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Before deciding on a watch, I always hit it with a hammer. If it doesn’t break, it’s a keeper.

The fact the sapphire version comes with a clear exhibition rear is starting to tempt me.

Sapphire is the best for a regular person and every day wear. Because it is scratches that are the number one problem for watches today, and this is where sapphire shines. Yes it can shatter, but I have yet to shatter a sapphire, and I have knocked them quite hard on metal beams. My acrylic watch has not only been scratched but also cracked by a blow

I chose hesalite 7 years ago. No regrets. It has a unique, liquid-like look. Beautiful.

No right answer, no wrong answer. I went with the Sapphire on my Speedmaster, you may prefer the Hesalite. Whichever you choose, you get a top quality, very cool watch.

I thought I wanted the sapphire speedy because of the exhibition case back, but as soon as I saw held the two of them side by side, in person, the decision was obvious. The only choice is Hesalite. The sapphire changes the entire look of the dial. It's harder to tell from video, but in person the difference is night and day

There's something about your videos, everything's clean, clear, perfect, the details, background music, I just love to watch them, keep on like that!

I just like polishing the hesalite occasionally and making it all shiny and new again. An experience that you don't get with sapphire. Kind of matches nicely with the whole idea of enjoying hand wound watches in the modern era - we like that they need regular attention.

Thank you very much for an educational comparison between the Sapphire Vs Hesalite. Great Review

Mine is the sapphire version and I love it. The hesalite model also has its advantages, no doubt, but as a daily watch it is important for me that it is scratch resistant.

Something to consider is that, in this video, they used a very cheap and soft acrylic. The acrylic used in most expensive watches is much more scratch resistant. The various names indicate different formulations with different properties. Some of them could actually take a hammer hit without breaking (thicker polycarbonate for example).

Such a well put together and voiced video!

Bravo Watchfinder, this video will be an asset to anyone entering the watch community.

I bought the Hesalite a month ago no regrets! Dial so clear with a touch of a vintage look and i feel like im in the 60’s buzzin with armstrong. You’ve got to be ballsy to wear one

I’m not going to the moon so it’s going to be sapphire.

Watchfinder & Company you have a new sub... I extremely enjoy these presentations very, very informative as well as educational. Thanks for the knowledge

If I were going into space, Hesalite is the way. If it were just a historical piece for me, again Hesalite. For me, going into space isn't likely. I love that I can wear Sapphire crystal watches and they stay looking new for a very long time. Call it a compromise but I'll take Sapphire any day. Also, this was a great video, well done!

The sapphire back on the non-hesalite Moonwatch allows the very pretty chrono movement to be viewed.

That glass break in the end gave me goosebumps, such an informative and awesome video with that banger of an ending

Outstanding video, once again. Now I understand the difference between saphire and acrylic (that shattering demo was awesome too!)

Without a doubt, the finest watch vlog on the internet. Great information, as always.

Nicely done. I learned exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks.

This is one of the most interesting videos I have ever seen about watches. Well done that man !

I have worn my Speedmaster Hesalite watch for ten years.On occasion I will use Polywatch to remove scratches.About five years ago I did manage to put a deep scratch in the crystal I showed it to my trusted watch repair guy and he polished the face with a polishing wheel all good as new.He did tell me if needed the Hesalite crystal could replaced not a big deal.

Great production as always! Keep them coming

Fantastic videos! Its really good to learn about manufacture and history of the industry. Well done!

I love the look of the hesalite, the warm tinge looks the part on a retro watch but I don't know if I could deal with the compromises for my personal usage. Been mulling this over for a bit and still can't decide.

Can’t unsee the milky ring now

Great video, and much needed. Having owned an acrylic Datejust for a decade in the 80s/90s I know which way I'm going............. If I ever get the chance to travel to the moon I'll "upgrade" to Hesalite.

great video! educational yet beautifully put together.

Great comparison review. I go for Sapphire as the choice for all watches except for the Man on the Moon. It's totally got to be Hesalite. A nod of respect to the real Moon watch. I also love the distortion Hesalite brings to the table when looking at a dial from an angle. Once again......Hesalite for the Moon Watch, Sapphire for all other watches IMO.

Extremely informative, definitely a watch on my watch list now

Partly due to this video, I was certain I wanted to pick up the sapphire sandwich version. I got the opportunity to compare the two versions (005 and 006 references) and in the end opted for the hesalite. I just found the gradual dome and the way the dial looks more pleasing on the hesalite version. Even after I made the purchase I was still in doubt because I had heard so much about scratches on hesalite. Though now, after 6 months of wearing I realize it was made out to be a bigger issue than it actually is. The Speedy is my daily wearer and I have only felt the need to polish once so far. Too much is made out of something that takes 10 minutes out of your year to resolve with normal (daily) use.

Hesalite was for short use, and for not shattering in space. For us normal mortals, living in gravity and using the watch everyday as a regular watch. Sapphire is the absolute best alternative. It both looks better, and gives more security, and dont get scratches, and dont get yellowed by age.

Thank you for yet another great vid !

I’ve had a few plexiglass watches as well as a few sapphires and other than what was detailed in this review here’s what I’ve discovered. Sapphire is a smudge magnet, and Hesalite isn’t. Scratches in Hesitate clean up beautifully with Polywatch. My Speedy Pro crystal dates back to 2006 and still looks great. If Sapphire breaks, it a mandatory full service as those sapphire shards get everywhere. Here in Oz that runs to ~A$1000 (~US$700).

Always refreshing videos!

Superb. Really gets to the heart of the issues in an engaging and enchanting way.

Great video, best one I have seen yet on the differences.

Would be interesting to see the sales figures for Hesalite Speedys vs Sapphire ones.

answered every single one of my questions, thanks!

Hi :) ! Great video ! Very informative yet simple. What do You think in this context about hard mineral crystal ( like Hardlex of Seiko ). Is it the best of the two worlds or an opposite ?

I have a 2003 omega Seamaster. It has s sapphire crystal face. I have worn it pretty much everyday for 15 years. Never managed to scratch it. I have had the rest of the watch polished for scratches 3 times in the same period. I would always choose the sapphire.

Thanks for the video, good work!

Brilliant comparison! Thanks for that!

That was an excellent review. Thank you very much indeed!

I used to like sapphire more, but now its def acrylic. At first it looks way smoother and more oldschool to me (which I like in mech/auto watches), secondly it is less reflective without AR coating. It also got its own "shimmering" going on. And I usually take care of my watches, so I never had the issue with scratches. But even if so, you can simply polish them out a few times and if it is too bad of a scratch, acrylic is really cheap to change, so not a big deal.. I think they both have their pros and cons but over all you have decide on your own what you like more. I really like the aesthetics of the acrylic. Only watches where I clearly prefer sapphire are Rolexes/Pateks because of their overall super-clean look, which sapphire fits better to.

Thank you for sharing this informational video. Kudos

Hesalite on my Speedy MAAAANONAFAAACKINMOOON! and sapphire on my Planet Ocean 8900 :) Polywatch is your friend! I've had my Speedy for over three years, worn it quite a lot and it's absolutely perfect - Not a single mark on it. Polywatch is also BRILLIANT for cleaning up scratched acrylic windows on electronic kit as well. It's seriously good stuff!

7:05 great way of scientifically testing the difference in hardness of the material😉

If you wear your Speedy Pro daily to work, even in the office based environment, the hardened plexi-glass does wear easily and you will end up with minor scratches in no time at all. As well, it is only the sapphire glass Speedy, that is supplied with an exhibition back and cal.1863 movement.

I chose the sapphire. It's just prettier, more scratch resistant and you have the clear case back to watch the awesome movement. Cant beat those.

A very clever way to end the video! I love it!

Very lucidly explained. Makes decision making easy. Great video.

Did you see the beveling and the black polishing on that hammer? Stunning!!

I was torn between these options and even though I prefer the idea of scratch-resistant crystal and the crystal window to view the beautiful movement, I still prefer the look of the original, and don't like the distracting "ring" inside the bezel that the outer perimeter of the crystal creates. If it is relatively easy to replace the hesalite with an OEM one then I don't mind doing that every couple of years or so. So I purchased the hesalite.

Thanks for this video. I always wondered why hesalite was still an option

Great Video on a useful subject. The additional benefit of sapphire not mentioned if I am correct is that you can also have it in the case back showing off the movement which is not an option on the Hesalite....

Liked and subscribed! Would love to see a video on the Omega Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial!

Simply put, the best channel for watch reviews

Love your videos. So informative

very informative, great vid!

very informative, thanks!

thank you for this video. it's wonderful. you're a good kind man.

Thank you!

Great Review! Tks.

One of the best channel on watches on youtube

For daily wear, sapphire. Bulova now has a watch called the Curve. The crystal is curved sapphire. Just may lead to some interesting watches in the near future.

This is my exact dilemma, I am looking to add this to give my 300M company (2007 model year). Which keeps its credibility to Omega lovers, i'm leaning to Hesalite for being traditional - however I'm thinking the Sapphire for real world practicality. 300M has been worn daily for 11 years its still 9.9 out of 10 of original finish.

I went with the sapphire sandwich and I dont regret it at all. Also you can see the movement through the back, but also not the movement has metal pushers inside instead of plastic on the hesalite version

Excellent information..... Thank you

Hesalite hands down for me. The dome looks so much better, also feels more true to the original.

Straight and concise review. Feels like watching nat geo.

Great video!!!

@Watchfinder &Co. i noticed that the acrylic lens broke along where you scratched it beforehand. it would be nice to have seen how an unscratched lens would fair against sapphire.

Awesome video, thank you.

MAN ON THE FUCKING MOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNN

Hesalite does scratch and scuff easily but keep in mind that it’s also pretty easy to polish out most scratches on your own

Really informative. Thanks

for true space fans there's only one option. hesalite. then get some polywatch.

I have actually owned both (at the same time) oddly enough. Ended up sticking with the Hesalite. I love how sapphire doesn't scratch but the Hesalite is easily repaired with Polywatch. In the end it came down to looking at the face of the watch. On my sapphire model it had a large milky white ring around the outside of the dial. This is due to the thickness of the sapphire crystal itself. Probably wouldn't bother most but it bugged me. Also the dial just wasn't as interesting/clear to look at vs the Hesalite. At different angles the dial kind of dances around a bit. The Hesalite model is also much lighter since it doesn't have 2 sapphire crystals weighing it down (sapphire model has a display back). I never cared about watch weight until I realized how much it can affect where the watch sits on your wrist. I hate a watch that slides around all over the place (prefer a tight fit) and with the Hesalite model being lighter it stayed on my wrist where I wanted it much easier than the latter.

You would sound great reading one of the unfortunate events series

Wicked video and well put , thanks

I think they also make the flyscreens on submarines out of acrylic.

I'm admiring watches less than 24 hours now. So I'm a noob. But my take is that on any other watch than the Moonwatch I'd take the sapphire, it's more resistant on a daily basis and it has the clear back so you can see the movement work which is beautiful. But, on a Moonwatch I'd have the Hesalite, simly because that's how it was up there on the Moon and it has that inscription "Flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions", I'm a space nerd so that's really important to me 🤷🏻‍♂️😁 Edit: I guess you'd say that if it's really important to me to have a watch like the ones that were on the Moon I should buy 105.012 with the caliber 312 but my take is that vintage watches are like classic cars. Yeah they're beautiful to look at and they hold a special place in the hearts of gearheads but they don't handle that good in the corners and they would benefit with 100 more PS. What I like about watches is that manufacturers sell you "the restomods", if you want an Alfa Romeo restomod you go to Alfaholics not to Alfa Romeo but if you want "an Omega Speedmaster restomod" you go to Omega, they still sell it but modernized

Sapphire over the others...always. In that specific watch the sapphire version also has the visual case back which is showing the beautiful movement in full glory. It`s marvelous.

could you do a Review on the Omega Moonphase watch?

Very very good video. Thank you so much

Excellent demonstration.

I wish you would have done some more scratch testing before you smashed them. I'm always wondering if the sapphire crystal on my Speedmaster '57 will survive a good sweep against a brick wall. In my opinion, the chances of fracturing the crystal are a lot smaller than the chances of scratching them. So for me, the sapphire was the right choice. It will stay clean and shiny for the rest of your life.

would love a Speedmaster with a Hesalit front and a clear backside to see the lovely movement! Maybe it´s not so expensive to change the saphireglas against the Hesalit one?

You won't regret the hesalite... the distortion is beautiful!

I got rid of small scratches on my TAG Heuer Targa Florio (plexiglass) by rubbing gently a soft cloth and a tiny bit of toothpaste. Make sure the toothpaste does NOT have any particles otherwise it will scratch the plexiglass even more.

I love the domed sapphire crystal but I wish that version had the closed case back. I will be purchasing my first Speedmaster very soon and cannot wait.

There are a couple of misleading elements in this video. First, the information regarding the manufacturing processes for sapphire crystals is out of date. It is entirely possible to fabricate sapphire crystals that do not suffer the shortcomings pointed out in the video. Second, and more important, is the relative significance of the weaknesses of the two materials. It is far, far more likely that an acrylic crystal will suffer abrasions and scratches as well as ultraviolet discoloration (which was not mentioned in the video), than that a sapphire crystal will shatter.

Very useful and great video.

Would you consider an overview to Seiko's Hardlex vs Sapphlex, too?

Vostok Amphibia have very thick lucite crystals..My Omega 266 has had the same lucite crystal since it was new in 1954. However my daily beater is a 1985 Vostok Komandurskie akak with the low beat 18000bph hacking movement. The Omega is 18000bph too. The Lucite has been on it since new. However, my dress diver is a Seagull Ocean Star 28800bph and a Sapphire chrystal. I like this watch because I live by canals and its waterproofing is more reliable than the other two. Its too new to tell how it will be, but hey only cost me £280 here in the uk. I also have a Vostok Amphibia 710 ministry case scuba dude when I am working on the boat £54. I love them all.

As to what I would like to see, would love to see an Omega Speedy Tuesday vs 60th Anniversary ‘57 Speedy comparison! :)