I would not call all of Sinn collections as bland. This limited edition is a great Valjoux 7750 implementation with beautiful dial colors. I also have this in green.
this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2023
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Just look at something like the Sinn 556. A minimalist, super solid watch with 200m WR that can be used on any occasion.
Nomos has a lot of appeal in the brand itself as well. A young, independent watchmaker with amazingly finished in-house movements that keep to older, traditional Bauhaus designs. They also have some creative, new designs in the same style as the Metro Date Power Reserve, Zurich World Time, and Lambda.
I am a Texan in Germany. Not many Sinn's catch my eye but I live very close to their showroom and factory. I purchased a watch during Covid and they were the most helpful sales people ever. They let me try on everything I could imagine. Top notch customer service.
fully tegimented U2 I bought in 2011. wouldn't call this minimalist or boring by any stretch. I think OP has little familiarity with their catalog.
I’m drawn to ultra legible, simple, military-style watches for whatever reason. The 556a is sort of an attainable grail watch for me. Maybe there are “better” watches that achieve the above but the first time I saw one my thought was “I gotta have one of these someday”.
I don’t know much about the rest of the Sinn lineup but that’s my take on the 556a anyway.
It's my second most worn watch and very versatile with lots of straps. I highly recommend it.
I'm not a big fan of most other Sinns though.
" always black and white and minimalist to a fault. "
That's why. Right there
form follows function. they are reduced to their minimal functional elements, reaching closer to the Platonic ideal of a tool watch. This is desirable to some people.
I love mine. Orange accent adds just enough
Sinn watches are built for purpose and are real tool watches with function being more important than design. They're not meant to be a fashion luxury watch but instead are targeted at professionals for specific uses. The super durable nature, great movement, and attractive price from this well known German brand is what makes it appealing to a lot of people. I totally get what you mean when people say that it looks too simple (honestly I'm no different) but it makes a lot of sense for a piece of this nature.
The minimalist aesthetic is the appeal.
I was saying Boo-Sinn!!!!
You are describing what is appealing to me.
Right as I first got into the hobby I was lusting after Speedmasters. I had started with a Timex Intelligent Chronograph, picked up a Casio or two, got an Orient Ray II to get in the mechanical game. The allure of the Speedy haunted me, and as a compromise I looked at the Sinn 356 as a more reasonably priced alternative.
I know they're very different watches, but there was something about it that really spoke to me. I eventually got myself a Speedy and it was great, but the appeal of the Sinn never left. There's something about the no-bullshit, old school vibe in that boringness you describe that I really like. I get the appeal of design flourishes and color sometimes, but other times I just want a cartoon version of a watch. They really remind me of the cockpit of a piston engine fighter plane. I love it.
Just a taste thing, really. The 556 has always struck me as being just about the least visually interesting watch imaginable, and I really don’t see the appeal—and I’m kind of a meat and potatoes field watch guy, but come on, give me something—so I just chalk it up to different strokes/different folks. It’s cool, just very much not for me.
(I do kind of laugh at the standard Sinn fan argument I see a lot: “this isn’t a fashion accessory, it’s a tool.” Come on bro. No one’s spending more than a grand on an automatic wristwatch purely because of its practical properties. It’s a pricy fashion accessory that you think communicates “I am not the kind of guy who acknowledges buying pricy fashion accessories.”)
"this isn’t a fashion accessory, it’s a tool.”
Lol, only time this comment should be made is if your a looking to get made fun of by r/watchcirclejerk.
I love watches, but I let's be real. The main reason why anyone of us wears one is because it looks pretty on our wrist.
Unless there is a zombie apocalypse and total collapse of civilization, a watch (especially a mechanical one) is probably the worst tool you can have given other alternatives in that area.
It's a fashion accessory meant to signal that the wearer doesn't care about fashion!
Joking aside, I do appreciate that aesthetic personally. The "function dictating form" design language is attractive to me. And there's that added benefit that those "tool watch" kinds of designs generally allow for less delicate handling, and less averse reactions to signs of wear. But of course it's not an ACTUAL or in any way important tool for me.
I feel the same way. I like simple field watches with a little bit of refinement. I like the polished chamfer on the tudor watches, specifically the ranger. I don't own one, but I have san Martin's version of it and I love it. Very simplistic design but had just a little pop to it.
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If yon needs to ask yon is probably not doing it right, as to the watches one persons simple elegance is another persons bland, I have been called worse and I do not even have one.
The subtlety is the appeal.
What you consider boring, many consider beautiful.
What you consider beautiful, many consider ugly or cluttered.
I also figure that something like a Sinn will be a design that you need to see in person to fully appreciate - the only black dial of a 556I for example looks superb in person, but just looks boring and black in images.
maybe because the sinn 556i is the best watch ever made #1 in the world ever
People love the H link bracelet, kind of unique in that regard.
Brands don’t care about nice bracelets as much which is a shame, hence the popularity of the PRX.
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Agree! Never understood it. They are apparently well made but man they just don’t do it for me
Agreed
Most of them I think look pretty bland but the U50 looks pretty slick to me. Good use of black white and red coloring.
OK. Let me answer from my POV. I bought my first Sinn back in 1999. So I am not a new Sinn buyer. The appeal to me have always been:
- Value
- Legibility of dials
The #2 is key. The dial use methodical use of colors, typography. Red chrono counter hands for example on some of their flieger watches.
The watches serve a tool-like purpose. The Sinn 356 is a good Flieger with the warm tool-watch aesthetics -- acrylic crystal and matte dial.
Ever wanted to wear German submarine steel on your wrist? Or an 50bar rated dive watch that's merely 12.3mm thick? If not, Sinn is not for you.
The bastards at Sinn finally let go of that ridiculous penis hand of the U range. The T range is just perfect, they make it exceedingly hard for me not to get one.
We all have brands we think like this about.Personally,I think the Nautilus is the most ugly,bland looking watch.
Price lol that’s it
I like it The dials are easy to read and seem to have better lume than a marathon
I’d spend the money on them if I already didn’t have a marathon
It's a functional, highly legible tool, it's a no-nonsense no baubles approach. Less is more. You get a top grade sellita in all non chrono, unlike most other brands.
Two of my favourites on their catalog:
- 556A for great legibility: https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/556_A.htm
- T50 titanium diver: https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/T50.htm
If you want color:
- https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/103_Classic_12_H.htm
- https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/356_Sa_PILOT_II.htm
- https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/358_Sa_PILOT_B_E.htm
- https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/103_St_Sa_Commerzbank.htm
- https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/HUNTING_WATCH_3006.htm
- https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/EZM_12.htm
- https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/EZM_7.htm
That's the point. Not everything has to be "interesting". Sometimes ppl just want a simple plain no nonsense black and white watch. Like, do you have to have a super interesting phone case? How about a super interesting wallet or belt or shoes? I have a plain black leather wallet. It's very nice but also simple and functional. I don't want a flashy wallet or a design on the leather. I'm sure some ppl do, but others don't. Simple is classic and timeless styling. Sinn watches are simple classics with a certain aesthetic to them. That's why people love them.
To me it has no appeal honestly
I'm pretty ~~rabid~~ vocal about my distaste for boring, generic watches that everyone and their pet hamster have on their wrist. With Sinn in particular, I couldn't understand why hardcore watch nerds kept recommending it
...then I got to try one. It fit so perfectly, the sterile dial and bracelet just feels right as an overall package. The black and white did feel a bit boring, though, so I had to get the red second hand version of the 556i. It just looks cool to me
To be honest I never got it either until I saw one in the metal. Now I’m typing this wearing the blue dial 104 on my wrist.
I don't have one, and probably never will because they cost too much for what they offer imo. And I have other watches in my radar.
But I must admit I do find the 556 really attractive. It is simple, yet eye catching to me. I'm sure it's a blast to wear one daily.
Sellita movement based German brand. I have an awesome LIV Rebel chronograph automatic. Front and rear sapphire glass Sellita SW500 movement, Swiss watch and I paid 700 (sale price) for it. I would match its fit and finish with a sinn any day and would also say it's much better put together and styled I cross shopped both friends because I wanted that movement. Most Sinns are SW200s. Damn nice watch just kind of expensive.
My 556A RS has a red seconds hand. Plenty of colour for me thankyouverymuch.
It sort of fits the rugged appeal, without being just show. For instance, you could get a Rolex explorer, or an 856 which has better technology for scratch resistance, anti magnetic properties, low pressure resistance, etc. Basically sinn is just trying to make a watch that is invulnerable for harsh environments. I think they also look bland, but my 105 is perfect for me.
Some of us out here would argue with your second sentence. I don't find the minimalism a fault and I will guess that I am not alone.
I had to scroll to the bottom to see this, which is what immediately comes to mind when I think Sinn
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Have you looked around the website? They have tons of models with many colors.
Yep, don’t get it. Then again, watch collecting is an entirely subjective pastime.
My question is: Why does Sinn's website look like it's still 2004?
It’s a simple, versatile, German built brick shithouse. Top tier movement? Yep. Water resistant? Yep. Legibility? Yep. Wear it at work? Yep. Wear it rock climbing? Yep. Wear it to a wedding? Yep. Wear it banging your mother? Absolutely. There’s not a single occasion where the watch is out of place.
If I can offer another perspective...
Imagine two men walk into a bar. One wears a fine, crisp collared shirt, designer eyeglasses and a Rolex Submariner... Maybe even a Daytona. His hair is mid-length and flows wistfully as he sits down and elegantly places a napkin on his lap.
The other man wears a black long sleeved shirt, and a Sinn 556i. He is unnoticeable in every other way, and he likes it that way.
While the man wearing the Rolex may know nothing about watches, or maybe a thing or two, I guarantee you the man wearing the Sinn is a watch nerd.
https://www.watchbuys.com/store/pc/catalog/detail/SI-421.jpg
I know a lot of the Sinns do feature the black dial, minimalist aesthetic, but I own this version of a 356 and it is my absolute favorite watch. If you deep dive on Sinn, they really do have something to offer for a lot of different tastes. The 556 does not appeal to me at all, and I dont like their divers much either, but the 356 i have is mesmerizing.
They make a really cool copper dial version as well.
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