Watch Marketplace

Hesalite vs. Hesalite: A Speedmaster Story

Living between the 1861 and 3861—when you’re not a space nerd, but space still feels pretty damn cool.

Phil Vicario

27 December 2025 18:17

Living between the 1861 and 3861—when you’re not a space nerd, but space still feels pretty damn cool.

Intro: The Speedmaster Dilemma

I think space is cool. I’m not a space nerd by any means, but there’s definitely something about the great unknown—the final frontier.

Would I ever go to the moon if I were offered a ride? Probably not. Sometimes I get claustrophobic on the subway in New York City.

But still, space puts things in perspective. Knowing there’s so much more out there somehow shrinks your own problems. I imagine if I ever stood on the moon and looked back at Earth, I’d come back a different person—probably more relaxed, maybe even less stressed.

Anyway, since I happen to have both versions of the modern Speedmaster Professional—the 1861 and the 3861—I figured it was time to put them side by side.

This isn’t going to be a hardcore spec breakdown. It’s more of a “how do they feel, and why do I even have both?” kind of story.

Why I Bought the 1861

The Speedmaster 1861 – the version that made sense to me before I knew better, and maybe because of that

I picked up the 1861 a few years ago. I was early in the hunt for a birth year watch for my firstborn, and the Speedmaster seemed like a no-brainer. Iconic. Manual wind. Under the radar compared to Rolex. It felt like a meaningful piece to mark that kind of moment.

I always thought the Speedmaster would wear too big for me. And yes—it’s a big watch. But like most things in this hobby, your wrist adjusts. After a couple days, it just felt right.

I was happy with the decision. The watch was cool, it had presence, and it scratched the itch for something with real historical weight.

The 3861 Starts Whispering

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 1861 and Speedmaster 3861 photographed side by side on a textured surface — Old soul versus modern refinement – the 1861 next to the 3861, where the doubt started creeping in

But then, as usual, I started reading.

The 3861 kept showing up. A new movement. METAS certified. Hacking seconds. Modern bracelet. Co-axial. Basically everything the 1861 wasn’t—refined and ready for the next era.

I asked myself, “Do I really need another Moonwatch?”

Then I remembered—my 1861 had the dot next to 90. The 3861 brings back the dot over 90, a subtle but significant nod to pre-1970 Speedmasters—especially those with the legendary Caliber 321. Funny how little things like that can justify a whole new watch. I’m sure one day the dot-next-to crowd will have their moment.

The 1861 Gets a Tune-Up

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 1861 held in hand, showing black dial, steel case, and bracelet — The first dent always hurts. After that, the watch starts to feel like it’s actually yours

Right after I bought the 1861, I noticed a pretty noticeable dent in the bezel. Would’ve been great if the seller mentioned that, but to his credit, he gave me a discount when I reached out. That softened the blow.

I ended up sending the watch in for a full service. While it was there, I was told I should replace the clasp. No problem. I figured if I was investing in a proper service, I might as well get it done right.

That’s also when I ordered the modern 3861 bracelet—just to see what it was like. For anyone wondering: yes, it fits the 1861 just fine. I’d read mixed reports, and even the AD told me they weren’t sure. But it works, and it actually transforms the watch quite a bit.

When Sentiment Starts to Weigh Too Much

On a Nato, the Speedmaster feels less precious – and more like a watch meant to be used

The 1861 never became a daily for me. I wore it for moments—family photos, a baseball game with my son, concerts with my wife. It became a “certain occasions” kind of watch. And I was totally fine with that.

At heart, I’m a dive watch guy. So naturally, dive watches got most of my wrist time—especially in the summer.

Eventually, I found I preferred the Speedmaster on a strap—usually a nylon NATO. It gave the watch more of a casual, utilitarian vibe that fit my day-to-day better than the polished bracelet look.

But over time, I wore it less and less.

And I started to question whether this was really the right birth year watch for my son.

Letting Go of the Weight

Omega Speedmaster presentation box photographed indoors — This was never about the “big” box – but it’s hard not to feel the weight of the history when you open it

For my second son, I’d already picked up the Rolex Explorer. So in the back of my mind, I think I always wanted them both to have watches from the same brand—Rolex felt like a clean, equal platform to start from.

The more time passed, the more I found myself in limbo with the Speedmaster. I’d go weeks without wearing it… then put it on for a moment and feel a little guilt. Like I was holding onto it because I was supposed to—not because I wanted to.

I’d put too much pressure on the watch to mean something bigger than it needed to be.

Once I released that pressure, I realized it was okay to let it go.

Not because it wasn’t meaningful—but because I didn’t need to force it anymore.

Enter the 3861

The longer I owned it, the quieter my relationship with the Speedmaster became

Of course, right around that time, I started thinking about the 3861 again.

This was a watch I had mentally ruled out for years—because I already had a Speedmaster. And more importantly, because that Speedmaster was my son’s birth year watch. But now that I had made the decision to let go of the 1861, the door reopened.

A few days later, I posted in the TGN Slack group—and Gabe came through with an amazing opportunity. Right reference. Right condition. Right price. Right person.

Funny how that works.

Omega Speedmaster 3861 placed on a weathered tree stump — Funny how perspective changes when you stop forcing it

When the 3861 Arrived

When the new watch arrived, I couldn’t help but immediately compare it to my 1861.

The 3861 really shines with its stepped dial and deeply recessed sub-dials. Those two changes give the watch more visual depth and make it feel sportier—more like the racing chronograph it was originally meant to be.

I also find the dial itself to be darker than the one on my 1861. Maybe it’s due to fading, maybe it’s just the finish, but side-by-side the 3861 is noticeably blacker.

The sub-dial font is a small but noticeable change—not something that grabs your attention right away, but you can see the difference when you look for it.

The pushers are a big improvement. On the 3861, the start/stop feels smoother and more direct. With the 1861, I always felt like I had to push harder before anything happened.

As for the caseback—I haven’t really scrutinized it. It’s closed, it’s correct, and I’ve already moved on.

One other detail: lug-to-lug. I measured the 3861 at 47.2mm and the 1861 at 48mm. That doesn’t sound like much, but I can feel the difference—especially on a NATO. It’s more compact. I wouldn’t notice it as much on the bracelet, but on a strap, it wears tighter to the wrist, and I like that.

Let’s Talk Movement (Briefly)

This is where the difference actually lives (well under the caseback)

With the discontinuation of the 1861, the new 3861 movement brings the Speedmaster into a more modern era. It’s a real upgrade—Master Chronometer certified, with a co-axial escapement, anti-magnetic alloys, and improved reliability across the board. It’s the kind of movement you’d want in a watch that’s been to the moon, and might one day be asked to go again.

Design and construction-wise, it shares visual DNA with the 1861. But technically, it’s miles ahead.

That said… I’m just not a movement nerd.

I like knowing it’s a solid caliber, and that it’s keeping great time. But I don’t need to stare at it through a caseback or explain how the co-axial escapement works over drinks. I’ve got two young kids. I’m already spending enough time on this hobby.

Still, I’ll admit—it’s nice knowing the 3861 is built to handle magnetic fields, shocks, and just about anything life throws at it. The added water resistance is great in theory, even if I haven’t taken the Speedy into the sea yet.

Two Moonwatches, Two Feelings

These watches are so similar that you really can’t go wrong. But they give off totally different energy.

The 1861 has a softness to it—no step dial, no recessed sub-dials. It’s flatter, more subdued. It feels more vintage. The lighter tone of the dial gives it a calm character, and that makes it easy to love in its own right.

The 3861, on the other hand, feels more modern. More refined. More fun. I’m definitely more excited to wear it. It feels sportier and a little more expressive—like a Moonwatch that’s stepped into 2025 without forgetting where it came from.

And most importantly: there’s no pressure on this watch.

I’m not holding onto it because it’s tied to a birth year. I’m not assigning it to anyone. It’s just for me.

If I need to sell it someday? I can.

If I get tired of it? I’ll move it on.

But for now—I’m enjoying it.

Does the 3861 inspire me to take an unexpected trip to the moon?

No. I still get claustrophobic on the subway.

Is it better than the 1861?

Technically, yes. The movement is a leap forward, and the bracelet is a major upgrade. But honestly, I don’t care about watching a movement beat under a caseback window. Not at this stage in my enthusiasm.

The 1861’s movement is rock solid. It winds fine. It tells time. It works.

And in the end, both of these watches do exactly what they’re supposed to do:

Remind me that sometimes, the smallest things—like winding a watch in the morning—can still feel pretty infinite.