Sinn

Sinn Spezialuhren is a German watch manufacturer known for producing military and dive watches with leading-edge materials. Sinn watches are mainly sold direct-to-consumer at more-affordable prices than German or Swiss competitors. The company was founded in 1956 by aviator and racing driver Helmut Sinn, who managed the firm into the 1990s before turning it over to former IWC engineer Lothar Schmidt. The company today claims to be founded in 1961, but the company celebrated 25 years in 1982, suggesting the earlier date.

Foundation by Helmut Sinn

Helmut Sinn was born in 1916 in Metz, then part of Germany. He served as a Luftwaffe pilot and trainer during World War II and became a rally race driver in the 1950s. Seeking an entrepreneurial opportunity, Sinn began selling cuckoo clocks to Americans stationed in Germany.

In 1956, Sinn founded a company under his own name to import and sell clocks and watches in Frankfurt. He initially focused on Heuer chronographs and stopwatches, which were connected to his life as an aviator and driver. The company soon began using the term "Spezialuhren" to differentiate its products from the ordinary watches and clocks offered by competitors, and this name has been used by the firm ever since.

Seeking to expand his business, Sinn established a branch in Switzerland in 1965. Initially located in Zürich, the branch was moved to Berne and then La Chaux-de-Fonds as his local representative, Dr. Adolf Léon Benz of Winterthur, moved his own offices. Sinn watches were produced in Switzerland by established firms according to Helmut Sinn's specifications. Among the watches produced in the 1960s are a Sinn 103 compressor case chronograph with a Valjoux 72 movement, a "Type XX" chronograph with a Valjoux 72 movement, and a triple date Valjoux 723 chronograph similar to those from Gallet.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Sinn's firm became involved in the repair and refurbishment of Heuer and Leonidas chronographs used by the Bundeswehr. The company soon began customizing these watches for military use, developing their own variants to supply military contracts. Among the most collectible are the so-called Heuer Bundeswehr Chronographs, which were modified by Sinn and feature unique dial elements. In the 1980s Sinn began selling refurbished Bundeswehr chronographs to the public. Sinn and Heuer developed a prototype automatic chronograph for the Bundeswehr using the Chronomatic movement, with Gerd Rudiger Lang (later founder of Chronoswiss) involved in the rejected project.

Sinn models from the 1970s include the Sinn 102 chronograph, Sinn 140 automatic chronograph with Lemania 5100 movement, and Sinn 903 "Navitimer" very similar to Breitling. These came in various period cases, including compressor, cushion, "television", and Calatrava. Sinn also produced some Type XX Flieger chronographs in the 1960s and 1970s, and these are extremely rare.

Sinn also supplied dashboard clocks for aircraft during this period, including the Luftwaffe. Another specialty for Sinn was watches for the blind. A 1982 mention in Europa Star clarifies that the company was then 25 years old (dating it to 1956 rather than 1961 as sometimes claimed) and shows an unusually large wrist stopwatch.

In 1979, Sinn purchased the remaining stock of watches and components of Breitling. This gave the company a base on which to build the development of their own watches. The company was famous starting in the 1980s for practical and tough watches for military and civilian aviation, diving, and timing.

The Sinn 142 chronograph, introduced about 1980, featured the automatic Lemania 5100 movement and would become an icon: In 1985 a Sinn 140 S automatic chronograph was worn by German astronaut Reinhard Furrer on the Spacelab station. Sinn watches were also worn on the Mir '92 and Columbia space shuttle missions. When Lemania wanted to cease production of the movement in the late 1990s, Sinn pressed them to continue production, which they did until 2006.

Other watches produced in the 1980s include the 903 "Navitimer", likely using Breitling components, the modern Sinn 157 chronograph with Lemania 5100 movement, and the Sinn 156 military chronograph, also offered in civilian guise.

Sinn pioneered the direct-to-consumer sales model in watches, issuing catalogs and fulfilling orders by mail. The brand became famous for producing high-quality watches at affordable prices. Though it never gained much broad awareness, Sinn was respected especially by dive watch enthusiasts. Among the products offered by Sinn was the Sinn 156, a modern reinterpretation of the Heuer Bundeswehr Chronograph using a Lemania 5100 movement.

When two French designer and Sinn intern Bruno Belamich wanted to establish his own watch brand with his friend Carlos Rosillo, he turned to Sinn. The resulting watches wore their new brand, Bell & Ross, but also proclaimed "by Sinn" on the dial and were very close to Sinn's own offerings, including the famous Sinn 156. The pair had recruited Lothar Schmidt from IWC to lead their efforts, and he was impressed by the possibilities of the Sinn brand.

Transformation under Lothar Schmidt

In 1994, the 78 year old Sinn sold his eponymous firm to former IWC engineer Lothar Schmidt, who was currently partnered with Sin on the development of Bell & Ross. Helmut Sinn had intended to continue working with the firm, but the two soon had a falling-out and the company continued without its founder.

Lothar Schmidt moved the brand forward with new inventions and technologies to improve the durable and robust watches produced by Sinn. Shortly after he took over, Sinn introduced the Sinn 244, a shock- and magnetism-proof watch in a titanium case. Sinn also added the brand's first gold-cased watch, a chronograph with a special 22-carat alloy said to be as hard as steel.

Two key technologies quickly followed: Ar-Deumidifying was announced in 1995, followed by the extreme diving Hydro Technology case in 1996. Ar-Dehumidifying uses a special copper sulphate drying capsule, extreme diffusion-reducing (EDR) seals, and protective Argon gas filling to prevent humidity inside the case. This was introduced in the 203 Ti Ar dive watch, and is now widespread in the company's range. Hydro is a technique that fills the case (including the quartz movements) with a clear non-compressible silicone oil with the same refractive index as sapphire glass, eliminating fogging.

In 1997 Sinn introduced the Einsatz-Zeitmesser 1 (EZM1) mission timer with Ar-Dehumidifying, a stripped-down Lemania 5100 automatic chronograph with no subdials or windows and a left-side crown and pushers. This was paired with the EZM2 line, which used the Hydro technology. A year later the 303 KRISTALL became the most temperature-insensitive watch thanks to Ar and a special oil. Sinn introduced the Sinn 356 pilot watch in 1997 and won its first Goldene Unruh award in 1998 for the 103 Ti Ar.

As Sinn leaned into exotic case materials the company found that it needed a better supplier. In 1999, Schmidt founded Sächsische Uhrentechnologie GmbH Glashütte (SUG) in Glashütte. This specialized case manufacturer focuses on advanced case designs and materials and supplies Sinn as well as other firms in Germany and beyond.

On September 2m 1999 at the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte in Frankfurt, Sinn introduced the upscale Frankfurt Financial District watch. This featured a Sinn-customized movements as well as sophisticated design suitable for dress use. This expanded into a range of dress watches in the 2000s, including many with special complicated movements.

Another patented invention, introduced in 2001, is Diapal, a completely oil-free Swiss lever escapement. Sinn also developed a special heat-resistant oil that can maintain lubrication across an extreme temperature range (-45 degrees to +80 degrees Celsius). Seeking a more durable case material, Sinn introduced Tegiment in 2003, a hardened and anto-magnetic stainless steel first seen that year in the Sinn 756. Another exotic material followed in 2005: Recycled steel from retired German U-Boats.

Sinn also worked to construct more advanced watch movements. In 2003 Sinn began working on their own modifications to the ETA 7750 to replace the aging Lemania 5100, which Lemania was threatening to pull from production. This became the Cal. SZ01, used in many models today. The company launched a split-seconds chronograph, Sinn 958, in 2004, and a hand-winding regulator movement based on the Unitas 6498 in 2006 as Cal. SZ04. More in-house modified movements followed: Cal. SZ02 with a 60-minute chronograph subdial in 2006 for the Sinn EZM13, Cal. SZ05 with a classic Compax look in 2011, and Cal. SZ03 with a calendar week display for the 6052 Frankfurt Financial District in 2014.

As of 2025, most Sinn mechanical movements are supplied by Sellita and Concepto, with ETA and Ronda supplying quartz movements. Sellita has taken on manufacturing of Sinn's modifications, though Sinn still refers to many of these using the SZ names. Movement finishing, watch assembly, and regulation are handled in-house by Sinn.

Models (selection)

Pilot's / Car driver's / Expedition watches

• Pilot's watches:

• Pilot's chronograph: 103 St, 103 St Ty, 103 Ti Ar, 103 Ti Ar UTC, 103 A Sa
• Bundeswehr: 155 Pilot Chronograph
• Classical pilot's chronograph: 356 Pilot, 356 Pilot II
• Multi-function chronograph: 900 Pilot
• Space chronograph: 142 St II

• Car driver's watches:

• Car driver's chronograph: 303, 303 Silver Ty, 303 Silver 12
• Rallye chronograph: 917, 956, 956 Classic, 956 Corvette

• Sports/world timer chronograph: 144 St, 144 Ti

• Universal chronograph: 256

• Model railway chronograph: 303 M

• Instrumental watches:

• 556, 656
• 657, turning bezel
• 856, GMT
• 857, GMT, turning bezel
• 902, rectangular

• Duo chronograph: 756, 756 Diapal (UTC), 757

• Expedition watches:

• Multi function chronograph: 900, 900 Hummer
• Navigation chronograph: 903 St, 903 H4

Dive Watches

• Dive watch (Quartz): UX
• Dive watch (mechanical): U1, U2 (EZM5), EZM 3
• Diver's chronograph:

• 203 St, 203 TiAr, 203 Arctic
• U1000 (EZM6)

Frankfurt Financial District Watches

• 6000, three time zones, chronograph
• 6030, two time zones, chronograph
• 6033, two time zones
• 6036, three time zones
• World timer: 6060
• Financial District Alarm Watch: 6066

Classical Models

• Regulator: 6100

Awards

Sinn scored second place at the election "Best Brand 2007", organized by the pilot's magazine "aerokurier".

At the competition "Golden Balance" (Goldene Unruh) (reader's choice of magazine "Focus" and Uhrenmagazin) Sinn received the following awards:

• 2001: model 6000, 2nd place (category C up to 5000 DM)
• 2002: model 356 Jubi, 3rd place (category B up to 1000 €)
• 2005: model 956 Classic, 2nd place (category B up to 5000 €)
• 2006: model 6000 Jubi, 1st place (category C up to 10,000 €), model 956 Klassik, 2nd place (category B up to 5000 €)
• 2008: model 6100 Regulateur, 1st place (category C up to 10,000,- €), model 757 UTC, 3rd place (category B up to 5000,- €), model 2300, 3rd place (category D up to 25,000,- €)

The case manufacturer SUG

The Sinn Spezialuhren GmbH & Co KG contributed significantly to the foundation and establishment phase of the Sächsische Uhrentechnologie GmbH Glashütte (SUG) (Saxon watches technology) by the allocation of commissioned production of cases. In addition, there is a lively and fertile, close technology transfer between the two prosperous companies in Frankfurt and Glashütte.

The Sinn Catalogue book

Sinn generously offers to any interested watch friend the opportunity to send the current catalog for free. Unlike other catalogs available on the watch market, this one is a real, comprehensive hardcover book that is not also written in the usual style of self-commendations, but - committed to the restrained and modest, no-nonsense style of the company owner Lothar Schmidt - has to offer a wealth of interesting information and in part reads like a textbook. To anyone who is interested in mechanical watches at all, the reading of this book is strongly recommended.

• Ordering of the Sinn Catalogue book, optionally as direct download (PDF)

The Sinn Sales Partners

In addition to direct sales, where you get the watches ordered directly from Sinn by post and to your view, in recent years there has been built an increasingly dense network of so-called "deposits". These are watch shops that have a part of the total supply of Sinn watches in stock. Of course, for the interested watch enthusiast, if he is nearby, this is the best way to get oriented on the spot.

• Sinn Sales Partners Worldwide

Address

Sinn Spezialuhren GmbH
Wilhelm-Fay-Straße 21
65936 Frankfurt am Main
Tel. +49 (0)69 97 84 14-0
Fax +49 (0)69 97 84 14-201

Weblinks

• Sinn (company homepage)

Literature

• Das ZEITGEFÜHL-Uhrenbuch; Author: Gerd-Lothar Reschke; ISBN 3-938607-61-0

Timeline

• 1916 - Helmut Sinn is born in Metz, Germany
• 1949 - Lothar Schmidt is born in Neunkirchen, Saarland, Germany
• 1956 - Helmut Sinn establishes a company under his own name to sell clocks, chronographs, and stopwatches
• 1961 - The modern Sinn sets this as the date of launch for the company by Helmut Sinn
• 1965, June - Helmut Sinn of Frankfurt am Main opens a branch in Zürich; the owner of the company is Helmut Sinn, a German national, who resides in Frankfurt am Main; the branch is focused on import and export of Spezialuhren ("special watches"); it is located at Torgasse 6 (at the office of Dr. Adolf Benz)
• 1965, September - Helmut Sinn's office in Zürich is moved to Olivengasse 14
• 1967, February - The Zürich branch of Helmut Sinn is moved to Berne at Neuengasse 39 (with the authorized representative Dr. Adolf L. Benz)
• 1968, November - The Berne branch of Helmut Sinn is moved to La Chaux-de-Fonds; Helmut Sinn gives proxy representation to Dr. Adolf Léon Benz from Winterthur, residing in La Chaux-de-Fonds; the address is Rue Fritz-Courvoisier 58 (at Dr. Adolf L. Benz)
• 1969, April - The Helmut Sinn office in La Chaux-de-Fonds is moved to Rue du Mont d'Amin 11, at the office of Dr. Adolf Léon Benz
• 1969, June - The Helmut Sinn office in La Chaux-de-Fonds is moved to Avenue Léopold-Robert 72, at the office of Dr. Adolf Léon Benz
• 1971, August 20 - The SINN brand is trademarked in Switzerland by Helmut Sinn of La Chaux-de-Fonds for "mechanical, electric, electronic watches, chronographs and on-board instruments and parts thereof, watch cases and watch dials"
• 1972, May - The Helmut Sinn branch in La Chaux-de-Fonds removes the signature of Adolf Léon Benz; Lucien Leitenberg, from and in La Chaux-de-Fonds, is appointed proxy with individual signature; the firm changes its focus to "Watch specialties, mainly watches for aviation, watches for the blind and stopwatches"; the address remains at Avenue Léopold-Robert 72
• 1974 - Sinn introduces the Sinn 144 sports automatic chronograph using the Valjoux 7750 movement
• 1976, September 1 - Helmut Sinn and Theo Gasser from Gallenkirch form the firm of Sinn und Gasser in Pieterlen; this collective partnership takes over the business operations of Helmut Sinn's branch in La Chaux-de-Fonds; the business purpose is "production and distribution of Spezialuhren; the address is Grünweg 2, 2542 Pieterlen
• 1979 - Helmut Sinn purchases the remaining stocks of watches, movements, and components of Breitling
• 1979, December - Sinn und Gasser of Pieterlen is liquidated
• 1985 - Sinn moves to a new headquarters at Im Füldchen 5–7
• 1993 - Industrial designer Bruno Belamich joins Sinn as a design intern
• 1994 - Lothar Schmidt joins Belamich and Carlos Rosillo's new firm Bell & Ross, creating an initial range of watches, many based on Sinn designs and manufactured by the company
• 1994, September 1 - Lothar Schmidt takes over Sinn from Helmut Sinn
• 1994 - Schmidt introduces his first model at Sinn, the Sinn 244 with a titanium case with magnetic field protection
• 1995 - Sinn introduces its first gold cased watch, using a special 22-carat alloy
• 1995 - Sinn introduces AR-Dehumidifying Technology in the Sinn 203 Ti Ar diving watch
• 1995, July 6 - Michel Guinand SA of Brenets changes the name of the company to Montres Guinand SA; Michel Guinand, sole director, has resigned; Helmut Sinn junior, from and of Frutigen, is sole director; Helmut Sinn senior, of German origin, in Frankfort (Germany), is director; Michel Guinand, of and in the Brenets, is given power of attorney
• 1996 - Bell & Ross introduces their range of watches "by Sinn" at the Basel Fair
• 1996 - Sinn introduces HYDRO Technology in the Sinn 403 HYDRO
• 1996, June - Montres Guinand SA - the sole administrator, Helmut Sinn Junior, has resigned, his signature is erased; Helmut Sinn Senior is no longer a director, his signature is erased' sole director with individual signature is Rainer Schlup, from and of Lengnau
• 1996, September 28 - The SINN brand name is registered in Switzerland by Helmut Sinn Spezialuhren GmbH of Frankfurt am Main, Germany
• 1997 - Sinn introduces the Sinn EZM1 and Sinn EZM2
• 1998 - Sinn introduces the Sinn 356 Pilot watch
• 1998 - Sinn introduces the Sinn 303 Kristall with Ar-Dehumidifying technology and special 66-228 oil for extreme temperature resistance
• 1998 - Sinn wins the Goldene Unruh award for the Sinn 103 Ti Ar
• 1999, September 2 - Sinn introduces the Sinn Frankfurt Financial District Watch line with the model 6000 at the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte in Frankfurt
• 1999 - Sächsische Uhrentechnologie GmbH Glashütte (SUG) is founded in Glashütte as a specialized case maker
• 1999, September - Sinn Spezialuhren Generalvertretung Patrick Haag is established in Hägendorf at Industriestrasse West 1B; it is a sole proprietorship; the owner with single signature is Patrick Haag, from Erlen, of Hägendorf; the purpose is trade in Spezialuhren of the brand "Sinn"
• 2001 - Sinn introduces DIAPAL Technology, which features a special combination of materials that requires no lubrication, in the Sinn 6000 Frankfurt Financial District Watch
• 2001, April - Sinn Spezialuhren Generalvertretung Patrick Haag of Hägendorf is deleted following cessation of business
• 2003, January 1 - The SINN brand is registered in Switzerland by Sinn Spezialuhren GmbH & Co
• 2003 - Sinn begins working on the in-house Cal. SZ01 to replace the Lemania 5100
• 2003 - Sinn introduces TEGIMENT case hardened stainless steel in the Sinn 756
• 2004 - Sinn introduces the split-seconds chronograph Sinn 958
• 2005 - Sinn begins using German submarine steel in dive watch cases
• 2006 - Sinn wins the Goldene Unruh award for the Sinn Frankfurt Financial District Watch in white gold
• 2006 - Sinn introduces the hand-winding regulator movement, Cal. SZ04
• 2008 - Sinn wins the Goldene Unruh award for the Sinn 6100 Regulateur Rose Gold
• 2010 - Sinn wins three Goldene Unruh awards for the Sinn 900 Pilot, Sinn 6100 Rose Gold, and Sinn Frankfurt Financial District Watch in platinum
• 2011, March - Sinn introduces the SZ05 movement
• 2011 - Sinn introduces the EZM10 with Cal. SZ01
• 2014 - Sinn introduces the Sinn 6052 and Sinn 6099 in the Frankfurt Financial District Watch line with Cal. SZ03
• 2014, October 24 - American Robert Alan Eustace parachutes from a record height of 41,419 meters wearing a Sinn 857 UTC TESTAF
• 2015, May - Sinn opens a retail store at Römerberg square in Frankfurt
• 2016 - Sinn introduces the 6200 Meisterbund I, entirely made in Germany with a case by SUG and movement by UWD
• 2017, September 1 - Sinn begins moving into new headquarters in Sossenheim
• 2018, February 4 - Sinn inaugurates the new Sossenheim headquarters
• 2018, February 14 - Helmut Sinn dies at the age of 101
• 2018 - Sinn introduces the Sinn 1800 DAMASZENER watch with a forge welded Damascus steel case and dial
• 2020 - The Sinn EZM 12 earns the Red Dot Award
• 2020 - The Sinn EZM 12 and Sinn Hunting Watch 3006 earn the German Design Award
• 2020 - The Sinn 936 earns the Red Dot Award
• 2021 - The Sinn 105 St Sa UTC earns the German Design Award
• 2021 - The Sinn 105 St Sa UTC earns the Red Dot Award
• 2021 - The Sinn 103 Classic 12 earns the Capital Watch Award for timepieces up to 5,000 Euros
• 2022 - The Sinn 717 earns the German Design Award
• 2022 - The Sinn 717 earns the iF Design Award
• 2022 - The Sinn 1739 Ag B earns the Red Dot Award
• 2022 - Sinn opens a customer service branch in Dresden
• 2023 - The Sinn 1800 S GG DAMASZENER earns the German Design Award
• 2023 - The Sinn 105 St Sa UTC W earns the iF Design Award
• 2024 - The Sinn T50 GBDR earns the iF Design Award
• 2024 - The Sinn 356 PILOT Classic W earns the Red Dot Award
• 2024 - The Sinn 356 PILOT Classic AS E earns the German Design Award
• 2024 - The Sinn 156.1 earns the German Design Award