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Opened July 1999, zOwie is the Internet's first and longest running discussion forum dedicated to Omega brand watches.

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Sapphire = Aluminum Oxide

It is unlikely that you will be able to scratch the crystal on an Omega because what is known as "sapphire" in the watch industry is actually very pure and transparent aluminum oxide, which is the same aluminum oxide in its impure form that you find on 3M Brand Three-M-Mite Resin Bond sandpaper for grinding steel and other metals. It has a hardness of 8, with Silicon carbide being 9 and diamond being at the top of the scale at 10. While SiC is quite brittle, Aluminas are not, and have very good impact resistance, which is good for watch crystals. (Particularly mine!)

As far as the scratches, I would learn to live with them. It is a natural fact of life that objects that are used regularly will wear, and psychologically setting yourself to go against this natural flow is just not a healthy tactic in the long run. In addition, it detracts from the enjoyment of your watch, and who wants that in their life?

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