So, I've got the itch...

[Stuart]

I've just worked out that it is just about a year since the last addition to my little collection, and I've got the itch again. It needs to be scratched.

What I'd really, really like is something vintage, ideally a birth year 5513 sub, a Heuer Bund, or even possibly a Siffert Autavia. Realistically most of those are out of reach for now, and so I have to set my sights a little lower.

Someone posted a Superocean Heritage on the 2010 thread, and whilst the price also rules it out for now, I do like the combination of diving bezel and dark face with white sub dials. So I'm starting to warm to another German, a Sinn 103.

Does anyone have one or has anyone handled one?

As I see it the pros are:

- Sinn is a brand I admire
- I think that the watch is beautiful. I already know it'll be well made.
- I love the matt black dial/white sub dial combo.
- Waterproof, sapphire face. Should be reasonably resistant to my clumsy oafishness.

Cons:

- Not keen on the metal bracelet, although I'd buy it with nonetheless.
- The dimensions make it a couple of mm bigger than my 856, but with a bezel might the face be quite small?
- I sort of have a gap for a divers watch, rather than another aviator style watch.

Does anyone have one on here or have any of you handled one in person?

So come on chaps, talk me out of it or into it, or suggest alternatives.

What do you reckon?

S

[Dominic H]

"Paging Andy Tims"

[tertius]

I've handled a 103 and it is (as you would expect) a very nicely made watch.

However, the deal breaker for me is the Valjoux 7750 inside. I just don't like it as a movement:

a) watches with it in tend to be rather thick, which I dislike;

b) it has a very characteristic "wobble" due to the way the rotor operates and I found this rather off-putting.

I've had one 7750 based watch and I can't see me having another for these reasons, though I'd be willing to give an IWC a try ...

[seaninog]

I have such high regard for Sinn. I just think you won't go wrong.

In all the fora I read with their varied church of opinion I think Sinn is probably the one brand that *almost* every one is united on in their admiration.

[Peter G]

Whats you birth year???

[Stuart]

Peter G said:

Whats you birth year???

1974

[LukeBird]

Stuart said:

Peter G said:

Whats you birth year???

1974

Bloody hell, you could have this maybe...

[Stuart]

Cheeky fecker.

Now, where's that "ban from watch forum" button the techs recently armed me with?

[LukeBird]

Stuart said:

Cheeky fecker.

Now, where's that "ban from watch forum" button the techs recently armed me with?

Tongue-firmly-in-cheek chap!
Very much like the colour of that Sinn... is there anything else you're thinking of (beyond the idea of a birth-year watch)?

[CmdrBond]

Dominic H said:

"Paging Andy Tims"

I'll get him

[andy tims]

CmdrBond said:

Dominic H said:

"Paging Andy Tims"

I'll get him

Blimey - Didn't realise I was considered such an authority on Sinn, even though I have had a few.

Anyway I'll try to help.

The 103 is a classic design & very well made for the price. I can be bought on a strap but (as always for me with an eye on future resale) I’d buy on the bracelet & wear on a decent aftermarket strap if I didn’t like the bracelet.

Everything tertius said is (as usual) pretty well on the money

Although I’ve never had one I’ve handled a few & tried a couple on – compared to the 757 I had & the Damasko 56 / 57 I found the crown & chrono pushers dug into the back of my hand slightly more, but then I tend to wear my watches low.

As for alternatives I’ve already mentioned the main ones in my view (all 7750 driven also), but there is also the smaller Sinn 357, although of course those don’t have a bezel.

[andy_s]

If you like the Heuer Bunds you may like the Guinand chronos (40/41 models - they can do leftie models too), their Buren 12 is their best imo but the 40/41 model chronos are good value at E995, they do bi- and tri-compax layouts but no 'pandas' unfortunately. Certainly worth a look although the website is from the ark. The movements are 7750s as well. Old man Sinn himself resurrected the company.

ETA - Here's a link to save you navigating in German - http://guinand-watch.com/index.php?option=com_cont...

(As an aside from your needs I've just seen that they've a nice 1000ft diver with HRV for Eu495 - not bad)

Edited by andy_s on Wednesday 13th January 16:13

[Stuart]

andy_s said:

If you like the Heur Bunds you may like the Guinand chronos (40/41 models - they can do leftie models too), their Buren 12 is their best imo but the 40/41 model chronos are good value at E995, they do bi- and tri-compax layouts but no 'pandas' unfortunately. Certainly worth a look although the website is from the ark. The movements are 7750s as well. Old man Sinn himself resurrected the company.

Not a bad shout, although I think if I went for a Bund style watch I'd probably just get a Bund. Not a huge stretch, and I think values have softened slightly from where they were 18 months ago.

I like the Sinn 256, which also borrows heavily from the Bund design. Legitimately though, given that Sinn were one of the original bundeswehr suppliers

[jimothy]

But if you want the superocean and get something else, won't you always wish you had the superocean?

Mine:


Stunning looking watch.

[Stuart]

jimothy said:

But if you want the superocean and get something else, won't you always wish you had the superocean?

Mine:


Stunning looking watch.

It isn't my first choice. Lovely, don't get me wrong, but I won't be looking at whatever else I want thinking that I wish I'd bought the Breitling. It is also a teensy bit too shiny for my tastes with the metal bracelet.

[NJH]

tertius said:

However, the deal breaker for me is the Valjoux 7750 inside. I just don't like it as a movement:

a) watches with it in tend to be rather thick, which I dislike;

b) it has a very characteristic "wobble" due to the way the rotor operates and I found this rather off-putting.

I've had one 7750 based watch and I can't see me having another for these reasons, though I'd be willing to give an IWC a try ...

I have to smile at that as I feel exactly the same, can't stand the 7750 movement. I also can't stand the idea of such expensive watches with 7750 based movements so the lower level IWC's would be out for me [double chrono would be nice though]. The Guinand's look a good price, and of course as is the way at the moment they looked really good value before the pound collapsed. The Lemania 5100 movement doesn't have the wobble but its still tall. The cal. 12 movement was of course designed to be thin, I love it in my early 70's Heuer Carrera but it does allegedly suffer from lack of power reserve.

Another alternative to the pilot style Sinns are the O&W chronos like this one
http://www.gnomonwatches.com/Ollech&WajsMirage...

[Stuart]

NJH said:

http://www.gnomonwatches.com/Ollech&WajsMirage...

Now that is an interesting watch. I haven't looked at O&W for a while and thought that they just did cheap copies of Submariners. Chronomaster used to stock them but stopped, I believe, because of quality issues. These look pretty good, although £600 is a little more than I think an O&W is worth. Anyone seen one in the flesh?

[NJH]

seaninog said:

I have such high regard for Sinn. I just think you won't go wrong.

In all the fora I read with their varied church of opinion I think Sinn is probably the one brand that *almost* every one is united on in their admiration.

Overpriced and over-rated IMHE. They used to be very good value for money but the prices have gone up at an amazing rate over the past 2 years. I would personally struggle to recommend one given that your paying a lot of money for a watch with a basic ETA movement and average quality. I bought and sold on an EZM3 last year, sold it for £650 which for me is all its worth. Sinn is a great example of how internet fan boys can make a brand.

[Stuart]

RLT have that Mirage at £495. I must admit, I'm very tempted at that price. It might temporarily itch the itch...

[NJH]

The thing is Stuart it was more or less the same sort of price 2 years ago as I was looking back then and the same a year ago. I was really surprised by your claim of poor quality, I just did a search on TZ-UK, over 40 pages of hits for Ollech & Wajs and yet couldn't find a single post saying they are as a brand poor quality for the money.