Uhrinstinkt Magazine
« 2022 models in comparison »
Elegance, clarity and practicality: if you’re looking for a functional chronograph without frills, you’ll reach your goal with the Sinn 358 collection and get top-class German engineering. But which model comes out on top in 2022? We compare the limited 358 C special edition with the classic Flieger variant, uncover the differences between the technical trailblazers, and show what model variety, from blue beauty to exotic decorative finishes, the 358 line still has in store.
Classic chronograph in enlarged version
Since the beginnings of the Frankfurt-based company, instrumental chronographs have been the focus of the Sinn watch manufacture. Practical and reliable time-stopping, coupled with durable and timelessly designed construction, are their great strengths. In 1998, the specialty watch company launched one of the most important collections of its modern era: the 356 line. Characterized by a very clear and, in many eyes, slightly sporty look, it combines all the traits that the die-hard Sinn enthusiast expects from his Hessian powerhouse on a dreamlike 38.5 millimeter case diameter: 100 meter water resistance, perfect legibility and a solid SW 500 chronograph movement.
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Based on the success of the 356 line and the fact that 38.5 millimeters is a size too small for many wearers, Sinn has developed the 358 collection. Based on the 356 in both visual and technical aspects, it transports the advantages of the compact time stopper to the noticeably larger format of 42 millimeters. The Sinn watch is by no means monstrous with these dimensions, but its presence is considerable and is further enhanced by subtleties such as the strikingly curved watch glass or the relatively wide stainless steel bezel.
Sinn 358 C: Limited Edition in dark green
The 358 enters the 2022 model year with a particularly exciting addition: the 358 C Special Edition. The “C” in the name stands for “Chronos” and refers to the collaboration with the Ebner Media Group watch magazine of the same name, which has produced the strictly limited masterpiece.
The chrono functions are arranged in a chic, v-shaped tricompax layout that sets off the 30-minute scale (3 o’clock), 12-hour display (6 o’clock) and small seconds (9 o’clock) from the background in shiny galvanic black. The white Arabic numerals as well as the hour and minute hands with lush luminous color also contrast strongly with the background, so that despite the exotic factor, the 358 C is just as easy to read as you would expect from a genuine Sinn. An additional highlight is the dark green boar leather strap, which forms a perfect symbiosis with the dial color.
358 Sa aviator: top performance in a no-nonsense look
Those who forgo the trendy green color and instead prefer a black chronograph classic like in the picture book should order the Sinn 358 Sa Flieger. It follows the “conventional” design in the 358 portfolio, but unlike the Chronos variant, it is not limited and offers the highest possible contrast in the dial: white lettering on a black background. Also different from the special model is the Trikompax layout with 30-second indication in the upper center, 12-hour scale at 6 o’clock and unchanged seconds at 9 o’clock. In addition to the 3 o’clock position, this creates space for a Day-Date complication, which gives the Sinn 358 Sa Flieger a higher range of functions compared to the C special edition. In return, the Limited Edition scores with a clearer and, above all, symmetrical dial design due to the omission of the additional displays, which comes across more harmoniously than the packed Flieger model. So in 2022, the question is whether green noblesse or black tradition comes to the wrist. Like the Sinn 358 C, the Flieger variant is equipped with a bracelet in first-class correspondence to the dial. Those who prefer a steel solid or soft silicone strap instead of black leather have a free choice.
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Comparison: A question of preferences
While the dial allows for a clear differentiation between the Chronos special edition and the black Sa Flieger 2022, the technical specifications of the two sister models show extreme similarities. For example, the Flieger uses the proven Sellita caliber SW 510, while the 358 C is equipped with an SW 500. Both movements are admired through a sapphire crystal crystal back, tick at four hertz and are anti-magnetic according to DIN 8309. The satin-finished stainless steel case does not show any differences either: 100 meters water resistant, it is equipped on the front side with a conspicuously strongly curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides and has a screw-down crown with crown protection. The weight of 86 grams, the generous lug width of 22 millimeters and the chronograph-standard overall height of 15 millimeters are also identical.
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In addition, both instrumental chronographs are equipped with the in-house Ar-Dehumidifying technology, which enables the movement to be stored in a virtually dry atmosphere and thus slows down the aging of oils. This is achieved with the aid of three elements: an elaborate inert gas filling, a drying capsule and special EDR seals. As a result, aging processes are mitigated, tarnishing of the cover glass is prevented in the event of cold shocks, and longer functional reliability and consistent rate accuracy are ensured.
Bright blue or gray decorative finish? More models of Sa Flieger 2022
The far-reaching similarities in technology mean that the decision between the Sinn 358 C and the black Flieger is primarily a matter of aesthetic preference. Those who prefer maximum functionality and a classic look will choose the Flieger. Those who want to combine the appeal of the limited with an exotic color scheme should consider the Chronos version. However, these two references do not exhaust the product portfolio of the collection in the 2022 model year. The 358 Sa FLIEGER B E deserves a special mention, which differentiates itself from the black Flieger with a spectacular dial in dark blue including a sunburst finish and ivory-colored luminous indices, but is technically identical to the classic. The Sinn 358 Sa FLIEGER DS also stands out from the regular Flieger “only” by its dial, where a manually executed decorative cut provides a grayish aesthetic that allows the base material to shine through in some places.
The fifth and final member in the current Sinn 358 collection is the DIAPAL, the most technically advanced model in the family. Although, unlike the 358 Sa Flieger, it has a date-only complication instead of the Day-Date window, it conceals under its anthracite dial with black totalizers (as the only one in the series) the in-house DIAPAL technology, which pursues the goal of the Ar-Dehumidifying technology, which is also installed, even more intensively by using special, lubricant-free material pairings. The result: improved long-term accuracy and increased reliability.
