Limited Editions Done Right—8 Killer LEs from Sinn

Limited editions can be a risky thing—taking an existing and already well-received watch and revising it significantly enough to justify its existence, but also making sure the changes don’t ruin all that was good with the watch in the first place can be quite the challenge, and we’ve all seen our fair share of misses from brands. Sinn, however, seem to have a lot more hits than misses in their back catalog and plenty to choose from in the last few years alone, be they divers, chronographs or three-handers. Although not intended to be a definitive collection, today’s list takes a look at some of our favorite past limited editions from the beloved German brand.

356 Isetan

First on our list is the 356 Isetan, a 2016 collaboration with noted Tokyo department store, Isetan. The 356 Isetan features the same 38.5mm case and Sellita SW500 movement (Sinn had already switched from the Valjoux 7750 at this point), but here the running-seconds register and day/date displays are removed to leave a clean and symmetrical dial. The watch retains a domed acrylic, and the hands and indices are painted with “old-radium”-style Luminova for a bit of a vintage vibe. The watch comes on a rich, brown leather strap. Only 50 of these were ever produced. 

910 Anniversary

Marking the 55th anniversary of the birth of the brand, 2016 saw the release of the Sinn 910 Anniversary chronograph. Although the watch forms part of the Frankfurt Financial District collection, the 910 Anniversary is markedly less sober than the black dialed watches that have come to define that series. The cream-colored dial incorporates red accents within a dual-register chronograph display powered by a Valjoux 7750-based movement that’s been modified to include a column wheel and a rattrapante function. The additional chronograph pusher at the eight o’clock position actuates the split-second hand. One push stops the split-second so that a reading can be taken while the main chronograph second hand continues, and a second push sees that hand catch up and sit invisibly behind the main chronograph hand. The watch also features a double tachymeter scale with the inner black ring of markings displaying the speed in miles per hour for times less than 60 seconds, and the outer red ring displaying the speed if recorded between one and two minutes. The 910 is limited to 300 pieces, and it’s still available to purchase.

1800 S Damaszener

Finally, we’re going with a bit of a curveball from Sinn. Unveiled in late 2015, the 1800 S Damaszener features a full Damascus steel case and dial. Cut from a single piece of folded steel, the 43mm diameter case and inset dial show the same graining, which flows from the case through to the dial and then out again. The folded metal is then finished with Sinn’s Tegimenting process and black coating, leaving the case hardened and resistant to corrosion. Although the unique look of Damascus steel is somewhat of a departure for Sinn, the dial design is unmistakably on-brand, keeping the watch fairly legible with lumed hands and applied hour indices. Owing to the construction process of the case, no two of the 100 pieces made have the same pattern.