SINN
For some, time is a philosophical concept. For others, it’s a precisely measurable unit. For SINN, it is both. Sinn watches unite traditional fine craftsmanship with pioneering innovations. The result: timepieces that people can rely on throughout their lives and that guarantee the highest precision even under extreme conditions. This reliability can be experienced first hand and verified by objective methods.
The team of watchmakers, designers and engineers at SINN focuses on technological innovations, new materials and new solutions. Sinn’s objective is to develop watches that are absolutely reliable no matter where they are worn – on the trading floor or on a polar expedition, under- water or above the clouds, in the desert or the rainforest. At SINN, functionality is never achieved only at a theoretical level. That’s why its customers include pilots, divers and members of Special Forces such as the GSG 9.
SINN develops watches that are not only highly esthetic but also extremely practical. They meet the needs of people who live life to the fullest. Who have to depend one hundred percent on their watches even in the most extreme circumstances. Who need perfect functionality, durability and certified quality. The company has focused entirely on high-quality mechanical watches since its founding in 1961. When engineer Lothar Schmidt purchased the firm from its founder in 1994, a new era of technology began. The list of innovations is impressive.
The most important developments by SINN include:-
• Magnetic field protection
• SINN special oil 66-228
• Ar® Dehumidifying technology
• HYDRO® technology
• DIAPAL® technology
• TEGIMENT® technology
• DIAPAL® technology
• Black hard coating on TEGIMENT technology
HYDRO® Technology
Absolutely free from fogging, pressure-resistant at any accessible diving depth and perfect readability from any angle under water – these are the unbeatable advantages of Sinn diving watches equipped with HYDRO technology. How does it work? The movement, dial and hands are immersed directly in a crystal-clear bath of oil. The watch is thus free from fogging, as there is no air inside the case.
The principle behind this technology is simple, but its implementation requires some complex steps with meticulous attention to detail. A HYDRO watch is filled completely with special oil, i.e. the movement; dial and hands are immersed directly in a crystal-clear bath of oil. That’s why every HYDRO watch must also be a quartz watch. The oscillation of the balance in a mechanical watch cannot overcome the friction of a liquid medium. There are convincing advantages to this type of construction: the watch is absolutely free of fogging, because there is no air inside the case. Oil is non-compressible, so the internal pressure of the watch constantly adjusts to the external pressure by means of tiny movements of the membrane back. Thus the HYDRO watch is pressure-resistant at any accessible diving depth. The crystal and back are not exposed to any compressive stress even at the greatest depths.
A further advantage is that the refractive index of Sinn HYDRO oil matches that of sapphire crystal glass, so no light is refracted at the interface between the oil and the sapphire crystal. As a result, a HYDRO watch can be read at any angle under water. For the UX, SINN selected a chronometer quartz movement with thermal compensation made by the Swiss manufacturer ETA. This movement is accurate to within ± 0.05 seconds per day, so the watch will run at most 20 seconds slow or fast over the course of a year.
SINN Special Oil 66-228
The long-term accuracy of a watch movement crucially depends on the lubrication of its moving parts – this is particularly true at extreme temperatures. It uses the special oil developed by SINN to ensure reliable function under even the most extreme conditions. With its outstanding properties, it provides lubrication that is highly resistant to aging at temperatures between –45 ºC and +80 ºC. At low temperatures, the oil becomes more viscous, leading to increased friction throughout the movement; more energy is lost in the train wheel, the escapement and the complete balance. Consequently, the amplitude of the oscillation decreases and the watch becomes increasingly inaccurate.
In conjunction with the ageing of the oil, which likewise increases the viscosity of the oil, conventional watch oils can thicken enough that the watch stops at temperatures just below the freezing point. Such watches no longer function reliably when used at lower temperatures! Only the special oil with substantially lower viscosity developed by SINN for use in extreme temperatures provides reliable long-term lubrication at very low temperatures. The composition of the oil ensures that it is still sufficiently fluid at temperatures of –45 °C and below to maintain the movement’s proper mechanical function. Moreover, the viscosity of the oil at +80 °C does not change enough to cause the oil to run off the ruby pallets of the escapement. Sinn special oil is highly resistant to aging, and provides lubrication for use under extreme conditions.
Ar ® Dehumidifying Technology
Dehumidifying technology solves a basic problem of mechanical watches: aging of oils due to moisture in the air contained inside or diffusing into the watch. This is why dehumidifying technology is used to keep the watch movement in a nearly anhydrous atmosphere using three elements: a drying capsule, Viton® seals and inert gas filling. Aging processes and fogging of the crystal from sudden cold are prevented, and reliable function and accuracy are ensured.
DIAPAL® Technology
The objective of the dehumidifying technology is to prevent the oil from aging. The idea behind the DIAPAL® technology goes one step further. In this case we select special pairs of materials that work together without lubrication and without causing friction, ensuring long-term accuracy of the movement and particularly of the Swiss lever escapement.
TEGIMENT® & The Black Hard Coating
The stainless steel case hardened using TEGIMENT® technology provides extremely effective protection from scratches on the case surface. To achieve this, Sinn does not apply any coatings of foreign materials; rather, the surface of the stainless steel itself is hardened in a special process. In turn, the black, hard coating is applied to the U1000 S model, for example, by physical vapor deposition (PVD). This high-quality, black, hard coating is achieved only in combination with TEGIMENT technology.
Magnetic Field Protection
Magnetic fields such as those of electric motors, loudspeakers or door closers cause the Nivarox balance spring to become magnetized and adversely affect the accuracy of the watch. Sinn solves this problem by using a protective sheath consisting of a closed, magnetically soft inner case that includes the dial, the movement holding ring and the case back. This magnetic field protection far exceeds the DIN specification for anti-magnetic watches and minimizes magnetic interference.
Captive Safety Bezel
According to the DIN specification, the bezel of a diving watch may only be turned counter-clockwise and should ratchet in increments of one minute. The construction of the rotating bezel is an extremely sensitive safety topic. To preclude risks to the life and health of the diver, Sinn U1000 series employs a safety solution based on two elements. One is the secure attachment of the rotating bezel, which differs greatly from the conventional snap-in mechanism: thanks to our design, the bezel remains in place, even upon impact. And a patented mechanism in the U1000 series provides additional protection against accidental mis-adjustment. Thanks to this comprehensive safety system, divers can be confident they are in fact safe and protected. In addition, the precise ratcheting with its unmistakable clicks in increments of one minute is an audible expression of quality.
Quality Tests
Watch tests by Sinn are tougher than the real world. Special areas of application require special solutions. A pilot’s watch has to satisfy different demands than a diver’s watch. The endurance tests to which SINN watches are subjected vary accordingly. The tests have only one thing in common: they are carried out under realistic conditions. Furthermore, they document the functional robustness of Sinn watch models very impressively. And that’s not going to change. You won’t find technological stagnation at SINN.
Germanischer Lloyd, based in Hamburg, is responsible for the technical safety of more than 5,700 ocean-going vessels. Its guidelines constitute a safety standard accepted worldwide for maritime shipping. Since 2005 Germanischer Lloyd has been testing Sinn diving watches for water-tightness and pressure resistance. In accordance with these certification standards, the U1 model and the U1000 series are pressure resistant to 100 bars, while the U2 series is pressure-resistant to 200 bars and the UX series is actually pressure-resistant to any accessible diving depth. In 2006, Sinn commissioned Germanischer Lloyd to test the U1, U2, UX and EZM 3 diving watches and – in 2007 – the U1000 series as well.
The testing and certification according to the European standards EN 205 and EN 14143 was completely new territory for both sides. This was the case because the standards for diving equipment cannot be applied to watches without modification. The experts at Germanischer Lloyd thus adapted the standards appropriately and defined two series of tests. In the first of the two, they put the timepieces in a test cabinet for three hours at –20 °C, then for three more hours at +50 °C. The timepieces were subsequently checked for accuracy and functional reliability at both temperatures. In a second test the watches had to withstand three hours at –30 °C and 3 hours at +70 °C with 95% humidity.
Official website: www.sinn.de
