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Would you own a 321 Ed White AND a 3861 Moonwatch? Why or why not

B
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I currently own a 3861 Sapphire Sandwich and I love it to pieces. Recently I have been lusting after the new 321 Ed White and I got on a list at a local AD (not even an OB, ouch). I think that watch is absolutely stunning, has an incredible history, and something about the proportions are just perfect, but I digress. Although the chances of me getting one of these pieces from the AD are slim to none, I have been thinking about what I would do with my 3861 if offered a 321. Do any 321 owners have a 3861 as well? How do you divide wrist time between the 2? Contrarily, do any of you think the watches are too similar to warrant having both?
 
Doc Olives
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Interesting question. I think an easy response would be to say something like the 321 celebrates individual watchmaking and is historically significant whereas the 3861 is cutting edge technology in a classic template.

I might look at it a little differently. One of my favorite aspect of Speedies is they (my opinion) aren’t jewelry. They may cost $5,000 US and up from there, but they remain wear-it-everyday and do anything watches. Contrast that with maybe a Rolex, where even a Sub feels like you have to be careful not to scratch it.

My point here is that if you’re comfortable wearing a 321 as an everyday watch for everything life throws at you, then yea, I don’t see the need for a 3861. But, if the 3861 is the everyday, then maybe the 321 is the special occasion watch, in which case they are two different watches for you.

Fun question. I suspect it may take 5-10 years from an AD before it becomes an actual practical issue. Enjoy that 3861 by itself in the interim 👍
 
B
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Doc Olives Doc Olives
Interesting question. I think an easy response would be to say something like the 321 celebrates individual watchmaking and is historically significant whereas the 3861 is cutting edge technology in a classic template.

I might look at it a little differently. One of my favorite aspect of Speedies is they (my opinion) aren’t jewelry. They may cost $5,000 US and up from there, but they remain wear-it-everyday and do anything watches. Contrast that with maybe a Rolex, where even a Sub feels like you have to be careful not to scratch it.

My point here is that if you’re comfortable wearing a 321 as an everyday watch for everything life throws at you, then yea, I don’t see the need for a 3861. But, if the 3861 is the everyday, then maybe the 321 is the special occasion watch, in which case they are two different watches for you.

Fun question. I suspect it may take 5-10 years from an AD before it becomes an actual practical issue. Enjoy that 3861 by itself in the interim 👍

Thanks for the great response! I agree with you that the Speedmaster is the do anything watch, perfect for all occasions. If I owned both I do see the 321 as the more special occasion watch, however I feel like I would want to wear it everyday!
 
Evitzee
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A bit of a strange question on a site where most Speedmaster owners own more than one. I have eleven Speedmasters, incl an Ed White 321, but I never feel it negates me owning other Speedmaster versions. They are all different. An Ed White 321 and a 3861 are completely different watches.....different cases, different bracelets, different movements, and even the dials are pretty different. If the finances are a consideration then I can see you cutting the 3861 loose, otherwise there is room for both, and more, in a collection. If I was forced to keep just one it would definitely be the 321, but I don't face that reality.

OP will probably find an indeterminable wait to get an Ed White from an AD, and it may well be discontinued before his name bubbled to the top of the list.
 
B
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Evitzee Evitzee
A bit of a strange question on a site where most Speedmaster owners own more than one. I have eleven Speedmasters, incl an Ed White 321, but I never feel it negates me owning other Speedmaster versions. They are all different. An Ed White 321 and a 3861 are completely different watches.....different cases, different bracelets, different movements, and even the dials are pretty different. If the finances are a consideration then I can see you cutting the 3861 loose, otherwise there is room for both, and more, in a collection.

Yeah I figured I would hear the argument for keeping both when I posed the question. There are a few Speedmasters I would love to nab over the coming months/years but I feel like my ideal collection would consist of Speedmasters that were more aesthetically different, like a 3861 and an Alaska Project II. But I can definitely see the joy in owning multiple Speedmasters just due to the subtle nuances and differences alone.
 
S
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I definitely didn't think twice about getting a 321 while having a 3861 and other Speedmaster's, I like each one for its specific details and I find each watch has its own special character.
 
L
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I'd echo the above. I have a 321 and slightly older 1861. The 321 is very different to a "regular" Speedmaster and I'm very happy I have both. The 321 is definitely one I wear sparingly but enjoy it when I do.
 
starbot1
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I think the case differences between the two warrant owning both, alone. That, and I would think the 3861 would be more of a daily wearer. I own a 57 Speedy and I am absolutely getting a 3861 eventually!
 
cvalue13
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B BMunMuns
Yeah I figured I would hear the argument for keeping both when I posed the question.

Something you might *not* have figured you’d hear: if you put your name down with an AD and legitimately have the funds and interest in the NEW321, then I would suggest you instead find a brand new one of the secondary market and pay the currently modest premium.

As mentioned by others, the likelihood of obtaining one through an AD is low enough, and the current secondary premium is low enough, that anyone with their heart set on an NEW321 should see the rational path forward.
 
B
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cvalue13 cvalue13
Something you might *not* have figured you’d hear: if you put your name down with an AD and legitimately have the funds and interest in the NEW321, then I would suggest you instead find a brand new one of the secondary market and pay the currently modest premium.

As mentioned by others, the likelihood of obtaining one through an AD is low enough, and the current secondary premium is low enough, that anyone with their heart set on an NEW321 should see the rational path forward.

I didn’t expect to hear this because this isn’t the question I asked! I know getting a watch from an AD may never happen as I stated in my original post. My local OB closed a while ago and this is my only option locally so I have nothing else to do but wait and see if I get lucky. Of course I can buy on the secondary market and it’s something I may consider down the road, but this question was posed more about the watches themselves and not how to obtain them.
 
cvalue13
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B BMunMuns
Of course I can buy on the secondary market and it’s something I may consider down the road, but this question was posed more about the watches themselves and not how to obtain them.

My lead-in was meant as an admission that I was going astray of your initial question, of course. If thread-drift puts you off…

That said, you posed the question as though it was a conundrum you might face, when (as several responses above suggest) on your current path you won’t face this conundrum.

If instead this was just a pure hypothetical and you’re resigned to not have a NEW321, then we carry on!
 
anselmw
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I have both the 321 and a 3861 but i wear them in rotation with my other speedys and watches. Not sure why people treat the ed white differently, it is a limited supply watch but it is still built to be worn daily like any other speedy... Like most other speedy collectors, once you past ten you lose count. For me they are all different and each dial or hand or metal difference makes it a different watch for me to enjoy.
 
Jantar
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I’d probably sell all 3 of my Speedmasters if I could own a modern Ed White. As it is I wear my 60th Anniversary trilogy speedmaster almost daily. It’s been very reliable and durable though I did drop it and break the crystal a couple months back. It has since been repaired and is back on the wrist.
 
airansun
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The earlier Speedmasters also have much more beautiful dials than the 861s. To me anyway.

Coincidentally, what I’m wearing today, a -62:
0101D093-B25C-4D54-9B88-4328F5436A6C.jpeg

Compared with my first one, a -74.
766CDDF2-E623-4365-A2DE-E710F9153955.jpeg


Having only one Speedmaster is like having only one potato chip.
 
glg
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I used to own a haselite moonwatch 1861 and the fois, I didn't have any issue wearing them both .
321 and the 3861 is excellent combo .
 
S
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When I wear the 321 on a daily basis it feels more delicate on the wrist. I know it has a ceramic bezel but the whole package feels more dressy with more polished surfaces. It's also less accurate which can be irritating with a daily wearer.
With the 3861 hesalite the whole package feels more robust due to brushing and I like to wear my watches for all activities.
 
P
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S skipjack
When I wear the 321 on a daily basis it feels more delicate on the wrist. I know it has a ceramic bezel but the whole package feels more dressy with more polished surfaces. It's also less accurate which can be irritating with a daily wearer.
With the 3861 hesalite the whole package feels more robust due to brushing and I like to wear my watches for all activities.

That’s where I am. I’d really love a 321 but am not sure how often I’d wear it over my Speedy Pro. Partially due to the accuracy of my 3861 but also wanting to keep the 321 in perfect condition.

It’s unobtainable (for me) from a boutique so it’s moot.

I did put a Speedmaster ‘57 bracelet on my Hesalite and while it’s certainly no replacement for the 321, I’m extremely happy with the look and it’s doing a hood job of scratching my itch.
 
FD368017-16C3-4B51-A9E0-94C99E81A9DD.jpeg A825BD66-826C-4989-927F-430B8BF863B9.jpeg
speedy_fan
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These days who use watches to tell time??? My cell phone would tell more accurate time than any timepieces available and it's 99% on my hands as compared to my watches. Hence from an accuracy aspect of 321, it doesn't bother me.

I do not own a 321 at this point and am inspired to be a proud owner in future "hopefully".

I had placed my name on the list with my OB and was told the waitlists are ever-growing and they do not have an estimate for me.

I am currently contemplating pulling the trigger off the grey market as chrono24 only has 16 brand new pieces for sales and the premium was relatively low vs the low availability numbers.
 
Vogelphoenix
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This thread reminds me that I need to buy more Speedys 😎, only three so far. 321 and 3861 are easily different enough (look/wear) to co-exist in a collection.
 
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