Identified first, ordered second
The crystal is the glass over the dial and it takes every knock the watch ever gets. A scratched one makes the whole watch look tired. A cracked one is more serious — it lets in dust and moisture, and moisture is what eventually kills the movement.
Replacing it is straightforward, but it depends entirely on getting the right part. Crystals vary by diameter, by thickness, by profile and by whether they are mineral, sapphire or acrylic. So the first step is always the same: bring the watch in, we identify exactly what it takes, and you get the cost before anything is ordered. No guessing from a photo, and no surprise on collection.
- Measured and identified at the counter.
- Price given before the part is ordered.
- Fitted here once it arrives — the watch is not sent away.
- Resealed afterwards so it keeps its water resistance.
Bring it in during mall hours.
The three kinds of watch glass
Acrylic — plastic, common on older and vintage watches. Scratches easily but shallow scratches often polish out, and it cracks rather than shatters.
Mineral — hardened glass, on most mid-range watches. Better scratch resistance than acrylic; chips at the edge if knocked.
Sapphire — on higher-end watches. Extremely scratch resistant, but brittle: a hard enough knock cracks it outright.
Why it is worth doing quickly
Even a hairline crack breaks the seal. Dust gets in and settles on the dial where you will see it forever. Moisture gets in and reaches the movement, which turns a small job into a large one.
If your watch has been sitting cracked in a drawer, bring it in — we will tell you whether anything has already got inside.
What the job involves
The movement comes out or is shielded, the old crystal is removed, the seat is cleaned, and a new crystal is fitted with a fresh gasket where the design uses one. The case is resealed and the watch is checked before it goes back to you.
Shallow scratches on an acrylic crystal can often be polished out instead of replaced. We will tell you which yours needs — polishing is cheaper and we would rather do the cheaper job when it is the right one.
Mineral, acrylic and sapphire
- Mineral glass — the most common. Chips and cracks; replaced from stock in most standard sizes.
- Acrylic and plexi — the domed crystal on older and vintage watches. Light scratches often polish out entirely, which costs less than replacing.
- Sapphire — very hard, so it rarely scratches, but it shatters. Replacement is ordered to the exact size.
Flat, domed and double-domed profiles, with or without a magnifier over the date window. Bezel gaskets and crystal gaskets replaced at the same time so the case reseals properly.
Crowns, stems and pushers
A crown that pulls out, spins without setting the time, or will not screw down is usually a broken stem — the shaft between the crown and the movement. We replace stems and crowns, fit new crown gaskets, and repair chronograph pushers that stick or do not click.
What will it cost?
Mineral, acrylic or sapphire? Flat, or domed? Cracked right through, or scratched enough that polishing would do it? Is it pressed in, or sitting on a gasket? Is it a size we have, or one that wants ordering? None of that gets answered down a phone line. Bring it out to Julio’s Jewelry inside Orland Square Mall, let us take a look, and you will get an honest estimate right there at the counter.
Straight to your question
Questions we get asked
How long does a crystal replacement take?
The fitting is quick. The wait is on the part, and we will give you a date once we have measured the watch and identified what it takes.
My crystal is only scratched, not cracked. Is it worth replacing?
Often yes — a scratched crystal makes the whole watch look older than it is, and replacing it is usually cheaper than people assume. Bring it in and we will show you the difference.
How much is it to replace a watch crystal?
It depends on the size and type of glass, so we price it once we have identified the crystal. Sapphire costs more than mineral or acrylic.
Can a scratched crystal be polished instead of replaced?
Acrylic, often yes. Mineral and sapphire, generally no — those get replaced.
My watch face has dust inside. Why?
Something has broken the seal, usually a cracked crystal or a perished gasket. Both are fixable, and worth doing before it reaches the movement.
Do you replace sapphire crystals?
Yes, along with mineral and acrylic.
Bring it in — or ask first
Walk in during mall hours and we will price it at the counter, in writing, before anything is touched. If you would rather ask first, send a couple of details and we will call you back.
Bring it in today, 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 many while you wait. Or send a few details and we will call you back with a price.
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.
Crystal work comes in from Homer Glen, Lockport, Lemont, New Lenox and across the southwest suburbs.