

  3. Its fine until 2 Apple Watches bump up against each other, then youll have scratches.

  4. Yun Kut3 - 9 years ago

    Reblogged this on Yun Kut3's Blog.

  5. The real question is: Will it Blend?