Celebrate the 60th anniversary of Sinn watches with a stylish sports chronograph limited edition release, the new Sinn 144 St S Anniversary II
Editor’s note: Like you, we are also excited for the releases from the 2021. Before we get to dive deep into the releases and go hands-on with as many of these as the two of us here can, here’s our preview and the Gut Reaction Review (Grr…) of the new Sinn 144 St S Anniversary II. For our other detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here.
Gut Reaction
37 years after its first launch, Sinn is bringing one of their wonder-kid chronographs back to its lineup to celebrate its 60th anniversary. I say wonder-kid because, from a design perspective, the new Sinn 144 St S Anniversary II is still embedded with the original’s DNA but presents itself in a modern-day avatar. Classic watches that pay due respect to their heritage but also manage to thrive in the modern era are worth commending.
In terms of the design language, it’s also very similar to the new Sinn 717 that we have reviewed here, especially when it comes to the blackened bead-blasted stainless case and the Ar‑Dehumidifying Technology. I wrote in the Sinn 717 review how impressed I was with this tech, and truly, I admire the idea of a timepiece being able to resist fogging and thereby enhancing greater functional reliability. This Sinn technology makes use of a titanium drying capsule, Extreme Diffusion-Reducing (EDR) seals, and a protective gas filling to prevent water in gaseous form from penetrating the seal systems of a watch case.
Instead of the use of orange in the Sinn 717, this time around the use of red brings out a sense of enthusiasm to the dial, and the reverse panda look with two white counters further makes this a memorable release.
The Watch
The new Sinn 144 St S Anniversary II ref. 144.083 is a limited-edition release of 600-pieces that features the Concepto C99001 movement which they also used in last year’s 103 Sa G. This movement is by Concepto, a relatively young movement manufacturer, having been founded in 2006 by Valérien Jaquet. They specialise in the creation of exclusive calibers that are entirely produced and assembled by the Independent manufacturer.
This Concepto C99001 is an anti-magnetic as per DIN 8309 movement features 25 jewels and beats at the frequency of 4Hz (28,000 vph). In regards to the specs, it pretty much reads as a clone of the Valjoux 7750, but with a day-date complication. Note that I haven’t mentioned the power-reserve – the brand officially hasn’t told us in their press release, but based on the movement used, it could be anywhere between 42 to 48-hours.
The Concepto C99001 is encased inside a 41mm diameter and 14.5mm thick bead-blasted stainless steel case with a black hard coating on a TEGIMENT Technology basis. The case features a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on both sides and the brand’s Ar‑Dehumidifying Technology that enhances functional reliability and freedom from fogging. With a band lug width of 20mm, it is relief to know that finding replacement straps would be easy.
The 200m water-resistant (and pressure-resistant) case meets the technical requirements for waterproofness, as set out in standard DIN 8310. It’s a slightly heavy watch, coming in at 90 grams weight sans strap.
Given the new Sinn 144 St S Anniversary II uses the Ar Tech, the brand is offering a three-year warranty, one more than their usual.
Landscape
The new release is a modern reiteration of the 1974’s model Sinn 144. Of course updated, it replaces the original’s easily scrunchable black chrome-plated case with TEGIMENT Technology back coating, the easily scratch-able mineral glass with sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coatings on both sides, and the meagre pressure-resistance of only 5 bar with 200 bar rating. Modern materials and increased ratings take over the timepiece while retaining the essence of the original.
Quotable
Sinn describes some of the design choices as follows: “The prominent positioning and intuitive readability of the white counters for the stopwatch minutes and seconds give this anniversary edition a modern look, without forsaking its traditional feel. As a reminiscence of the company’s anniversary, the number 60 of the pulsometer scale has been applied in orange-red daylight luminous paint”.
Wish List
I wish all the counters were the same colour, and overall as part of the entire releases for 2021, there were more visual differences between the new Sinn 144 St S Anniversary II and the new Sinn 717. True they are differently sized and feature different complications, but from a distance or just at a glance appear very similar.
That’s All Folks!
Retailing for $5’850 AUD, the new 144 St S Anniversary II is way cheaper than the new Sinn 717, and for my money, I would go with the 144 St S. Not because the 717 is inferior or anything, but the day-date complication is more my style than a pilot’s bezel. I get the exact same case material and finishings, the same water-resistance, better size for my slimmer 16cm wrists as 717 measures at 45mm in diameter, the same Ar‑Dehumidifying Technology, and for 3k less I don’t really see myself paying a premium for an in-house movement that the Sinn 717 features. Of course if these two watches weren’t so close in aesthetics, or the 144 St S Anniversary II wasn’t an option, then it would be a different scenario. But as it stands, I feel for someone like me, the Sinn 144 St S Anniversary II is a much better and more well-rounded option.
What do you you guys think? Which do you prefer? Feel free to leave your comments below.
To find out more about the new Sinn 144 St S Anniversary II and other Sinn watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise specified are © Sinn / Copyright Sinn Spezialuhren. Make sure to check out our reviews of other Watches & Wonders 2021 releases here.
