What to Do If Your Watch Glass Breaks (And Whether It’s Worth Fixing)
If you’ve ever cracked or smashed the glass on your watch, you’ll know how instantly frustrating it feels.
Sometimes it’s dramatic — the watch slips from your hand and the glass shatters. Other times it’s far more subtle: a scratch suddenly catches the light and, once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it.
Naturally, the questions follow:
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Can a broken or scratched watch glass be repaired?
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Is it worth fixing, or will it cost more than the watch itself?
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What should you do immediately to avoid further damage?
In our jewellers, we’ve replaced hundreds of watch glasses (also known as watch crystals) over the years. From quick battery changes to full watch services, damaged glass is one of the most common problems we see — and in many cases, it’s far easier (and cheaper) to fix than customers expect.
Below, we’ll talk you through exactly what to do if your watch glass breaks, the options available, and what affects the cost.
Scratched Watch Glass: Can It Be Repaired?
If your watch glass is scratched rather than fully smashed, the good news is that light surface scratches can sometimes be polished out by a professional watch repairer.
However, in all honesty, polishing often isn’t the most cost‑effective option. Flat, round mineral glasses are relatively inexpensive, and for the time involved in polishing, replacing the glass entirely is often better value — and gives a flawless finish.
Multiple scratches can also weaken the glass. While this won’t necessarily cause immediate failure, it does make the crystal more vulnerable to cracking later on.
A quick word of caution when changing a battery
If your watch glass has chips, hairline cracks, or heavy scratches, always mention this before a battery replacement.
Jewellers often need to apply pressure — sometimes using a clamp — to refit the case back securely. Any existing weakness in the glass can cause it to shatter during this process.
At our jewellers, we always check the condition of the glass before replacing a battery and warn customers if we spot damage. Even so, tiny chips aren’t always obvious until pressure is applied.
Think of it like a chipped car windscreen: once compromised, it’s far more likely to fail.
What to Do Immediately If Your Watch Glass Has Smashed
If the glass on your watch has completely cracked or shattered, act quickly:
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Pull the crown out immediately
This stops the hands from moving. If the hands continue to turn, tiny shards of glass can be dragged across the dial or pulled into the movement.
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Keep the watch still
This is especially important for mechanical and skeleton watches. Movement can cause the hands to start again, risking serious — sometimes irreparable — damage.
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Lay the watch flat and transport it carefully
Avoid shaking or wearing it until it’s been assessed by a professional.
We’ve seen skeleton watches suffer catastrophic movement damage purely because broken glass was left in place while the watch continued running.
Types of Watch Glass (Watch Crystals)
Not all watch glasses are the same, and the material makes a big difference to durability and cost.
Mineral Glass
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The most common type of watch glass
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Not scratch‑resistant
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Affordable and easy to replace
Sapphire Crystal
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Extremely scratch‑resistant
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Much stronger than mineral glass
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More expensive
Despite the name, sapphire crystal isn’t glass at all — it’s lab‑grown sapphire. You can’t tell the difference by looking at it, but you’ll certainly notice it in day‑to‑day wear.
Some brands, such as Bering, use sapphire crystal as standard. By contrast, slimmer fashion watches with thinner mineral glass (such as some Skagen styles) are more prone to cracking — something we’ve seen repeatedly over the years.
Acrylic (Plastic) Glass
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Lightweight and flexible
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Very impact‑resistant
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Scratches easily
Acrylic crystals were especially popular in the 1980s and are still used in brands like Swatch. They’re also common in domed watch glasses.
The advantage? Scratches can often be polished out at home using a simple polishing compound called Polywatch and a soft cloth.
Does the Shape of the Watch Glass Matter?
Very much so.
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Round, flat watch glasses are the easiest and cheapest to replace
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They’re available in tiny size increments (often 0.1 mm)
More unusual shapes — such as oval, square, or rectangular — are far harder to source. Only limited sizes are made ready‑to‑fit, and bespoke cutting may be required.
If a watch has sentimental value, a specialist workshop may be able to cut a custom glass (sometimes in acrylic rather than mineral), but this increases the cost.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Watch Glass?
As a general guide (UK pricing):
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Standard round mineral glass: around £30
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Domed mineral glass: approximately £35
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Small sapphire crystal: from around £38
Sapphire prices rise quickly with size and thickness. A reputable jeweller should always quote before proceeding and never carry out work without your approval.
Is It Worth Replacing a Watch Glass?
In many cases, yes.
A broken or scratched glass doesn’t necessarily mean a watch is beyond saving — especially if it holds sentimental value. Even modest watches are often worth repairing if the replacement cost is reasonable.
If you’re unsure, take your watch to a trusted jeweller or watch repairer and ask for an honest assessment.
Final Thoughts
A broken watch glass can look alarming, but it’s one of the most common — and usually fixable — watch repairs.
If in doubt:
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Stop the watch
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Keep it still
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Get professional advice as soon as possible
If you have any questions about watch repairs, glass replacement, or caring for your timepiece, we’re always happy to help. You can message us here.
Please note: always consult a qualified jeweller or watch repairer before attempting repairs yourself. We cannot accept responsibility for damage caused by DIY repairs based on this article.
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