Sapphire is the material used in bulletproof windows for military vehicles and Rolex watches, so why not mobile screens? If you have an iPhone 5, you are already seeing the genesis of the new technology in its camera lens.

Sapphire is only second to diamond in strength, and a screen made with sapphire can withstand scratches and dropping, making it a much more durable investment at a price. However, producers of man made sapphire project that the technology will become cheap enough to be used on high end smartphones in the next few years.

Currently, Gorilla glass costs much cheaper to use at $3 per phone compared to sapphire screens which costs $30 per phone. Sapphire optimists are projecting a $10 decrease in cost over the next few years which would make the material a lot more competitive, especially for phone users who want more resilient screens.

At CES 2013 next week, Corning will show off Gorilla Glass 3, a more durable version of the touchscreen technology that is used one billion of the world’s smartphones,
tablets and PCs.

The company will also reveal new optical cables “that significantly extend the data transmission range past the limits of copper-based cables.”  The products will be revealed on Monday, Jan. 7.

CEO Wendell P. Weeks had this statement: “This year at CES, Corning will demonstrate its industry leadership in specialty glass and fiber optic technologies with the introduction of two products designed to enhance and extend the capabilities of consumers’ favorite devices … These new innovations build on the increasingly important and continually evolving role of highly engineered glass technologies in delivering improved product performance and functionality through touch capabilities, protective cover glass, and device connectivity.”