Three materials, three answers
Acrylic — plastic, common on older and vintage watches. Scratches easily and polishes out beautifully. Often the best outcome of the three.
Mineral glass — hardened glass, on most mid-range watches. Light marks can sometimes be improved; anything real usually means replacing. Replacement is straightforward.
Sapphire — on better watches. Extremely hard and very hard to scratch, which means if yours is scratched it took something serious. Polishing is not practical and replacement is the answer.
Is it the crystal or the dial?
Worth checking, and people do get this wrong. A mark under the crystal is on the dial or hands and no amount of polishing the outside touches it. We will tell you which yours is in about ten seconds.
Replacing it
The right diameter and thickness, and a gasket if it takes one. The case gets resealed when it goes back together.
What not to do
Toothpaste and polishing compounds from the internet work on acrylic and do nothing useful on mineral or sapphire except haze the surface. Find out what yours is first.
Questions we get asked
Can scratches be polished out?
Acrylic, usually yes and very well. Mineral, sometimes lightly. Sapphire, not practically.
How do I know which crystal I have?
Bring it in. We can tell you at the counter in a few seconds.
Is the mark on the glass or the dial?
We will check. Marks under the crystal are a different thing entirely.
Do you reseal the case afterwards?
Yes, every time we open one.
Not sure we can fix it?
Send a couple of details and we will call you back. Or just walk in — it is quicker, and we can actually look at the piece.
Drop it off, shop the mall, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment. Most repairs are finished the same day and a good number while you wait.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm. We are also at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546.