Apple Watch Sapphire screen damage

[Valentin_92]

Hi all, this is my Series 9 Apple Watch stainless steel with sapphire glass. Unfortunately, you can see how my screen looks like. The problem is, I don’t know how this has happened. First, I noticed small blue mark at the top of the screen back in March but I thought that I hit the screen in my bed during sleep.

However, this blue mark got bigger in the past few months and recently second mark has appeared at the bottom of the screen. There is even a blue mark on the back of the watch. There are also many water spots/stains on the screen which I cannot remove. I haven’t hit the watch on a wall or something or doing anything wrong to damage it but you can see the results. Usually I do daily some basic exercises for about 10-15 minutes and then I wash it with normal water just to clean the sweat. I cannot imagine that washing it with water could to this damage, having the fact that the watch was designed to swim with it.

My question is, how common is this kind of problem especially on a sapphire screen being used lass than a year? Is there anyone having these blue marks and permanent water spots on the watch and how do you deal with them? What can I do in my situation? It’s still under a warranty, bought in October 2023 from Apple reseller in Bulgaria. Any advice and help are welcomed. Thank you.

 

[Howard2k]

How are you cleaning the watch?

 

[Valentin_92]

Just normal temperature water for a bout 20-30 seconds every day after workout, nothing extreme I guess.

 

[jz0309]

Hi all, this is my Series 9 Apple Watch stainless steel with sapphire glass. Unfortunately, you can see how my screen looks like. The problem is, I don’t know how this has happened. First, I noticed small blue mark at the top of the screen back in March but I thought that I hit the screen in my bed during sleep.

However, this blue mark got bigger in the past few months and recently second mark has appeared at the bottom of the screen. There is even a blue mark on the back of the watch. There are also many water spots/stains on the screen which I cannot remove. I haven’t hit the watch on a wall or something or doing anything wrong to damage it but you can see the results. Usually I do daily some basic exercises for about 10-15 minutes and then I wash it with normal water just to clean the sweat. I cannot imagine that washing it with water could to this damage, having the fact that the watch was designed to swim with it.

My question is, how common is this kind of problem especially on a sapphire screen being used lass than a year? Is there anyone having these blue marks and permanent water spots on the watch and how do you deal with them? What can I do in my situation? It’s still under a warranty, bought in October 2023 from Apple reseller in Bulgaria. Any advice and help are welcomed. Thank you.


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Bring it into the retailer you bought it from, and/or, contact Apple support. Is there no Apple Store in Bulgaria?

 

[Valentin_92]

No Apple Store here, just many different resellers claiming to be authorized by Apple.

 

[jz0309]

No Apple Store here, just many different resellers claiming to be authorized by Apple.

But you do have direct access to Apple support, right? Show them…

 

[Valentin_92]

Yes I have access to Apple Support. I was thinking to use the app, but first just wanted to check here for opinion if anybody else had its screed in this condition.
Just curious how all you guys wash your watch, because I don't see doing something wrong with mine.

 

[jz0309]

Yes I have access to Apple Support. I was thinking to use the app, but first just wanted to check here for opinion if anybody else had its screed in this condition.
Just curious how all you guys wash your watch, because I don't see doing something wrong with mine.

I actually have my watch on when showering, have done that for years, never a problem.
One thing is to eject water after it’s gotten wet via the “water lock/unlock” function or whatever it’s called. I do that religiously

 

[Valentin_92]

Yes I know that water ejection function and I do it 2 or 3 times after a wash, but I have never used my watch under the shower or even when I wash my hands never put a soap on it, just water but here is the result.

 

[Rainshadow]

I’ve had multiple saphire watches from Apple. Never had that. To me, however, it’s interesting the discoloration is just around the edges and sides. To me, that seems like some kind of chemical reaction from moisture being caught in or around the seal and reacting. I don’t know if you work in any conditions with chemicals, or if you wear a particular cologne that may have a reaction. Not blaming you, but that’s odd that it wouldn’t evenly distribute that issue across the screen.

What doubles my concern about chemicals is the latching mechanism underneath. Thats just super weird. Almost weirder than the screen. Thats VERY unusual. Even the aluminum watches don’t get that look. Maybe there is an internal problem gassing out.

I’d call Apple - like yesterday. Before you approach the year mark especially, it may be tough to get a solution. If they give you trouble, I would mention an concern about battery issues. My father had an iPad that had a difficult battery once that randomly charged and didn’t. They wouldn’t replace it until he expressed concern of it bursting into flames. Best of luck.

 

[Valentin_92]

I’ve had multiple saphire watches from Apple. Never had that. To me, however, it’s interesting the discoloration is just around the edges and sides. To me, that seems like some kind of chemical reaction from moisture being caught in or around the seal and reacting. I don’t know if you work in any conditions with chemicals, or if you wear a particular cologne that may have a reaction. Not blaming you, but that’s odd that it wouldn’t evenly distribute that issue across the screen.

What doubles my concern about chemicals is the latching mechanism underneath. Thats just super weird. Almost weirder than the screen. Thats VERY unusual. Even the aluminum watches don’t get that look. Maybe there is an internal problem gassing out.

I’d call Apple - like yesterday. Before you approach the year mark especially, it may be tough to get a solution. If they give you trouble, I would mention an concern about battery issues. My father had an iPad that had a difficult battery once that randomly charged and didn’t. They wouldn’t replace it until he expressed concern of it bursting into flames. Best of luck.

That chemical reaction is a good point, however I work at home office on my Mac. About the latching mechanism, I think it might be from the sweat during workout and the fact that I have multiple bands and change them every day but of course who doesn't have multiple bands and has sweat when doing workout, so still doesn't make sense.
My hopes with this post were that there might be someone else with this kind of discoloration at least on the back of the watch if not the screen. I will wait till tomorrow for more opinions here and then I will contact Apple support.

 

[Newton1701]

What happens if you clean it with an isopropyl alcohol wipe? What happens if you clean it with water and hand soap, dry thoroughly and polish with micro fiber cloth? I suggest trying these. My watch gets that look from sweat, I wash it in the sink with hand soap, eject water, dry thoroughly and it looks good as new.

 

[Rainshadow]

That chemical reaction is a good point, however I work at home office on my Mac. About the latching mechanism, I think it might be from the sweat during workout and the fact that I have multiple bands and change them every day but of course who doesn't have multiple bands and has sweat when doing workout, so still doesn't make sense.
My hopes with this post were that there might be someone else with this kind of discoloration at least on the back of the watch if not the screen. I will wait till tomorrow for more opinions here and then I will contact Apple support.

Absolutely. For reference, I work out daily for well over an hour. Sometimes more than once a day. My watch stays on and I do not always wash my watch off. You all my find that gross, sorry, but it actually never occurred to me to physically wash this thing until reading forums like this.

I’ve never had that discoloration. Even with sweat. YMMV

 

[Brandon42]

Do you use insect repellent? I’ve seen similar looking stains from DEET.

 

[Valentin_92]

Do you use insect repellent? I’ve seen similar looking stains from DEET.

No, I don't.

 

[Rychiar]

that's not good. I wear my watch in the shower every time, various chlorinated pools, the ocean. I've gotten spray sunscreen allover it among other things and it still looks flawless... and I only have the cheap glasss

 

[HarryVafias]

I have not seen this issue before but to be honest I only had a series 4 Saphire. After one and a half year while I was working out it fell on the floor and the screen broke. It came cut perfectly clean from the edges. After that all my Apple Watches series 5 and 8 are with ion x glass. Never had a broken screen again. I believe that saphire is not worth it in this design as in normal watches you have the bezel that protects the saphire while in Apple Watch you have zero protection.

 

[goldmac2006]

that's not good. I wear my watch in the shower every time, various chlorinated pools, the ocean. I've gotten spray sunscreen allover it among other things and it still looks flawless... and I only have the cheap glasss

Same. I have a gold SS Apple Watch Series 6, went in my relative’s house pool for a swim twice in it, and worked out in it daily. I use lens cleaner on all my Apple Watches and my iPhone to wipe it down and there cannot be this mysterious stain.

What is really alarming is that I suspect condensation is creeping in the area between the glass and LCD. Though your Apple Watch is not an Apple Watch Ultra, I still strongly suggest to get your Apple Watch checked out at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. The water seals may be poorly installed or loose enough, and may allowed liquids to enter. Find one here.

 

[Bandoholic]

Every few day's of wear, I clean the watch with a moist baby wipe, then dry it with a tissue to keep it looking new, never had a problem.

 

[Newton1701]

Again, I wonder what would happen if you clean with an IPA wipe and then polish with microfiber cloth. I ask as I’m an Apple Certified Technician that sees stains like this often and unless the stain has etched the crystal it should clean off.

 

[Spidder]

That doesn’t look like damage, but like some sort of gunk. My Apple Watch looks similar to this when Im wearing it after using skin moisturizer. Try isopropyl alcohol.

 

[goldmac2006]

That doesn’t look like damage, but like some sort of gunk. My Apple Watch looks similar to this when Im wearing it after using skin moisturizer. Try isopropyl alcohol.

Some lens cleaners have a slight concentration of IPA, which can help.

I do use lotion like sunblock 🧴 and aquaphor, and my Apple Watch does not get weird streaks like that.

 

[Valentin_92]

Again, I wonder what would happen if you clean with an IPA wipe and then polish with microfiber cloth. I ask as I’m an Apple Certified Technician that sees stains like this often and unless the stain has etched the crystal it should clean off.

I will try this later today.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I haven't seen anything like this before. But I'm also not sure what it is.

Do you feel like the discoloration sits on top or below the glass? Or is it a part of the glass?

Can you feel any difference on the surface of the glass when touching the area with the discoloration versus the areas where there's no discoloration?

Does the discoloration change or move if you press down on the area?

 

[Valentin_92]

I haven't seen anything like this before. But I'm also not sure what it is.

Do you feel like the discoloration sits on top or below the glass? Or is it a part of the glass?

Can you feel any difference on the surface of the glass when touching the area with the discoloration versus the areas where there's no discoloration?

Does the discoloration change or move if you press down on the area?

It looks like the discoloration is on the top of the glass or part of it, definitely not under the glass. The glass surface is smooth. It doesn't change when pressing the glass. I guess the curvature edge of the glass might be a weak point and somehow the antireflection coating is damaged. However the same discoloration is on the latching machanism on the back so might be some chemical reaction.