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Gbhulk
·On the speedy moon watch? Tell me
Why, yes or no? Education time for me!!
Why, yes or no? Education time for me!!
To sapphire or not?
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superfly
·I have one sapphire and one hesalite.
The hesalite looks super transparent (crystal clear) at most angles. When looking at index markers on a dial at a shallow angle, for example, you can see right through the curve. The edge of the crystal slightly distorts the index marker, but doesn't obscure it. There's a quality about the look of hesalite that's hard to explain.
The sapphire edge is straighter (not curved like the hesalite). At that same shallow angle described above, the edge of the sapphire crystal is visible and dissects the index marker, like a line obscuring part of the marker.
Looking straight down on the crystals, the sapphire has a milky ring around the circumference, whereas the hesalite does not. Looking at the side edge of each crystal, as if looking at the shallowest of angles across the crystal, you'll notice a distinct edge (milky, like looking through thick glass) on the sapphire. No such visible edge on the hesalite.
There was a thread in which a member posted lots of pictures comparing sapphire snd hesalite.
Sapphire is much, much more scratch resistant, but if you do get a scratch you'll probably need to replace the crystal. Hesalite scratches easily, but scratches can be buffed out.
Famously, hesalite doesn't shatter, which is one reason it was chosen by NASA for space flight.
I like them both. If I could only choose one, and if space flight were not in the cards, I'd choose sapphire for the scratch resistance. (I believe this is a relatively unpopular opinion here).
The hesalite looks super transparent (crystal clear) at most angles. When looking at index markers on a dial at a shallow angle, for example, you can see right through the curve. The edge of the crystal slightly distorts the index marker, but doesn't obscure it. There's a quality about the look of hesalite that's hard to explain.
The sapphire edge is straighter (not curved like the hesalite). At that same shallow angle described above, the edge of the sapphire crystal is visible and dissects the index marker, like a line obscuring part of the marker.
Looking straight down on the crystals, the sapphire has a milky ring around the circumference, whereas the hesalite does not. Looking at the side edge of each crystal, as if looking at the shallowest of angles across the crystal, you'll notice a distinct edge (milky, like looking through thick glass) on the sapphire. No such visible edge on the hesalite.
There was a thread in which a member posted lots of pictures comparing sapphire snd hesalite.
Sapphire is much, much more scratch resistant, but if you do get a scratch you'll probably need to replace the crystal. Hesalite scratches easily, but scratches can be buffed out.
Famously, hesalite doesn't shatter, which is one reason it was chosen by NASA for space flight.
I like them both. If I could only choose one, and if space flight were not in the cards, I'd choose sapphire for the scratch resistance. (I believe this is a relatively unpopular opinion here).
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Gbhulk
·I have one sapphire and one hesalite.
The hesalite looks super transparent (crystal clear) at most angles. When looking at index markers on a dial at a shallow angle, for example, you can see right through the curve. The edge of the crystal slightly distorts the index marker, but doesn't obscure it. There's a quality about the look of hesalite that's hard to explain.
The sapphire edge is straighter (not curved like the hesalite). At that same shallow angle described above, the edge of the sapphire crystal is visible and dissects the index marker, like a line obscuring part of the marker.
Looking straight down on the crystals, the sapphire has a milky ring around the circumference, whereas the hesalite does not. Looking at the side edge of each crystal, as if looking at the shallowest of angles across the crystal, you'll notice a distinct edge (milky, like looking through thick glass) on the sapphire. No such visible edge on the hesalite.
There was a thread in which a member posted lots of pictures comparing sapphire snd hesalite.
Sapphire is much, much more scratch resistant, but if you do get a scratch you'll probably need to replace the crystal. Hesalite scratches easily, but scratches can be buffed out.
Famously, hesalite doesn't shatter, which is one reason it was chosen by NASA for space flight.
I like them both. If I could only choose one, and if space flight were not in the cards, I'd choose sapphire for the scratch resistance. (I believe this is a relatively unpopular opinion here).
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Duckie
·I have one sapphire and one hesalite.
The hesalite looks super transparent (crystal clear) at most angles. When looking at index markers on a dial at a shallow angle, for example, you can see right through the curve. The edge of the crystal slightly distorts the index marker, but doesn't obscure it. There's a quality about the look of hesalite that's hard to explain.
The sapphire edge is straighter (not curved like the hesalite). At that same shallow angle described above, the edge of the sapphire crystal is visible and dissects the index marker, like a line obscuring part of the marker.
Looking straight down on the crystals, the sapphire has a milky ring around the circumference, whereas the hesalite does not. Looking at the side edge of each crystal, as if looking at the shallowest of angles across the crystal, you'll notice a distinct edge (milky, like looking through thick glass) on the sapphire. No such visible edge on the hesalite.
There was a thread in which a member posted lots of pictures comparing sapphire snd hesalite.
Sapphire is much, much more scratch resistant, but if you do get a scratch you'll probably need to replace the crystal. Hesalite scratches easily, but scratches can be buffed out.
Famously, hesalite doesn't shatter, which is one reason it was chosen by NASA for space flight.
I like them both. If I could only choose one, and if space flight were not in the cards, I'd choose sapphire for the scratch resistance. (I believe this is a relatively unpopular opinion here).
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Foo2rama
··Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...Personally it’s hesalite for me. I think it just looks better, and scratches for me are not a problem.
Note you cannot convert one to the other.
Note you cannot convert one to the other.
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Taddyangle
·It depends on the look you want. I prefer the hesalite and have both. The hesalite is nice because if you ever get a scratch you fan fix it yourself. The sapphire is not really likely to get scratched, but is it does it will be a few hundred to fix, and then you will need to also get is serviced.
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ext1
·Lots of previous discussion- lots to read!
https://omegaforums.net/threads/sapphire-vs-hesalite.33901/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/1st-timer-here-speedy-pro-hesalite-or-sapphire.58380/
My take though - for standard speedy, hesalite. Maybe for some LE dials I would want sapphire. But definitely not for speediorite!
https://omegaforums.net/threads/sapphire-vs-hesalite.33901/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/1st-timer-here-speedy-pro-hesalite-or-sapphire.58380/
My take though - for standard speedy, hesalite. Maybe for some LE dials I would want sapphire. But definitely not for speediorite!
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jaguar11
·Hesalite would be my personal preference.
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drhombus24
·I posted some pics here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/hesalite-vs-sapphire-speedmaster-pro-pics.85579/
Good luck making your mind up
https://omegaforums.net/threads/hesalite-vs-sapphire-speedmaster-pro-pics.85579/
Good luck making your mind up
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padders
··Oooo subtitles!I think most of my points have already been made above but I too have both, both have pluses and minuses. The plastic one (lets call a spade a spade) is relatively soft and scratches easy but has the upside that until very recently was very cheap to replace, now not quite so cheap. It also cracks if hit hard enough, easier than mineral or sapphire glass in my experience, I have cracked a few on various Omegas. The sapphire one is very very hard but will shatter if dropped hard enough and can be scratched or chipped so not invulnerable. It is also impossible to polish AFAIK and cripplingly expensive to replace (think upwards of £550/$700 for the part alone).
There are also aesthetic considerations which people argue over, milky rings, warmth etc etc. I don't really notice any of that personally, both do the job to my eye and both are fit for purpose. All things being equal I too would take the tough one (sapphire) and be careful not to drop the watch, especially now Omega seem happy to massively ramp up the price of the plastic version but as I say I am happy to keep both in my collection. For a curved dome crystal like that fitted to the Speedy, plastic was all they had back in the 50s and 60s when the straight lug and Pro were conceived. Now we have tougher materials to choose from and it seems perverse in some ways to stick with the 1950s solution on a brand new watch.
There are also aesthetic considerations which people argue over, milky rings, warmth etc etc. I don't really notice any of that personally, both do the job to my eye and both are fit for purpose. All things being equal I too would take the tough one (sapphire) and be careful not to drop the watch, especially now Omega seem happy to massively ramp up the price of the plastic version but as I say I am happy to keep both in my collection. For a curved dome crystal like that fitted to the Speedy, plastic was all they had back in the 50s and 60s when the straight lug and Pro were conceived. Now we have tougher materials to choose from and it seems perverse in some ways to stick with the 1950s solution on a brand new watch.
Edited:
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Risto
·When my hesalite got stupid scratches another day I was so angry and stressed. Then polywatch arrived and it was like new after a few minutes of polishing.
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VintageWatchIta
·I had both, and for me there is no comparison: The MoonWatch is hesalite! 🥰
And few scratches can easily be removed 😉
And few scratches can easily be removed 😉
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Tempus
·Hesalite gives the dial a softer look which gives the Speedy (and others) a more vintage vibe that I like. Some sapphires are also finger print magnets, some more so than others. My Sub C for example attracts fingerprints whereas my 1980s GMT sapphire is not so bad...may be the coatings??
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absoluteczech
·Try and view them in person. It was a no brainer for me once I saw the "ring" that's caused by the sapphire. Also hesalite is more authenticate to the original so that was my reasoning. Plus you get to save a few bucks 😉
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madjestikmoose
·For me, the only drawback to hesalite is that it doesn't produce that sunlight glare you can shine into people's eyes.
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hbombkid
·Sapphire for me. I am just ocd on scratches and banged them a couple times and nothing off a sapphire.
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KingCrouchy
·Hesalite for me. I don't mind about the scratches and prefer the look. Also with polywatch it's fastly repaired.
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horseShu
·Sapphire for me. There's endless debates about the "warmth" of hesalite and the "milky ring" of sapphire. For me, one is not better than the other; it's just different. I could live with either one, looks wise. But I choose the sapphire sandwich because it IS more scratch resistant. Plus, I get to see the movement, and it is better finished than the movement in the hesalite.
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Owlsu
·I like the hesalite just for the novelty of it. It's almost unheard of to go out and purchase a brand new luxury watch in 2019 and have it come equipped with a plastic crystal as default. Just another point to add to the long and unique history of this watch.
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