<u>Overview:</u> This is a professional type pilots watch, fitted with an automatic chronograph movement, which drives three sub dials, for seconds, hours and minutes, it is fitted with a centre recording seconds hand, and unusually, it is also equipped with an additional central hour recording hand to enable a second time zone (UTC) to be monitored continuously. This second hour hand can be moved out of sight behind the regular hour hand if required. Sinn watches are not presently sold in the US, but can be ordered direct from the factory. Link to factory: http://www.sinn.de
<u>Case:</u> The case is Titanium, it is beautifully made, and very solid. It has the ‘hewn from a solid lump of rock’ look. It has a very dull matte finish, which looks as though it has been shot peened – if this is the case, the Ti will have been strengthened at the surface during peening, which has a result similar to case hardening. It is 40.95mm in diameter, and 16.95mm thick. It is fitted with a sapphire view back, set into a signed Ti bezel, which is screwed into the case back. Set into the side of the case, at 7, is a copper sulphate dampness indicator, the medium of which changes colour to warn of any ingress of moisture into the case. The large signed crown, protected by shoulders, is screwed into the case. The push pieces are protected with waterproof gaskets. Additionally, the case is argon gas filled to protect the movement and special lubricants from moisture. As a result, Sinn warranty the case to be 200m water resistant (unusual for a case with a display back), and offer the argon filled watches with a 3 year warranty. The side of the case at ‘6’ is embossed with the letters S.U.G. I have no idea what this means, but if anybody can enlighten me, I will be grateful. Lug width is 20mm, and the lugs are fitted with standard spring bars. I intend to replace these with non-removable bars as soon as possible.
<u>Bezel:</u> The bezel is a casting of solid Ti, 4.5mm wide, let into which is a minutes lunette, with a luminous marker at ‘12’, protected by a tiny wafer of crystal – great attention to detail. The lunette looks like a 2 piece lamination, and is not screen printed, but anodized. This should ensure longevity, and also easy replacement if necessary. The bezel has a milled edge, and is bi-directional. There is no ratchet system. I like this - one-way racheting bezels can be a nuisance, except on divers watches.
<u>Crystal:</u> The crystal is slightly cambered, in my opinion, much better looking than a flat or domed crystal, and is made of sapphire. The crystal is glareproofed on the inside. This is nothing like as effective as the Breitling crystal, which is glare proofed on both sides. The only consolation, the crystal does not mark quite so easily. The watch is also fitted with a sapphire display crystal let into the case back. I have been unable to ascertain for certain if this crystal is glareproofed, though it certainly looks as though it is.
<u>Dial and hands:</u> This really is, in my opinion the piece de resistance of this watch. The dial is beautifully executed with luminous Arabic numerals painted directly one to a matte black dial. Even under a X 10 loupe, there is no sign of ragged, uneven or faded edges. The quality of printing is quite exquisite. The minute chapter, which although the same colour of the numerals, is not luminous. Sub dials are at 12; minutes, 6; hours, and 9; constant seconds. The chapters for each of the sub dials are executed differently, with the hours chapter marked 1 – 12 which means with care, the chronograph can, if required, monitor a 3<sup>rd</sup> timezone! There is a date aperture at 3, and the date wheel is printed white on black – something other manufacturers should note. Unusually, on a watch fitted with this movement, there is no day window, personally though, it doesn’t bother me ….. I can always remember the day; it is the date I always forget. ‘UTC’ is printed in dayglo yellow capitals above the date, and ‘ar’, inside a red circle are printed under the date, reminiscent of English military watches, I like this. It gives the piece a distinctly military flavour, or rather asserts the flavour which is already there! The hands are fils tipped radium style, laquered white, and filled with a luminous compound. The UTC hand is of the same design, but is squelette.Minutes and hours recording hands are also of white lacquer, and arrow tipped. The constant seconds hand is plain fils. The chronograph seconds hand is fils design, with a filled diamond tip. The luminous compound, which I have to assume, is of the Super Luminova type, glows extremely brightly after a short exposure to a light source.It is still glowing brightly, and I mean really brightly, 8 hours after exposure. The colour of the luminous compound on the hands, and the Arabic numerals matches correctly. I really do hate it when there is a colour difference!
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The Movement:</u> Nothing extra special here – it is a Sinn modified ETA/Valjoux 7750 integrated chronograph movement of 13’’’1/4’’ lignes. It has 25 jewels, rather than the 17 in the Valjoux ebauche.It has autonomy of between 42 and 45 hours, and is fitted with a 3-arm glucydur balance, and nivarox mainspring. It is not especially well decorated, but is beautifully finished.The signed rotor does show some signs of guilloche engraving, but I may be generous, it could be precision machine tool marks.The movement hacks.
The sapphire display back shows the movement to be what it is – above average, and well executed.The 7750 movement, whilst not the finest available, is however of extremely good quality, it is a reliable and rugged movement which is more than capable of being regulated and adjusted to COSC standard.The movement in the 103 Ti is adjusted to COSC standards, and for an extra few dollars, it can be supplied with the COSC certificate. None came with this watch. I have had the watch for 24 hours now, and it has not yet made any significant gain or loss, i.e. measurable when tested against the UK atomic clock at Rugby.
<u>Bracelet and strap:</u> The watch was supplied with both a signed bracelet, and a strap.The bracelet is made of nicely finished solid Ti, but it is not equipped with solid end links – these are the industry standard these days, a significant omission in my opinion. It is adjustable both by a spring bar in the signed clasp, and screwed links.
It is fitted with a fold out divers extension, and a fold over safety lock. The style of bracelet suits the watch well, but in my opinion; it looks better on the strap.The strap is a real class item.On initial examination, it looks like high quality grained calf leather, with white stitching; it is in reality made of some sort of composition materiel, either of plastic or rubber, and therefore deserves the legend on the inside of the strap ‘wassergeschutz’. A real boon on a watch, that can be expected to spend some time in the water.The odd thing is, the signed pin buckle, which for all the world looks like titanium, and matches the case exactly, is actually of stainless steel!I have now fitted the watch with a genuine woven carbon fibre ‘Hirsch’ strap, and a ‘Timefactors’ deployant clasp with twin button locking, and fold over safety clasp.This is in exactly the same style as the OE strap, which suits the watch to perfection.Eddie, at Time factors, is I believe, the only stockist of this strap in UK. Thanks Eddie.
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Packaging and miscellaneous:</u> Price paid for the watch new was DM3000, or about $1500, which includes European VAT.It was purchased via a dealer, and not direct from the factory, which may explain why it came in a nice faux leather box, with slipcase.If purchased ‘factory direct’, it is supplied in a plastic envelope! Documentation supplied with the watch is minimal, and consists of a single A4 sheet with printed instructions on both sides in German only. They were sufficient however to explain the features and functions of the watch.
<u>Conclusion:</u> A fine, German manufactured ‘tool’ watch, which is of extremely high quality.It is well specified, and at the price paid, is in my opinion, impossible to better. Buy one!!
Thanks for reading,
Doug
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Other similar watches to consider:</u> Qualification : Mechanical 3 register
automatic chronograph, minimum water resistance 100 metres. Price is not a consideration,
though it should be pointed out that many of the worthies mentioned below have a V7750
movement, are similarly specified, yet cost considerably more.
- Omega Seamaster Pro chrono
- Breitling Avenger
- Kobold Professional A
- Bell and Ross Space 3 GMT
- Dufeau Air Racing
- Blancpain Trilogy Air Command
- Beguet Type XX
- Eterna Airforce
- Fortis Cosmonautes GMT
- Hanhart Sirius
- IWC GST
- Ulysses Nardin Marine
- Officine Panerai Luminor
- Rolex Daytona
- Schwarz Etienne Routemaster
- Tag Heuer ETA Link
- Tudor Tiger
- Tutima F2
- Tutima FX UTC
- Universal Aero Compax
- Xemex Offroad
- Zenith el Primero Flyback
<small>The text and opinions are mine alone.</small> <small>The pictures were taken (badly) by me, on a Fuji Finepix zoom.</small> <small>Page set up, and HTML posting courtesy of Arie Radowsky.</small> <small>Web hosting space, courtesy of Watch U Seek, and Mr Ernie Romers.</small>
--modified by Ernie Romers at Thu, Feb 14, 2002, 19:46:08
--modified by Ernie Romers at Mon, Apr 29, 2002, 13:11:56 
