After Apple Inc. applied sapphire on the camera lens and home button covers with fingerprint recognition since 2012, the sapphire ingot and substrate market has been drawing attention again for its high growth potential.

In addition, with Apple investing $578 million into GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (GTAT), a US-based sapphire ingot producer and equipment provider, in November 2013, the industry is expecting sapphire to be applied on the front cover of iPhones on top of the camera lens cover and home button.

Through the investment in GTAT, Apple secures a stable supply source for sapphire materials and it is expected to use this as a differentiation strategy.

Competitors of Apple are currently contemplating the use of sapphire. If Apple’s strategy of using sapphire on the front cover proves to be effective, the sapphire ingot market is forecast to grow at a rapid pace.

Such maneuvers by Apple are expected to have a great impact on not only the sapphire ingot and substrate market but also the smartphone manufacturing industry, and it will be important to keep an eye on how fast sapphire will be applied on iPhones and demand for the Apple Watch will increase.