A collection of just one watch is possible, even if it involves an 'underdog' brand. Here’s my choice.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If you love watches, you love... well, watches! Yes, in the plural. Watches!
They come in all shapes and sizes, with myriad functions, and they’re useful for many purposes in life. But what if you had one watch for everything?
Yes, it’s unrealistic. I get that, truly.
This idea is heavily romanticized. No matter how much you love the thought, for many of us, it’s unattainable.
It’s as possible as having only one pair of shoes for all occasions.
I mean, it’s possible, right? But it’s just hard to imagine.
Sticking to a “one watch - all” diet isn’t easy. You need a certain level of skill not to fall back into this horological rabbit hole from time to time.
Imagine this. One good watch for every occasion. You can wear it on your morning run and use it to time your personal records.
You can work in the yard or take it on a weekend hike.
In the evening, you can head to a meeting or join friends at a casino.
You can close a business deal with it.
Heck, you can even catch a few waves with it in the evening!
I feel that owning just one watch is any watch enthusiast's dream. The price-to-value ratio is incredibly attractive.
Investing in one watch can save you thousands in the long run. You no longer have to justify buying multiple watches for every occasion.
Instead, you buy the perfect “one watch fits all” and live happily ever after.
The Dominant Collector Gene
There’s one problem with this scenario - the dominant collector gene.
Yes. All of us enthusiasts are wired wrong when it comes to collecting watches. It’s so hard for us to settle on one companion for life.
How can we choose a life partner but can’t settle on one watch? The answer is: many of us carry the dominant collector gene. In other words, we just can’t help ourselves.
We don’t just need one Seiko. We need the SXK, the solar Astron, and the Prospex Turtle.
We also can’t be satisfied with a Rolex Submariner. We must have the sporty Cosmograph Daytona for the weekends, the Datejust for more formal occasions, and the GMT-Master for travel.
But ask yourself: which watch would you keep if you had to liquidate your collection? The answer to this question might help form an idea of what your one-watch collection would look like.
The fact is that avid watch collectors prefer to have multiple watches. But from time to time, something special comes along. A watch that can exist in a vacuum or add something equally valuable to a collection.
The watches I’m talking about have universal appeal. It’s an indispensable quality that equates to a universal everyday model with a little extra. And when you find this watch, it will become your solution to achieving the impossible - a one-watch collection.
How to Unite a Watch Collection
What if I told you it’s possible? You don’t have to pay for a grail watch to achieve it? Maybe, just maybe, you can become part of a very small and niche club of unique watches.
If you’re an experienced collector and want to become the owner of one watch, there’s only one way. You need to reduce your watch collection to a single piece. Sounds tough, right?
Ask yourself: which watches could you do without, and which ones do you gravitate towards the most? If you can confidently answer this question, you’re already halfway to success. If not, convincing you that a one-watch collection is possible will be hard! But hear me out.
For me, the key to creating a one-watch collection lies in finding a watch that is a worthy collection in itself.
Best Watch Collections
To create the best one-watch collection, I think outside the box.
I don’t choose Rolex. Rolex is too obvious a choice. And let’s face it, most Rolex watches would fit well as a GADA (go anywhere, do anything) watch. They’re all so great.
No. I choose a German brand, and if you’ve read my articles before, you know I have a soft spot for German watchmakers.
I choose the Sinn 104.
Who? What? Wait, just hear me out.
Perhaps Sinn is not known to everyone, but it boasts over 60 years of experience in the industry. The brand has been producing solid, specially designed watches since 1961.
In fact, Sinn initially produced cases for Bell & Ross watches, which we now recognize for their own distinctive design.
Sinn’s success is not a Kickstarter story. The company built its foundation from scratch. To convince you that your collection should consist of only the Sinn 104 watch, I’d better start from the beginning.
Sinn Heritage
Sinn has been a household name for a long time. But that’s good. That’s what you need when you’re looking for a “one in one” watch.
The founder of Sinn was a man named Helmut Sinn. Being a former WWII pilot, he understood the importance of a reliable aviation instrument. The very first watches of the German brand, released in 1961, were inspired by Sinn's interest in navigation watches and pilot chronographs.
In 1985, Sinn made its watches public: a German physicist wore the 140 S model during a flight to the D-1 space laboratory. This event laid the foundation for the company’s impeccable reputation in Haute Horlogerie.
Having proven that these watches can fly in space, the next watches to go to space were the Sinn 142 S in 1992.
In 1994, the company was headed by Lothar Schmidt, who further expanded its technical capabilities. The next model was the 244, featuring a titanium case with anti-magnetic properties.
After Sinn developed the Ar-Dehumidifying technology in 1995, the company released the EZM1 and EZM mission timers. Special units used these watches to measure precise time.
The company continued to conduct extreme tests on its watches, including an endurance test in the Arctic Sea conducted by Mario M. Weidner. The extreme diver tested the watches for durability, and they passed the test brilliantly.
Since 2012, Sinn has continued to impress with its horological feats. The German brand was the first to bring its pilot watches in line with TESTAF standards, and now they bear the quality mark.
Most recently, the brand received the Excellent Product Design 2021 Award for demonstrating high craftsmanship.
Classic Yet Functional Design of Tool Watches
If you want to delve into the world of luxurious German watches, Sinn is the brand you should start with.
These German watches have many interesting features, one of which is the gas-filled cases.
You can identify which watches have this feature by the cylinder that changes color as gases escape. Additionally, the watch dial has an “Ar” mark in a circle. This feature helps prevent dust and moisture from entering the case, preserving the quality of the oils contained within.
Besides the Sinn 104, the company produces watches that exude character and individuality. Models like the Sinn 140 have a space history, particularly in the “Mir-92” mission.
Watches cannot perform cosmic and underwater missions unless they are the product of serious watchmaking craftsmanship. Sinn watches are as tough as nails. Sinn makes its watches from materials, including submarine steel, making them highly resistant to corrosion.
In these Sinn 104 watches, regular steel is used, but it’s more than enough. The watch design is highly durable, and the dial uses the company’s luminous technology. Amazingly bright, it makes the watch a useful tool in the evening. In this series, you can also choose lightweight titanium models.
Overall, the Sinn 104 is a classic pilot watch, but it doesn’t look overly pilot-like. That’s what I like most about this model. It feels technical, looks technical, and you know it’s technical.
Excellent “One and Done” Option
The Sinn 104 watches live up to their promise of being a reliable and functional everyday companion. The black-steel design of the watch is versatile enough to wear with casual and formal attire. And the stainless steel bracelet is suitable for evening wear with more elegant outfits.
The 104 St Sa I is a black-steel model that looks classic regardless of the occasion. It’s not the most technical model from Sinn. Moreover, it’s a mid-range option perfect for everyday wear.
If you need more advanced tool watches from Sinn, you have options. The EZM, 103, 140, and U1 lines are all examples of watches boasting several technological features.
The Ar-Dehumidifying technology, developed in 1995, prevents unwanted fogging effects on the glass. Sinn’s high-quality coating is used for the scratch-resistant TEGIMENT material.
In some models, you also get Sinn’s temperature resistance technology. This technology allows the watch to maintain accurate timekeeping at temperatures from minus 45 to 80 degrees Celsius.
Finally, Sinn offers protective bezels and DIAPAL technology – a lubricant-free escapement.
As one of Sinn’s bestsellers among tool watches of all time, the company has equipped the 104 model with a reliable Sellita movement. It also displays the day and date, allowing you to keep track of your busy workweek.
The 41-mm steel model features a bezel for measuring elapsed time. Additionally, the watch has a 200-meter water resistance.
Typically beautiful, the Sinn 104 watches deliver what you expect from them. Classic elegance intertwines with many functional and practical features that will come in handy any day of the week.
A Reliable Investment
The Sinn 104 watches are not necessarily an investment in terms of their ability to appreciate. As for value, you won’t sell a Sinn watch for more than you paid for it. Suffice it to say, they don’t have the same demand as, say, the Patek Philippe Nautilus or Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak.
No, by investment, I mean you’re putting your money to good use. You’re spending money on something strong, reliable, and durable. The Sinn watches will stand the test of time.
They are rugged, discerning, and have the classic appeal of tool watches. Moreover, they offer a lot for your money.
By valuable investment, I mean that these watches use some of the best materials in the industry. You can expose them to the most extreme conditions, and they will hold up!
Your Move
I recommend that anyone considering purchasing a Sinn watch explore the range of models offered. There’s a tool for everything here, but for everyday use, I prefer the Sinn 104.
I’ve shown you mine, now show me yours. What watches do you have in your collection and why? I would love to know. Write about your choice in our Telegram channel.