I think a ceramic bezel on the sapphire sandwich and an aluminum bezel on the hesalite version would have been cool to help differentiate them further with the sapphire being more modern and the hesalite more traditional
Just picked up my 3861 sapphire version a week ago from my local Omega Boutique. They unexpectedly had just got one in stock, and I bought it straight away. Absolutely love the new case, bracelet and movement. Omega is definitely my favorite brand as well at this point. Thanks for all the great content Bruce!
this video gave me the needed strenght to order one. Gonna pick it up next monday sapphire for me! I was told i would get a submariner last month, got sick of waiting and playing games and opted for this. Im over the moon. gonna be my daily, its so versatile. thank you so much, Bruce. You helped me a lot. gonna form a dynamic duo with my explorer 214270
I picked up the hesalite version 2 months ago and I've worn it every day since. I agree wholeheartedly that it's absolutely wonderful. This is one of my favorite iterations of the Speedy and I couldn't be happier about it. Great video, love the content!
I tried this one on at our local AD last week. It was comfy on the bracelet! I mean, it felt really good, much better than I expected. Overall, I was very impressed with the watch. Argh, my Breguet needs to come back from repair so I am not so tempted!!!
I just traded my old hesalite speedy for the new sapphire today. The difference is night and day! No more scratches, better movement, improved case and the waaaaayyy better bracelet. Id recommend to everyone to make the step up!!! It now feels like I have a proper luxury watch on my wrist.
I have the previous model hesalite. The new upgrades are nice. However I don’t feel that every watch has to have ceramic. I still don’t understand new watches coming out without on the fly adjustability on the bracelet. Good review Bruce.
I just bought mine 2 weeks ago, and i absolutely liked it, especially super comfy bracelet. if they could've put an extra strap and spring bar tool into this smaller size box, that'd been a dream package for sure.
Great review Bruce. I am with you on this. I bought this version a couple of months ago and love it and the little detail changes - plus I can read it without my glasses - always a bonus 😂
Easily the coolest and most iconic watch!! My cousin has one, needless to say I pester him to have a play with it whenever I see him.. Would love one, but my financial position after more than a year of furlough will take yonks to recover from, and Ive got my heart set on the more suitable for my lifestyle Seamaster 300 or Railmaster....but one day 😉 Cheers Mate 👍🏻👍🏻🌙🚀 Edit - awesome intro Bruce!!!
It's one of my favorites in my collection. I love it so much. I got the new bracelet for my "older" 1861 model and it changes everything. It fits better and is much more comfortable.
The negative on the clasp have been silently (?) fixed by Omega. You can now adjust with a "glidelock" system, but just with two position similar to the pins from the model in the video.
Man tried one on my wrist for very first time and man was i impressed so light and just beautiful watch and full of history definitely want to add one to collection
I hated the old box. It was so impractical because all it did was take up real estate in storage. The loupe, extra strap and spring bar tool were nice but not essential.
I agree Gregory, The box gets put away and only comes out when you are looking for something at the back of the cupboard. I rather the money goes into the watch than the packaging, however an added strap is a great bonus.
I do wish they included the accessory straps and tools though, as someone who owned an 1861 for many years and is now contemplating buying the 3861. The lack of add-ins and watch nerd fodder kinda sucks, I was one of the ones who enjoyed the presentation box and the extra bits and bobs. Throw in the price increase, the fact I am paying an extra couple grand Canadian and getting significantly less for my money. I mean, I bitch but im still buying the 3861, way better watch overall. xD
Went in to my A.D. on Friday to pick up the box for my Seamaster. I was looking at the Hesalite and tried it on. I didn't immediately fall in love..3 days on my wrist and it's quickly becoming a favorite!!
Very nice video and highlight of the icon Bruce. The bracelet, and taper, is so nice. Clasp unacceptable at this pricepoint. As I've learned, the bracelet and fit is one of the most overlooked features of a watch. Lug to lug, lug width, diameter, bezel etc etc have more flexibility. With an 8.75" wrist, I cannot do the Speedy. I would get pissed every morning winding the poorly designed crown for a mechanical. I solved my problem though. Bought a black Lunar Pilot on BF from Kohls for $250, getting $50 in Kohls cash back. Then I picked up Chronissimo black leather straps with white stitching that fits it perfectly. No service costs, and the Bulova movement is more accurate. I must confess, I do collect styles of watches, and this scratched the moonwatch itch while allowing me to put that money towards my favorite style of watch, the diver. I do have respect for the Speedy, it's just not for me and my wrist size. I'm not complaining though. lol
I like that the bezel is not ceramic. Also agree on the on the fly adjustment clasp especially for watches at this price point. I don't really care about the box and goodies as it probably kept the price down. I want to wear the watch not the box. I've been looking at the Longines Big Eye for the last year and it was at the top of my list. But with this new update, I think I'm going to save up for the Sapphire Sandwich instead. The non-hacking movements of Speedies before kept me from really wanting one.
You're always a flipper, but you are absolutely a fan of Omega. I can respect that! I love my Speedy. It's been with me for nearly 20 years. I do have my eye on the Grey Side of the Moon ceramic with the Ag dial. I think that may be my next.
The 3861 movement is a wonder. My Speedy, with winding every other day, runs 1 second fast per day. The accuracy and now the ability to hack led me to sell my 20+ year old Sapphire Sandwich with the 1863 movement that always ran at the very edge of its +11 seconds a day accuracy rating and get the new model which had gone up to $8000. My old Speedy had been pre-owned when iI bought it and I got $3400 for it which was, I'm sure, more than I paid for it way back when. The now $4600 that I paid for my new Speedy turned out to be one great bargain.
As usual, I think you were spot on, w/ your assessment of the legendary 'Moonwatch.' Like you, I would prefer this newest iteration, the 3861, over the previous versions. Primarily, for that bracelet, but also for the additional upgrades discussed. IMHO, just a lot of watch, for the money. The quintessential, "tool watch." Thank you for sharing it. I really enjoyed this presentation of the piece, as well as, the history of its' predecessors. . Undoubtedly, you put a good bit of time, and effort into the making of this production. It shows. Great job
I pulled the trigger on one of these a few weeks back. At the AD I had the chance to compare the 1863 with the new sapphire sandwich. It took a while to decide but the 3861 came home with me. I have to agree with the omission of a ceramic bezel insert and on the fly micro adjust are missed opportunities. The literal down size of the box also annoyed me as well. Ultimately I wear the watch not the box. With the new bracelet that tapers and flexes so well and what looks like a tiny clasp I'm unlikely to swap it for a strap anyway. The movement looks great, hacking is nice (but not a deal breaker for me) and the METAS compliance is also a plus. Ultimately that dial is in a different class to my old eyes anyway. A great balanced review Bruce.
Traded my old 1816 today for the new sapphire and I was delighted to get rid of that stupid big box lol. I haven't looked at once since I bought the 1816. The new one wins on every single level
I admit this watch is "calling to me." My first "good watch" when I started my watch journey was an Omega Speedy reduced I got in the 90s. I loved everything about it except the bracelet. It was the infamous "hair puller" bracelet. I eventually sold it. I've always had the proper "Moonwatch" on my radar. I had misgivings about the previous generation's bracelet, but this model's bracelet looks fantastic - with the big taper and more intricate link profile, not to mention the nice clasp.
It's an upgrade in almost every respect except reliability, as issues are starting to crop up on the caliber 3861. Love that watch and the upgrade to the case / bracelet / dial & bezel details / pushers, etc. but the Hesalite model I bought last February is already at the Omega Service Center since last week, as the chronograph function has started acting up and stops the movement altogether. I am apparently not an isolated case, judging by some threads on omegaforums.
Thanks for this info dude! I've been really wanting to purchase one of these but maybe I'll hold off and see if the problem gets addressed in a future model
@@TheWutang1995 Frankly, I wouldn't worry too much about it. The issue appears to be relatively uncommon, and must be down to microscopic variations in tolerance that require either a better lubrification or the changing of a tiny component. I think I was just unlucky. Besides, the Omega took the watch under warranty for a full service, and returned it to me in less than a month. The service at the Omega boutique was flawless.
Also very good to know. I still have a bit of time before I hit my savings goal but yeah the speedmaster is probably my favorite watch appearance size and the interesting history is also very nice so it's definitely at the top of my want list
Out of curiosity is the hesalite really as delicate as some people say when it comes to scratches? I have my day to day Seiko I wear for work so it's definitely be a going out to dinner watch so are the scratches something to worry about?
@@TheWutang1995 It really varies depending on the individual. I never had to worry about it, on this watch or the several vintage Rolex models with acrylic crystal I used to take to the gym until not so long ago. I would get superficial scratches that took 1mn to take off with Polywatch, so it's really not a big deal. But then, there are people who are prone to banging into door frames, tables, etc. and then this might be an issue. If you're one of those, you might consider the sapphire version. If not, the hesalite is perfectly fine in normal daily usage.
Great Review! Just picked up my 3861 Sapphire las week and loving it. I don't notice the sharp edge that was all the controversy. I completely agree that it needs a micro adjustment at this price. I thought they may add a ceramic bezel but am ok with that they didn't. I don't care too much about the size of the box but would have been nice to get the extra strap considering they gave it in the last, cheaper model.
100% agreed on the packaging. I am about to purchase Speedy as my first luxury watch. That old packaging would made the experience so much more special. I see why they downgraded it. Competition does not seem to do it so why should Omega? With the new movement they hiked up the price so much...old packaging would make it even more expensive. This video is 2 years old. Now Sapphire sandwitch costs 9000 Euro and basic Heselite 7800 Euro. 3 Years ago they would go for 5k?
Lovely watch, don’t baby it, I’ve have a Mk40 reduced and for twenty years it never left my wrist until I discovered your channel and started buying more watches!! 🙄😂
Great vid, like always! It's a shame though that this iconic piece is no option for men with bigger wrists, especially with that tiny clasp. They also stopped producing the three-hands 45mm Planet Ocean in steel and titanium. If you count in the 300m Diver, the three most beloved Omega watches aren't available for guys with large wrist circumferences.
i loved the jubliee bracelet. thats why now i would love to add this model too. thanks to you today i got to know how beautiful this watch looks on wrist . nowhere in earth i had seen a perfect wristshot yet thanks to you.
The biggest disappointment is the box indeed, and that's all. Omega wants to keep it retro / original look of the moon watch so I believe that they will never make the bezel ceramic. Quick adjustment / on the fly adjustment of bracelet are meant for diving watches and not for a "Moon Watch" but maybe we will see that in the future. Nice intro BTW.
I got mine today at the AD. I totally agree with every point you made. I had to wait for 2 months and no discount was offered (unlike the Seamaster). According to the AD here, when stocks arrive they don’t even bother putting it on display as they are all practically all spoken for when they land.
I like the new one very much. I owned the old version and sold it. The bracelet and the endlinks are much better right now. I miss the waterresistans and to less micro adjustments. Maybe I buy one in the future. But fore some months I bought the Zenith Chronomaster El Primero 1969 in 42mm and now is the time to enjoy this pice first. Congrats for your new piece. Your video quality is so good 👍🏻
Looks a nice upgrade but agree the bracelet needs on the fly adjustment and smaller presentation box and missing nato strap was a cheap move from Omega. I’m not a fan of the looks of the new bracelet but new movement with hacking is a plus. I purchased the 1863 Sapphire Sandwich last year and so far could not be happier with the purchase. I hesitate to check out the new watch in person in case l do a ‘Bruce’ and get the new toy syndrome and upgrade😅
Got my Speedy sapphire sandwich from Antony Cesare at Mayor Jewelers in Atlanta, and could not be happier. I'm all about new technology - so is NASA - which means I want the newest and bestest. NASA doesn't fly the Saturn V anymore, and I'm certain NASA uses the Speedy with the new 3861 escapement.
I think Omega should further separate the hesalite and sapphire sandwich models. I think they should put the 321 movement in the hesalite model, and have the sapphire keep the 3861 and add a ceramic bezel
no one will buy the sapphire if they did that lmao. Hesalite is already preferred. Omega missed the opportunity to but the old applied omega logo on the sapphire version.
Great review. Congrats on the purchase. I agree that it should definitely have an on the fly adjustment feature and a ceramic bezel. What about the sharp edges? I tried one on at the AD and found this to be very annoying. What are your thoughts on this issue? Thanks for your great content and your watch passion. Cheers from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺🍻
Hey GG, I noticed the edges are a little harsher than the last generation. Not to the degree that I felt any type of irritation or discomfort. I've worn this camping, hiking, to work, I've slept in it. No hotspots, so non issue for me
I had to miss out on the big box when I picked up my second hand previous gen Speedy - I was on a tight budget. I obviously would have liked to have it, but my main concern was making sure I got the right watch. I absolutely love it.
Man greattttt video. I am so ready to pull the trigger right now but think I’ll wait. The points you made were spot on for me. In the sapphire sandwich I would love to have a ceramic bezel and better adjustment on the clasp. Only reason I’m going to wait is because I bought the previous model sea master professional and a year later the new one came out 🤦♂️ not that I regret it. But I wish I would have gotten the newer model. I like it a little more. So if omega wants my $$$$ I really🤞 hope they make those two changes to the bezel and clasp. But great great video
Great watch!! Enjoyed the video as ever Bruce!! So excited that you are giving one of these away for the 100k subscribers - or did I miss hear - was it a trip to the moon ha ha
Daily driver/wear. That will do me.. always had fear listening to people say about it being too fragile (maybe the 1861) but I so would wear it all day every day
Thanks Bruce, great video once again! I think Speedy has one major issue that you didn't mention. You said that this is a toolwatch but I think toolwatch should have better water resistant than 50 m. Many competitors, often in cheaper watches are offering chronographs which have water resistant for 100 m and I think Speedy should offer that same feature too.
Appreciate the comment! I don't consider it an issue as it's good enough for everything except swimming. And if I wanted to swim I would want to wear a diver or a gshock
This is possibly the most iconic watch in history of mankind. It brings in one everything we are all about. Starting from the human ability to measure and understand time, through the perfection of design, art, engineering and manufacturing, all the way to the crown jewel of science and human achievements - the first human to step on the celestial body other than Earth - the Moon. There are thousands of watches and watchmakers, but Omega Speedmaster Professional is one and only!
Thanks for the vid...I have the Hesalite, and yes, I do love the box and all the extras. It's about context and history as you mentioned. I saved the money and got the new Rolex 36mm Explorer instead. Keep the videos going, I'm a fan. Aloha.
Great job, and I have this watch as well, but that background noise thing you have going on should be jettisoned. I just want to hear your voice. It's super distracting. Other than that, superb job as always!
Sounds good man. I have several videos already uploaded waiting to go live that have music. But when those run out I'll go back to no backghround music
Not a fan of paying for more and getting less. The box and the items you got with it, was something special and part of the experience. They have diminished this. PROS: On the other hand I love the stepped dial, the DON, the improved smaller case, the tapered bracelet, and the applied logo on the sapphire version. CONS: However I am not a fan of this new "improved" movement. and a NON adjustable bracelet which is a what the hell moment for me. Overall still a killer watch no matter how you look at it. I love your reviews Bruce, they are spot on. -Speedy fan (ofc sapphire ;)
Absolutely love the Rising Sun limited edition for the 2020 Olympics but the quick jump in price and solid caseback has kept the cash in the wallet...for now. Great review!
Great review, Bruce. Entertaining. balanced and informative. Few watches can claim the storied history and provenance of the Speedmaster Moonwatch. Lovely new version if it.
The box , or lack of it doesn’t bother me , but the on the fly adjustment and the non ceramic bezel does. But it’s still very nice 👍🏻 and the history aspect is fantastic, I think 🤔 they took a Swiss Army knife to the moon 🌝 as well
Great review man. I love my Hesalite. Held off on the 'old' one - it just never did it for me, but the new case and 3D dial, married to the new movement that is hacking and accurate are just stellar. Gotta agree about the lack of quick adjust in the bracelet - it would be nice to have, but it fits me perfectly, so not a 'need.' But, gotta disagree about the need for ceramic - man that just would look so off. All shiny and plasticy! Also, those silly big boxes are a PITA. And they kill polar bears ;) Eventually, I see a ceramic/auto Speedy Pro coming - I love a hand-wind, but it puts off a lot of buyers.
@@BruceWilliams I got lucky. This watch was apparently intended for another person, but he could not take delivery due to an unusual circumstance. So I got the call! So far, it’s only gained about one second per day. Very accurate. And damn good looking.
I got the exact same watch a couple of months ago when it first came out and my dealer knows I want the Panda as well. Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, it's my favorite watch of my collection. It's one of the least expensive watches in my collection, yet it's one of my favorites. It's a no-brainer purchase! Edit: I also just picked up the new Tudor ceramic. The jury is still out on that one but it was a solid purchase for the money so I figured what the hell.
The bracelet alone is worth the upgrade… the bracelet on the previous model never suited the watch whatsoever. The old bracelet was right out of early 2000s Omega. I can’t believe it took that long to upgrade. I owned a couple Speedy Pros in the past and hardly ever wore it on bracelet. I now own a FOIS (best Speedy, IMO) and love that it comes on leather.
I think the least we can do when buying an already unnecessary, superfluous luxury item is deal with a smaller box. Most luxury watch makers have sustainability statements on their websites and many of them have taken an initial step of transitioning to more environmentally friendly packaging. I think it’s great.
Great review on this new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch! May I ask, what size bracelet did you order, and did you order it directly from Omega? I see on their website that size 7.70 is considered “standard”, but I’m not sure exactly what size I should order, and if I order the wrong size, whether or not they include the extra links in the box if I need to have it adjusted. Any help would be much appreciated!
I mention it. I can't remember if it was in this one or in some other videos, I've talked about it a few times on camera. Not an issue. Mine is slightly more abrupt than the previous gen I had. But not by much. Its like the difference between the flat ceramic Seamaster edges and the new ceramic wave dial ones. Not enough to complain about. I've heard that the first production units were really harsh. I must not have gotten one of those. I am also hearing that there are no sharp edges on the ones in stores now, but I haven't been able to confirm that yet
Am I the only guy who doesn't like the new bracelet styling? I wear my 3861 hesalite with a re-issue Forstner Komfit/JB Champion mesh band. An 18mm non-tapering bracelet with "horned ends". Looks great. The original Komfit/JB was paired to Shirer's FOIS, went on a multitude of space missions & made it to the moon. Extremely light, comfortable & with easy sizing on the fly.
Yeah my man you are right. Always in my mind and im planning to add a speedy in my collection. Problem is not sure should i take the tokyo 2020 green/sedna gold or the apollo 17 45th anniversary blue ceramic/ceragold. Both same movement same moon watch although the apollo is slightly thicker. The apollo should still be available at AD but the tokyo 2020 piece have to be bought from chrono 24 from Japan. Whats your thoughts?
I can live with all the cons mentioned except the quick adjust. If they included that then I couldn't fault the watch at all. I have a planet ocean and adjust the watch daily on my wrist. Can't see myself every purchasing another watch from any brand that doesn't have this.
My wrist is 7.75" and I just can't seem to get past how small it looks on bigger wrists, the taper to 15mm in the bracelet especially. I like the watch. However I can't seem to distinguish my genuine liking of it versus the hype I know it has in the watch collection world.
Theirs a adjustable clasp coming out in the not too distant future for the Speedmaster 3861 so you will have two versions of the bracelet to choose from soon 👍🏼
I have the FOIS which fits my 16.5cm wrist perfectly. The only thing that bugs me is that I can't see the movement. I am now longing for the new sapphire sandwich especially now that its lug to lug length is below 50mm. What shall I do, keep the FOIS or replace it with the new one?
@@BruceWilliams Bruce, did you notice any bushing issues with the new speedy? There are some cases out there and I'm wondering if I should wait a bit and not buy one from the first batch.
Hi Bruce (or anyone else), supposedly there will be another moon landing in a few years. Do you think that will diminish the interest/demand of the Omega Moonwatch? I think the novelty would of the Speedmaster moon watch will be reduced. Curious what others think.
Great review and video! Does it cost much to replace the hesalite if it gets too scratched up beyond buffing? Like if you were after a watch to last a lifetime would the hesalite be a bad choice?