I bought a sapphire sandwich, didn't love it... So I sold it immediately. I missed the versatility of it, missed its unique character as well as its history. I bought another one. But soon after there was something that just didn't sit right with me when I put it on and looked at it at certain light and angles. I still didn't love it, it looked small in my wrist and just wasn't right... So I sold that one too. I started missing it again, it's versatility, it's charm. But this time I started to notice the original Moonwatch for all its really worth. I noticed its curves, it's seemless angles and its dial as the light bounced off its crystal. Difference between the two... Hesalite! I struggled with the idea of buying a 3k+ watch with a plastic crystal. I mean it's 2015, shouldn't I have the best my money can buy? Plus my family man on the go lifestyle seemed to fit the idea of a scratch proof material. Well, after a few visits to the boutique and full side by side comparison I realized the problem I was having all along. The reason for my lack of love for the speedy was actually the sapphire. Visually, the hesalite just made me happy to look at. It changed in the light and gave the top of the watch dimensions. It also made the dial look slightly bigger with the blending of it's black into the bezel. No more white ring around the dial from sapphire. Simply glorious design and truly a classic timepiece way beyond its years when first created. I'm still worried about scratching up my crystal, but at least I love my new watch! I hope this helps some soon to be owners in making a decision. If your anything like me though, it will probably make it harder to decide Happy Speedy Tuesday everyone. Here are some sapphire and hesalite comparisons followed by some shots of my new Speedy and its domed hesalite crystal.
Congrats on finally finding some peace with the speedy. I shared a lot of the same thoughts on the sapphire vs hesalite both on the practicality and ultimately what I felt looked best. I wish they would use the Hesalite on the FOIS.
Yep, there is something about the hesalite that is a little different ...warmer? Looks ?? I don't know? Just different!
now we're cookin' with peanut oil! great choice. I agree (as do many who love the vintage speedies) that hesalite..there's just something about it.
The 3572.50 is really the watch they should have kept making, it was the predecessor to the 3573.50 and had hesalite front, sapphire back, with the decorated version of the movement Cal 1863.
Great post, and the side by side pics are really illustrative. I prefer the hesalite myself, but not by a big margin. Different properties of the materials make one more appropriate over the other, depending on the end user. It's the bracelets that are a little off for me. I am splitting hairs here, but I prefer the look of the old 1450 over the more recent offerings. That said, newer bracelets are much more robust than they used to be, the clasps are no longer rattly stamped sheetmetal! Enjoy. P.S., one of those watches is off the better part of an hour
I'm not the biggest fan of the current Speedy bracelet either, I mean it's not bad... but not amazing either. With the money I saved on the hesalite, might as well go with a bad ass OEM deployment Oh and a big thank you to Alam for the tip on Continental Jewelers in DC for the strap and deployment!
Check out the @Andreas Truong speedy straps have had one on for a few weeks and loving it http://blackforest-atelier.com/?product=bf24-rally-racing-strap-20mm16mm&lang=en