Hands-On With My Latest Purchase — The Sinn 103 St Ty Hd
A few weeks ago, my latest watch purchase, a Sinn 103 St Ty Hd, arrived. I can’t tell you how many times I have browsed the Sinn catalogs over the years, whether on the brand’s website or in the printed versions we receive in the mail every year. The company from Frankfurt holds a special place in my heart. Gerard, a Fratello team member, was a Sinn agent in the Netherlands for many years. I visited his shop countless times, handled many of the watches, and eventually owned a Sinn 142 with a Lémania 5100 movement. Models like the 103, 356, EZM1, and 142 are classics to me. Then, quite unexpectedly, I ended up getting this special version of the 103.
Sinn at Watches and Wonders 2026
Sinn Spezialuhren from Frankfurt was exhibiting at the world’s biggest watch show for the first time, and I wanted to see what the brand’s booth would look like. In the past, the Sinn folks were always present at Baselworld, and when that ended, they participated in several local events to showcase their new watches.
Sinn 103 St Ty Hd
On the first day of Watches and Wonders this year, I visited the Sinn booth. While looking at the latest models, I also took a brief look at the surrounding displays. One watch stood out to me — the Sinn 103 St Ty Hd, which I recognized from the introduction article Thomas wrote about it. The Sinn 103 St Ty Hd debuted in 2024, but I had never seen it in person before. I asked if I could have a closer look and try it on, and it didn’t take me more than a few seconds to realize I wanted it. It’s not often that a watch sings to me, but this one did.
Sinn 103 C — Image: Vintage Sinn Collector
Sinn 103 C and the Mathey-Tissot Chronograph
As mentioned earlier, the Sinn 103 is a classic and has been in the brand’s collection since the late 1960s. According to Michele Tripi, who runs the excellent Vintage Sinn Collector website, Helmut Sinn introduced his first 103 between 1966 and 1968. This Sinn model has a long history, and the first models were actually based on designs (and parts) from watch companies such as Mathey-Tissot (not to be confused with Tissot), LeCoultre, etc. The vintage Sinn 103 models have A, B, and C designators. And the Sinn I bought is clearly a reference to the Sinn 103 C from the 1970s, which was made in very small quantities.
That model was powered by a Valjoux 726 and clearly based on the Mathey-Tissot, which had the same movement inside. Sinn has paid homage to the 103 C on several occasions, but the Sinn 103 St Ty Hd I have here seems very true to the original. And because of that, it also looks very close to the Mathey-Tissot chronograph (also powered by a Valjoux 726) from the late 1960s/early 1970s. Both Sinn and Mathey-Tissot have been reissuing these chronographs. Whereas Sinn uses a hand-wound Sellita SW510 M movement, the Mathey-Tissot “1968” reissue uses a Landeron 73B (which has nothing to do with the original Landeron movements).
A different 103
The Sinn 103 St Ty Hd (St = steel, Ty = tachymeter, Hd = hand-wound) differs from most other 103 models Sinn has or has had in its catalog. Compared to the standard 103 St, the dial changed from the typical Valjoux 7750 style with sub-dials at 12, 6, and 9 o’clock to a more balanced configuration with registers at 3, 6, and 9, known commonly today as the “tri-compax” layout. Yes, I know this is technically the wrong term, but I feel it has become an accepted way to indicate this sub-dial placement (more on the terminology here). Also, instead of the cathedral hands that most 103 variations use, the 103 St Ty Hd has baton hands.
A hand-wound movement
While most Sinn 103 models use the automatic Sellita SW510, Concepto CC99001, and La Joux-Perret L100 movements, this one (and the special edition for Armbanduhren) uses the hand-wound Sellita SW510 M. This movement runs at 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and offers a 58-hour power reserve. Sellita’s SW510 M also features hacking seconds and is antimagnetic up to 60 gauss. The movement is not visible because the case back is solid steel. Winding via the crown is smooth, and the pushers offer firm resistance when operated. It’s nothing fancy, but it works as it should. Additionally, I like a hand-wound movement and have several in my watch collection. It gives me the feeling of properly connecting with my watch each morning when I pick it up from the valet tray.
My Sinn 103 St Ty Hd came in early May, and I’ve been wearing it nearly every day. When put on the timegrapher, it runs about +6 seconds per day on average and has an amplitude of 298 degrees. That’s not within chronometer specs, but it’s close enough for me.
What makes the Sinn 103 St Ty Hd so special?
Sinn designed a version of the 103 with many vintage elements, including acrylic glass. The panda dial (black and champagne) works well and contrasts nicely with the tachymeter scale on the wide rehaut. The champagne sub-dials feature fine concentric circles, adding a bit of depth to the dial. In the sub-dial at 3 o’clock, along with a small red hand, you can find black and red minute blocks. The main dial’s minute track features a red and white (lume) plot next to each applied faceted hour marker.
And of course, the chronograph’s seconds hand is in a matching red color. It’s very close to the original Sinn 103 C, though there are small differences in the hands (the original ones had smaller lumed surfaces) and the wordmark (it was slightly larger). The lume pip on the black bidirectional bezel is missing; instead, it uses a luminous triangle. Still, this new Sinn 103 St Ty Hd could easily be mistaken for the original 103 C, so it’s a job well done.
The case back is different from the original 103 C. You’ll find a bit more engraving on the modern one, and the notches are in a different position. In the center, you will find the “Eine von 1000” text, meaning it’s one of 1,000 examples worldwide. Given how much I enjoy this watch, it’s a little surprising that they’re not all gone yet. Although Sinn is not very transparent about the total number of watches it produces each year, I do believe 1,000 is quite a substantial number for the brand.
On the wrist
As for the dimensions, the 41mm diameter, 48mm lug-to-lug, and 14.7mm thickness are fine for my 18cm wrist. The case has a polished finish on top of the lugs and the case band. On the case back, you’ll find a circular satin finish. The black bidirectional pilot’s bezel gives a nice contrast with the polished steel and is easy to use.
The Sinn 103 St Ty Hd wears very comfortably on my wrist. On paper, the 14.7mm thickness appears substantial, but the approximately 3mm-thick acrylic crystal contributes a lot to that number. I always tend to look at the thickness of the case, bezel, and case back, as these are largely decisive for a watch’s en profil look. It looks and wears great; that’s what counts. Sinn delivers the 103 St Ty Hd with two calf leather perforated straps, one in black and one in green. I decided to wear it on the black version. Both straps come with a buckle, so there’s no need to swap that out when changing straps. Sinn also includes a tool and a pair of spring bars in the box. When you order this watch, you can also select the strap size (mine is an M) or enter your wrist circumference at checkout.
Some afterthoughts on the Sinn 103 St Ty Hd
The Sinn 103 has easily been my most frequently worn watch over the past month. Of course, I am still honeymooning with my latest addition, but it’s also a super versatile everyday watch. It feels very solid and offers 200m water resistance, yet it has the neat details of the vintage Sinn 103 C. Specifically, the matte black dial with champagne sub-dials and tachymeter rehaut is a beautifully executed tribute to the original model from the 1970s. One could easily mistake this watch for its vintage counterpart.
I wasn’t too sure if a fully polished case (except for the case back and bezel) would be for me. I always like a bit of brushed or satin-finished surfaces for contrast with polished surfaces, which isn’t the case here. It’s full-on polished when you look at the Sinn 103 St Ty Hd watch on your wrist. Luckily, the black bezel gives a bit of contrast. The only thing is that I keep finding myself cleaning or wiping the stains off the top surface of the lugs.
Strap and buckle
Another potential issue some people might see is the lack of a quick-release system on the straps. I don’t care, as I don’t change straps very often, and when I do, I can use my Bergeon tool or the one provided with the watch to do it. A bit of tape on the lugs (backside) will prevent you from scratching them with a tool.
The perforated Sinn calfskin straps are very supple and comfortable. What I don’t particularly like is the Sinn buckle. I prefer a more rectangular-shaped buckle, but that’s easy to solve. There’s also the option to add a bracelet, which Sinn offers separately on its website.
Sinn’s retail price for this 103 St Ty Hd limited edition is €2,590 (plus €80 shipping), and I feel that’s very fair for this watch. Would I buy it again? I most certainly would, and I am more convinced now than when I actually put my order in. I’ve found this Sinn 103 very impressive, and I can’t stop myself from looking for the next watch from this Frankfurt-based brand. A U50 with Tegiment treatment comes to mind, for example…
You can find more information about the 103 St Ty Hd on the Sinn website.
