When it comes to tool watches, the Frankfurt based SINN Spezialuhren is among the brands that is known to have found the right balance between quality and price. Helmut Sinn, the founder, a WWII pilot and flight instructor, built up his brand’s reputation by offering good looking flieger and diver watches, designed to respond to the most demanding professional standards. It was at the request of SINN, that the German Institute for Standardisation has developed the first standard for pilot watches, the TESTAF.

Let’s take a quick look at their 2015 collection:

104 St Sa A — A classic pilot

SINN 104 St Sa A

If the 104 St Sa A looks familiar, it is because it’s an updated version of the Sinn 104 St Sa. Unlike its predecessor, which had only indexes, this year’s version gets lume coated numerals too. Everything else is pretty much the same: 41mm stainless steel, three hands, bi-directional rotating bezel with a luminous triangle at 12 o’clock, Sellita ébauche SW 220-1, timeless good looks.

The price varies between $1,240.00 on leather and $1,560.00 for the stainless steel bracelet version.

240 St

SINN 240 St

It’s not the first time, we see SINN using an interior rotating bezel on a pilot watch, but it is worth mentioning. The crown at 2 o’clock will let you adjust the luminous triangular marker, to monitor defined periods of time. The 43 mm case is made of bead-blasted stainless steel and features a sapphire crystal glass.

We also find interesting the day date function at 3 o’clock, that can be displayed in German or English, by adjusting the crown.

Price is expected somewhere between $1,500 and $1,700, depending the choice of strap or bracelet version.

903 St B E navigation chronograph

SINN 903 St B E navigation chronograph

In addition to a fascinating variety of features, the navigation chronograph 903 St B E boasts a functionally reliable dark blue dial with luminous ivory coated hands and indices.

The positioning of an additional crown at 10 o’clock enables mathematical operations and is used to rotate the slide rule bezel with logarithmic scale. It also allows users to perform multiplication, division and cross-multiplication as well as other useful calculations such as fuel consumption, speed, distance and time. Additional watch features include a chronograph function for measuring and recording periods of time.

Inside the 41 mm stainless steel case, you’ll find beating a Sellita SW 500 automatic calibre.

Price varies between $3,100 and $3,450.

6068 — The Frankfurt Financial District Watch

SINN 6068 The Frankfurt Financial District Watch.

The Frankfurt Financial District series was launched in 1999, and ever since, it gained fans both in Frankfurt and beyond. The rotating bezel allows you to display two time zones on a 12-hour basis. The small 38,5 mm case is made of polished stainless steel and encloses the black electroplated dial with sunburst decoration.

The attached appliqués are coated with luminous paint, as are the hour and minute hands.  The crystal is made of sapphire crystal glass with an anti-reflective coating on both sides. The transparent case back, also made of sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating on the interior, reveals the exquisitely decorated SW 3000-1 movement with rotor engraving of the bull and bear to external view.

Prices start at $1,980.00.

EZM 3F

SINN EZM 3F

The EZM 3F is a classic pilot watch, featuring a countdown pilot’s bezel with minute ratcheting. The red AR inscription on the dial at 6 o’clock refers to Ar-Dehumidifying Technology that equips the EZM 3F. The AR solves two problems caused by humidity: it prevents the crystal from fogging up, even when faced with sudden temperature changes and it protects the oils from premature aging caused by moisture.

To further improve the accuracy of this instrument, it has a Magnetic Field Protection up to 80,000 A/m and temperature resistance technology to ensure reliable functioning in a temperature range from –45ºC to +80ºC.

Prices are expected to start at $1,600.

EZM 7 S — The Mission Timer 7 — developed for the fire brigade

SINN EZM 7 S

Sinn Spezialuhren has designed the the Mission Timer (EZM) 7 S for use in the toughest conditions – it is particularly resilient to the penetration of water and dust, to scratches, temperature change and the influence of magnetic forces. Thanks to its colour-coded rotating bezel, the EZM 7 S is easy to operate, making it child’s play for people using breathing protection apparatus to set and read off key durations – from CSA to LPA.

It features the previously described AR Dehumidifying Technology and it is reliable from –45°C up to +80°C.

Limited to 300 pieces, this 43 mm, ETA based piece will retail in the $2,500-$2,800 range.

U212 S E — Diving Watch made of German Submarine Steel

SINN U212 S E

At 47 mm, the U212 S E is SINN’s biggest diving watch to date. The case and crown are made of high-strength
German submarine steel, using SINN’s proprietary TEGIMENT surface hardening technology. Water resistant to 100 bar, the U212 S E, features a rotating bezel and Ar-Dehumidifying Technology. There will be only 300 U212 S E watches produced and they will retail under $2,900.

More about SINN at www.sinn.de