The Unofficial Sinn U series ownership experience thread

[L.O. Little]

My tip is that these babies are destined to occupy the place of early submariners in the eyes of our children's children's children.

Ken, I've been thinking the same thing myself. More reason to keep my U1!

[Tim got his boots back]

I would have to agree with the recent assessments of the U1 and more specifically, as I actually have and abused, a U2.

My UX is a fantastic watch for everyday wear and I specifically like to wear it sleeveless as it really tends to smudge easy but it really is very easy to read and the clarity of dial and hand design is the schlitz for the man on the go.

Now, my U2. It is massive and robust and heavy and very, very testostoronial. This thing has a presence that the UX doesn't have. The crystal is domed and very, very thick. The bezel is thick. It sits higher on the wrist and just has that massive indestructable feel to it which fully justifies one to wear it without regard for its well being.

I do wear my UX quite a bit but I really tend to go for my U2 on the weekends and when away from the business related running around of the week. In the weekends when I can just relax a bit and cruise at ease without worry, my U2 is always on my wrist. You see, I have history with this baby. It's really a part of me and has not let me down. This thing has been on my wrist in the hot, sweltering, humid 38 celsius days of July and has been worn over my gloves in -33 celsius weather and actually winter tested overnight at -33/35ish celsius temps. It has been frozen over by ice while worn in absolute blizzards while blowing the driveway. It's been on my wrist in summer while chopping and piling wood and blasting through the maple jungles and swamps of the rough lands where my brother lives in southern Ontario.

I have dropped it on its edge onto the edge of a masonry block which left a little dent in the bezel edge. I've banged it several times putting my seat belt on and reaching into the engine compartment of my ole '68 firebird and other stuff.

In short, it's been everywhere I've been and it's just a comfortable part of life. It's daily wear like my old patched up carhartt bib overalls and my ole leatherman wave and my ole Elmer Fudd hunting cap.

Obviously, there are more pretty watches and more accurate watches and more esthetically beautiful watches but this watch is beautiful in the same way as I look at an old Chevy Suburban of the late 60s / early 70s. When I look at my U2, it's just that ole comfortable feeling again.

My only regret is that with over 2500 hours of wear and probably close to 2600, it's only got a dent in the bezel. I'm almost ashamed that I haven't been able to gather more battle scars. In time I guess, in time.

Anyway, with all this talk going around about guys who have been waiting for their UXs and then selling them as they haven't lived up to their expectations, I look down at my beloved U2 and can see many, many more years of enjoyment with my U2 as it follows me on my travels. We have many, many more adventures to experience.

Sell this watch? Never. It's truly a part of me and has ingrained itself into my life. How could I live without it. I don't think there's anything out there that I would trade this watch for. It's mine and I defy anyone to tell me that its a piece of junk. It's been through one Northeaster Ontario winter and a hot and hazy summer. Another winter is coming and we're just getting started man.

Many winter tests to follow and a few walks in the frozen forests, movies of both of course.

Anyway, just an update on my U2 ownership experience.

best regards everyone,
Tim

[Malyel]

Anyway, with all this talk going around about guys who have been waiting for their UXs and then selling them as they haven't lived up to their expectations, I look down at my beloved U2 and can see many, many more years of enjoyment with my U2 as it follows me on my travels.

Tim,
The UX lived up to my expectations. I can't get over how cool the watch is. I have no regrets selling my U1 for it. I am not sure how it is possible but the UX just wears more comfortably. I don't know if it's the different case back or the ever so slight thinner profile for some reason it seems right. :-S

[SNAFU]

Forgive me..... Actually, no I am a Sinner (or at least will be officially when my UX gets here) and proud of it. B-)

This will be my first Sinn and absolutely can't wait. If what I have read on the forum is true, I'm sure it won't be my last. Guess I'll be switching from knives to watches now..... And I was hoping to get into something that does less damage to my bank account, oh well. :-D

I'll try to get some pics and post more on my UX experience when I get a chance to wear it around for a while.

Next time my wife asks why do you need another watch, know that I will blame all of you. I'm pretty sure that this will also pass, just as it did for the knives.

[mtbrnr]

I figure it is about time to post my ownership experience as I have had my U1 for about 5 weeks. I think as highly of the watch as when it first arrived. I especially like the Sinn rubber strap. It is comfortable and the contrast with the Uboat steel is striking. The watch hands are the ultimate in personal taste. I think they are so interesting and unique. For me, the hands from the U2 or UX would ruin the U1 - but that is just where personal taste comes in. I wear my U1 all the time, well almost all the time. I really can't wear it when I am running. It is just too heavy and bangs hard against my wrist as I pump my arms. For the time being, probably for a long time, I can't imagine wearing any other watch. My wife and I are really into flatwater kayaking on rivers in the Florida panhandle. Here are some photos, mostly from kayaking.

[Tim got his boots back]

Those are the first really good pics of the smaller butterfly clasp that I've seen. Thanks so much for putting them up. Very good for those with smaller wrists who are contemplating a U purchase and are worried about sizing issues with the larger clasp.

A question for those who have received the newest incarnation of the silicon rubber strap with their U series watches:

I noticed that my original clasp was very easy to scratch. It seemed that the coating on the stainless steel to match the colour of the sub steel case was easy to scratch. Did you notice anything in regards to the scratchability of the clasp you have received if you are one of those who got the new silicon rubber set-up? I was wondering if Sinn had addressed this issue while tending to the matter regarding the silicon rubber. It would be nice to get a clasp that doesn't scratch up with just a fingernail.

cheers,
Tim

[mtbrnr]

Those are the first really good pics of the smaller butterfly clasp that I've seen. Thanks so much for putting them up. Very good for those with smaller wrists who are contemplating a U purchase and are worried about sizing issues with the larger clasp.

A question for those who have received the newest incarnation of the silicon rubber strap with their U series watches:

I noticed that my original clasp was very easy to scratch. It seemed that the coating on the stainless steel to match the colour of the sub steel case was easy to scratch. Did you notice anything in regards to the scratchability of the clasp you have received if you are one of those who got the new silicon rubber set-up? I was wondering if Sinn had addressed this issue while tending to the matter regarding the silicon rubber. It would be nice to get a clasp that doesn't scratch up with just a fingernail.

cheers,
Tim

Tim,

I believe that I have one of the newer version rubber straps with the small clasp. It already has a "bazillion" small scratches. However, another plus of the small clasp is that because it is small the scratches don't seem to jump out at you when you just look at it in passing.

Ned

[Tim got his boots back]

Well, I guess I should give you guys an update on my U series ownership experience.

A year ago today, I was about a week or so into my wait for my U2. My agony was almost catastrophic to my ability to function properly in society. I have never, ever been so freaked out in anticipation of a watch as I was for my U2. I received it on Dec 31st.

Since then, it has been almost a constant companion following me everywhere in pretty much every weather condition I have encountered. It's seen an entire winter with extreme testing of -33 and extreme temperature shock change testing (do a search in this forum) it has been on the outside of my gloves for walks in the -20 to -33 celsius weather in the bush and was strapped on the gloves while I blew out the drifted snow in the driveway after many of our viscious Colorado low winter storms than blow in. It's seen the hot summer days of 38 celsius and the downpours and storms of summer. Its been underwater while I swam and in the hot shower.

It has been bumped and banged around and accidentally dropped onto the edge of a masonry block which resulted in its only blemish, a dent on the edge of the bezel where it hit. (much, much less than would have resulted with ordinary 316L steel). No consideration was given for it's well being while I went about doing the daily things in my life except for known danger flags like working on cars and stuff.

Throughout all of this, it runs at about 4.5 to 8 sec./day depending on how long I wear it and how much it goes through on a given day. It fluctuates but I can live with this accuracy. My life is not a make or break for a few seconds a day.

The case and tegimented bezel are flawless. No scratches and blemishes or dents or anything else (except the above mentioned bezel dent). This watch is amazing. I am truly ashamed that I have not been able to put some battle scars on it. It's too clean, no scratches on the AR crystal at all, no blemishes. Absolutely shamefull. My old 6309 Seiko which went through more than any watch in the history of the world working underground was so beaten and scarred, I not help but love it. I was hoping to get my U2 beaten up a bit but to my shagrin, it's too tough for what I put it through.

I can truthfully say that I have found ZERO faults with the U2 and it's ss bracelet. It's as close to perfect as I could hope to have....especially for an under 3,000 USD watch.

For those of you who are like me and like to get out there in all sorts of weather and get a bit dirty, I highly recommend this watch if your looking for a super tough well built automatic.

Now for the UX. I have owned this one since late August. Well, you all know by now how I feel about the clean design and unreal clarity of the UX. I will not go any further on this subject as my opinions have not changed. Nor will I address the case and bezel as it's the same as the above. No blemishes or scratches...it's pristine!! I do have some issues, although minor, with the AR on the crystal. It smudges easily. This can be annoying as it's much easier to smudge than the U2 and it's harder to clean than the U2. I am so familiar now with my U's that I just seem to give it a glance for the time so my annoyance with the smudging is fading and is now a minor and insubstantial thing. You might find this issue a more significant one. It's a personal thing. On angles, the smudging is not easily seen, only as you approach a more 90 degree straight on look. The clarity is the thing here!! Visible from all angles...even extreme..read my previous posts here.

Both of these watches are now my favourite and are just a part of my life now, especially my U2 as it is now part of my daily wear. I switch it out for the UX on occasion but seem to wear my U2 much more. As mentioned in previous updates, it's now necessary, completely necessary to have a U watch on when I leave the house. It's as essential to me as my ole' beaten battered carhartt bib overalls and my leatherman wave. Essential wear.

Without a U on my wrist, I feel naked. My other watches, although much loved by me do not feel comfortable anymore on my wrist. That familiar weight and look aren't there. It's not the same. Just not right. I will never get rid of them as they have sentimental value but they get significantly less wear time now.

Currently, I have over 2700 hours on my U2 and probably close to 2800 hours. and about 800 hours on my UX. This, in my opinion is enough to qualify me to write these words. The honeymoon is still on and I can still be seen glancing lovingly at my U's on my wrist. I look forward to winter testing once the bitter arctic highs bringing the -35s to -45 nights and the Colorado lows which bring big snowstorms start to push their way in.

On an average night where I sit and type while listening to Portishead or some nice ole Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, I sometimes just take a sec and glance at my U's on my wrist..this is what it's like and what I see. Natural lighting....>

















The problem I am having now is that I do admire many other watches and would love to purchase them but I know that I would have a hard time taking off my U's to strap them on. Of course the honeymoon experience with the new watches will be cool but after a while, I will just come back to the U's and will have to sell those beautiful new watches as I don't wear them. Those ole U's tend to tarnish me on new watch ownership now

What's nice about this is that I have reached a nirvana state. A complete contentment with my U series watches which gives me pretty much all I would need for my automatic and quartz needs. I may feel different if I have some serious problems come up with the U's but I would send them in and continue my ownerhship experience with them. They are family and constant companions and besides, they are machines and need service and it's not unheard of that machines can break down. .. but.... how could I get rid of them. I would love to see the new U watches that come out in the future...a new chrono...oooh!! Spank me but I want one!!

Anyway, I hope this 11 month (U2)and 2 1/2 month (UX) ownership experience post is helpful to some and I apologize for yet rambling on again for waaay toooo looong.

best regards,
Tim

[Malyel]

Tim,
As a previous U1 owner and a current UX owner I have to say that the U1 smudges much, much easier than my UX. Any other dual U1 & UX owners want to chime in.

[Tim got his boots back]

Tim,
As a previous U1 owner and a current UX owner I have to say that the U1 smudges much, much easier than my UX. Any other dual U1 & UX owners want to chime in.

Wow!! Interesting for sure. I wonder if Sinn has been experimenting with the ar coating or if there are inconsistencies between the three different u's or between watches within the U1, U2, UX family.

Yes, any multiple U series watch owners, past or present out there who can lend a few lines on your smudging impressions?? Would be much appreciated.

cheers,
Tim