Even before the .3861 release, I've wondered why the .321 doesn't appear to have the standard degree of sapphire "milky ring." (It's still visible at just-so angles, but much more subtly than I've experienced with other pre-3861 sapphires.) Here's an admittedly 'optimized' (in terms of angle) photo of the .321:
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Early photographs and videos of the sapphire .3861 appear to show what I'd call the standard "milky ring." So I now wondered, "is the .321 really different, and if so, has Omega also changed the .3861?"
The only other sapphire speedy I own is the Tokyo 2020, so I decided to compare. It was difficult, to say the least, to capture on film the difference I was perceiving with my eye - but hopefully the following photos at least allude to a difference. All I can say is that in person it is perceived as even more different.
Tokyo on left, .321 on right:
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To my eye, the Tokyo appears to have a more steep curvature, and also rise higher? It's definitely more 'milky' appearing.
Two possible optical illusions here, though:
First, perhaps it is possible that something about the setting for the ceramic bezel makes the .321 sapphire set lower in the bezel than the aluminum bezel housing on the Tokyo? If so, does the resulting additional light 'shielding' minimize the milk?
Second, my Tokyo is the panda, so it's possible that some perceived differences relate to the white vs black dials?
But I'm also otherwise reminded that, somewhere along the way, I heard that Omega used a 'new' technique to laser etch the logo
inside of the .321 crystal itself (as compared to on the bottom surface of the crystal). Am I imagining that tidbit? I can't find reference to it now, but seem to remember it being mentioned off-hand in an Omega video of a representative showing off the new .321, some time ago.
Which is all to say:
(1) Wondering why the .321 sapphire appears to have far less 'milk ring' than other pre-.3861 sapphire's I've seen: is there a change in the crystal itself, or instead something about the bezel housing etc., or is it all an optical illusion?
(2) If Omega did use a 'new' technique for laser etching the logo on the .321 crystal, does that suggest it is more likely something else is also different about the .321 sapphire construction itself?
(3) If the .321 crystal is indeed different from the pre-.3861s, are the .3861s with or without the difference? Early photos and videos appear to show standard-ish milk.
On one hand, it would seem strange to me if Omega did something new and better with the .321's sapphire to reduce the much maligned "milky ring" and not scream it from the rooftops; on the other hand, having lived with the .321 and now compared it side-by-side, I'm convinced that - whether real or perceived - the milk has been greatly reduced.
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