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Hesalite ... Does it scratch as easy as people say they do?

Mad Dog
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As others have stated, yes, the Hesalite scratches easily.

I work in a not-so-friendly to Hesalite environment [a donut factory] and protect the Hesalite with a Rothco nylon protective band...it has a deployable cover that secures with heavy duty Velcro over the crystal and case. Also, the Rothco secures to the wrist via heavy duty Velcro.

The Rothco is not very attractive [obviously]...but it does the job. On layovers, I spend a few seconds and switch to a band that is more appropriate/normal for non-donut making ops...and then switch back to the Rothco the next day when it’s time to make the donuts.

There is another company [Raine Inc.] that manufactures a similar protective band which also works well protecting the Hesalite. I have both the Rothco and Raine Inc. protective bands for my Speedy Gonzales Moonwatch...pictured below is the Rothco at work at the donut factory...

6726336B-0A1D-471E-B292-434D27AA4BA5.jpeg 94E33AFC-313E-4557-9821-5AF3AA3E8ED2.jpeg A8782DFA-C818-4B9C-A61B-E3F41F4E13C0.jpeg
Edited:
 
STANDY
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Will post a picture tonight. 5 years worn daily never poly watched work outdoors climbing over boats and machinery
Several scratches and only noticed when looking carefully.
 
STANDY
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STANDY STANDY
Will post a picture tonight. 5 years worn daily never poly watched work outdoors climbing over boats and machinery
Several scratches and only noticed when looking carefully.

Couple of pictures
image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg
 
padders
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jimmyd13 jimmyd13
While not a direct answer to your question, I cleaned my daily wearer the other day: a MKII Speedmaster with a sapphire glass. Seems that I've managed to put three good scratches in it ... and there's no way that will buff out. So, don't think that sapphire is un-scratchable.
Polywatch now do a product for mineral glass using diamond paste. In my experience this will with a lot of effort improve or even remove scratches on sapphire crystals too. Worth a try as £15 for the kit is about £400 cheaper than a crystal.
 
jimmyd13
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padders padders
Polywatch now do a product for mineral glass using diamond paste. In my experience this will with a lot of effort improve or even remove scratches on sapphire crystals too. Worth a try as £15 for the kit is about £400 cheaper than a crystal.
Dammit, you just made me choke on my cinnamon whirl! The last MKII crystal I bought was £70 installed.. did I miss a price hike?
 
jimmyd13
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Kmart Kmart
How do y'all scuff up your crystals so much? Quit bashing your watch into door jambs. 😜
Must be those door knobs
IMG_20170515_1334148.jpg
 
padders
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jimmyd13 jimmyd13
Dammit, you just made me choke on my cinnamon whirl! The last MKII crystal I bought was £70 installed.. did I miss a price hike?
It was a pure guess based mainly on the frightening price of the curved sapphire fitted the 145.022 or 178.022 case. I am happy to concede that the flat ones used in other designs are much cheaper but £15 is cheaper still.
Edited:
 
Archer
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jimmyd13 jimmyd13
Dammit, you just made me choke on my cinnamon whirl! The last MKII crystal I bought was £70 installed.. did I miss a price hike?

Mk. II uses a mineral crystal, not sapphire. Big difference in pricing...
 
S
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I've been wearing mine pretty regularly and even on job sites and have yet to notice any scratches.
 
Mad Dog
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jetkins jetkins
Those are some fancy donuts!
Thanks, sir...unfortunately I haven't been around the fancy donuts since October of 2017. I didn't successfully complete B-737-700/800/900 transition training last October at my airline (Delta). I had been flying the MD-88/90 at Delta for the past 11 years...but the differences and newer technology of the B-737 overwhelmed me during training. I've been medically diagnosed with adjustment disorder and am receiving medical treatment with guidance from our pilot union (ALPA). I've been a professional pilot for over 30 years...initially as a military pilot and then as an airline pilot but have always had a difficult time learning new aircraft...and now that I'm in my 50s, I'm finding that learning new aircraft and newer technology is extremely challenging. I'm currently on medical disability at Delta and will attempt to regain my FAA medical certificate in about 6 months and then give B-737 training another shot. Meanwhile, I continue to study B-737 material, spend time with my wife and teenage children, pray and express gratitude...and derive big joy from winding (and wearing) my mechanical watches every day. 👍
 
nonuffinkbloke
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
Had one for 2 years or so now. Only one small scratch from hitting another watch on someone’s wrist while walking.
Fakkin Hell @Foo2rama !... aggravated pedestrian watch jostling!😲
Maybe we need a public warning thread on that one mate!😕
Your a "watch jostling" menace!😁
 
Foo2rama
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nonuffinkbloke nonuffinkbloke
Fakkin Hell @Foo2rama !... aggravated pedestrian watch jostling!😲
Maybe we need a public warning thread on that one mate!😕
Your a "watch jostling" menace!😁
It was my sig fig who can only walk straight drunk. Not the first time she has hit my watch with hers.
 
nonuffinkbloke
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
It was my sig fig who can only walk straight drunk. Not the first time she has hit my watch with hers.
Oh dear... my apologies @Foo2rama 😟 you were the "watch jostle" victim!😁

Best thing is to keep her topped up then.😕
 
bonerp
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I take it hesalite is pretty much shatter proof ?
 
Foo2rama
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bonerp bonerp
I take it hesalite is pretty much shatter proof ?

It shatters/cracks into large pieces. Whereas sapphire will break into small shards. An important difference in zero G.
 
watch3s
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
It shatters/cracks into large pieces. Whereas sapphire will break into small shards. An important difference in zero G.

but hesalite vs acrylic? similar properties for the acrylic? my tudor sub's cyclops seems to have rubbed to a smooth spot if such a term can describe it.
 
Archer
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bonerp bonerp
I take it hesalite is pretty much shatter proof ?

It can break, but even in extreme conditions tends to stay mostly intact. For example, this Speedmaster had been run over by a car, and most of the crystal is still there:



Acrylic crystals are somewhat pliable, so "shatter" isn't really a word that I would use to describe how they break.

Cheers, Al
 
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