Most likely the recognition of desk-diving watch enthusiasts are the reason for a crowded marketplace for watches for diving. Consequently, probably the most famous and popular watches around today are watches for diving, e.g., Rolex watch Submariner and also the Omega Seamaster, which market includes plenty of bargain too, e.g., Seiko Orange Monster, and a few clearly overpriced watches such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver or even the Hublot Oceanographic.
This review is one of the Sinn U1 that is an inexpensive yet steadily made (even over-designed) diving watch with the necessary features and performance necessary for a dive watch. This review is dependent on my experience while using Sinn U1 throughout four dives (Honolulu and Key Largo) as I received my PADI certification, it carried out perfectly, not too I was expecting other things.
Within this publish I wish to evaluate the Sinn U1 poor these dives, whilst trying to debunk some misconceptions about watches for diving. In the end, a dive watch might save your valuable existence when utilized in the context it had been intended for, so comprehending the features which are important versus individuals who are for show, is crucial.
Diving is really a relatively recent sport and activity. People accustomed to go to the underwater world but mostly being mounted on a ship with air pumped using a tube. In early area of the twentieth century, various countries' navies incorporated the so-known as "frogmen". These early professional divers would perform dives and underwater activities with specialized breathing apparatus... Within this context, watches such as the Panerai Radiomir, having a Rolex watch movement, has been around since for his or her legibility and groundbreaking underwater performance. However, these were large and mainly used only throughout the dive.
Using the invention of SCUBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) along with a modern knowledge of diving theory, the dive watch was created within the nineteen fifties. Rolex watch along with other brands like Blancpain would eventually produce the first true watches for diving. They are watches that may be utilized as daily put on but also be employed being an instrument for diving.
The salient features required for a dive watch are: water proofing rotating bezel and perhaps a helium escape valve. Water proofing is paramount. Leisure divers achieve depths as much as 40m (rarely more) and technical divers limit is placed to 100m. A real diving watch therefore must have the ability to sustain the type of pressure at these limits, something more is actually bonus. Most diving watches are examined utilizing an atmospheric pressure chamber hence the reason behind 20 bars or 30 bars usually for auction on modern diving watches.
The rotating bezel was another key feature needed previously. Today, will still be helpful for the reason that for me personally I personally use my mechanical watch like a redundant timing mechanism just in case my digital dive computer would fail (e.g., battery dying). This will be significant because most single scuba tanks provide you with about 1 hour of dive at leisure limits, 60 to 100 ft and normal usage. And also you really don't wish to be carrying out a dive being unsure of how lengthy you have been within the water. If this isn't apparent why, afterwards I give more reasons.
Finally, a helium release valve. This selection is just for professional divers who perform multiple dives in a single trip to saturation levels (also using oxygen/nitrogen blends to permit longer dives) and therefore have to enter decompression chambers in the finish of the days. In these instances, the timepiece very may come out unless of course the trapped helium has a method to escape. Dealing with COMEX, Rolex watch invented the automated helium release valve we regularly now see in lots of watches for diving.
First, the Sinn U1 includes a unique simple dial. With squared minutes and hrs hands rotating on the black dial with our markers made from "lego-like" squares having a central etched marker that suits both your hands perfectly. The seconds a hand also offer a square in the finish and utilizes a red-colored coloring in the tip to really make it better contrast using the hrs and minutes hands.
This produces a legible dial in each and every aspect. All around the dial is really a rotating bezel having a lume marker formed like a triangular accustomed to indicate your entry within the water. The unidirectional bezel has got the right feel, just a little play, although not much. Markings around the bezel are very well done, never overpowering the feel of the dial, and also have a red-colored accent around the markers from 15 to an hour, this really is unlike other dive watch bezels which have a tendency to target your product (highlighting the very first ten or 15 markers).
Another essential feature required for watches for diving is legibility at nighttime. The Sinn U1 achieves this in spades because the lume is great, though it's not present around the bezel markers aside from the triangular start marker at 12 o'clock. At nighttime, after some charge, it's not hard to clearly begin to see the exact time because the hands and hour markers and minute markers are colored having a layer of Super-Luminova that stands out vibrantly for hrs.
Sinn is renowned for over-engineering their watches. In cases like this that occurs particularly using the situation. It's produced from German Submarine steel and treated to improve scratch resistance. It is a solidifying process Sinn calls "tegimentation". So far as I saw, this solidifying is effective when i didn't have difficulties with the situation though my tegimented bracelet did see some minor scratches in the buckle while putting and removing my BCD (buoyancy device) jacket.
Another interesting consequence of the special steel utilized by Sinn would be that the resulting color is nearer to titanium than to blown or satin-finished steel. This can be a positive thing for any serious dive watch because the last factor you'll need underwater is really a "blingy" watch. Throughout my join in Key Largo, I was ornamented by several barracudas. Some coming as near to some feet from me and also the apple iphone I had been using to film (see short video within this publish).
The movement within the Sinn U1 may be the ubiquitous ETA 2824-2. Nothing fancy here and from my experience provides accurate performance understandably. However, one problem is the fact that as the crown at 4 o'clock helps make the situation fit easily on my small wrist, unscrewing the crown to alter the date (position one) or even the time (position two) with hacking seconds leaves several things to become preferred.
First, the crown appears to become fragile after unscrewing. Also, the crown positions don't "click" so sometimes if I wish to wind the timepiece (first position after unscrewing) I finish up altering the date because it makes its way into position one. Unsure if this sounds like because of the truth that most ETA 2824-2 based watches generally have the crown at 3 o'clock even though Sinn should have re-designed the movement in some way to place the crown at 4 o'clock, it makes sense not the very best it may be.
The Sinn U1 is really a relatively heavy watch. Around the tegimented bracelet, with a few links removed, it is available in near to 1/2 pound. The 44mm situation is simply suitable for my almost 7 1/2 wrist and it is somewhat comfortable, while (again) heavy. This is also true since as pointed out, Sinn places the crown at 4 o'clock rather than the most popular 3 o'clock. This will make the crown simple to grasp whilst staying away from putting any pressure in your wrist while you move your arm as well as your hands.
Certainly throughout the dive, around the heavy bracelet, it's perfect. The additional 10mm for that dive extension will work for most diving activities but clearly less sophisticated as modern micro-adjustable bracelets that include the brand new Rolex watch Submariner 114060 for instance.
The Sinn Rubber strap is much more comfortable because it cuts down on the weight substantially (173g for that large folding clasp buckle and 155g for that small buckle). However, the Sinn folding clasp (large) is sub-component. While great searching, it's large and scratches easily as well as not micro-adjustable. It features a diver extension but it is relatively lengthy at approximately 10mm. Sinn sells a more compact clasp version in addition to tegimented steel versions.
While I'm not fully offered around the hardness from the tegimented steel, it will seem to be harder to scratch than non-tegimented versions. Negligence any dive watch that can take probably the most abuse may be the clasp---mostly from wearing and getting rid of the BCD. On my small tegimented bracelet, used to do scratch it just a little following a second dive, that point, in Hawaii. Nothing major but enough to create me a little doubtful concerning the technology.
However, around the non-tegimented folding large clasp that included rubber bracelet I could easily scratch the clasp which was greater than the bracelet. So perhaps the tegimentation works? Obviously, this really is all anecdotal evidence along with a more scientific experiment will help resolve any doubts. Until the first is done, I'd say always obtain the tegimented versions when the cost isn't exorbitantly greater than non-tegimented.
Since I have also relish this watch out for periodic desk diving, I acquired the Sinn leather strap. This fits the timepiece perfectly and provides it a far more daily put on feel in addition to a dressier look. Because the weight is reduced to around 140 grams, it's also quite comfortable to put on with that strap.
Not surprisingly, the Sinn U1 carried out superbly throughout my last four dives. Aside from the scratches on the tegimented bracelet and non-tegimented large clasp for that rubber strap, my only other problem is always that the dial, while very legible and visual under water, does are afflicted by some reflection issues. That's, in many lighting conditions under water, at short angles (45 levels), the dial becomes basically one. This really is mainly because of the AR coating cheap the very is flat. Domed azure deposits, like on Panerai watches, tend to be safe from this mirror problem under water.
The Sinn U1 Tegimented on bracelet reference SI-255 sells for $2,420 using the non-tegimented on bracelet opting for around $2,000. It's ranked at 1000m as well as passes anti-shock (DIN 8308) and anti-magnetic (DIN 8309) specs tests. Whilst not always limited, producing the tegimented version is much more restricted compared to regular version.
Sinn also offers many other Ux models such as the U2 which consists of a GMT hands and also the U1000 with water proofing within the 4000m range. Other models also exist with chronograph complication and something having a dial full of liquid to improve much more water resistance. Again, nothing a leisure diver or professional diver is ever going to need. Finally, Sinn also offers black versions on most of their Ux divers including tegimented black versions. These provide the see a military look that many will certainly appreciate.
Overall, whilst not a "perfect" dive watch, I've been highly pleased with the Sinn U1. The simplicity the Bauhaus design combined using the unique engineering and elegance managed to get a great companion throughout my dives as I received my certification. My intention is to buy the following amounts of PADI certifications, so watch this space for additional real live "diving" reviews. I am unable to wait to place my other divers for their intended use when i can hear them complain of an excessive amount of desk diving!
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