Renowned German brand Sinn has announced two new versions of the popular U1 dive watch in a move than might upset 250 enthusiasts.

The U1 S features an all-black submarine steel case with the tegimented hardening treatment the brand is famed for, where previously, the U1 was available only “with the diver’s bezel in black,” according to the brand.

This will come as a surprise to attendees of The Hour Glass Singapore’s Tempus watch fair of 2007, an event for which Sinn created 250 U1 models with the black-finished case. With orange rather than red markings on the hands, it’s a limited edition that otherwise now appears no longer quite so limited.

A second fresh version of the U1, the U1 SE features the same all-over black hard-tegimented casing with ivory-toned hands and indexes giving the watch an almost vintage feel.

If the look is ruggedly attractive it’s the 44mm tegimented case that provides the performance; as well as having extreme seawater resistance, the treated steel possesses the highest level of non-magnetic properties, and thanks to its captive design, it is virtually impossible for the diver’s bezel with minute ratcheting to become detached from the case as a result of hard knocks.

The U1 watches have Swiss self-winding movements and are checked for pressure resistance to 1000 meters, and certified according to European DNV GL diving equipment standards.

The watch has been checked for pressure resistance and tested based on European diving equipment standards and certified by DNV GL. This confirms that it is highly reliable.

Our reaction to the new Sinn U1 models: brilliant performers, great looks, but the “new” in this case is nine years old.

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