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M'Bob
·Theoretical pro and cons? Anyone seen both and have an opinion on which allows better dial visibility?
One side vs two sided anti-reflective coating: your experience please…
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padders
··Oooo subtitles!While the external coating is perfect and undamaged, double coating offers the best visibility. Once the external coating is damaged (not difficult since it is a lot softer than the underlying sapphire), it looks terrible so personally I prefer internally coated only. Al makes a convincing case for saying that since the external coating can be polished off easily then it is better to have it to start with and remove it once damaged.
In my experience single or double are both way better than no coating at all.
In my experience single or double are both way better than no coating at all.
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S.H.
·Two sided is obviously more effective, one sided usually is sufficient to avoid a lot of glare. Less obvious is the blue/green cast left by the two sided coating, if may distract from the dial.
Con: the external coating of a sapphire is scratchable, negating in part the advantage of the sapphire.
Con: the external coating of a sapphire is scratchable, negating in part the advantage of the sapphire.
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M'Bob
·Thanks. In terms of dial visibility at various light angles, how does inside coating only compare to standard acrylic dials?
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S.H.
·Somewhat comparable I'd say, but it depends if the dial is matte or shiny. Flat shiny black dial with bright indices + flat sapphire can be hard to read without coatings (in other words, rolex 😒), and I feel that even with inside coating it can be full of reflections.
But it also depends on the quality of the AR coating, the crystal profile, etc. Not easy to give a broad definitive answer.
But it also depends on the quality of the AR coating, the crystal profile, etc. Not easy to give a broad definitive answer.
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M'Bob
·Great, thanks again. Last one: any experience with inside costing only domed vs flat crystal, again in terms of dial visibility, all other factors being equal?
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S.H.
·A few data points : I like vintage citizen divers and they have a mineral crystal, domed on the inside. Not sure if they have AR, but I did not notice many reflections. My seiko sla021 does have inside AR, also domed inside: not many reflections but some very discreet green glare. My seiko szsb006 has a regular domed crystal, I doubt it has much AR, some reflection. My Rolex 16570 exp2 had a flat sapphire, awful visibility at some angles, very glare prone. My breitling from the 1990s has a slightly domed sapphire, double AR, crystal is invisible but there is some greenish tint sometimes.
I think the uncoated Rolex was the worst among my watches. No regrets selling this one, except the price skyrocketed afterwards 🙄
I think the uncoated Rolex was the worst among my watches. No regrets selling this one, except the price skyrocketed afterwards 🙄
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S.H.
·Keep also in mind that those are my personal impressions, I did not really compare those watches having the visibility as a criterion. But a flat crystal can probably more easily act like a mirror (combined with a flat shiny dial) than a curved crystal.
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M'Bob
·A few data points : I like vintage citizen divers and they have a mineral crystal, domed on the inside. Not sure if they have AR, but I did not notice many reflections. My seiko sla021 does have inside AR, also domed inside: not many reflections but some very discreet green glare. My seiko szsb006 has a regular domed crystal, I doubt it has much AR, some reflection. My Rolex 16570 exp2 had a flat sapphire, awful visibility at some angles, very glare prone. My breitling from the 1990s has a slightly domed sapphire, double AR, crystal is invisible but there is some greenish tint sometimes.
I think the uncoated Rolex was the worst among my watches. No regrets selling this one, except the price skyrocketed afterwards 🙄
Thanks, super helpful.
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Foo2rama
··Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...My late production 3313 planet ocean is double AR and not the junk on the early po’s and other watches that gives that blueish reflection. I’ve never seen modern AR come off a 2nd Gen or later PO. I assumed it was a dlc like ceramic coating
My PO is stunning and crystal clear with no reflections. The dial furniture just sparkles and pops.from a distance the dial and furniture just look special in sunlight. Next to a sub which did not have double AR at that point it was night and day.
I’d prefer modern double over everything but Plexy. Plexy has a great warmth and naturally doesn’t reflect the same way as sapphire and mineral glass.
My PO is stunning and crystal clear with no reflections. The dial furniture just sparkles and pops.from a distance the dial and furniture just look special in sunlight. Next to a sub which did not have double AR at that point it was night and day.
I’d prefer modern double over everything but Plexy. Plexy has a great warmth and naturally doesn’t reflect the same way as sapphire and mineral glass.
Edited:
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mzzleather
·I'd love to see if there's a difference to phototaking of our watches, the reflection can be hella PITA at times
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Braindrain
·I'd love to see if there's a difference to phototaking of our watches, the reflection can be hella PITA at times
That's why we use a CPL... 😀
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ApolloXVII
·One side..The interior side because if the antireflective it's scratch on the outside the watch will not look good at all..
And from my experience it's easy to scratch the outside AR..
And from my experience it's easy to scratch the outside AR..
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M'Bob
·It’s interesting how the Company’s choice of whether to do double or single is not consistent through the various lines, and when comparing new or updated examples, which speak to the issue of whether the AR coating has changed over the years (perhaps more robust).
For instance (and of course not exclusive examples), the Chronoscope has inside and outside; the new Seamaster 300 just inside. Did they figure the watches that were more “tool” like, and likely subject to harder use, would more likely get scratched, and therefore they put the coating on the inside only to preserve appearances?
For instance (and of course not exclusive examples), the Chronoscope has inside and outside; the new Seamaster 300 just inside. Did they figure the watches that were more “tool” like, and likely subject to harder use, would more likely get scratched, and therefore they put the coating on the inside only to preserve appearances?
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Foo2rama
··Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...My late production 3313 planet ocean is double AR and not the junk on the early po’s and other watches that gives that blueish reflection. I’ve never seen modern AR come off a 2nd Gen or later PO. I assumed it was a dlc like ceramic coating
My PO is stunning and crystal clear with no reflections. The dial furniture just sparkles and pops.from a distance the dial and furniture just look special in sunlight. Next to a sub which did not have double AR at that point it was night and day.
I’d prefer modern double over everything but Plexy. Plexy has a great warmth and naturally doesn’t reflect the same way as sapphire and mineral glass.
