Sorry for the typo when listing the specs of the 3861. It is indeed the sapphire model, NOT the hesalite. Also, if you want to see my stand-alone review of the 1861: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XA9BuJB7Nj4.html
Important point to note, it really comes down to wrist size- 1861 wears Larger than general rolex sports watches like the sub and Gmt, but the 3861 wears smaller despite the 42mm case due to its bracelet. In my opinion, you need at least a 6 inch to pull off a 3861, and a 7 inch wrist to pull off the 1861.
I own them both and wanted to sell one of them but couldn't make up my mind on which one, they are both great watches and different enough to keep them both, which I did.
Owned the 1861 and 3861, personal preference for the 3861. Why?…bracelet has a nice vintage charm to it and suits the watch better in my opinion, my 3861 is also very accurate and gains less than a second per day whereas my 1861 was nowhere near as accurate.
The new 3861 bracelet fits on the old 1861 watch. Just ordered one from my AD. $800. A lot of money for a watch bracelet but looks and feels much better.
Good video. Bought the 1861 in November 2020. It was a Grail Watch and I am so glad I got it. Since then it has gotten the most wrist-time. I actually swapped out the OEM bracelet for a Uncle Seiko President for the Speedy. I absolutely love it and it looks even better than the OEM bracelet. Th Speedy is the best watch in my collection.
Was my grail watch also and my first real luxury watch I bought. I will buy other watches in the future, but wil never sell my Speedy. My bracelet stayed in the box from day 1, always on a Nato.
The bracelet alone is/was the reason for me to upgrade. Looks so much better on it IMO. I prefer the Hesalite one though, mainly due to the more original look and the lower price
Can't go wrong with either. If you have an 1861 the 3861 bracelet fits perfect. Just get the bracelet from 2023 with the micro adjustable clasp. For me it's difficult to decide to get another Speedy. As much as the 3861 has improved and it has decorated movement. The dial on the 1861 has a matte dark grey. Some 1861 dials are starting to patina. So if you're into patina dials and into vintage. Here's your chance to own something modern with some years, and a good amount of wrist time in the sun (mine is showing some discoloration). You will experience and see your Speedy age gracefully. The 1861 may not have tritium but the dials will change. I know a friend of mine got his Speedy back from service and he got a DON bezel on his 1861. So that's something to look out for also.
@@BrokeWatchFanatic He didn't notice it at first LOL. I asked the Omega boutique in Chicago if I can order a DON. Obviously they really didn't know what I was talking about until I explained to the rep. I was told I can't do that. Only at service or I would need to take my watch in to see the in-house watch maker to determine if I need a bezel replacement. So who knows if this was a service mistake or Omega is updating everyone at service? Thankfully Omega is not like Rolex here in the US. Once you take a Rolex in for service and you have a tritium dial/pre-ceramic model, or modern variation, like T-Rex hands on MKI Explorer, a MKI (only one year dial) on a 43mm Sea Dweller (no crown on Swiss made).... Rolex WILL replace anything they what to w/out honoring the request of it's owners. Omega will leave your watch as you want it dial/case.
I should have bought an 1861, but I bought a Rolex Air-king. I didn't really bond with the Rolex and sold it after a few years. Had I bought the speedmaster, I know I'd still own it.
I actually bought the 1861 over the 3861 since I hated the taper on the updated bracelet and enjoyed a more robust design. Now I wear the speedy on strap 95% of the time and taste has changed, eyeing the upgrade but don't really see much of a difference
With recent black friday discounts and deals I was able to snag a mint 861 for $2600 on ebay, nearly half the price of what I could have gotten the 3861 for. So it's a no brainer for me.
I’ve been eyeing moonwatch for ages. But can’t pull the trigger. Both previous and current generation are great watches. For me personally the 3861 is better choice. There are 2 main factors. 1. The movement is metas certified, so not only is it amagnetic, but it’s a master chronometer. And it’s hacking) 2. Better ergonomics due to the new bracelet and a slimmer case. Esthetic refinements on the watch face are nice, but not critical.
The day has come. After almost 8 years of longing I picked up my Moonwatch. I went with a Hesalite 3861 on a bracelet. I’m over the moon with the watch!
The kicker for me is my 1861 cost £2880 new and was a graduation present from my parents less than 10 years ago. The 3861 retails here at £6600 which takes it into an entirely different league from an affordability stand point. I wouldn't in a million years pay an extra £3720 for a 3861 over a 1861 (ignoring the sentimental value).
I did try the 3861 before , i hated the bracelet . Just wasn't for me. I got quite a big wrist , and the big taper made me feel like wearing a small chain instead of a proper watch . I never tried on the 1861 since it wasn't there , but for me i am very sure it would get a lot better . BTW i did get the smp300 , which is a lot bigger and no tapered bracelet . I already had the PO2500 and i now love both watches a lot . Still looking for a Speedy but idk which one ... i keep my eyes on a apollo8 , a dsotm and a racing ... the moonwatch although i do love the hands is now out of the book .
I could see the taper being a downside for a larger wrist. Personally, I have a girly ass little wrist, so it works out well for me. I've also had no issues with the links pulling arm hair like I've read many complaints about. Great watch first luxury watch and will be the last. Love it.
@BrokeWatchFanatic I bought the hesalite version, so I typically wear the nylon band or a leather band. I bought the bracelet off ebay. The hesalite version was 35% off on the Military Exchange last year and the website is tax free so got it for a heck of a deal. The sapphire sandwich was full retail. I like the more original feel of the hesalite as well.
Here!…Here!….yes totally agree with your assessment on the sapphire 3861 watch! The Omega Speedmaster Professional is one bad-ass muther-fuck’n watch that’s for sure! 👍 I own one and LOVE IT!
Funny to see all the 1861 fans when the RU-vid fan boi’s hype the 3861. I own the 1861 and traded for the new bracelet and it works perfect. I agree the old bracelet is for a larger wrist but there’s something about those sub second markers on the new one that annoys me. Doesn’t look natural. All in all, you can’t miss with a Speedy.
One note. If you want a sapphire case back you don't need to get the 3861. There is a 1863 Sapphire Sandwich that would have been the more appropriate version to compare with in this video. It's the same as the 1861 but decorated better since you'll see it through the sapphire caseback.
If you are wearing the speedmaster on a bracelet, then 3861 for sure. I'm wearing my 1861 (Hesalite) only on a Nato strap, so did not found enough reasons to upgrade. Also, the price increase Omega did from when I bought my 1861 to the new 3861 is a little crazy to my eyes.
I’ve had my hesalite 1861 for 6 years and I wear it several times a week. I have never polished the crystal even one time and it still looks fantastic. The scratching is overblown, mostly by people who have never actually owned the watch.
For me it's the 3861 going away. I had a Sapphire 1863 for many years but it always ran too fast despite being serviced. I never liked that it couldn't be hacked. Around four months ago I bought an 3861 Sapphire. It was expensive at 8K but I sold my older Speedy for $3200 which made the purchase a whole lot more palatable. The 3861 Co-Axial movement is wonder. My Speedy has run at a consistent +1 second per day and of course hacking makes setting time easy. The new tapered bracelet is beautiful and makes the watch wear smaller. Mine came with the push button adjustment clasp. I've also worn it on an Artem sailcloth strap which it looks great on. Back to the bracelet. It's pretty dressy looking and I decided not to wear it on an everyday basis and maybe get it scuffed up. I got a Forstner 1450 brushed bracelet for every day wear. The 1450 is the bracelet that was issued with the Speedmaster celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The Forstner is very well made, has link screws and tapers down to 16mm. It's clasp has seven adjustments, a big plus. It suits my Speedy perfectly. The bracelet that comes with the watch goes on for more social or formal settings. It makes the Speedy a very nice dress watch. Bottom line is that I could not be happier with my 3861.
I agree, it always depends on the situation each buyer is in (financial, personal preference, priorities, etc.). However, I'll start this post with the conclusion that it is financially better to buy the 3861 and objectively better in specs as well. if the 1861 bracelet bothers you so much to spend additional $$$ on an aftermarket one, you might as well spend a bit more and get the 3861. I understand the price difference might be significant. There is a difference in price of at least $1500 if not more. So I don't say that lightly. With the additional expense you also get the improved movement and better resale value in the future. When weighing the difference, I would ultimately say that the difference is an investment into the longevity of retained value. Ie: In 10 years, that extra $1500 for the 3861 will be worth more to future buyers. Also, take into account the probability of need for servicing. If you buy the 1861, due to the fact that it's older, it will likely need servicing sooner than a 3861. More $$$ on an objectively inferior watch. At the end its a net loss and not really a savings of $$$ as you thought it was. It's like buying a used German car. You save alot from depreciation from MSRP but you pay for it in the end in repair costs.
When I searched for moonwatch, I had 3 options on the table 1861, 1863(saphire sandwich) and 3861. Ended up with the 1861, finish is for some reason little nicer and the bracelet is better on my hand. 3861 felt sharper on edges. Also, I liked the extras in the box.😊 Don't care that much about META, 1861 is set properly and precise enough, and power reserve of 50h does nothing to me since I wind it every day. On 3861 I liked the Chrono hand more than on 1861/3.
Great review. It helped me decide on sticking with getting a new white dial speedy. However… As someone who doesn’t have a speedmaster, I’ve decided to 1) buy the 3861 in white dial (only comes in sapphire) new 2) get a used bargain 1861 (or older) hesalite with nylon strap 😁
Another good option is a Speedy racing strap from Bulang and sons, or any of their Speedy straps (taurillon is especially soft and lovely), so that sorts out the 1861 bracelet issue...I sold my 1861 but would really consider the slightly more elegant 3861, even though I'm not a fan of moving away from the previous nasa certified movement (I guess there are big benefits of the 3861..... don't know) P.s. wouldn't dare put on an after market bracelet on a Speedy.... somehow it feels very wrong 😂 Oh and I do have a question. I found the hand winding on my 1861 a bit of a pain. What does it feel like on the new watch?
It feels the same to me, 1861 or 3861. I know what you mean. It's not the most pleasant feeling in the world, and your fingers do feel it when you wind it fully from empty. However, it's not a deal breaker for me.
You have for the 3861 1 link removed from the 12 o’clock side and 4 links removed from the 6 o’clock side? If I counted right how does the clasp center on your wrist?
I'm not sure, but it centers pretty well. Maybe it's the shape of my wrist? I usually have the 6 o'clock side a tiny bit shorter than the 12 o'clock side.
@@BrokeWatchFanaticWhat size wrist you have? I will try it out as I just got the bracelet and have not found a comparable place for the clasp to sit. So you have a 5 removable links left on the 12 o’clock side and 2 removable links left on the 6 o’clock side? Thank you
What you’re seeing in this video is the way Hesalite looks better. In that sense I agree with you. That said the dial on the 3861 is preferable to me, with the step.
1861 for me. I have been so used to the dial and text layout and find the new watch a change from what i have seen over the last 20 years. Bought a new 1861 in 2020 for less than £4k and couldnt be happier.
I don't know what it is about these but the indices markers and small bracelet links don't seem like they "line up" to me.. the way the hour markers are sunk between two planes make it look misaligned to me at certain angles.. the same with the small polished links.. they look offset to me... am i imagining this or is like optical allusion? contrast this with a dial that has a metal plane and applied markers with 3 link bracelet.. there's nowhere that lines don't "match up"... I want to love this but I need help with my ocd!
Not really. There are very, very few materials that can scratch sapphire. A diamond is by far the most common stone that is actually capable of scratching sapphire. Now, if the crystal has AR coating on the top then yea, that stuff actually scratches fairly easily.
