The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Anyone have any experience, reviews or opinions on the Sinn U1 watch. I have been looking at them online lately and I am really starting to like the look. I am thinking about buying one but they are hard to find for sale second hand as they seem to sell quickly when they are posted on forums. Thanks in advance...

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Chronomat, Black on Black with Romans
Avenger Seawolf, Black Face on Rubber
B-2, Black with Silver Subs
Movado Sport

I had the U2 and liked it ok. I did not like the action on the GMT hand - it was cheap and hard to set accurately. But you wouldn't have that problem with the U1. I really like their bracelets.

Watchbuys.com is the only North American distributor and the U1 on bracelet is in stock and available for $2,040. Why buy pre-owned at that price point? Just a thought.

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SHARKMAN

Sharkman,

Thanks for the reply, I am not a fan of buying preowned and I never have bought any of my watches pre-owned, but then again I like my Breitlings brand spanking new. Only reason I was thinking of buying pre-owned was to save a few hundred bucks because I am not 100% sure I am going to love the watch since I cannot handle it or wear it before I make the purchase, so it will hurt less if I have to do a catch and release with it...

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Chronomat, Black on Black with Romans
Avenger Seawolf, Black Face on Rubber
B-2, Black with Silver Subs
Movado Sport

I've got one with bracelet and the rubber strap with the big deployant buckle. Watch is built like a tank or should I say sub!!! Only drawback at this point is all service goes back to Sinn in Germany...Some people don't care for the "Lego hands" but I think they are sweet!

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TREVOR

I had a Sinn UX (the oil-filled, any-depth-capable, quartz version) for a while a couple of years ago, and that uses essentially the same case, bezel and bracelet as the U1. (The caseback is different though). They're nicely made watches, and I really liked the head - very industrial and tool looking with a good fit and finish - so I think they're very good value for money.

I also liked the look of the bracelet, but one thing that really irritated me was the fact that the bracelet wasn't hardened in the same way as the case. This also meant that the colour was very slightly different to the head. It's not a hugely noticeable difference, but once you know it's there, you will see it! (Sinn may have changed the bracelets now to be hardened like the case, but when I had mine they were just standard steel).

The other thing I found with the bracelet was that the bead-blasted finish is nigh-on impossible to refinish or touch-up yourself once you start getting scratches. The head has the same bead-blasted finished, but the hardened submarine steel is much harder to scratch, so this is less of a problem. Again, if Sinn have started using the same steel for the bracelet as the case this shouldn't be a problem.

The rubber strap option they have looks nice, but it's a dust and lint magnet, so if that sort of thing bothers you, I'd suggest sticking with the bracelet.

Other than that, the only thing to be aware of is that the service is done in Germany as has already been said. Obviously for a U1 (with a standard ETA automatic movement - I think it's a 2824) you could easily get it serviced by a competant watchmaker elsewhere if you wanted to avoid sending it to Germany (subject to losing the warranty, etc). However for the oil-filled UX I had, there was no option other than going back to Germany, and that was part of the reason I sold it.

All in all though, the "U" series are very good watches and good value for money IMO.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I agree with about everything you said. The U1 and U2 have a tegimented (hardened) bracelet option - extra $400 but would be well worth it ($2400 versus the regular bracelet model at $2040). Only the bezel on the U1, U2, and UX models is tegimented, but I never got a mark on the watch.

The rubber strap seemed incabable of being cleared of dust/lint, no matter what I did.

The U2 I had was Argon gas filled, so when it needed an early regualtion, it was off to Frankfort. I think there is a repair facility in Florida, but they don't recharge the gas filled (or oil filled) model. It shouldn't be a problem for the U1 - no oil or gas filled case.

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SHARKMAN

You're absolutely right about it only being the bezel that was hardened, Sharkman - I'd forgotten that over the mists of time. The case was made of submarine steel that matched the bezel in terms of finish, but the bracelet was regular steel that was finished to be an approximation in terms of colour of the case. I guess the newer hardened bracelet will be a better match, and obviously a much better option.

Hmmmmm, now were talking about these I quite fancy rebuying a UX! Argh!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

They hold resale value quite well too.