Community Stories

Hesalite vs Sapphire Speedmaster Pro (Pics)

jB1128
Posts
728
Likes
9,696
Thank you for sharing these great pictures 👍!

I love looking at Speedmaster movements and have been thinking along the lines of the 3592.50 with the Hesalite crystal on the front and the sapphire caseback. I've only owned Hesalite Speedmasters, and I always thought that the halo effect with the sapphire crystal would be too much for me, these pics make me second guess that notion, at least a little bit 😉.
Edited:
 
Nachman
Posts
29
Likes
232
I noticed the difference between those two types of crystal. On the side view of the watch, the Hesalite will have a clear colorless on its curve, but the sapphire crystal will show a milky around of its edge.
This post done a great job to illustrate those two difference very clearly. Also I may say that both watches, with Hesalite and sapphire crystal, are very nice indeed.

Very Best Regard
 
Ian_km
Posts
280
Likes
268
Great to be able to view the difference, thanks.

I was after a Apollo-Soyuz Meteorite but was put off by the sapphire, I may need to re-think this.
 
Millenary Watches
Posts
1,872
Likes
2,154
Thanks for a great write-up. Only owned the Speedmaster hesalite (as one should). If you're intrigued by history and the story that the watch tells, the hesalite is definitely the one you want to opt for. But there's no question that the sapphire is a great watch. Especially love the see-through casebook of the stunning movement.
 
Meme-Dweller
Posts
2,160
Likes
3,384
They seriously need to bring back the 3572.50. The sapphire version would be much better if it didn't have that THICC ring... maybe a domed sapphire crystal similar to the Oris Sixty-Five.
 
fskywalker
Posts
3,210
Likes
6,277
Meme-Dweller Meme-Dweller
They seriously need to bring back the 3572.50.

Yes, it is a shame that the hesalite / sapphire combo is no longer available; 3572 is a great looking watch, front and back 😀

IMG_2534.jpeg IMG_0153.jpeg
 
time flies
Posts
1,237
Likes
4,718
Foo2rama Foo2rama
I think we need a silver rehaut for comparison!!

Also note the since revised “our bad” case back.

Great shots!
Will you please explain the "our bad" case back? Thank you.

have fun
kfw
 
ASJ
Posts
41
Likes
45
Nice pics and great post! I prefer Hesalite to sapphire, keeping true to the Moonwatch, of coz a little buff over time, every 3-5 years. And of coz without the “white rim” sapphire has to offer.
 
Foo2rama
Posts
17,593
Likes
26,687
time flies time flies
Will you please explain the "our bad" case back? Thank you.

have fun
kfw
As @drhombus24 said it’s the caseback that Omega put out then claimed ignorance about. Specifically the “first and only watch worn in the moon” they fully knew about the Bulova and said it anyway. The clear case back now just says “first watch worn on the moon”
 
time flies
Posts
1,237
Likes
4,718
Foo2rama Foo2rama
As @drhombus24 said it’s the caseback that Omega put out then claimed ignorance about. Specifically the “first and only watch worn in the moon” they fully knew about the Bulova and said it anyway. The clear case back now just says “first watch worn on the moon”
Thank you @Foo2rama for that. Is there a timeline on the change to the other caseback? 3570 to the new reference?The speedmaster pro? I've not seen enough serial numbers to figure out when it started. Mine is #7875xxxx
20171219_130101.jpg

My 3570.50 is7781xxxx
20171219_125701.jpg 20171219_130101.jpg

Just trying to figure when. Don't wish to hijack. Thanks though.

have fun
kfw

Edit...spelling
Edited:
 
Foo2rama
Posts
17,593
Likes
26,687
time flies time flies
Thank you @Foo2rama for that. Is there a timeline on the change to the other caseback? 3570 to the new reference?The speedmaster pro? I've not seen enough serial numbers to figure out when it started. Mine is #7875xxxx
20171219_130101.jpg

My 3570.50 is7781xxxx
20171219_125701.jpg 20171219_130101.jpg

Just trying to figure when. Don't wish to hijack. Thanks though.

have fun
kfw

Edit...spelling
No speedmaster solid back ever said and only. ( ok there might have been 1 LE). Yours is put post 1999.
 
MiamiMark
Posts
2
Likes
2
drhombus24 drhombus24
Thanks for all of the comments!



I’ll update with captions in between photos to make it easier. Also, Up until the wrist shots, the sapphire is on the bond nato, while the hesalite is on the blue-gray one.

Wow, thanks! Your pics helped me make my decision.
 
drhombus24
Posts
531
Likes
854
MiamiMark MiamiMark
Wow, thanks! Your pics helped me make my decision.
Glad to hear! What did you end up going for? Btw, We love pics!
 
Thrillhouse847
Posts
11
Likes
18
These pictures really helped me out. I am about 90% sure my next watch will be a Moonwatch and I've been trying to decide between the sapphire and hesalite. To me, the hesalite looks much better here. I kept reading about the "milky ring" on the sapphire watches and I couldn't really tell what that meant but by comparison, it is very clear in these photos. Also, for some reason, the hesalite makes the dial look darker or richer to me. Thanks for posting.
 
dan7800
Posts
804
Likes
896
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but for me it was hesalite all the way.

1) You can buff out scratches fairly easily
2) It is apparently much cheaper to replace hesalite than sapphire.
 
D
Posts
886
Likes
470
dan7800 dan7800
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but for me it was hesalite all the way.

1) You can buff out scratches fairly easily
2) It is apparently much cheaper to replace hesalite than sapphire.

Quite right. And I personally do much prefer the Hesalite as well.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Interestingly, I have recently purchased a lovely Grand Seiko with a compound curved Saphire crystal that has AR on the inside, which looks just like an old school Acrylic crystal.
No milky ring around the perimeter.
 
axl911
Posts
227
Likes
327
If Panerai can do a no-milky-ring-domed-saphire-crystal why can’t Omega?

97391F9C-FA3C-4344-8C60-D5E1FBBB55E6.jpeg
 
127 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

N

Not a hesalite vs sapphire question

njlam Modern Omega Watches
macrodust
macrodust
Posts
7
Views
2K
DoctorEvil

Speedmaster Pro 3861 Hesalite vs Explorer 1?

DoctorEvil Open Discussion
Foo2rama
Foo2rama
Posts
3
Views
2K
Caliber561

The New 2021 Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch (Sapphire)

Caliber561 Modern Omega Watches
blubarb
blubarb
Posts
46
Views
52K
140dave

Omega Speedmaster 3861 Hesalite Full Set

140dave Private Watch Sales
140dave
140dave
Posts
0
Views
3K
buramu

Speedmaster Pro vs. vintage Gameboy

buramu Open Discussion
Pvt-Public
Pvt-Public
Posts
30
Views
2K
fskywalker

*REDUCED* Omega Speedmaster 3572.50.00 Hesalite / Sapphire Sandwich, Box and Papers

fskywalker Private Watch Sales
fskywalker
fskywalker
Posts
11
Views
4K