Apple has been granted an exclusive patent to create 'all-glass' casings that could be used in future iPhone models.
AppleInsider spotted the patent No. 8,773, 848, which was awarded by the US Patent and Trademark Office on 8 July 2014 and covers 'Fused glass device housings'.
The patent explains Apple now has the rights covering "An electronic device [which] may have a glass housing structures. The glass housing structures may be used to cover a display and other internal electronic device components. The glass housing structure may have multiple glass pieces that are joined using a glass fusing process."
"Multiple planar glass members may be fused together to form a five-sided box in which electronic components may be mounted… Opaque masking material and colored glass may be used to create portions of the glass housing structures that hide internal device components from view," the patent's description continues.
Of course on the surface making an iPhone from glass would not make sense, as it could easily crack. So we most probably have to do with Sapphire here.
Earlier this week an iPhone 6 video leaked and confirmed long time rumours that the new handset will have a Sapphire crystal display.
Sapphire withstands vigorous scratch attempts by keys and a knife, but it also also bends.