01
Shaped sapphire watch cases
Distinctive contours, polished facets and movement-focused transparency. External form and mounting interfaces are reviewed to your drawing.
Discuss case geometry ↗MATERIALS FOR MODERN WATCHMAKING
Sapphire Watch
Cases & Dials
Let the movement
take center stage.
Custom crystal components that bring clarity, color and a distinctive character to your next timepiece.
Single-crystal sapphireA material with enduring character
Drawing-led customizationGeometry, finish and assembly interfaces
Planned production milestonesFrom sample approval to batch delivery
01 / COMPONENT COLLECTION
A clear expression
of your design.
From a full transparent watch case to a precisely finished dial blank, we develop sapphire watch components around the details that make your timepiece different.
Actual component images from the supplied product library. Examples illustrate geometry and appearance; dimensions, material verification and supply scope are confirmed per quotation. Finished watches and movements are not included.
02 / APPLICATIONS
For watches worth
looking into.
Sapphire watch cases and transparent dials do more than protect a movement. They give designers a new way to reveal structure, play with light and create an unmistakable identity.
MATERIAL DETAILArchitecture, made visible.
Skeleton & mechanical timepieces
A transparent sapphire watch case opens up a side view of bridges, gears and finishing. A sapphire dial blank can preserve that view from the front while accommodating the hand stack and approved marker layout.
Design focus: movement envelope, reflections and legibility.
Limited-edition color collections
Colored sapphire cases give a collection its own character without hiding the movement. Coordinate case color, strap and dial contrast, then approve the hue under the lighting conditions used for final inspection.
Design focus: color sample, thickness and batch appearance.
Independent watchmakers & prototypes
Custom sapphire watch components support original round, angular and curved concepts. Begin with a drawing review and a sample stage to check machining access, fragile edges and fit before committing to a production lot.
Design focus: manufacturability and sample approval.
Display backs & hybrid case designs
A sapphire case back or bezel can introduce transparency into a metal case architecture. Treat every seat, gasket and fastening interface as a system: the component alone does not establish the finished watch's water resistance.
Design focus: sealing interface and completed-watch testing.
03 / MATERIAL PERFORMANCE
Clarity with substance.
Single-crystal sapphire combines a polished optical appearance with high surface hardness. Good watch design also respects its limits: hard does not mean unbreakable.
High scratch resistance
Sapphire resists many common abrasion sources. Diamond, hard abrasives and damaged contact surfaces can still scratch it.
Transparent by design
A polished sapphire watch case can reveal the movement through multiple faces. Geometry, color and surface reflections influence the actual view.
Precision in the details
Contours, bores, bevels and seating features are engineered around assembly needs, with feasibility agreed before production.
A considered material choice
Sapphire is a brittle crystal. Avoid sharp internal corners, excessive assembly force and point loads. Impact resistance, sealing and coating durability must be validated on the completed design, not inferred from hardness.
04 / TECHNICAL REFERENCE
Define the details.
Build with confidence.
Use the reference below to prepare your sapphire watch case or dial specification. Material values are typical references, not a finished-component acceptance specification.
Typical sapphire material properties
REFERENCE VALUES · ROOM TEMPERATURE WHERE APPLICABLE| Property | Reference value | What it means for your design |
|---|---|---|
| Material / chemical composition | Single-crystal aluminum oxide · Al₂O₃ | Synthetic sapphire; not acrylic or ordinary mineral glass. |
| Scratch hardness | Mohs 9 | High abrasion resistance; not scratch-proof or impact-proof. |
| Density | Approx. 3.97 g/cm³ | Estimate component weight from the final solid volume. |
| Refractive index | Approx. 1.768 at 587.6 nm | Reflections are visible; orientation and coating affect optical behavior. |
| Knoop hardness | Approx. 2,200 kg/mm² | A material reference, not directly interchangeable with the Mohs scale. |
| Thermal expansion | Approx. 5.3 µm/(m·°C), reference value | Direction and temperature matter; account for mating-material expansion. |
| Crystal orientation | Specified for the project | Sapphire is anisotropic; optical and mechanical properties depend on orientation. |
| Color / transmission | Clear or colored, sample-defined | No universal transmission percentage applies to every thickness and color. |
Material references: optical-window material selection guide and single-crystal sapphire properties. Values are not water-resistance, impact or service-temperature ratings for a watch.
Custom component specification
AGREED BY DRAWING & APPROVED SAMPLE| Specification | Available scope / information to supply | Confirmation point |
|---|---|---|
| Case shape & overall dimensions | Round or custom-shaped; provide length, width, height and 3D geometry. | Manufacturability review; no standard size range is claimed. |
| Wall & dial thickness | Define minimum walls, local transitions and hand clearance. | Feasibility depends on geometry and assembly loads. |
| Crown / fastening holes | Hole locations, diameters, angular alignment and mating hardware. | Drawing-specific dimensions and inspection method. |
| Dimensional & thickness tolerances | Mark critical features individually rather than using one general tolerance. | Final capability and acceptance agreed per component. |
| Surface finish & visual quality | Polished faces, bevels, cosmetic zones and permissible edge defects. | Define lighting, viewing distance and sample standard. |
| Dial features | Center hole, subdial cutouts, locating features and intended decoration. | Decoration and marker attachment quoted separately when applicable. |
| Coatings | AR or AF options may be reviewed; specify faces and functional targets. | Coating feasibility and durability require separate confirmation. |
| Sealing interfaces | Gasket seats, sealing-land geometry and case-back assembly. | Finished-watch water resistance tested by the assembly owner. |
| Quantity & delivery | Prototype quantity, batch volume and target delivery date. | MOQ, sample timing and production schedule confirmed in writing. |
| Price & supply status | Drawing-based quotation; no public fixed price range or verified ready-stock listing. | Confirm current material availability and lead time before ordering. |
Company-level optical processing reference
The public company profile lists general optical-window capabilities including dimensional tolerance of ±0.01 mm, thickness tolerance of ±0.005 mm, flatness of ≤1/10λ at 632.8 nm, clear aperture >90%, and several scratch/dig surface-quality grades. These relate to optical-window processing and are not guaranteed specifications for three-dimensional sapphire watch cases or decorated dials. Applicable targets must be confirmed for your exact geometry.
05 / CUSTOM DEVELOPMENT
Your idea.
A defined route to production.
Reliable delivery begins with a clear specification. We focus on drawing review, sample approval and agreed milestones so your sapphire watch components fit the wider launch plan.
Share the design
Send a dimensioned drawing, 3D model, component scope, sample quantity and intended batch volume.
Resolve the interfaces
Review geometry, color, polishing, critical tolerances and assembly risks before confirming the quotation.
Validate the sample
Check fit, appearance and assembly against your acceptance criteria. Freeze the drawing revision and approved sample.
Plan the batch
Agree production and inspection milestones, protective packaging and dispatch timing in writing.
A BETTER STARTING BRIEF
Specify what matters
to your assembly.
- 2D dimensioned drawing and 3D STEP model
- Critical sealing and movement-clearance features
- Clear or colored sapphire with an appearance reference
- Cosmetic inspection criteria and coating requirements
- Prototype quantity, batch quantity and target date
06 / ABOUT XINKEHUI
Crystal expertise.
Custom by nature.
Shanghai-based materials expertise for original watchmaking projects.
shanghai xinkehui new materails co.,ltd specializes in the production, processing and supply of semiconductor substrates and optical crystal materials. Our public company profile describes an experienced engineering team, precision processing equipment and inspection instruments, with a focus on non-standard components.
For sapphire watch cases and dials, that background supports a practical conversation about machining, polishing, color and assembly. Our priority is a clearly defined custom component and an agreed delivery plan, from the first sample through repeat batches.
Non-standard geometryPrecision processingInspection-led acceptance
Visit the company website A closer look at a supplied component example. Product only; geometry and finish are confirmed per order.
07 / QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The details,
before you decide.
Practical answers for sourcing custom sapphire watch cases, transparent dials and coordinated crystal components.
What is a sapphire watch case?+
A sapphire watch case is a housing machined and polished from synthetic single-crystal aluminum oxide. Unlike a conventional watch with only a sapphire front crystal, a full sapphire case can reveal the movement through its side walls as well as the front.
Can you make a case from our own drawing?+
Yes, custom non-standard processing is part of XINKEHUI's company capabilities. Send a 2D drawing and preferably a STEP model. Feasibility, tolerances, quantity and the scope of supply are confirmed before an order is accepted.
Can sapphire watch cases be colored?+
The supplied product library includes clear and colored case examples. Tell us the intended hue and transparency. Color availability and batch consistency must be confirmed against an approved physical sample rather than a screen image.
Is sapphire scratch-proof or unbreakable?+
No. Sapphire has Mohs hardness 9 and high scratch resistance, but hard abrasives can still mark it. It is brittle and may chip or fracture under impact, point loading or excessive assembly force. Geometry and assembly require careful design.
Do you supply sapphire dials or dial blanks?+
We can review transparent and colored sapphire dial-blank projects with center holes, cutouts and other specified features. Printing, applied markers, luminous material and complete dial finishing are separate requirements and must be confirmed in the quotation.
What sizes and tolerances can you achieve?+
There is no single verified size or tolerance range for every sapphire watch case. Provide overall dimensions, minimum walls and critical features. General optical-window tolerances in the company profile are not automatic guarantees for complex watch components.
Can you provide anti-reflective coatings?+
The company profile lists AR and AF coating capabilities for optical components. For a watch case or dial, specify the coated faces and optical targets. Compatibility, appearance and durability need project-specific review and confirmation.
Will a sapphire case make my watch waterproof?+
No material alone establishes water resistance. Gaskets, sealing seats, crown construction, assembly method and the completed watch determine performance. Water-resistance claims must be supported by testing of the final assembly.
What is the minimum order quantity?+
MOQ is quoted per design, material and process route. Share your prototype and production quantities so we can review a suitable development plan. No universal minimum quantity is published on this page.
What is the lead time for custom components?+
Lead time depends on material availability, geometry, color, coating, quantity and sample approval. Sample and batch delivery milestones are confirmed in writing after drawing review. We do not publish an unsupported fixed number of days.
How much does a custom sapphire watch case cost?+
Pricing is drawing-based. Case complexity, material color, polishing, critical tolerances, coating and quantity all affect the quotation. Contact us for a current project price; there is no verified public fixed price range or ready-stock price on this page.
What should we send for a quotation?+
Send a dimensioned drawing, STEP model if available, material and color requirements, critical interfaces, surface criteria, sample quantity, batch quantity and target delivery date. Include any coating and assembly-validation requirements.
How should sapphire parts be handled and assembled?+
Use clean gloves, protected work surfaces and suitable non-marring fixtures. Avoid contact with abrasive particles, sharp metal tools and point loads. Your assembly team should define appropriate fitting forces, adhesives and cleaning procedures for the finished design.
Are finished watches included in the supply?+
This page concerns custom sapphire watch components, not complete branded watches or movements. The supplied component images illustrate material and geometry. Any additional assembly or decoration work must be explicitly agreed in the quotation.
08 / START A CONVERSATION
Make your next
timepiece distinctive.
Tell us about your sapphire watch case or dial project. A clear brief is the first step toward a useful quotation and an achievable delivery plan.
EMAIL[email protected]PHONE / WHATSAPP+86 132 6287 9223
SHANGHAI OFFICERoom 1805, Building 1, Wanda Mall,
1079 Dianshanhu Avenue, Qingpu District,
Shanghai, China
1079 Dianshanhu Avenue, Qingpu District,
Shanghai, China