Speedmaster Professional 3861 Sapphire or Hesalite?

i'll go for the saphirre option. moslty for the exhibition caseback since the movement are beautiful

Sapphire sandwich… if for no other reason than that you get to tell people you have a “sapphire sandwich.” And when people look at you weird, you can huffily point out how ignorant they are, and then proceed to lecture them for ten minutes on high horology and the heritage of the Moonwatch. People love it when I do that. 

It’s a personal preference thing. I’d go with the sapphire every day of the week, as I value the caseback and added resistance to scratches that it offers. Some people don’t like the “milky” edge along the sapph models, and of the opinion that it doesn’t belong on a Moonwatch. I call BS on that, think its a perfect addition to the modern interpretation of the Speedmaster Professional. I will admit that a hesalite feels... warmer, somehow? 

And then they delete you off their contacts list 😂

I'd go for hesalite version. Cheaper, more faithful to the original with all the good bits inside...

Depends on what you want? If you like seeing the movement and prefer the polished strap then sapphire. But if you want to get it as close as you can to the legendary moon watch then hesalite. But I don't think there is a wrong choice here. I will say the hesalite does sit very well on the wrist. 

I got the 3861 Sapphire Sandwich.  I wanted to be able to look at the new 3861 movement and the applied logo was a big bonus.

The "milky ring" issue is about 50% less noticable on the 3861 than on the 1863.

I didn't see the need for the solid caseback since both versions now have magnetic resistance up to 15,000 gauss.

Now, if you asked me Hesalite or Sapphire on a 1861, I'd say Hesalite all day, every day, since that model is a true workhorse tool watch that has been part of an astronaut's official kit and out on numerous spacewalks over the years.

That's the idea, I think. ;)

I like the hesalite but like/love the applied logo even more. Perfect version would be Hesalite and applied logo.....if forced, I would go sapphire if only for the applied logo.

I would love to have the hesalite on the front and still have the open caseback. If I’m being ultra picky, I don’t care for the milky look. At the end of the day, I’m sure I would be perfectly content with either option.

If you're not going to wear in any "hostile" environments I'd go with hesalite. Nothing looks better than a hesalite/plexiglass crystal. And any occasional scratching can be polished away if it bothers you.

I went back and forth with this on my wish list, then settled on sapphire for my next watch most likely. I want to see the movement and have the scratch resistance. 
The hesalite is “truer” but for what I want it is not not “better.” I’m fine with how the sapphire crystal looks, too. 
Marketing lore would make one believe that sapphire crystals and automatic rotors can’t go to space, but many have. At the end of the day, it’s up to preference or they wouldn’t make both. 

Yes, I would buy the Speedy Mullet in a heartbeat.  Business in the front, party in the back, baby!

Hesalite. If it's not hesalite it's not a moon watch.  And if it's not a moon watch, why bother?

If it doesn’t have a 321 movement it’s not a moon watch.

if it doesn’t have a pin and tube bracelet it’s not a moon watch.

if it doesn’t have a double bevel case, it’s not a moon watch.

if it doesn’t have a dot over 90 it’s not a moon watch.

See where I’m going? There are countless differences between modern speedys and the original. Also, exactly 0.0 watches one can buy at an AD has been to the moon or will go to the moon. Things evolve and the Speedy has evolved to be a better watch than the original, hesalite or not.

I went with hesalite, twice. I am not a fan of display backs. Hesalite doesn't pick up  and smudges, and every other watch has sapphire already so it's something different. The bezel will scratch, too, since it's aluminum, but the Speedy manages to wear scuffs and scrapes well.

Compaed both at AD and went for hesalite. Saphire was more luxury, hesalite more toolwatch which I prefer. My wife didn’t like the sapphire version…looked too fancy for this type of watch for her 😊

I had the professional sapphire sandwich in my collection.  I parted ways with it about two years ago, but I definitely think that is the way to go. I tried both at the AD, but I loved looking at the movement.

I bought a plexiglass Seagull 1963 a few years back. Every time I wore it I was constantly thinking about it getting scratched. If I was that nervous about a $200 watch I can’t imagine what I would be like on a $6k+ watch. The moonwatch is my next planned purchase and I will definitely be going for the sapphire. Plus with a beautiful chronograph movement i will want to see it

I’d say this choice could be informed by examining your reasons behind liking this piece. 
If I liked the watch for the history and the lore of the whole moonwatch thing, then the hesalite is closer to the original so that’s the way I’d go. If on the other hand I just liked the style and the speedmaster family and looks, but wanted the watch to be a robust daily wear, then I’d go for the sapphire. 

Hesalite is not a good choice technically but I went for the Hesalite as it has an effect that a sapphire crystal cannot match. Having said that I still keep thinking should I have gone with the sapphire purely for the case back! You won’t go wrong with either but choose the one you are more inclined towards. 

I went from being an owner (and huge proponent) of a 1861 Hesalite Big Box owner and sold it to make way for the 3861 Sapphire Sandwich. Yes I am a traitor to team hesalite and committed blasphemy.

I can say ultimately go for whichever one makes you feel the most joy looking at on the wrist (and if you are the kind of person who is weird like me, off the wrist as well!)

sapphire model has a slighlty more dressy look with the polished centre links. Scratches on hesalite can usually be easily polished out.

Try on both and see which prefer. Also if think may end up with another speedy down the line consider what it might have (e.g if 321 re issue is on the wish list it has sapphire, ceramic bezel and display back, so in that case might make sense to get hesalite. Or thinking about adding a vintage model maybe get sapphire now).

This is a good point! I’m leaning a bit more towards hesalite at this point, but need to try both on and see in person. 

I went with the sapphire. Open case back and a little polish on the bracelet made it easy for me. Great piece either way. 

Update: pulled the trigger on the hesalite. My buddy peer pressured me into getting speedies at the same time and he got the sapphire sandwich. Thanks for the input all! 

Congrats! FWIW, when I got my Hesalite Speedy a while ago, I found a third party source that made sapphire display case backs for the Speedy. I ended up leaving mine alone (just in case NASA calls) but the few times I catch a glimpse of the sapphire sandwich version of the Speedy, I get tempted.

Both have there individual positives and negatives - 

Hesalite - Minutely more faithful to the original though arguably at this point it feels like this is not a swaying argument.  I do like the warmth of the dial under the hesalite and as much as I would like the sapphire case back there was not enough of a pull to make me choose the sapphire.  Scratches are an issue but as many have stated, Polywatch will keep this from being an issue.

Sapphire - Honestly, the pull for me with this version had nothing to do with the case back or durability of sapphire, it was the applied logo.  I really like the look of the applied logo versus printed.  Additionally, the bracelet's polished center links give it a bit more depth visually.  

For me the pull of the applied logo did not justify spending the extra $.  That said, I feel like either one is an excellent choice.

Agree on the applied logo. It’s a nice touch and works well with the polished turned lugs and polished intermediate links. I also feel like the sapphire crystal gives the stepped dial and sunken sub dials an exaggerated 3-d effect that’s only visible on the hesalite version in certain light. 
 

All of this said, I’m still happy with the hesalite and like you said, both are great options. A wrong decision can’t be made here :)

My general lack of coordination means that any environment is hostile for a watch. :-)