How Much Does Watch Crystal Replacement Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

The watch crystal describes the glass that covers the face of the watch and is very important for a few reasons.

First, this crystal protects the inner workings of the watch from becoming damaged.  The glass is also used to help you see clearly; if it becomes scratched or dirty, it will be hard to see the hands of the watch, making it hard to tell time.

While the watch face can be made of a hard plastic, crystal (glass) is the most common material used.

A watch crystal may be replaced when it becomes scratched, broken or just worn off due to age.

ORIENT New Mako Automatic 200M Diver’s C by MIKI Yoshihito. (#mikiyoshihito), on Flickr
ORIENT New Mako Automatic 200M Diver’s C” (CC BY 2.0) by  MIKI Yoshihito. (#mikiyoshihito)

 How much does a watch crystal replacement cost?

The cost for watch crystal replacement is based on the brand, the type of crystal being replaced, size and repair service being used.  On average, the fees can range from as little as $25 for an acrylic up to more than $125 for a sapphire crystal from a higher-end manufacturer.

With so many watch brands available, we researched what watch owners were paying for their branded watch crystal replacement in our table below:

Watch BrandRepair Quoted
Bi;pva$35
Citizen$85 (also included pressure check and new gaskets)
Fossil$27
Michael Kors$70
Movado$65
Seiko$60
Skagen$34

NOTE:  These were price quotes obtained from third-party jewelers.

Long’s Jewelers recommends budgeting $30 for an acrylic to more than $150 for a replacement sapphire crystal from a Swiss manufacturer.

Watch Gnome, an online watch repair service, will replace a crystal for $50, and this fee applies to most major brands.

Factors that affect the price

Type of crystal

Watch crystals can be made of plastic, mineral-glass or sapphire-glass.  Plastic is the cheapest of all, but as you can imagine, it can easily wear.  Mineral glass, just like the glass used for windows, is a better option when compared to plastic; however, sapphire-glass is better in terms of durability, but it costs the most among the three.   Common types of glass include flat, domed, flat round, pyramid mineral, plastic and domed sapphire.

The shape of the crystal

Watch crystals are commonly round in shape, but some may be square or rectangular.  Some, while rare, can come as an irregular shape, making it hard to find a replacement part.  If this were the case, a new crystal may have to be customized, increasing the cost.

The size of the crystal

Just like a diamond on a ring, watch crystals can come in various sizes as well.  The larger the crystal is, the more expensive it is going to be.

What are the extra costs?

During the repair, if the jeweler notices any parts that need replacing, he or she may recommend the repair at the time of the replacement.  This could include changing the battery, changing the dial, replacing the hands, installing a new strap and/or overhauling the watch.  These repairs could be as little as a few dollars to more than a few hundred for a complete overhaul.

Shipping the watch to a jeweler or the manufacturer can lead to additional shipping charges.

How can I save money?

If the watch is still under warranty and the crystal needs to be replaced due to a defect, talk with the manufacturer to see if you’re covered.

If you don’t mind doing the repair yourself, consider buying the parts online.  On eBay, for example, replacement crystals can be as little as $5.  Keep in mind that if you were to repair it on your own, you will more than likely void your warranty.

Bring your watch to the original jeweler to see if they can offer any customer discounts.

As with any service, always try to get at least three to five quotes.  Most jewelers can offer a quote over the phone.


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Average Reported Cost: $40

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Less Expensive $1 $1.5K $3K $5K $6.5K More Expensive $8k

How much did you spend?

Was it worth it?  

  1. Ron (Las vegas,  Nevada) paid $40 and said:

    My jeweler charged me$40.00 to replace my chipped mineral crystal on my limo ox navy seal eco watch. The mineral crystal on this specific watch was much thicker than the typical mineral crystal on most watches. This was the first time I’ve ever thought enough about a watch to have the crystal replaced. On any other watch I’d just ignore the scratches on the crystal. But this watch is very special as it is the same watch my dad also owns. It has served me very well in the 7+ years I’ve worn it.

    Was it worth it? Yes

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