The Sinn company (pronounced "Zinn") was founded in 1961 by a flight instructor named Helmut Sinn. Initially, they were not a typical watch manufacturer. Instead, they specialized in cockpit clocks and chronographs. In fact, you couldn't buy their products in stores. You could only order them directly from Sinn, which was somewhat more challenging in the days before online ordering. By selling directly to customers, Sinn could keep prices lower than competitors while maintaining the same quality level. By the early 90s, the company was little known outside of Germany and Switzerland, although it was well-known to those familiar with Sinn watches.
In 1994, Helmut Sinn sold his company and retired. The new owner, Lothar Schmidt, aimed to expand production and open a larger assembly facility in Frankfurt am Main. Schmidt knew what he was doing. Before taking over Sinn, he oversaw production and logistics at the newly reformed A. Lange & Söhne company. Under his leadership, Sinn expanded its range to include a broader array of styles. They also began selling watches through distributors as well as directly to consumers.
At the time of writing this article, Sinn sells 12,000 watches a year. They have come a long way from a small aviation watch boutique. I decided to talk about four of their current watches that I consider the best of all.
Sinn 104
The 104 model is Sinn's signature pilot watch. Therefore, it has a more traditional appearance than some other models. However, this does not mean you have to wear a boring watch. The Sinn 104 is available in five different color options and more than a dozen strap choices. All variants are highly visible: wide luminescent hashes at the five-minute marks and wide luminescent stripes on the hour and minute hands. Dial options include black, white, cobalt blue, rose gold, as well as an additional black version with Arabic numerals in addition to the five-minute markings.
I usually don't say much about straps, but in this case, the number of options is worth mentioning. You can choose between leather, steel, and silicone. The silicone strap is simply black, but there are two steel variants and 25 different types of leather.
Regardless of aesthetics, the 104 is a very functional watch. It features a ratcheting bezel with 60 clicks and highly visible markings. The crystal is made of scratch-resistant sapphire, with a flat profile that doesn't shadow or distort the dial. The watch uses the Sellita SW 220-1 movement, which is one of the most popular mechanical watch movements on the market. It features hacking seconds, high accuracy, and a small date complication, adding extra functionality to the watch. The water resistance of the watch is 20 bar (200 meters), so you get the full package. As with all Sinn watches, the 104 model comes with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty.
Sinn 556
If the Sinn 104 has a classic design, then the 556 model is one of the more modern offerings. It is a stainless steel watch with a compact 38.5mm case. At 11mm thick, the case is surprisingly thin for modern stainless steel watches, giving the 556 an unusual appearance. It has many characteristics of larger, bulkier watches, including lugs and a partially recessed crown. But on the wrist, they look like more compact and formal watches. This is very convenient if you, like me, prefer watches that are medium or light in size on your wrist. They are also suitable for women or those with slimmer wrists.
In keeping with Sinn pilot watch traditions, the 556's dial is designed for enhanced visibility. The dial has a flat black surface, which is a true deep black, not charcoal. This makes the bright white hashes and wide white hands stand out very clearly. Most importantly, despite being modern, this is a classic color scheme. Black and white watches can be worn with almost anything, making the 556 a more versatile watch rather than purely situational. The sapphire crystal is flat for clear visibility and also coated for anti-glare protection on both sides.
Inside, the Sinn 556 works just as well as it does outside. It uses the same Sellita SW 220-1 movement as the 104 model, so you don't have to worry about accuracy or watch adjustment. The 556 is also rated for 20 bar pressure, so it can be used for swimming.
Sinn 103
Sinn advertises the 103 model as a "traditional pilot chronograph." The first thing you'll notice on the dial is how crowded it is. At the "9 o'clock," "12 o'clock," and "6 o'clock" positions are 60-minute, 30-minute, and 12-hour subdials, respectively. Additionally, at the "3 o'clock" position, there's a date window, which gives some balance to the dial. On the outer side, there are short bold hashes at the five-minute marks and short thin hashes at the one-minute marks. Furthermore, at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11 o'clock, there are large luminescent Arabic numerals.
Given all this, you might expect the Sinn 103 to be difficult to read, but it is not. As with the other Sinn watches I've talked about, the design is high-contrast. The dial and subdials are black, and all markers are either regular or white with luminescent coating. The hands are beautiful and wide, with luminescent stripes. Thanks to this simple coloring, the hands are easy to read even in the dark.
The crystal has a high dome that slightly distorts the edges of the dial. Nevertheless, the standard crystal made of acrylic glass is very durable, specifically designed to be shatter-resistant. If desired, you can purchase a similar-shaped sapphire crystal for an additional fee, which is scratch and glare-resistant. The crystal is surrounded by a pilot bezel with a ratchet mechanism, and the screw-down case back makes repairs easier if needed.
Sinn 856
The Sinn 856 is the most understated of these four Sinn watches. With its 40mm stainless steel case, it sits in the middle range on the wrist, and the thin raised bezel leaves plenty of room for the dial. The dial is that same high-contrast black I keep talking about, with white applied indices that are raised enough to provide extra texture. The stripes are large enough to be easily seen, as are the wide spear-shaped hour and minute hands. The second hand is a thin needle, but it is still bright white, ensuring good visibility. At the "12," "3," "6," and "9 o'clock" positions are Arabic numerals, and at the "4 o'clock" position, there's a tiny date window. Aside from the cursive Sinn logo at the top, the rest of the dial is completely empty. Inside the 856 model is the Sellita SW300-1 movement. This movement is similar to the SW 220-1 in most respects. However, it is a full millimeter thinner - 3.6mm instead of 4.6mm. This allowed Sinn to create the 856 model with a slim 11mm case. The sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, and 20 bar water resistance make the Sinn 856 a complete package.
