German Sinn timepieces are really hard for us tool watch lovers to resist. Often stalwart in their new products, over the last few years they have been a bit more trendy and playful. While I don’t know first hand, I have a feeling that the Bell & Ross success was a major eye-opener for them. Back in the 1990s when Bell & Ross began, they were basically selling dual-branded Sinn watches in a new distribution method. It was basically like selling the best tools in a hardware store, but now in a department store. Bell & Ross has since come a long way, but their roots in offering plain and simple instrument watches hasn’t changed much.
I’ve noticed Sinn starting to offer more limited edition models, especially those that play into the vintage watch theme. Here is one such limited edition model that will surely appeal to Sinn and vintage watch lovers. This is the Chronograph Tachymeter – and is sort of exclusive for the German market (though anyone can get one). The Chronograph Tachymeter revisits the old style “snailed” tachymeter spiral scale and vintage colored lume. All matched to a light brown strap with racing portholes. It is a sort of neat piece that combines a vintage appeal with the traditional Sinn ethos.
Sinn uses an all high-polished steel case that is 41mm wide. It looks great matched with the black rotating diver’s style bezel. The chronograph pusher are simple plunger style to add to the vintage feel. Over the dial is a domed acrylic crystal – typical of older sport watches. The case is water resistant to 200 meters. Sinn likes to point out that the dial is done in a matte black tone. You’ll notice a picture of white with the “aged” yellow look of the hour markers and lume on the hands. Sinn designers did a good job of creating that iconic spiral scale on the dial, but also not making the dial look too busy. Part of this has to do with the diminutive gray colored subsidiary seconds dial, and well-integrated date window. I really don’t think anyone is going to use the tachymeter function, but it looks cool enough.
Inside the watch is a modified (some registers removed) Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic movement. The attached leather strap is something I wouldn’t have guessed to see on a Sinn timepiece. Nothing wrong with it, but it isn’t the type of style I usually associate with the brand. This is a special product meant to fit into a certain vintage theme. While uncharacteristic for Sinn to do this, it came out quite nicely. Sinn will produce just 100 pieces of the limited edition Chronograph Tachymeter watch. They have done so for a German online and catalog retailer called Manufactum.de (see the Sinn Chronograph Tachymeter watch via them here). Price is 1,350 Euros.
Sinn Chronograph Tachymeter Tech Specifications
Mechanical Movement:
Valjoux 7750
automatic winding
25 jewels
28,800 vibrations per hour
stop seconds
Shockproof according to DIN 8308
Anti-magnetic according to DIN 8309
Housing:
Polished stainless steel case,
Cover glass acrylic
down back
screwed crown
Water-resistant to DIN 8310
Pressure resistant to 20 bar (= 200 m water depth)
To low pressure
Functions:
Hours, minutes, small seconds
date display
stop second
Triple graduated tachymeter scale in spiral form for the reading of average speeds
of 20 km / h to 300 km / h
Pilot’s bezel with luminous marker main
Dimensions & Weight:
Case diameter: 41 mm
Lug width: 20 mm
Case thickness of the clock: 15.5 mm
Weight without strap: 74 grams
Dial & Hands:
Matt Black dial
Indexes with luminescent color
Hour, minute, stop second hand with luminescent color
Sales: Obtainable only through Manufactum
Prices from Manufactum: 1.350, – EUR with leather strap, As of August 2012, technical changes
