No 252 - Sinn 856 UTC

In early 2015 I got hooked on Sinn again. I was really struggling to find the perfect all-purpose watch and after some serious research I came to the conclusion that Sinn must have the answer. At least on paper they had all the features I wanted in a watch. My shortlist of demands was something in the 40mm region with a screw-down crown, WR200m and matte black dial. What made me look towards Sinn was of course all their cool technologies and it was their TEGIMENT treatment of the steel that really won me over. It felt like a must have feature for a 24-7 watch. I went through their catalogue over and over and finally settled for the 856 UTC-S. I actually thought the 857 UTC-S was better looking and I would have preferred to have a bezel but it was the size of 43mm that made me hesitate. In the end the 856 felt like the better choice to me.

In March 2015 I headed down to the only authorized Sinn dealer in Sweden; Erikson Urhandel. I showed up just a couple of minutes before closing time and happened to crash an on-going Rado event. So, before I could go on asking the staff about Sinn I had to listen through the entire sales pitch from the excited lady from Rado. Unfortunately they had just sold their only 856 UTC-S but when I compared the regular 856 UTC with an 856-S non-UTC I actually preferred the finish of the regular version even though I usually prefer PVD. I also reasoned that the non-PVD version also was going to be more versatile from an everyday wearing perspective.

Down in the Subway on my way home from Erikson Urhandel.

#252 - The Sinn 856 UTC. The complete kit.

A closer look.

I don’t know how many Rado’s that were sold that evening but at least Erikson's got another Sinn sale. I did my best to avoid other watches and was 100% dedicated to this watch for a very long time. It was perfect on the wrist, kept perfect time (ETA 2893-2 inside), was super legible and had a design that I really liked. I truly was super happy with my choice. The only function I could feel that was missing was the bezel though. It wasn’t until I lacked one that I realized how much I actually used it. Still it never was something that I considered being a deal breaker since everything else about the watch was so good. What happened instead was that I got bored. Which I always do. I guess there’s no way of preventing that. That’s just how I function. Too much of the same every day and I get bored. The 856 UTC did a great job and came very close to be the perfect watch but it couldn’t cure my flipping madness.

A series of random wrist shots from through the years.

Sinn is a brand that still have plenty of watches that I just have to try out. I recently crossed the UX (so awesome!) from my list of must haves and I just added the new U1-S to that list. They also keep presenting new and innovative designs and features and I’m sure I will continue to add Sinn watches to my list. A fantastic brand for true watch nerds!

Resting on top of on one of my Vans Star Wars Slip-On shoes.

At home trying out my new Vans Star Wars Slip-Ons.

Waiting for a train in the Old town of Stockholm.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 126 - Sinn 356 Flieger

I think this one is the best chronograph Sinn has ever produced in their Flieger chronograph series. The basic version with the non-see through caseback and the domed plexi crystal. It shouldn’t be fancy. It should be rough, durable and functional. I loved mine. The size was perfect. 38,5mm excl. crown. Perhaps a little too thick but nothing that really bothered me. I had an older version with the Valjoux 7750 movement which today I think has been replaced by the Sellita SW500. Nothing negative about the 356 that I can come to think of. Don’t remember why I sold mine. I even lost money on it from what I can see so I was probably in a hurry to buy something else.

#126 - The Sinn 356 Flieger.

Besides the 356 I don’t have much love for Sinn's other Flieger models but they have some other chronographs like the 142 and 144 that I recently added to my watches-to-buy-list. I’ve never really liked chronographs in general but lately I’ve been going crazy learning about the old PVD chronos from brands like Heuer, Orfina and Porsche Design. That's some good stuff!

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 22 - Sinn U1

Damn I like Sinn! I’ve had far too few over the years. I’m not sure it’s the design that has got me hooked. It’s the technology, unique solutions and cool material that fascinates me. Sinn's watches feels more like proper tool watches than anything else from any other manufacturer. Here we are talking about instruments that actually have been designed for extreme professions where requirements on the equipment are extreme. Jeez! It sounds like I’m getting paid by Sinn for writing this (I wish!). But the truth is that these are the kind of features that really gets me going.

The U1 was the first Sinn model I discovered. What strikes you at once when you have a look at the U1 are the hands. Some people like them and some people don’t. I don’t like them. They don’t mess up the legibility or anything they just look weird. But I like the rest of the design and especially the extra hardened u-boat steel and the 1000m depth rating. Also the price feels reasonable. Or at least it did a couple of years ago. I think the price has increased quite a lot the last years but I can be wrong.

Product image of the Sinn U1 (borrowed from Sinn).

I came across a used one without the bracelet in January 2010 and bought it immediately. I might have been a little hasty because it turned out the watch came with a rubber band that had been shortened and it was way too tight for my wrist. So I bought a couple of 22mm nato straps to achieve some tooliness. Well, that didn’t work out at all. The U1 is not designed to be put on a nato and has a sharp edge between the lugs towards the case back. It wore high and didn’t feel good at all. Putting it on a zulu looks ridiculous. My watch still had the ETA 2824-2 movement inside. The U1's manufactured today are equipped with Selitta movements.

#22 – Sinn U1. (pictures taken by previous owner)

(pictures taken by previous owner)

I was really disappointed that I couldn’t wear the U1 properly and instead of searching for a new rubber or a bracelet I put it out for sale saying I could take a Marathon SAR as a part trade. I got a fish on the hook and sold the U1 and got a Marathon SAR as a part trade.

I’ve only had one other Sinn apart from the U1 one but there are so many more models that I want to try. I’ve lately been looking out for an 856 UTC, an EZM3 or a U1 SDR. I will most certain pick one up in the near future.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.