Which To Buy - Hesalite Sandwich or Rising Sun?

sgrenald · Feb 8, 2021

Hi All,

Looking at my (ha, ha) finances, I will be able to buy one Omega this year and probably another in 2022. As mentioned in the subject, I'm thinking about the 3572.50 hesalite sandwich or the 522.30.42.30.06.001 "Rising Sun." So my question is simple: which one should l get now?

Or to put it another way, which one will appreciate more in the next year or two? I don't look at watches as an investment, but if you'd told me 10 years ago that the Alaska Project or 2003 Snoopy (around $5000, then) would be 3x-6x as expensive today, I'd have bought one then, because they're now priced out of my reach.

So I guess I'm looking for the WISdom of Crowds here. The hesalite sandwich is about $4000 while the Rising Sun is about $7000. The sandwich is PROBABLY just appreciating in price based on the cost of the newer moonwatches, but it may increase even more for some reason. I have no idea what the Olympics watch is going to do. Will it shoot up in value over the next 4-5 months because the rescheduled 2020 Olympics will generate interest? Will it hold steady because the excitement about the Olympics will be muted? Will the design get belated popularity (like the Alaska and original Snoopy)?

I don't think either of these watches will GO DOWN in price over the next 12-18 months. But strictly from a "spending the least" basis, which one should I get now?

STANDY · Feb 8, 2021

One of the Speedy Tuesday watches would be what I would buy with your rationale above.

But buy what you like is your best bet.

Hands90 · Feb 8, 2021

Rising Sun, Rising Sun, Rising Sun.

Did I mention you should go for the Rising Sun?
The case back seems a little rough (physically) but that dial and bezel is just perfect.

sgrenald · Feb 8, 2021

STANDY
One of the Speedy Tuesday watches would be what I would buy with your rationale above.

But buy what you like is your best bet.

I like 'em both. But I'm trying to figure out what will cost me less money in the long run. If both increase in cost by 10% over the next year, I'd be better off buying the Rising Sun now. If the new version of the moonwatch creates more demand for older models, and the hesalite sandwich goes up 30%, while the Rising Sun doesn't change, it would make more sense to get the sandwich today and the Olympics one later.

And I like the two Speedy Tuesdays, but (at least from what I've seen on Chrono24) either one costs more than "my" two watches combined. I'm trying to keep something resembling a budget, which is why I'm only getting one.

140dave · Feb 8, 2021

Of the 2, Rising Sun but it’s a gamble. Really, don’t sleep on @STANDY suggestion, as far as potential upside either ST is probably a more sure bet. Higher initial cost yes, but less of a gamble IMO. The other 2, one will most likely never rise above inflation rate and the future of the 2020 LE is uncertain at best. The ST1 is the one I think will be the winner in 20years regardless of today’s market price.

omegamike · Feb 8, 2021

I'd have to agree with STANDY

sgrenald · Feb 8, 2021

Hands90
Rising Sun, Rising Sun, Rising Sun.

Did I mention you should go for the Rising Sun?
The case back seems a little rough (physically) but that dial and bezel is just perfect.

Don't equivocate, please. 😁

sgrenald · Feb 8, 2021

140dave
Of the 2, Rising Sun but it’s a gamble. Really, don’t sleep on @STANDY suggestion, as far as potential upside either ST is probably a more sure bet. Higher initial cost yes, but less of a gamble IMO. The other 2, one will most likely never rise above inflation rate and the future of the 2020 LE is uncertain at best. The ST1 is the one I think will be the winner in 20years regardless of today’s market price.

I'm not looking for upside. I just don't want to be shut out like I was with the first Snoopy and last Alaska. I like both of the Speedy Tuesdays, but not as much as I like the sandwich or the Rising Sun. I also like the most recent Snoopy, but that looks like it's something to think about in a year...or two. And there will be a third Speedy Tuesday next year (I think).

I plan on getting both of these watches eventually.

machamp6650 · Feb 8, 2021

FWIW I think sandwich will go up, rising sun will go down (or hold). I've got the impression recently that interest in the olympics models has waned a bit as the hype has moved over to the new models, snoopy etc. No idea if that will change when / if millions of people congregate on Tokyo for the olympics. But prices continue to creep up for core models at the lower price brackets.

Having said that, these are two seriously different watches. There's got to be something in the aesthetics that drives your preference one way or the other?

cvalue13 · Feb 8, 2021

sgrenald
If the new version of the moonwatch creates more demand for older models, and the hesalite sandwich goes up 30%, while the Rising Sun doesn't change, it would make more sense to get the sandwich today and the Olympics one later.

Two thoughts.

First, when you find the magic code to prospecting modern watch values, please share.

Second, regarding the "rising sun": it's obviously a beautiful watch, and there's some truth that "overlooked" models can years later become the most desirable collectors pieces - but that's years later (if at all). Right now, and for the near/medium term, there is a reason the "rising sun" can still be had from ADs/OBs in Japan (even though 2020 were made and released over 2.5 years ago). It's not so much that you're "getting in at ground floor" with the rising sun, as instead it's had problems finding subscribers.

The rising sun appears to be experiencing a bit of a renaissance bump around these threads, but that might be in part simply because it's still available near MSRP? Past these watch nerd walls, I'm not seeing the rising sun renaissance in the general market.

sgrenald · Feb 8, 2021

machamp6650
Having said that, these are two seriously different watches. There's got to be something in the aesthetics that drives your preference one way or the other?

Since I like to ramble, and you opened the door for me...😜

I've wanted to get a moonwatch for over a decade. In hindsight, I should have just bought a 3570.50 in 2010 for "not much" and that might have scratched my itch. But I knew that the Speedy Pro would be sold long after all of us on this forum are worm food. So there wasn't an urgency to get one "now." My world changed and the watch was out of my price range for the last 8 years or so (as I mentioned above, that's changing now) so I wasn't looking that hard for most of that time. Except three years ago when I was in the Bay Area and both Tourneau and Toppers had pre-owned 005's for $3700. When I started thinking about it again, I decided I wanted the hesalite sandwich, so that I'd have the "true moonwatch" experience when I looked at it on my wrist, and I could see the movement. But the Rising Sun looks really gorgeous. I'm planning on getting BOTH, it's just that I can't get both right now.

64Wing · Feb 8, 2021

Playing devil's advocate here...

What if you bought a sub-$1000 piece to hold you over and then bought something really wild in 2022?

Gives you a chance to see what comes out as new for 21 and 22 before you find yourself part of the, "man, I really wish this BB58 came in blue..." crowd.

This is my general approach. Hence why I have a Hamilton Field, and a Lorier Neptune II. Just holdovers while I hunt/save for the next big one.

Haven't found myself fixated on anything yet so still waiting for the universe to drop the hammer on me and make me obsessed with something

Alfista88 · Feb 8, 2021

Oof! I see there's much concern with valuation, that's complicating your decision-making process. Like Standy mentioned, I'd purchase based purely on what you like best.

I second 64Wing's suggestion to just wait and see what's coming later this year and in 2022. Several Apollo anniversaries left for Omega to come up with new 3861-powered colorways. Just park your money in small cap index fund (or these days, any random sampling of tickers that you think might catch on in reddit) for the time being, and you'll see you'll have the same, or even more purchasing power when you decide it's time to buy.

Remember that you can easily make your own 3572-lite, if you don't care about the more decorated movement. I wish I'd purchased a 3572.50 when I first got into Omega's and they were easily accessible in AD display cases.. along with the original Snoopy.

But I find that with a Thomas Preik caseback on my standard Speedy moon, we're not missing all too much. Here's mine below. If the delrin brake doesn't bother you aesthetically, you can find several caseback options (OEM or after-market) to make your own sandwich.

Evitzee · Feb 8, 2021

First, watches are not investments, so stop thinking about them that way. No one can tell what one watch or another will do in six months, a year, two years or ten years. The delay, and maybe cancellation, of the Tokyo Olympics will have little, if any, effect on the long term prices.

I agree with what others have said, look at the two #SpeedyTuesday LE's, there is a lot to like with either of them. I have both and I tend to think the ST1 with brushed case and reverse panda dial is underappreciated at this time and has a lot more presence on the wrist than the Rising Sun, and probably more long term upside potential than the Rising Sun, imo.

As always, buy what makes you smile and which is in your budget.

sgrenald · Feb 8, 2021

Guys...I've said it a few times that I'm not trying to make money here. In my first comment I literally said "I don't look at watches as an investment," I'm not planning on selling either of them. Once it's in my collection, I don't care if it increases 10x in price, or drops in half. I'm not trying to buy "some Omega" today that I won't be able to buy tomorrow (like the Snoopy, or a #SpeedyTuesday, etc). Right now I'm looking at these two specific models and wondering which one I should buy in the next couple of months, and which one I might not buy until some time in 2022. And I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were, since most of you have been following Omega more closely than me.

Regarding "wait and see," I'm actually doing that with Grand Seiko. I want to get a hi-beat none of them (at least online) quite do it for me, except for the SBGH267, which, of course, is the one that now sells for close to the A11. So I'll just keep checking the forums (fora?) and bugging my buddy who works for Grand Seiko until "the watch" comes along. Or the price for that SBGH267 collapses. 😗

sgrenald · Feb 8, 2021

cvalue13
Two thoughts.

First, when you find the magic code to prospecting modern watch values, please share.

Second, regarding the "rising sun": it's obviously a beautiful watch, and there's some truth that "overlooked" models can years later become the most desirable collectors pieces - but that's years later (if at all). Right now, and for the near/medium term, there is a reason the "rising sun" can still be had from ADs/OBs in Japan (even though 2020 were made and released over 2.5 years ago). It's not so much that you're "getting in at ground floor" with the rising sun, as instead it's had problems finding subscribers.

The rising sun appears to be experiencing a bit of a renaissance bump around these threads, but that might be in part simply because it's still available near MSRP? Past these watch nerd walls, I'm not seeing the rising sun renaissance in the general market.

Ah...good points. As I've mentioned, I've got a bad case of FOMO. Nothing makes me spend stupid money as much as when I like something and know that if I don't jump now, I won't get another chance. You may be right about the Rising Sun. The Olympics excitement is, well, if not dead, in a coma. Which has an effect on all of the commemorative stuff. Maybe it'll be like the original 2003 Snoopy (I understand that they were practically giving them away for the first few years) Plus, the 3572 is a lot cheaper. 😎

MTROIS · Feb 8, 2021

Just buy what you like now, enjoy it, have fun with it, put your patina on it, and stop worrying about anything else!!!
For every watch we are priced out now, there are 10 more still available.
Don’t follow the masses, just follow your gut and tastes.

sgrenald · Feb 8, 2021

64Wing
Playing devil's advocate here...

What if you bought a sub-$1000 piece to hold you over and then bought something really wild in 2022?

Gives you a chance to see what comes out as new for 21 and 22 before you find yourself part of the, "man, I really wish this BB58 came in blue..." crowd.

This is my general approach. Hence why I have a Hamilton Field, and a Lorier Neptune II. Just holdovers while I hunt/save for the next big one.

Haven't found myself fixated on anything yet so still waiting for the universe to drop the hammer on me and make me obsessed with something

That doesn't help. 🙁 The last time I bought a watch that cost more than $1000, it was the RGM in my avatar pic. I'm probably getting a Zelos or two in the next month. And I have my first Lüm-Tec, in years, coming later this year. I've wanted to get a Speedy Pro for a long time...

cvalue13 · Feb 8, 2021

sgrenald
Right now I'm looking at these two specific models and wondering which one I should buy in the next couple of months, and which one I might not buy until some time in 2022

I get it, and understand the curiosity.

If you asked instead to compare a 3572 and a PP 5711, there starts to be actionable information.

But between the 3572 and Red Tokyo watches, it’s really difficult to say which one will be cheaper to buy (relative to its own price) in ~12 months.

By the way: I find it a little funny the red Tokyo is being called “the rising sun,” because it seems lost on folks that the red watch represents the Americas (Asia is represented by the green watch).

But, I’m 0/1 in conjuring nicknames, so what do I know 😗

64Wing · Feb 8, 2021

sgrenald
That doesn't help. 🙁 The last time I bought a watch that cost more than $1000, it was the RGM in my avatar pic. I'm probably getting a Zelos or two in the next month. And I have my first Lüm-Tec, in years, coming later this year. I've wanted to get a Speedy Pro for a long time...

Read, son! I said sub-$1000 😜

Which To Buy - Hesalite Sandwich or Rising Sun?

sgrenald

STANDY

Hands90

sgrenald

140dave

omegamike

sgrenald

sgrenald

machamp6650

cvalue13

sgrenald

64Wing

Alfista88

Evitzee

sgrenald

sgrenald

MTROIS

sgrenald

cvalue13

64Wing

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