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#1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Georgia
Watch: Sub, OP41, DJ x 4
Posts: 827
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Considering buying my first Omega. Looking at the black dial Moonwatch on bracelet.
Overall, is the sapphire version or hesalite version more desirable? I understand the sapphire has the display clear back, and the hesalite has the solid back with the text. In that area, I believe I like both equally. Is one version easier to get than the other? |
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#2 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,243
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Sapphire all the way for me. Hesalite scratches too easily and it would annoy me.
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#3 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: EARTH
Watch: What is "watch"?
Posts: 1,099
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Hesalite for me all day. Prefer the purity of it as well as the all-brushed bracelet.
Both easy to find at a discount. Don’t pay MSRP!!!
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“UNpolished or I’m not interested” 😎 ![]() |
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#4 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Real Name: Jesper
Location: Earth
Watch: 116234
Posts: 1,713
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Both are a great watches and neither are hard to get. Cant go wrong! I prefer the sapphire variant
Consider the new white one as well, but then you will need to wait a little longer. |
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#5 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Real Name: A-Aron
Location: Utah
Watch: 126710BLNR 226570
Posts: 2,075
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Some differences with the bracelet as well OP. Sapphire has some inboard polishing and looks a little fancier.
If you are drawn to the watch because of it’s history, go with the hesalite and save some money. If it’s just looks, I think most would prefer the Sapphire because of the open case back, raised dial logo, anf the aforementioned bracelet. Also, I would look at reputable pre owned sellers at the moment. Rumor has it a lot of black dial Speedy owners are selling to finance the new white dial latest and greatest. I would guess you could buy a like new sapphire black dial with plenty of warranty for a little over 5K. That beats the RRP of 8K plus tax by a long shot. |
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#6 |
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2024
Real Name: Mike
Location: USA
Watch: Swiss Made
Posts: 596
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#7 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: Tony
Location: Orchard Park, NY
Watch: Idiot Savant
Posts: 3,332
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Many threads here and on other fora have discussed this, but they're not the easiest threads to find using the search functions. I'll save you the trouble: preferences of enthusiasts like us land ~50/50 on the Sapphire vs Hesalite debate.
Hesalite enthusiasts point to the way light plays through the crystal and onto the dial. Those who choose the sapphire version, well, I don't know what they're thinking ![]() ![]() |
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#8 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 46,660
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Either/or is the way to go. Personal preference. I would buy the 3861 model on the bracelet for the upgraded movement and the bracelet. If you want to save a little then look at the 1861/1863 models. Good luck and let us know what you decide. I own the 1861 and the black and white dial 3861.
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#9 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Real Name: Travis
Location: FL / NYC
Watch: Yes..
Posts: 33,053
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No wrong choice. I prefer the sapphire to admire the movement and way more scratch resistant than a hesalite crystal.
Good luck! |
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#10 |
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2024
Real Name: Greg
Location: Left Coast
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 28
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Either one, get the one you want. You want a bit of a more vintage feel, get the hesalite, if you don’t want to worry about scratches, get the sapphire.
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#11 | ||
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 76,383
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Quote:
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#12 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Real Name: Matt
Location: .
Watch: PAM111
Posts: 2,813
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I have the hesalite, but am in the “either/or” camp. The flatness of the crystal and the subtle pop of the applied Omega symbol look great on the ‘sapphire sandwich’.
(The hesalite crystal itself is not so delicate, and any scratches are easily polished out at home with a bit of ‘polyWatch’ on a cloth.) |
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#13 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Canada
Watch: Sub| DJ41| 79540
Posts: 1,336
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Quote:
From my time with the Moonwatch at the AD. I would go for the sapphire sandwich due to the polish bracelet centre links, durability and the see through caseback. I also really like the way it looks on the nylon strap. |
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#14 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Underground
Posts: 2,455
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Get a sapphire now, and you’ll eventually want a vintage one, which will be a hesalite.
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#15 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: Tony
Location: Orchard Park, NY
Watch: Idiot Savant
Posts: 3,332
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#16 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 34,983
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The modern Speedmaster closest to the version that went on the moon is the 321 not the 3861 models, so, personally, I don’t think the “romanticism” of the 3861’s hesalite being “more vintage” holds much water. Even if it’s true that a hesalite crystal went on the moon, not sapphire.
Also, given the ease of removing crystal scratches using polywatch, I don’t durability of the crystal is an issue for either model. And remember: the hesalite crystal is the one that into space, so it’s plenty durable. So, when thinking about hesalite vs. sapphire for the black 3861, I tend to consider which elements I like best: the hesalite’s all-brushed bracelet, warmer feel of the crystal and absence of milky ring, or the sapphire’s polished bits on the bracelet, view of the movement and raised dial logo. In addition to all that, I simply think about which version I think looks best. For me, after all that ![]() Good luck with your choice! ![]() |
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#17 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: Bert
Location: philippines
Watch: 116710 ln
Posts: 3,468
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i got the one of the last 1863. i am very satisfied with it. i went with this one over the 3861 because it was the generation of the moonwatch.
i consider the modern one as a different watch. besides it has been around since 1999 and worked fine all these years |
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#18 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Real Name: Francisco
Location: San Juan, PR
Watch: Is Ticking !
Posts: 25,011
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Decided to buy the 3861 sapphire model mainly because of the nicer dial with raised Omega symbol (the sapphire caseback is nice too, but that is something you could easily add to the hesalite version)
![]() ![]() Both are great, no wrong choice really ![]() Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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Francisco ♛ 16610 / 116264 Ω 168.022 / 2535.80.00 / 310.30.42.50.01.002 Zenith 02.480.405 2FA security enabled |
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#19 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: NJ
Posts: 89
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I would go Sapphire. When I had the Hesalite version, I was always concerned about scratching the crystal. While it can be buffed out, I didn't want to deal with the hassle. If you're not as OCD about it as I am, go with the Hesalite, because it looks better.
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#20 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Real Name: Mark
Location: Southern England
Watch: DJ41 SubC SMP mast
Posts: 1,603
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Sapphire should have a ceramic insert and the hesalite should’ve aluminium. Apart from that lovely but I’d buy slightly used personally.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#21 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Mike
Location: Downy Ocean Hon
Watch: my money leaving!
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I'm in the sapphire camp mainly because that movement is too beautiful to cover it with a steel disk.
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#22 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Real Name: Francisco
Location: San Juan, PR
Watch: Is Ticking !
Posts: 25,011
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Quote:
Don’t think that is correct, both have the same metal insert Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
__________________
Francisco ♛ 16610 / 116264 Ω 168.022 / 2535.80.00 / 310.30.42.50.01.002 Zenith 02.480.405 2FA security enabled |
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#23 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 149
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It's all about finding what feels right for you! Congrats in advance.
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#24 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2024
Location: At my desk . . .
Posts: 140
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