Watchmaker Apprenticeship at Sinn Spezialuhren

In September 2022, Sinn Spezialuhren welcomes two apprentices as 1st year watchmakers. At the Frankfurt-based watch manufacturer, the apprentices will learn to combine the latest technologies with the craftsmanship of traditional watchmaking.

SINN has been successfully training watchmakers for many years, thus contributing to the preservation of a traditional craft.

Watchmaking is now part of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage. Sinn Spezialuhren, for example, currently employs six apprentices in three apprenticeship years. "At SINN, simultaneous, intensive training in traditional craftsmanship and modern technology is of equal importance. In this way, we guarantee the permanent updating of our quality standards. We promote our own new generation of skilled workers. And as a medium-sized company, we make our contribution to expanding the number of apprenticeships on offer," the two trainers Sven Gerbig (not pictured) and Hermann Josef Müller proudly explain the apprenticeship situation.

Apprentice Kira Sodemann from Sinn Spezialuhren received her Journeywoman's letter as a watchmaker in September 2022. She completed her apprenticeship with the award of Chamber and State winner of Hesse 2022 in watchmaking! Congratulations on the journeywoman's certificate and on this award.

The Sinn Spezialuhren company welcomes applicants who are interested in an apprenticeship in the watchmaking trade. For further information and application please contact bewerbung@sinn.de

SINN Spezialuhren: The brand inspired by technology

Purchasers of SINN watches are truly people of conviction. They include those with a great affinity for technology and a fascination for how Sinn Spezialuhren has developed solutions in areas such as magnetic field protection and scratch resistance. Many of them also have to rely on their watches in their professions because their lives depend on it – such as divers, pilots and the special GSG 9 unit of the German federal police.

What counts is functionality

They all swear by the performance, resilience and durability of the watches, as well as their quality and precision. Therefore, the classification society for maritime safety, DNV GL (formerly Germanischer Lloyd, Hamburg), verifies and certifies the diving watches for pressure and water resistance. Selected pilot watches are tested and certified by independent institutions according to the new “DIN 8330 Horology – Aviator Watches” standard in an extensive and complex type and unit verification process. Functionality is the top priority and ultimately determines the design. The watches only boast the technological features that are truly needed. As owner and certified engineer Lothar Schmidt puts it: “Our products have to speak for themselves.”

Technical innovations

The innovative technologies developed by the company to date have inspired the public and experts alike. Take, for example, the absolutely condensation- and reflection-free diving watch made of German submarine steel – thanks to HYDRO Technology. Other examples include a chronograph fashioned from a 22-carat gold alloy that is as hard as stainless steel and a chronometer with Magnetic Field Protection up to 80,000 A/m. There are also watches with Ar-Dehumidifying-Technology that optimally protects the clockwork mechanism from deterioration thanks to an inert gas filling and integrated dehumidifying capsule. The list would not be complete without mentioning the Temperature Resistance Technology designed to keep mechanical watches performing at temperatures ranging from -45°C to + 80°C. DIAPAL is one of the most important technological developments, and dispenses with the need to lubricate for the most important functions in the watch thanks to the materials selected. With the aid of TEGIMENT Technology, SINN greatly increases scratch resistance through surface hardening.

Workshop modifications

“SZ movements” is the name given to SINN movement modifications. These represent the sophisticated engineering achievements that have already been put to use in various SZ movements by highly skilled master watchmakers. In order to increase clarity and readability, SINN creates new technical designs based on tried-and-tested movements. From development to series production, everything related to SZ movements is carried out exclusively in-house - including the concept, design, construction of a prototype and pre-production samples. Following extensive testing, the SZ movements are put into series production. The result is high-quality calibres characterised by impressive technical features.

Despite all of these wonderful innovations, the watches epitomise timeless and traditional values. Many are in awe of their sophisticated technology and their long history of tradition. They are both a symbol of beauty and quality and a symbiosis of skilled engineering and master craftsmanship. SINN develops these timepieces for people who never fail to be fascinated by such precision-engineered products – and the greatest accuracy with which they display the time.

Technology and material milestones

1961 - Founding of the company by Helmut Sinn, a pilot and instructor for blind flight.

1994 - First development by the new owner Lothar Schmidt: model 244 made of pure titanium with Magnetic Field Protection and a freely oscillating suspended movement.

1995 - First 22-carat yellow gold watch with a material hardness equal to that of stainless steel (220 HV).

1995 - Ar-Dehumidifying Technology – first used in model 203 Ti Ar.

1996 - Development of HYDRO Technology in its current form with a volume-compensating case back. First model 403 HYDRO.

1998 - Ar-Dehumidifying Technology is perfected in combination with SINN special oil to create a Temperature Resistance Technology with which watches remain functional between temperatures of - 45 °C to + 80 °C.

2001 - Launch of DIAPAL Technology, which facilitates the lubricant-free operation of the Swiss lever escapement.

2003 - TEGIMENT Technology is used for the first time in model 756.

2004 - Development of the Black Hard Coating - first used in the chronograph 756 S.

2005 - Use of German submarine steel in diving watches. The pressure resistance of the diving watches is certificated by Germanischer Lloyd, Hamburg (now DNV GL). Development of the captive bezel.

2006 - SZ04 - is the first SINN movement modification mounted in the REGULATEUR 6100. The D3-System is introduced for a crown. For the first time ever, diving watches are registered as diving equipment for an official certification and tested and certified in accordance with the European diving device standards EN205 and EN14143 by Germanischer Lloyd, Hamburg (now DNV GL).

2008 - SZ02 – “SZ movement” is mounted in the U1000 diver chronograph. Introduction of the Captive Safty Diver´s Bezel for the EZM 6 (U1000).

2010 - Damascus steel is used for the first time for a watch case. For the case of the 1800 S DAMASZENER the different steels used are combined using powder metallurgy and thus technically optimised.

2011 - Launch of the anniversary chronograph 358 Anniversary featuring SINN movement SZ05. Launch of the EZM 10 - the result of a long-term development project to improve the movement and thus incorporate SINN movement SZ01 (centre-mounted 60-minute jump stopwatch hand). TEGIMENT-Technology for titanium is a technical optimised process.

2012 - Aachen University of Applied Sciences and Sinn Spezialuhren present the first technical standard for pilot watches (Technischer Standard Fliegeruhren – TESTAF) on 19 July 2012 at the headquarters of the leading helicopter and aircraft component manufacturer Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) in Donauwörth. Sinn Spezialuhren unveils the world’s first watches certified according to TESTAF. In the first series of trials, three SINN models EZM 10 TESTAF, 103 Ti TESTAF and 103 Ti UTC TESTAF - meet the requirements.

2014 - Frankfurt Financial District Watch 6052 - featuring SINN movement SZ03.

2016 - The new “DIN 8330 Horology – Aviator Watches” standard is created for pilot watches. The SINN watches 103 Ti IFR, 13 Ti UTC IFR and 857 UTC VFR are tested and certified in accordance with DIN 8330. 2017 Lunch of the quick-change strap system for EZM12 silicone strap.

2018 - Development of the 1800 DAMASZENER made of Damascus steel. The Damascus steel case is made of two types of high-grade stainless steel forge-welded together.

2019 - SZ02 – “SZ movement” is mounted in the Frankfurt Financial District Watch 6012 rose gold Anniversary and Frankfurt Financial District Watch 6012

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