Sinn Special Watches: 65 years of uncompromising technology
The company Sinn Spezialuhren was founded in Frankfurt am Main in 1961 by blind flying instructor and World War II pilot Helmut Sinn, specializing in the manufacture of navigation watches and pilot’s chronographs.
With Lothar Schmidt, who acquired Sinn Spezialuhren in 1994, began an era of technology-oriented innovations, with which he successfully led the SINN brand into the modern age.
As a graduate engineer, it is not particularly surprising that under Lothar Schmidt’s leadership, Sinn special watches continue to live up to their name. The mechanical timepieces from Frankfurt are equipped with numerous innovative technologies and materials developed by Sinn. They are the reason for their great popularity among true technology enthusiasts – but also among those who want a watch that can withstand the demands of everyday use.
This is because SINN technologies always have practical and realistic benefits. The watches are also visually appealing, combining skill and steadfastness in a contemporary design that covers all facets from sporty to elegant. At SINN, high design quality and uncompromising functionality are not mutually exclusive, but rather complement each other. This also applies to the anniversary model “903 Ti II Jubiläum,” which is limited to 500 pieces.
65 years of Sinn Special Watches: 903 Ti II Anniversary
The design of the “903 Ti II Anniversary” deliberately references the navigation chronograph created to mark the company’s 35th anniversary. It takes up the traditional appearance and combines it with technical advances in terms of both construction and materials.
This is already evident in the 41-millimeter case, which is made of Grade 5 titanium. DSP technology allows the rotating ring with internal slide rule function to be operated directly on the outer diameter. The fact that this technology enables the timepiece to achieve a water resistance of 20 bar underscores the extraordinary engineering achievement behind this watch and testifies to decades of experience in the development of sophisticated case designs.
The face of the “903 Ti II Anniversary” is characterized by its functionally designed dial. The logarithmic slide rule can be used to perform calculations involving time, distance, or currency conversions.
SINN uses hybrid ceramic luminescent elements for the hand-applied indices, the number 12, and the hour and minute hands. The integration of the luminous pigments into the ceramic molded part results in an exceptionally high concentration of the luminous material. The result: extreme luminous intensity and thus optimal readability even in the dark.
The Tricompax arrangement of the electroplated rhodium-plated counters emphasizes the classic style of the navigation chronograph. At the same time, the automatic LJP L112 chronograph movement with a 60-hour power reserve ensures mechanical precision and high reliability. (RRP €3,980)
SINN technologies at a glance
AR dry storage technology
The Ar-dry preservation technology introduced in 1995 solved a fundamental problem with mechanical watches: the aging of oils due to moisture contained and/or diffusing inside the watch. With the help of the three elements of Ar-drying technology (dry capsule, EDR seals, protective gas filling), the movement is stored in a virtually dry atmosphere. Aging processes and fogging of the cover glass during cold shocks are prevented; functional reliability and accuracy are maintained for longer.
Diapal technology
Diapal technology involves selecting material pairings that work together smoothly without lubrication. This applies to the anchor escapement – the most movement-sensitive sub-mechanism in the movement. The quality of lubrication has a particularly strong effect on the accuracy of the movement at this point. Research began in 1995 and led to the development of a suitable material pairing in 2000, which makes it possible to keep the Swiss anchor escapement in particular functioning permanently and without lubrication.
DSP technology
The combination of a rotating ring construction and simultaneous water resistance creates a dynamic sealing situation that differs fundamentally from static case seals on the base or glass. With DSP technology, SINN has developed a solution to cope with this situation up to 20 bar. The name stands for: Dynamically sealing material mixture: The dimensional stability and resilience of the specially developed material composition enable a permanent and reliable seal – even when the rotating ring is in motion. Special lubricating grease: A specially defined lubricating grease ensures smooth operation and adheres permanently to steel and titanium – even under the influence of moisture, pressure, and temperature fluctuations. Precision pairing: The individual sealing elements are precisely matched to the respective case components. This precise pairing ensures optimal contact pressure.
Magnetic field protection up to 80,000 A/m
Magnetic fields from electric motors, loudspeakers, or magnetic locks can magnetize the Nivarox balance spring and thus impair its accuracy. Although Nivarox springs are considered anti-magnetic according to DIN 8309, the standard allows for a rate error of ±30 seconds per day. SINN addresses this problem with a protective coating consisting of a closed, soft magnetic interior housing comprising the dial, movement retaining ring, and case back. This effectively minimizes magnetic interference.
hydro technology
Mirror-free readability underwater from any angle, fog resistance, and pressure resistance for any achievable diving depth—these are the features offered by Hydro technology, which has been in use since 1996. The movement, dial, and hands are stored in a crystal-clear, incompressible liquid bath that replaces the moisture-laden air in the case.
Tegiment technology
Tegiment technology increases the hardness of the base material—such as stainless steel—many times over. It was first presented at Baselworld in 2003 with the “Duochronograph 756.” Originally, it was used exclusively for stainless steel cases; now it refers to all materials with a hardened surface. No coating is applied; instead, the material itself is hardened in the surface area. This creates a protective layer (Latin: tegimentum). The surface becomes significantly more resistant to scratches.
Black hard coatings
SINN uses black hard coatings (PVD coatings) exclusively in combination with Tegiment surfaces. This is the only way to guarantee the high quality of the color coatings. The hardness of the Tegiment surface is continuous—the high surface hardness gradually transitions into the base hardness of the material. This has made it possible since 2004 to apply a PVD color coating without having to worry about the otherwise familiar chipping (“eggshell effect”). The hardened surface provides additional support for the hard coating.
Temperature resistance technology
The long-term accuracy of a movement depends largely on the lubrication of its moving parts – especially under extreme temperature conditions. To ensure reliable operation even under the toughest conditions, SINN uses a specially developed oil. It provides aging-resistant lubrication in a temperature range from –45 °C to +80 °C.
Captive safety ring
The rotating bezel is a key safety feature in diving. To minimize risks, SINN diving watches have had two special features since 2005: First, a special design prevents the rotating bezel from coming off, even in the event of strong impacts or snagging. Second, an anti-rotation device ensures that the set time is not changed unintentionally. SINN thus goes well beyond the requirements of DIN 8306.
Q technology
Compared to many household appliances and communication devices, quartz watches emit only low levels of electromagnetic radiation. Nevertheless, some people report increased sensitivity to electromagnetic exposure. Since a watch is worn directly on the body for long periods of time, SINN offers shielding with its Q technology, thereby reducing a potential source of interference for the wearer. The quartz movement is encased in a special alloy whose absorption properties are tailored to the frequency of the movement’s radiation. The radiation remains enclosed inside the case and does not penetrate to the outside.
