Since being founded in 1961, German watchmaker Sinn has specialized in navigation clocks professional pilot watches. And while they do not produce their own movements in-house, they have developed a number of their own technologies, such as: a lubrication free escapement (DIAPAL), an anti-foggin technology (Ar-Dehumidifying) and TEGIMENT (a way of hardening steel to greatly increase scratch resistance).

The Sinn Model 144 St Sa is a pilot chronograph which comes in a 41 mm x 14.5 mm stainless steel case with a bead-blasted matte finish. It features a sapphire crystal in front and back (both with an interior anti-reflective treatment). The case back is secured with screws and the crown screws down. Water-resistance is 200 meters.

Powering the Model 144 is a reliable Swiss made Valjoux 7750 which features 25 jewels, a stop second function with a rate of 28,800 vph (4Hz). It is shock resistant and anti-magnetic. Functions include hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds, date, day of week and chronograph with tachymeter and pulsometer scales.

The dial is matte black with luminescent coated indices, hour hand and minute hand. The red chronograph counter hands: hour (6 o’clock), minute (12 o’clock) and seconds (central hand) are easy to distinguish at a glance — from the white: hour, minute and sub second timekeeping hands.

Sinn’s proprietary Ar-Dehumidyfing Technology is optional (although humidity in the case is not typically a problem for a water-resistant timepiece). Available in a choice of rubber strap, leather strap or metal bracelet (shown).

Sinn makes rugged and reliable professional watches for a fraction of the price you would expect to pay for a brand like Bell & Ross or Bremont (who make comparable instrument timepieces) but spend more on marketing and therefore have higher costs that results in higher prices.

Ref. 144 St Sa (144.066)

Retail $1,899 (leather strap)