Why it's a big deal?? Sapphire crystal is harder than almost everything else on earth, with the exception of materials such as diamonds or tungsten carbide. Double domed indicates it's round on the outside and inside which means it doesn't distort when you look at your watch from an angle. Many domed crystals are only round from the outside creating a lens which distorts the watch face. An anti reflective coating can be applied to make the inside of the watch face less reflective in the crystal. This usually leaves a blueish glaze and the only way to avoid this is to apply a second anti reflective coating. Every step obviously makes the crystal more expensive. Our double domed sapphire crystal has an multiple anti reflective coating and is produced in Switzerland by Stettler Sapphire.
Advantages of Double Domed Sapphire Crystal
Scratch Resistance: Sapphire is extremely hard and resistant to scratches.
Optical Clarity: The double doming helps in reducing distortion, offering better readability.
Durability: It is less likely to shatter compared to other types of crystals like mineral or acrylic.
Aesthetic Appeal: The double domed shape adds a vintage look and aesthetic appeal to the watch.
Fabrication Process
Step 1: Raw Material
Synthetic sapphire is grown in labs using methods like the Verneuil process, Czochralski process, or the Kyropoulos method.
Step 2: Cutting
The sapphire boules are cut into smaller pieces, usually using a diamond-coated saw.
Step 3: Shaping
The cut pieces are then shaped into the desired form, often using a process called "lapping," which involves grinding the sapphire against a spinning plate.
Step 4: Domed Shaping
The sapphire pieces are shaped into a double domed form using specialized machinery. This involves grinding and polishing both the inner and outer surfaces to create the domed shape.
Step 5: Polishing
The sapphire is then polished to optical clarity using a series of increasingly fine abrasives.
Step 6: Anti-Reflective Coating
An optional anti-reflective coating may be applied to further improve optical clarity.
Step 7: Quality Control
The finished sapphire crystals go through a rigorous quality control process to ensure they meet the required standards.
Step 8: Installation
Finally, the double domed sapphire crystal is installed onto the watch face.
This is a simplified overview, and the actual fabrication process can be more complex and may vary depending on the manufacturer.