Sinn 104 St Sa I
The Sinn 104 is one of the companies most popular watch models. It comes in two different dial designs, one being the Indices (I) shown here, or the Arabic (A) with the hours marked with numbers. The two styles are unique in their own right and create a different character for the watch. I have worn this watch for 6 months and used it from hiking to urban commuting. The 104 is a versatile watch at 41mm that can be dressed up or down.
The watch features a sapphire crystal on both the front and back of the watch, the crystal is AR (anti reflective) coated as well which helps negate reflections when outside. While the case is mirrored polished exceptionally well, it is prone to scratches, not for the types who like their watches pristine. The lugs of the 104 is very abrupt in terms of geometry, the square shape provides a distinct design but also taper the watch elegantly. The very minimal crown guards, while they do their job, they are slim and keeps the case of the watch streamlined. Another unique feature, which is the most controversial is the day-date window. Love it or hate it, I find it to be very useful and I don't think oversteps its boundaries in terms of size or design as it shares the same color as the rest of the watch and the minimal white outline makes it easy to distinct the day and the date, but I wouldn't mind a no day-date version as well.
Day-Date window
The traditional friction lock style bezel is no where to be seen here. The 104 has a captive bezel, where small screws keeps the bezel locked to the case. The detent is very robust and provides a subtle but assuring 60 click bezel. As you may have noticed, the bezel counts down the minutes instead of up. This is useful for knowing how many minutes are left at a glance. For example, if a train comes at 7:00 and it is 6:55. Setting the triangle to the 60 minute marker, the bezel would show you have 5 minutes left. In the photo above, you can see how the lugs drop quickly and almost disappear from the watch even with the square design. The lume is very strong, it has an intense glow and slowly dims, lasting late into the night. The triangle at the 12 o'clock is also lumed and is equal in intensity, it is a highlight of the 104.
The 104's lume
The Sellita 220-1 movement is slightly modified and has the signature gold Sinn rotor. The watch is anti-magnetic but the crystal case back diminishes how effective it is. I think the open case back showing the movement is worth it as it is not a tool watch and adds a nice view of the movement. It features a surprising 200 meters water resistantence which is unexpected as it is not a dive watch but it is most welcomed. The movement is able to be hand wound and is hacking which makes it very easy to set the time accurately.
Sellita 220-1
With the signature gold rotor, the day date window, and the captive bezel, it is hard to knock the 104. The movement has been accurate in hot and cold conditions, it looks exceptionally beautiful and provides one of the longer lasting lumes out there. This whole package for under $1500, it is hard to suggest something else in this category. The fit and finish is equivalent, as many have said, to watches worth triple what it costs to own the 104. Sinn has hit a home run with this watch and I find myself just staring at it and forgetting to check the time, a problem worth having.
