Versace Camo bag
Camouflage is big in fashion right now, as demonstrated by Versace’s spring/summer 2016 bags. The fashion industry uses anything to make a splash, and so Donatella Versace’s bag is ironic in a Dada way: camouflage, which is designed to help soldiers merge into the background, is used to make the bag and its wearer stand out like a beacon. In the U1 Camouflage by Sinn, the camouflage motif dial has the same sort of irony: the decorative camouflage seems to help the hands merge into the dial background, and the idea of safari-type camouflage on a diving watch seems a bit out of place.
But, decorative utility aside, the Sinn U1 Camouflage is a very tough instrument that you can take anywhere, up to 1,000 metres underwater, and up into the sky, because in addition to the certified waterproofing, the watch also has good resistance to low pressure. The two straps provided, silicone and textile, are waterproof and easy to exchange whenever you want using the tool provided in the comprehensive presentation box. The unidirectional rotating bezel has Sinn’s one-minute ratchet system and can be used to time dives or other events. The screw-down crown is positioned at 4 o’clock to make the watch more comfortable to wear. Hands and hour markings are coated in SuperLuminova.
It’s a large piece at 44 mm diameter and 14.3 mm thick. The case is made of German Submarine Steel, with Sinn’s Tegiment hardening system used on the bezel to increase scratch resistance. Inside, it has the Sellita SW 200-1 self-winding mechanical movement, running at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hertz) and providing 38 hours power reserve. The crown has the stop-second function that stops the balance (and the seconds hand) when you pull out the crown to the time-setting position.
Price and availability
The Sinn U1 Camouflage is a limited edition of 500 units. The watch costs €1,950, and it is available directly from Sinn’s website.
