Why Sapphire Crystal Screens Remain Unique to Vertu in 2025

You find sapphire crystal screens in Vertu and some fancy phones in 2025. The material is rare because it costs a lot and is hard to make. Vertu used sapphire first because it looks nice and is very strong. When you hold a Vertu, you see the screen is clear and tough. The sapphire crystal screen does not scratch easily and looks fancy.

Key Takeaways

• Sapphire crystal screens are special and expensive. They do not scratch easily and look very clear. You mostly see them in Vertu phones.

• Vertu started using sapphire screens in 2002. They still use them in many phone models. This shows they care about luxury and good quality.

• Making sapphire screens costs a lot of money. It is also hard to make them. That is why most phones do not have them. Only fancy phones use sapphire screens.

• Sapphire screens are heavier and thicker than glass. This can change how the phone feels in your hand. The phone may not be as thin.

• Sapphire does not scratch easily, but it can look darker. It might also shine more light back than glass. This can make it harder to see in bright light.

Sapphire Crystal Screen In Vertu Phones

Vertu’s Pioneering Use

Vertu started using sapphire crystal screens before other brands. They began in 2002 with the Signature model. Vertu kept using sapphire in new phones after that. You can check the table below to see which Vertu phones have sapphire screens.

Vertu made other phones like the Aster and Signature V 4G. These also have sapphire crystal screens. The phones use special materials like titanium and gold. This matches the luxury of the sapphire screens. The Antares model is different because it has a carbon fiber body and a sapphire crystal display.

Note: Vertu got the idea for sapphire from Princess Diana’s famous ring. Her ring has a big sapphire and is known for its beauty. Vertu phones show the same style and exclusivity.

Advantages Of Sapphire Crystal

Sapphire crystal screens have many good points. Sapphire is very hard and ranks 9 on the Mohs scale. Only diamond is harder than sapphire. This means sapphire screens do not scratch easily. You do not need to worry about keys or coins scratching your screen. The table below shows how hard sapphire is compared to other screen materials.

Sapphire crystal screens are very clear. You see bright colors and sharp images on your phone. Sapphire is also used in fancy watches and science tools. It is strong and looks nice. If you pick a Vertu phone, you get a screen that does not scratch and looks great.

Barriers To Sapphire Crystal Screens In Smartphones

High Production Cost

Most smartphones do not have sapphire crystal screens. The main reason is that sapphire costs a lot to make. It is much more expensive than other screen materials. For example:

• Gorilla Glass costs about $3 for each piece.

• Sapphire used to cost $25 per piece, but now it is under $10 because making it got easier.

• Even though the price dropped, sapphire is still much more expensive than Gorilla Glass.

Because of this, most phone companies do not use sapphire screens. If they did, phones would cost a lot more for you.

Manufacturing Complexity

Making sapphire crystal screens is very hard. Factories must be very clean. If dust gets in, it can ruin everything. Growing sapphire takes almost a month. If the power or water stops, the whole batch is ruined. You cannot check for problems until the end, so you might wait a month and then find out the crystal is not good enough.

Some common problems are:

• Factories need clean rooms to keep out dirt.

• Water and electricity must always work.

• Growing a sapphire boule takes weeks, and you cannot see problems until it is finished.

• Special machines are needed to cut and polish the crystal, which adds to the cost.

Many companies say 35% of them have trouble keeping quality high when making lots of sapphire screens. About 26% of problems happen while growing the crystal. Another 21% of problems come from needing special tools to cut and polish. These steps make it hard to get enough good sapphire screens for all phones.

Brittleness And Bulk

Sapphire is very hard and does not scratch easily, but it can break if you drop your phone. It is brittle. Glass can sometimes stay strong after damage, but sapphire cannot. If you drop a phone with a sapphire screen, it is more likely to crack than one with Gorilla Glass.

• Sapphire screens do not scratch as easily as Gorilla Glass.

• Sapphire is stiffer and does not absorb shocks well, so it breaks more easily if dropped.

Sapphire screens are also thicker and heavier than regular screens. This makes phones feel heavier in your hand. It can also make the phone look less slim. These things change how you use and carry your phone every day.

It is also hard to get enough sapphire for all phones. The table below shows some of the main problems:

Making sapphire crystal screens for phones is not easy. The high cost, hard production, brittleness, and supply problems make it tough for most brands to use sapphire. That is why you mostly see sapphire screens in luxury phones, not in regular ones.

Alternatives In Smartphones

Gorilla Glass Vs Sapphire

Smartphones use different screen materials today. The most common ones are gorilla glass, Dragontrail glass, Ceramic Shield, and tempered glass. Each one has good and bad points.

• Gorilla glass is strong and does not scratch easily.

• Dragontrail glass is also tough and lasts a long time.

• Ceramic Shield is found in some expensive phones.

• Tempered glass is cheap and simple to swap out.

You can look at the table below to see how gorilla glass and sapphire crystal screens compare:

When you check how tough they are, gorilla glass and sapphire crystal are different:

Sapphire screens are made in hot ovens and cut with special tools. Gorilla glass is made stronger with chemicals. Sapphire costs more to make and is heavier, so your phone can feel heavier too.

Why Glass Is Preferred

Most phone makers pick glass instead of sapphire crystal screens for a few reasons:

• Glass is much cheaper to make. You pay just a little for glass, but sapphire costs a lot more.

• Factories can make lots of glass quickly. Sapphire needs very hot ovens and takes longer to make.

• Most people keep their phones for about two years. The extra cost for sapphire does not make sense for most buyers.

• Glass handles drops better, so you do not worry as much about breaking your screen.

You get a screen that is strong, not expensive, and stands up to daily use. That is why most phones use glass for their screens.

Drawbacks Of Sapphire Crystal Screens

Weight Issues

If you pick up a phone with a sapphire screen, it feels heavier. Sapphire is very hard and does not scratch easily. But this makes the phone weigh more. The screen must be thicker to protect it. This extra thickness adds to the weight. Your phone may not feel as slim. It might feel more solid in your hand.

Here is a table that shows how sapphire and glass compare in phones:

Sapphire screens stop scratches well. But the extra weight can make your phone feel different. If you like light phones, you will notice this.

Optical Concerns

You want your phone screen to look bright and clear. Sapphire is known for being clear, but it has some problems. Sapphire screens look about 20% darker than glass. This is because less light goes through them. Light must pass through the sapphire two times. This can make the screen look dimmer.

• Sapphire screens do not scratch easily, but they can look darker.

• Sapphire lets 88% of light through, while glass lets 92% through.

• Colors may not look as bright as on glass screens.

“Minimizing screen reflections is especially important for displays, and sapphire has almost double (191%) the Reflectance of glass.”

Because of this, you might see more glare outside. Sapphire is hard and does not scratch, but these problems can change how you see your screen.

If you need to fix a sapphire screen, it costs more than glass. Repairs are harder because sapphire is so tough. For example, fixing a sapphire screen can cost up to $499. Fixing a glass screen is usually cheaper.

Sapphire screens are hard and do not scratch easily. But you should know about the weight and screen differences before picking a phone with sapphire.

You mostly find sapphire crystal screens in Vertu and some fancy phones. These screens are not common because they cost a lot to make. Making them is hard and needs special machines. Experts give some main reasons in the table below:

If new ways do not make sapphire cheaper and easier, it will stay a fancy feature.

FAQ

What makes sapphire crystal screens special?

You get a screen that resists scratches better than almost any other material. Sapphire ranks just below diamond in hardness. This means your phone stays looking new for longer.

Why do most phones not use sapphire crystal screens?

Most phones use glass because it costs less and is easier to make. Sapphire screens need special tools and take more time to produce.

Can you repair a sapphire crystal screen if it breaks?

You can repair a sapphire screen, but it costs more than fixing a glass screen. Sapphire is tough to cut and polish, so repairs need special skills.

Do sapphire screens affect how your phone looks?

Sapphire screens give your phone a clear and bright display. Some people notice the screen looks a bit darker than glass, but colors still look sharp.