Sinn recently revealed its new offerings for the year, which included a retro take on of its signature pilot’s chronograph. The 103 St Ty Hd Chronograph features a matte black dial with a classic three-register layout highlighted by red accents, a design inspired by the 103 C from the 1970s. Significantly, the new 103 is powered by a manual-wind movement, the first time in two decades Sinn is launching a hand-wind chronograph.

Initial thoughts 

This appeal of this release lies in the elegantly vintage design, notably the classic three-register layout and 1970s details like the “roulette” register. The contrast between the black and red elements is especially attractive. Notably, unlike many scaled-up vintage remakes, here the retro styling is presented in almost the same size. The new 103 is 41 mm and almost 15 mm high, which sticks close to the dimensions of the original.

Priced at US$2,870, the new 103 is affordable. However, the Sellita movement inside can also be found in retro-inspired chronographs from micro-brands like Farer for a quarter less. Although Sinn has actual aviation-instrument history, while most other brands in this price segment don’t, the price still feels high. Sinn should have done more with the movement, or some other substantive upgrades, in order to justify the price. Nevertheless, true-blue Sinn enthusiasts would value this launch, since Sinn doesn’t do too many vintage remakes.

Manual wind and vintage flair

The 103 is a pilot’s chronograph that has been part of the German brand’s catalogue since the 1960s; as the model name indicates, it is the third chronograph model offered by the brand. The new 103 is essentially a remake of the 103 C, a 1970s model with a design typical of the period, featuring blocky red accents on a three-register black dial. The vintage original featured a Valjoux 726 movement in a more compact case.

The new 103, on the other hand, is larger but maintains the same dial layout, although it differs slightly in the details, which have been tweaked to give it a vintage tint. The white registers of the original have been replaced by cream-coloured sub-dials, but the red segments marking the first ten-minutes of the minute counter remain. Red is also used for the minute track and central seconds hand.

The steel case features pump-style pushers and a screw-down crown bearing Sinn’s “S” logo, while the aluminium bezel is black with white numerals. Notably, the crystal is acrylic, as it was on the vintage original.

However, the case is slightly larger than the original. While the 103 C was just under 41 mm wide and 14.3 mm high, the new 103 is 41 mm in diameter and 14.8 mm high. However, because it is manual wind, the new model is marginally thinner than the standard self-winding 103 St by 1.1 mm.

Contained within the solid caseback is the Sellita SW510 M, the manually-wound iteration of the Sellita SW500, itself a clone of the Valjoux 7750. The movement is straightforward, yet exhibits durability and simplicity in maintenance. Despite a limited power reserve of 63 hours, it features a high beat frequency of 4 Hz.

The presentation box for the 103 St Ty Hd

Key facts and price

Sinn 103 St Ty Hd Chronograph 

Diameter: 41 mm
Height: 14.8 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Acrylic glass
Water resistance: 200 m

Movement: Sellita SW-510 M
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 63 hours

Strap: Leather strap with pin buckle

Limited edition: 1,000 pieces
Availability: At Sinn retailers
Price: US$2,870

For more information, visit Sinn.de.