Omega Speedmaster - Hesalite or Sapphire?

Hesalite-because

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iExo75DjV-Q

Makes total sense to me now.

Hesalite and polywatch were my choices.

I won’t buy a watch without a sapphire crystal. Everything else I’ve ever owned scratched. I don’t want to have to mess with polywatch or any other stuff like that.

Once I saw the movement through the sapphire, I could never buy the watch without it. It’s incredible.

As a Lorier owner who works on the field (SS tanks and piping) I can confirm that Hesalite isn’t that bad. It doesn’t just attract scratches as you think. And the good ol Polywatch DOES work! Everyone should have at least one.

It really does give a “warmth” 💛

***If you’re the type to freak out over minor scratches even on SS, then perhaps Sapphire is your only option.

I bought the hesalite for the aethetic appeal.

Most of my other watches have sapphire crystals, which I love, especially the double domed crystals. But the milky edge to the sapphire on the speedy just didn’t look right to me.

I’ve the older 1861 ref - which is a pretty movement - but not enough to opt for the clear caseback. Also, having experienced a couple of exhibition caseback watches - I found they held my attention for about 2 mins after I bought the watch, only to be completely forgotten about forever more.

Looking after the crystal is generally straightforward: polywatch once in a blue moon. I’m not gentle on my watches - and the speedy has evidence of that all over.

they come both ways and i own both versions.. Enjoy the hobby..

I sold my saphire sandwich and replaced it with a hesalite the view into the movement is epic but I wear my watch dial out and the hesalite looks better to my eyes and is flight qualified just in case 😂

I did yesterday to think the saphire would be a better daily but I wore my hesalite day and night for over three months and it survived without a mark

Hesalite. Love the look and the historical significance with it. Nothing wrong with sapphire though.

I would prefer the Hesalite because that's the most authentic option out of the two. Plus, the Hesalite has a warmth look to it that Sapphire can't replicate. Now if only OMEGA can make a 1:1 recreation of the Hesalite Speedmaster with the 321 Calibre

Sapphire, all day every day. If and when you go to space, get the hesalite

I always prefer exhibition case backs. Besides liking to see the movement, there is a practical reason. I had an experience where I was able to see that a rotor wasn’t swinging properly, and with a magnifying glass I was able to see that a screw had fallen out and was free inside the case! By seeing these factors I was able to save a large repair by hacking the movement and getting the watch to a watchmaker right away.

Hesalite.

It's 10x better looking than the sapphire Speedy, and it's tough enough to go to the moon. :)

And for the price premium, you can get that Hesalite Crystal replaced multiple times ....

I’ve owned both, and the sapphire is the one I kept. The 3861 movement is a thing of beauty, pair that with the polished parts on the bracelet and it’s a keeper.

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either one.

My dream (new) speedmaster would be hesalite model with the closed caseback, but with the applied dial logo from the sapphire model. It strikes me as stupid that the hesalite has the printed logo on the dial as it basically renders both models inauthentic to the moon watch.

Historical accuracy aside, I'll go on record as saying that in any situation with any watch, I'd always choose a closed caseback every time. The added weight, cost, and thickness isn't worth the gimmick of seeing the movement when I'm not wearing the watch. Honestly, this feels like the late-90s fad Apple kicked off with the G3 iMacs and everyone had to follow suit with clear-plastic electronics to show off the guts underneath. I was pretty happy when that trend faded and I'll be happy when this one does, too...

I went crazy for 5 minutes when the hesalite on my Omega Speedmaster scratched against the wall by mistake. I searched online looking for solutions but then later on I just got used to it and I also think it somehow became less noticeable over time (not sure if you could spot the scratches on mine in the photo). I suppose that's the beauty of hesalite.

I think I know exactly how you must’ve felt man 🤝

Whether it's hesalite or sapphire, in general, some scratches and marks on the watch definitely make it more personal.

Just got to be a little more careful with the hesalite and try not to bang it against the wall.

Spot on.

Yes very true I have done that to a Hamilton chronograph and put a crack in it and it let water in

A very expensive mistake

It was a much thinner one than the omega so I’d expect it to have survived if I had even if it was ruined

I would be quite frustrated if that happened to my Omega piece.

The replacement cost perspective actually justifies the decision well.

I think it was an unusual thing to happen. But I prefer an exhibition case back in part to be able to inspect the movement without needing to open the watch.

I think I would got for the plastic just to reduce the chances of glass messing up the movement by half if I drop the thing