Sinn 144

Sinn Spezialuhren is a watch manufacturer located in Frankfurt, Germany. The 144 sports chronograph has been an integral part of their product catalog since the very beginning and continues to enjoy widespread popularity to this day. It is closely related to the equally popular Sinn 103, but has two main differences: Its case feels more modern thanks to its concealed lugs, and it features a combined tachymeter and pulsometer scale instead of a rotatable bezel. This scale runs around the outer edge of the dial, which is protected by sapphire glass.

The proven Valjoux 7750 powers these watches. Sinn refines each caliber and outfits them with their own rotor. A sapphire glass case back offers a view of the 7750 at work. This movement provides every timepiece with a central stopwatch second hand, a minute counter at 6, an hour counter at 12, and a small seconds dial at 9 o'clock. What's more, the 144 St Sa has a day-date display at 3 o'clock, while the 144 St DIAPAL features a date display and GMT function.

The Sinn 144 is extremely robust. It remains unaffected by magnetic fields up to 4,800 A/m, is resistant to low pressure, can survive depths to 200 m (20 bar, 565 ft), and has been certified as shock resistant according to the ISO 1413 standard. Sinn's proprietary Ar-Dehumidifying Technology slows the aging process of the watch's inner components using special drying capsules, "extreme-diffusion-reducing" seals, and a protective gas filling. Sinn takes it a step further with their DIAPAL models, which feature their lubricant-free escapement.

Current models have 41-mm stainless steel cases with a bead-blasted finish. Earlier models were also available with titanium cases. The Sinn 144 comes on a leather, stainless steel, or silicone band.

The 144 St Sa is the closest watch to the original model in the current catalog. It's easy to recognize thanks to its day-date display and wide luminous hour indices. The hour and minute hands are also generously coated in luminous material, so you can always tell the time, even in the dark. Bright red chronograph hands – for the stopwatch seconds, 30-minute counter, and 12-hour counter – stand out against the otherwise white and black dial design. This also has a practical function: It makes it easier to tell the hands for the time and chronograph apart.

A never-worn 144 St Sa on a leather or silicone strap costs around 2,100 USD. Pre-owned examples sell for about 1,500 USD. The same watch on a stainless steel bracelet demands around 220 USD more, regardless of its condition.

Sinn releases limited edition models under the name 144 St S to honor special occasions. The "S" in the name stands for schwarz, the German word for black. Accordingly, both the stainless steel case and bracelet are matte black . Introduced in 2014, the 144 St S Jubilee was created in celebration of the collection's 40th anniversary and is limited to a run of 300 pieces. Plan to spend about 3,300 USD for a mint-condition timepiece. Prices for pre-owned models begin around 1,800 USD.

The 144 St DIAPAL is more versatile than its sister models. It can display a second time zone and features Sinn's DIAPAL Technology. This technological innovation allows for a lubricant-free escapement system, guaranteeing accuracy over a longer period of time. The 144 St DIAPAL also looks different than the rest of the collection: It has a third hand for the GMT function and uses large, luminous Arabic numerals to mark the hours.

Expect to pay around 3,100 USD for a new 144 St DIAPAL with a leather or silicone strap. You can save some 400 USD by purchasing a pre-owned timepiece. Watches on a stainless steel bracelet cost between 2,900 and 3,400 USD.