The German brand “SINN” offers wristwatches that tickle men’s fancy with their unique technology and special performance. Its collection, which is distinct from mechanical wristwatches that tend to be constrained by existing technology, should be a strong choice for men with a genuine interest in the real thing. In this issue, we introduce the charms of the pioneer of special watches, ” SINN “!
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What is Gin?
Zinn is a watch manufacturer that is the pride of Germany, a technological superpower. Since its founding, the company has produced a large number of professional-grade instruments, and some of its models have actually been officially adopted by real professional groups such as the German Customs and Crime Bureau, police special forces, fire rescue units, and the GSG9 anti-terrorism special forces unit. The company’s proprietary technologies, such as filling the watch case with gas or oil, which other manufacturers could never conceive of, have realized astonishing durability and visibility. The company offers a wide range of practical collections that appeal to a wide range of people, from watch enthusiasts and military buffs to the general public.
History of ZIN
Zinn was founded in 1961. The founder, Helmut Zinn, was a World War II air force pilot and flight instructor. From his experience, Helmut Zinn realized that the watch that pilots needed most was “an instrument of unparalleled precision. He started making aviation watches in Frankfurt and named the brand after himself. Under the name “Zinn Spezialwaren (Zinn Special Watch Company),” he actively produced aviation-like products for professional use. The ” model 156.B ” pilot’s watch developed by Helmut Zinn in his early years was accurate enough to be used under the harsh conditions of flight, and for a time it was also used by the German Air Force.
” model 156.B
In September 1994, Lothar Schmidt, a technician, took over the management of the Zinn company. Lothar Schmidt had worked for the prestigious Swiss brand IWC (International Watch Company) as a director and manager of the production department, where he was involved in process control, manufacturing, and product development. His management policy was to develop unique products by further developing new technologies while maintaining the professional-use orientation of Zin. In the watch industry, once a new technique is established in terms of materials or mechanisms, it is easy to become obsessed with that technique alone. However, Zinn never stopped and actively adopted advanced technologies. For example, the use of the same material as the hull of a submarine for the case material and the use of silicon oil to fill the inside of a watch to enhance its water resistance, have been innovative techniques that have overturned conventional wisdom to its very foundations. Collections employing these techniques have attracted interest not only from the industry and enthusiasts, but also from the general public, and have established a firm position in the field of special watches.
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Lothar Schmidt, CEO of Zinn since 1994.
The unique special technology used in Zinn watches
Special lubricant oil to stabilize the precision of the movement
Lubricating oil is used in mechanical watch movements to keep the parts running smoothly. The lubricating oil used in general becomes highly viscous at temperatures of -25°C, making it impossible to maintain the accuracy of the watch. However, the special oil developed by Zinn maintains its viscosity down to -66℃. Furthermore, evaporation does not occur up to +228℃.
GIN models that use this special lubricating oil boast durability that can withstand sudden temperature changes, and accuracy is guaranteed in temperatures ranging from -45°C to +80°C. Even if you are in Siberia or the Sahara Desert, you can still use GIN’s special lubricating oil. Whether in Siberia or the Sahara Desert, Zinn watches keep time without a hitch.
Ar-DRY TECHNOLOGY ” to prevent moisture in the case
The lubricating oil injected into the movement can be degraded by moisture or water vapor contained inside the watch. Zin thoroughly counteracts moisture, which can adversely affect the accuracy of mechanical watches, with its “Ar Dry Technology,” which consists of three technical elements: ” Dry Capsule,” “Protect Gas,” and “EDR Packing.”
The “Dry Capsule,” the core of Ar Dry Technology, acts as a desiccant and is filled with copper sulfate, which is a The “Dry Capsule,” the core of Ar Dry Technology, is a specially made capsule filled with copper sulfate, which acts as a desiccant. By incorporating this capsule, it absorbs water vapor inside the case and removes moisture from inside the watch. The color of the Dry Capsule is an indicator, changing from pale light blue to navy blue as the amount of moisture absorbed increases.
The dry capsule keeps the quality of the lubricating oil at a high level, but in the event of deterioration, the “Protect Gas” is used to counteract the problem. Lubricating oil that has deteriorated over a long period of time without overhauling a mechanical watch can cause a phenomenon known as “discharge corrosion. To prevent this discharge corrosion, the watch case is filled with an extremely stable protecting gas called noble gas, which eliminates static electricity and unstable gases contained in the air. This prevents corrosion from eroding the watch. Models filled with this protective gas are marked with an “Ar” on the dial (some models are engraved on the back cover) as a sign that the watch has been filled with the gas. In addition, a special “EDR packing” is used to protect the watch case. Compared to conventional nitrile rubber packing, moisture penetration is reduced to 25%.
Ar mark (left) and EDR packing (right)
TEGIMENT PROCESS” to harden the case and increase the scratch resistance of the watch
Tegimento is a technology that diffuses and permeates carbon molecules into and hardens the surface of a watch case through a carburizing process using nitrogen. The result is a hardness of 1200 Vickers, equivalent to ceramic, or even harder, which prevents the watch from being scratched. This process can also be used to apply all kinds of finishes, including matte and polished, to complete the appearance of the case. In addition, since the nickel in the metal does not appear on the surface, people with metal allergies can wear the watch with peace of mind. Although the tegimento process itself has been around for some time, ZIN is the only manufacturer in the world that was quick to adopt this technology and apply it to the watchmaking industry.
HYDRO SYSTEM” that fills the case with silicon oil to achieve water resistance to 5,000 meters
The more serious a diver’s model becomes, the more pressure resistance is required in addition to water resistance. The difference between external and internal atmospheric pressure can destroy a watch case when diving deeply, so many divers’ watches have thickened cases to maintain pressure resistance.
By injecting silicon oil into the watch case, ZIN has made the shrinkage rate of the gas inside the case almost the same as that of sea water or fresh water. The Hydro System applies Pascal’s principle of pushing back exactly the same internal atmospheric pressure against the external pressure. This allows the watch to achieve the world’s highest level of water resistance at 5,000 meters without the use of a thick case. It also ensures clear visibility underwater. Silicon oil, which has a refractive index almost equal to that of glass, avoids the loss of visibility caused by light reflection and dramatically increases the viewing angle of the dial.
The idea of filling the watch case with silicon oil is surprising in itself, but the fact that the hands move under such conditions is also astonishing. Furthermore, the watch is clearer than normal watches, which is a wonderful, yet unorthodox, technology.
Magnetic Field Protection” for protection against magnetic fields
Magnetism is the great enemy of mechanical watches, which adversely affects accuracy. Many manufacturers have protected the movement from magnetism by enclosing it in an inner case, but Zinn has responded to magnetism by enclosing the movement not in a case but in a soft-iron ring. Furthermore, by using soft-iron material for the dial and back cover, the company has almost completely shut out magnetism. Thanks to the magnetic field of soft iron, which is unaffected by magnetism, the Zinn wristwatch achieves an astonishing 80,000 A/m magnetic field resistance.
While the stainless steel caseback (left) attracts clips, the magnetic field protection caseback (right) provides perfect protection against magnetic fields.
What is the “SZ Movement” used in Zinn watches?
Zinn uses its own improved movement in its wristwatches as the ” SZ Movement. Based on ETA’s masterpiece “Valjoux 7750 (Valjoux 7750)” movement, which is also used in models by Breitling, Omega, Panerai, and others, the skilled craftsmen at Zin will create a new technical design.
Each SZ movement that goes through the many steps of planning, design, and prototyping is mass-produced has special technical characteristics, and is adapted to each of the models developed by Zin.
Cal. SZ01 movement
SZ02 movement
SZ03 movement
SZ04 movement
The SZ04 is used in the “6100.Classic,” a highly artistic watch like the French maker, with a large dial that resembles a precision pendulum clock, and is a modified version of a pocket watch movement called the ” Unitas 6498 (Unitas 6498). It has an additional regulator mechanism and three independent dials for hours, minutes, and seconds.
Movement “SZ05
Like the SZ01 and SZ02, the movement is a customized version of the Valjoux 7750, featuring a chronograph 60-minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small seconds display at 9 o’clock, designed with a clean, minimalist layout. Mounted on the ” 358.JUB “, a limited edition model celebrating the brand’s 50th anniversary.
Introducing Zinn’s classic models
Zin “U2
U” series of the divers’ collection, the watch case is made of steel from Germany’s most advanced submarine, the U-boat, a material unique to Zin, U-boat steel has excellent resistance to seawater, is antimagnetic without being subject to residual magnetism, and has extremely high surface hardness. The rotating bezel has a unique Zinn tegimento treatment and boasts a hardness of 1500 Vickers, one of the highest of all models. Equipped with a ” dry capsule ” that maintains the precision of the movement, this professional diver’s watch has also passed a pressure resistance test of 2000 meters.
Zinn “903.ST.AUTO.B.E
A twin to Breitling’s famous “Navitimer,” the “903” series was created in 1979 when Breitling bought the rights to the parts and design from Breitling, which was in financial crisis due to the quartz shock. It is a timekeeping instrument with functions for pilots and engineers, and is equipped with a rotating slide rule for all kinds of measurements, including speed and distance, from the scale engraved on the inner bezel. It is the best chronograph for those who love classic pilot’s watches.
Zinn “103.B.AUTO
This chronograph, which is designed for excellent legibility and timekeeping accuracy and features a simple dial that seems to embody the basic spirit of Zinn, was inspired by the model officially adopted by the German Air Force in the 1960s, and its black-colored bidirectional rotating bezel gives it a unique appeal.
Zinn “556
This model is a good introduction to the advanced technology and world of Zinn. While offering a minimum of necessary functions, this model boasts high quality and excellent cost performance. Its simple and timeless design will provide long-lasting enjoyment.
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