The Low-Down

Kicking off Sinn’s 60th anniversary celebrations is a 500-piece limited edition of the brand’s beloved dive watch, the U1 with a special dial for the occasion. The dial essentially bears grinding marks on its surface that give the watch worn out, grunge look.

The U1 has been a flag bearer for the German brand and a benchmark dive watch, within its price category, for tool watch lovers since its launch in 2005. Superbly engineered, the watch is tested based on European diving equipment standards EN 250 / EN14143 and certified by DNV GL, a third party accredited certification body.

IMHO

As great a proposition the base model of the Sinn U1 is, it becomes further heightened when you learn the watch has its case and crown forged out of high-strength, seawater-resistant German Submarine Steel.

On top of that, the U1 DS has the brand’s proprietary TEGIMENT Technology applied to the watch’s case and bezel, which is a hardening process that is used to affect the treated surface on a molecular level such that it significantly increases the level of protection against scratches than the untreated form.

The only critique, you could say that the watch community has made of the U1 is of its 44mm diameter. Which becomes a non-factor when you realise that the watch doesn’t wear anything like a 44mm watch, thanks to its short lugs and the way it’s strap is designed to taper over the wrist. Even then, if you prefer something smaller still, there is the 2020 launched U50, which holds its own ground. Read about the U50, here.

Nevertheless, you can see why Sinn would opt for the U1 to mark the start of the roll out of their 60th anniversary novelties. It is, after all, one of their most recognized and beloved models now with a grunge-rock, attitude filled textured grey dial.

Technical Specifications

Movement

Self-winding Sellita Caliber SW 200-1; hour, minute and running seconds; date; stop seconds function; anti-magnetic as per DIN 8309; 38-hour power reserve

Case & Dial

44mm diameter; 14.7mm thick; case made of German Submarine Steel, bead-blasted; dial with decorative grinding; water resistant to 1,000m

Strap

Options for a strap with pin buckle, strap with DB buckle or on a bracelet

Price

Starts at USD2,780 on rubber strap with TEGIMENTED buckle to USD2,850 on TEGIMENTED bracelet, limited edition of 500 pieces