The 2008 U2 Meisterbund.III is a professional-grade diver rated for an impressive depth of 2000 meters! Sinn has created the three-hander exclusively for the Japanese market. The special-edition diving tool is a sort of “hybrid” that takes the best features of the German brand’s bestselling models and splices them into this brilliant package. Featuring a relatively compact body crafted from a highly corrosion-resistant steel alloy used for making submarine hulls, this limited edition looks like its primary source of inspiration was nothing less than a modern nuclear submarine.
Based on their current Sinn U2 diver, the Meisterbund.III 2000 still features the same laconic stainless steel body that measures just 44 millimeters in diameter and 15.5 millimeters in height. The case is definitely not small but is still compact enough for those who plan to use this model as a casual timekeeper while not utilizing it as a diving tool.
Beating inside it is the same ETA 2893-2 automatic movement (we have seen it, for example, in the last year’s Muehle Glashuette Marinus GMT diver) that, possibly for the sake of legibility, lost its secondary GMT hour-hand, but still beats at the same frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour and offers pretty much acceptable power reserve of 40-42 hours.
If you are familiar with Sinn’s product range, you will immediately notice that the setting crown has moved 180 degrees clockwise from its normal position at 4 o’clock to a less usual place at 10 hours.
Although most of us, righties, will find this position not only unusual but also awkward, the left-handed crowd (and simply those who prefer to wear their watches on their right hands) will possibly love it.
The other noticeable change is, of course, the dial that seems to come directly from the Sinn U1 model with only minor changes to the color scheme (and, well, the second hand is identical to that installed on the U2 model).
Of course, all hands, hour-markers, and even the traditional triangle on the notched diving bezel (it was also refinished to better match the new black and red color scheme) use a luminous substance that is bright white under natural light and turns bright green in darkness. In both cases, the dial remains highly contrasting and easily legible.
According to several Japanese websites, the U2 Meisterbund.III bears a price tag of 357,000 Japanese yen, which roughly converts to more than $4500 U.S. dollars: a nice pile of cash, that, but the special edition model, which is limited to just 80 (!) individually numbered units is totally worth it.
Although I don’t expect the price to skyrocket after the last one of the batch has found its own rightful owner, I’d imagine that the watch would be good at keeping its resale value if you compare it to a ‘normal’ Sinn U2 model.
See also: Sinn EZM 10 “Einsatzzeitmesser” Pilot Chronograph
Photos: Sinn Watches
Sinn U2 Meisterbund.III 2000 Meter specification
Price: Approx. $4500
Movement: Automatic, Caliber ETA 2893-2, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 21
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date
Case: Stainless steel, black PVD
Shape: Round
Size: 44.00 mm
Case height: 15.50 mm
Dial: Matte black
Numerals: Arabic (date aperture at 3 hours and bezel)
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Steel, luminous
Water resistance: 2000 meters
Strap: Black silicon strap (sized to 6.5″) with black PVD-treated steel “deployant” clasp; two extra Sinn leather straps with contrasting stitching (white and red)
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective on both sides
Back: Solid, screw-in