Sinn, a brand that is mostly known for its professional-grade diving tools, starts taking pre-orders for its new Sinn U200 B (EZM 8) Special Edition for hardcore diving enthusiasts. Available for orders from October till 31 December 2013, the new diver features Sinn’s signature styling and comes in a nice presentation box with a spare NATO-style textile strap and a set of instruments to make installing the band easier.
As usual, the watch is equipped with a Swiss-made automatic movement. Although not featuring any breath-taking decor on its bridges and rotor, the ETA 2824-2 that powers the U200 B is still a reliable, accurate and easily repairable movement, which makes it a perfect choice for a watch, which is offered as a tool, not a jewelry item.
The dial, too, looks almost perfect with its high-contrast, pilot-style hands and a set of white hour markers that emit a bluish glow in the darkness. The minute markers are a little too thick for my taste and the date window looks too thin, but all in all the face is easily readable and not cluttered with unnecessary elements.
Speaking of usability, I feel compelled to praise the setting crown. Placed at 4 hours, it will be comfortable to use and won’t bite you in the back of your hand at precisely the wrong moment.
Like the rest of their U200 family, the watch is offered in a compact body, which is crafted from high-grade, extra strong “submarine” steel extremely resistant to corrosion. Measuring only 37 millimeters in diameter and 14.5 millimeters in height, the watch still doesn’t look like a metal puck on a wrist, although it won’t be mistaken for an “ultra-thin” watch either.
The unidirectional rotating bezel of U200 B is further treated with Sinn’s proprietary TEGIMENT technology that noticeably increases the metal’s hardness making it more difficult to scratch.
Sinn plans to charge €1890 for this timekeeper, which could be a bit too impressive for a watch powered by a standard ETA 2824-2 caliber (correct me if I am wrong, but, as far as I know, Sinn doesn’t invest much time -if any- into making the mechanism any more reliable and precise as larger brands –like, for example, Ulysse Nardin and the kind- usually do) if not the respectable pressure resistance of 200 bars and antimagnetic treatment of the cage that together transform this luxury accessory into a high-quality tool and latter always cost more than their off-the-shelf competitors.
See also: Sinn U2 Meisterbund.III 2000 Meter Diver (Japanese Special Edition)
Photos: Sinn
WWR verdict:
Originality 5/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Legibility: 4.5/5
Value for money: 5/5
Sinn U200 B (EZM 8) Special Edition specification
Price: €1890
Movement: Automatic, caliber ETA 2824-2, antimagnetic (DIN 8309) Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 25
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 37.00 mm
Case height: 14.50 mm
Lug width: 18.00 mm
Dial: Blue
Hour markers: White, luminous
Hands: Diamond-shaped, luminous
Water resistance: 2000 meters (DIN 8310)
Strap: White rubber band, shipped with an interchangeable NATO-style textile strap
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective on both sides
Back: Solid, screwed