65th Anniversary Sinn 903 in Titanium!
2026 marks a special year for Sinn - their 65th anniversary. Founded in 1961 in Frankfurt, the company has grown into one of the most respected and admired German watch companies, and to celebrate this achievement Sinn is releasing this very special watch.
In 1996, Sinn released a limited edition Sinn 903 Navigation Chronograph in a titanium case to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the company. That model featured a manually wound movement and a dark blue dial. All 200 pieces sold quickly, and soon after its release the model became highly sought after by collectors.
We were very pleased when we heard Sinn would be announcing the new and technologically advanced Sinn 903 Column Wheel Ti II Jubilaeum (Anniversary) Limited Edition to celebrate the company's 65th anniversary.
The titanium adds both a toughness to the case while making the watch lighter to wear - 70 grams instead of the 88 grams on the stainless steel models.
Limited to 500 pieces, this automatic winding chronograph features a dark blue sunburst dial inspired by its predecessor, paired with a satinized/polished Grade 5 titanium case. Additionally, the interior logarithmic slide rule bezel is crafted from titanium. The limited edition number (XXX/500) can be found on the rotor of each watch.
The Sinn 903 Column Wheel Ti II Jubilaeum combines the historic appeal of Sinn's 903 Navigation Chronograph design with a number of impressive technical developments and upgrades.
Some History You May Already Know
Herr Sinn had a keen sense of finding interesting watch components, and in this case those components came from the original Breitling company owned at the time by Willy Breitling.
Along with many other watch companies suffering from the effects of the quartz crisis, Breitling sold off watch components in 1979 to several companies (including Sinn) and entered voluntary liquidation to pay off their outstanding debt to Willy Breitling.
By using those components, and later creating their own, Sinn introduced the Sinn 903 Navigation Chronograph which remained one of the most important watches in the Sinn collection over the subsequent decades.
New Innovations and Engineering
The new Sinn 903 Column Wheel Ti II Jubilaeum incorporates special Sinn technological developments and features a number of notable changes to the previous Sinn 903 Series:
- Increased water resistance from 100 to 200 meters
- New externally rotating bi-directional titanium logarithmic bezel under the sapphire crystal
- Grade 5 titanium case design with satinized and polished finishes
- Luminous hybrid ceramic material on hour markers and hands
- X1 SuperLuminova for enhanced legibility at night
- Applied and raised Sinn logo
- Power reserve of 60 hours
Increased Water Resistance with DSP Technology
Traditional static O-rings work perfectly for case backs and crystals. However, a bezel that rotates introduces constant friction and movement, which can compromise standard water resistance.
Although the 100 meter depth rating of the original Sinn 903 Series was quite impressive compared to its competitors, Sinn prefers to engineer their watches to a water resistance of at least 200 meters.
When developing the Sinn 717 Chronograph, Sinn set out to create a bi-directional interior bezel beneath the sapphire crystal that can be rotated externally using the outer edge of the watch like a standard pilot's bezel. To do so, they developed what they call "DSP Technology:
Dynamically sealing material mixture
- Custom-engineered gasket materials that maintain their shape and elasticity over time, even under constant friction.
Special lubricating grease
- A high tech lubricant that keeps the bezel turning smoothly regardless of temperature fluctuations, pressure changes, or moisture.
Precise pairing
- Incredibly tight manufacturing tolerances that ensure the seals and case components fit together with optimal pressure.
Th evolution of this technology also allowed Sinn to reengineer the case for the Sinn 903 Column Wheel Ti II Jubilaeum, remove the additional crown at 10 previously needed to operate the internal bezel, and double its water resistance to 200 meters.
Luminous Hybrid Ceramic Elements
The applied numerals and hour markers on the new Sinn 903 Column Wheel Ti II Jubilaeum "stand out" as noticeably different from their predecessors.
Sinn engineered a luminous ceramic material that incorporates X1 SuperLuminova (glows blue) into the actual casting process rather than simply painting the markers after they are produced.
These applied numerals and hour markers are applied to the dial by hand. This same hybrid ceramic technology is used to produce the luminous elements on the hour and minute hands.
Additionally, the Sinn logo is raised and applied to the dial rather than printed.
Column Wheel Chronograph Design
The Sinn 903 Column Wheel Ti II Jubilaeum features a column wheel chronograph construction developed by Manufacture La Joux-Perret and boasts an increased power reserve of 60 hours.
Most chronograph watches in production today are cam actuated, using two layers of metal to receive input from the pushers and transmit that input to the clutch.
A column wheel chronograph uses a single part to perform both functions and is often compared to a castle's turret. The column wheel is more difficult and labor intensive to manufacture than a cam actuated design and requires more skill and patience to complete.
The advantages of a column wheel design are a more precise feel and smoother operation of the chronograph pushers and functions.
Form and Function
This watch, like its predecessors, was designed from the start to meet the needs of professional aviators.
The modified register placement aids in performance, while an internal slide rule ring provides additional data. This rotating inner ring with logarithmic scale divisions can be rotated externally without the need for an additional crown at 10.
The Sinn 903 Column Wheel Ti II Jubilaeum prioritizes clarity, functionality, and features essential for pilots. This focus on usefulness has shaped its iconic design.
Additionally, Sinn's desire for a clean and highly legible dial design led them to work with Manufacture La Joux-Perret to incorporate Calibre L112 into this limited edition which does not feature a date display (there is no "ghost date" crown position or date wheel under the dial).
Packaging and Presentation Box
This new Sinn watch is packaged in a special presentation box and includes:
- Grade 2 titanium Sinn fine link bracelet
- Light brown shell cordovan Sinn strap with tang buckle
- Sinn spring bar tool
- Additional spring bars
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