As for me, it's not about the bezel or the applied logo or the accuracy or the power reserve or the bracelet but for that stepped dial.
On a more serious note, I would wait until the bushing issues are sorted before I buy or trade for a 3861.
I also believe it will be more future classic.
I will get a 3861 eventually, but I will never get rid of my 1863 or 1861.
It's the last of it's kind, the last of the non co-axials.
Well I just made the upgrade…1861 sapphire to 3861 hesalite! Frankly originally wanted the hesalite but they didn’t have one in the store when I purchased a few years ago. I tried the new hesalite on at the AD and couldn’t resist. Yes, movement is better but it really came down to how it looked on the wrist. Step dial seems to make the watch appear slightly smaller for some reason and makes the dial pop. The new bracelet is fantastic, and the domed hesalite with no milky ring sealed the deal for me!
Toying with the same question right now. I'm considering the 3861 Hesalite to replace my 1861 Hesalite primarily so the bracelet would be compatible with my 50th Snoopy I'm awaiting. I prefer the stepped dial, the DON bezel and the bracelet appears to be a nice upgrade, but parting with mine would be a bit tough. I just can't justify buying the Snoopy and then buying a bracelet, when I could just upgrade the watch and have one that would swap back and forth.
Did you trade it in to the AD? Did they give you decent value for it?
Perhaps, but if that happens, it will take a very long time. First, there are many, many, many of them out there. Second, while the 1861 is arguably the last true descendant of the 321 moonwatch, it lacks a tritium dial and hands, a step dial, a DON bezel or a flat link bracelet, some of the features that make the older vintage models collectible classics.
I just picked up a new 3861 Hesalite on the fabric strap. I posted a couple of months ago about my visit to the Omega boutique to see it for the first time and being a little non-plussed with the exception of the new bracelet, which I bought and they put on my 1861. The more I read about the updates, read reviews, and looked at pics the more I was intrigued. The anti-magnetic property and hacking movement in particular were of interest, as well as just a more accurate watch (my 1861 was never particular accurate).
I emailed a watch dealer who's my go-to and always pays me very fair money for watches I'd like to sell, as I absolutely hate having to sell them myself. Just too many scams and nonsense to chase an extra 10-15% IMO. He asked me what I wanted for the 1861 and I gave him a reasonable number that was fine with him. I kept the 3861 bracelet to use on the new watch.
I briefly entertained the sapphire sandwich, but once I saw them both I knew it had to be another Hesalite. I also really liked the technical looking fabric strap on the 3861 Hesalite. So now I've got a 3861 with both a bracelet and a cool new strap, for a relatively small incremental cost.
I can't comment in timekeeping yet, but the very subtle difference in details are more noticeable the longer I wear and look at it. It feels a bit easier to wind and maybe even wears a bit smaller, probably an illusion due to the shorter pushers. The finishing on the dial is finer to my eye as well.
I still agree that if you've got an 1861 that with the exception of the bracelet it might not be worth the cost to buy a 3861, but this made sense for me and I'm pretty happy with it.
