A one-watch collection is possible, even with an underdog brand. Here’s my choice.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If you love watches, you love, well, watches! Yes, plural. Watches!
They come in all shapes and sizes, with many features, and are useful for many purposes in life. But what if you could have one watch for everything?
Yes, it’s unrealistic. I get that, I really do.
The idea is heavily romanticized. As much as you may like the thought, it’s unattainable for many of us.
It’s about as possible as owning only one pair of shoes for everything.
I mean, it’s possible, right? But it’s just hard to imagine.
Sticking to a one-watch-does-all diet is no mean feat. It requires a level of skill not to fall back down that horological rabbit hole every once in a while.
Picture it. One good watch for everything. You could wear it for your early morning run and measure your personal bests with it.
You could partake in a spot of yard work or take it on your next weekend trek.
You could head off to a meeting in the evening or join some friends at the casino.
You could shake hands on a business deal with it.
Heck, you could even catch some waves with it of an evening!
To me it seems that it’s every watch enthusiast’s dream to own just one single watch. The cost-to-wear ratio is incredibly attractive.
Investing in one timepiece can save you thousands in the long run. No longer would you need to justify buying multiple watches for every occasion in life.
Instead, you buy the perfect “one watch and done” timepiece and live happily ever after.
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The Dominant Collector Gene
There’s one problem with this scenario — the dominant collector gene.
Yep. We enthusiasts are all wired wrong when it comes to collecting watches. We struggle so much to stick to one lifelong companion.
How can we choose a partner for life but can’t settle for a watch? The answer is this: many of us carry the dominant collector gene. In other words, we just can’t help ourselves.
We don’t just want the one Seiko. We need the SXK, the Solar-powered Astron, and the Prospex Turtle, too.
We can’t just settle for the Rolex Submariner, either. We must have the sporty Cosmograph Daytona for weekends, the Datejust for dressier occasions, and the GMT-Master for travel.
But ask yourself this: which one watch would you keep if you needed to liquidate your collection? The answer to that could help form an idea about what your one-watch collection would look like.
It’s a fact that avid watch collectors like to own more than one watch. But now and again, something special comes along. A watch that can exist within a vacuum or contribute something equally valuable to a collection.
The kind of watch I’m talking about would have universal appeal. It is an indispensable quality that equates to an all-around great daily beater with a little something extra. And when you find that watch, well, it’s your solution to achieving the impossible — the one-watch collection.
How To Consolidate Your Watch Collection
What if I were to say it is possible? Do you not have to pay grail watch prices to achieve it? Maybe, just maybe, you could be part of a very small and niche one-and-done watch club.
If you’re a seasoned collector and you want to become a one-watch guy, there’s only one thing for it. You need to condense your watch collection to one solitary timepiece. Sounds tough, right?
Ask yourself this question: which watch could you do without, and which one do you tend to gravitate towards most? If you can answer that question confidently, you’re already halfway there. If you can’t, my job of convincing you that a one-watch collection is possible is going to be tricky! But bear with me here.
For me, the key to creating a one-watch collection is to find a timepiece that functions as a worthy collection in and of itself.
The Best One Watch Collection
For the best one-watch collection, I’m thinking outside the box.
I’m not choosing a Rolex. Rolex is too obvious a choice. And let’s face it, most Rolex watches would suffice as a GADA (go anywhere, do anything) watch. They’re all so great.
No. I’m going for a German brand, and if you’ve read my stuff before, you’ll know I have an affinity with German watchmakers.
I’m going with the Sinn 104.
The who? The what? Wait, just hear me out.
Sinn may not be on everyone’s radar, but it boasts over 60 years of experience in the industry. The brand has been manufacturing sturdy, purpose-built watches since 1961.
In fact, Sinn originally produced watch cases for Bell & Ross, which we now recognize for its very own distinctive case design.
There is no Kickstarter story to Sinn’s success. The company built its foundations from the ground up. To convince you that all you need in your collection is a Sinn 104, I’d better start at the beginning.
Sinn’s Heritage
Sinn is long on the tooth. But that’s a good thing. That’s what you want when you’re looking for a one-and-done watch.
The founder of Sinn was a guy named Helmut Sinn. Having been a former World War II pilot, he realized the importance of a reliable aviation tool. The German brand’s very first timepieces from 1961 onwards took inspiration from Sinn’s interest in navigation clocks and pilot chronographs.
In 1985, Sinn put its watches under the public eye as a German physicist wore the 140 S model during a D-1 space lab mission. The exposure forged the building blocks of the company’s excellent reputation in Haute Horlogerie.
Having proved these watches could go to space, the next watch to travel to space was the Sinn 142 S in 1992.
In 1994, Lothar Schmidt took over the company, advancing its technical expertise further. The next model to arrive was the 244 model. Its titanium case was anti-magnetic.
After Sinn’s Ar-Dehumidifying technology arrived in 1995, the company’s EZM1 and EZM mission timers were launched. Special forces used these watches to measure precise timings.
Sinn continued to put its watches through extreme tests, including the Arctic Sea endurance test carried out by Mario M. Weidner. The extreme diver put the watch through its paces, and it passed with flying colors.
Between 2012 and now, Sinn has continued to push the envelope in horological feats. The German brand was the first to regulate its pilot watches to TESTAF standards, and now, it features the seal as a token of quality.
Most recently, the brand received the Excellent Product Design 2021 Award for demonstrating expert craftsmanship.
A Classic but Functional Tool Watch Design
If you want to dip your toe into Germany’s luxury watch offerings, Sinn is the brand to do it with.
These German watches have many interesting features, one of which is their gas-filled cases.
You can tell which watches have this special feature since they have a cylinder that changes color as the gases escape. Those that have the feature also display an “Ar” mark in a circle on the dial. The feature helps keep dust and moisture out of the case, preserving the quality of the oils within.
Aside from Sinn 104 alone, the company makes watches that ooze character and personality. Models like the Sinn 140 have some space history, particularly in the Mir 92 Mission.
Watches aren’t capable of space and diving missions unless they are products of some serious horological expertise. Sinn watches are as tough as nails. Sinn crafts its watches from materials that include submarine steel, making them highly resistant to corrosion.
This Sinn 104, however, features standard steel, but this is sufficient enough. The design is highly robust and showcases the company’s luminous technology on its dial. Remarkably bright, it makes for a useful tool in the evening. You can also opt for lightweight models made from titanium in this series.
Overall, the Sinn 104 is a classic pilot’s watch, but it doesn’t look all that pilot-like. That’s what I love first and foremost about this design. It feels technical, it looks technical, and you know it’s technical.
A Great One-and-Done Option
The Sinn 104 lives up to its promise of a robust, functional daily companion. Its black and steel design is versatile enough for wearing with casual or formal wear. The fact that it comes on a stainless steel bracelet is useful for wearing alongside smarter attire in the evening.
The 104 St Sa I is a black and steel model that looks classic no matter what the occasion. Now, this is not the most technical of designs from Sinn. Moreover, it’s a middle-of-the-road option, making it great for daily wear.
If you want a more advanced tool watch from Sinn, you have options. The brand’s EZM, 103, 140, and U1 lines are all examples of watches that boast several technological features.
The brand’s Ar-Dehumidifying technology, launched in 1995, prevents the undesirable effects of glass fogging. Sinn’s high-quality coating is used for the brand’s scratch-resistant TEGIMENT material.
With some models, you also get Sinn’s temperature-resistant technology. This tech allows the movement to stay accurate between minus 45 degrees and up to 80 degrees Celsius.
Lastly, Sinn offers captive safety bezels and DIAPAL technology — a lubricant-free anchor escapement.
As one of Sinn’s bestselling tool watches of all time, the company equips the 104 with a reliable Sellita movement. It also displays both the day and the date, enabling you to keep track of a busy working week.
The 41mm steel model has a captive bezel for measuring elapsed time. Plus, the watch is 200-meter water resistant.
Typically handsome, the Sinn 104 delivers what you’d expect it to. Classic elegance, interwoven with many functional, practical features that prove useful every day of the week.
A Solid Investment
The Sinn 104 is not necessarily an investment in terms of its ability to appreciate. As far as value goes, you won’t sell a Sinn watch for more than what you paid for it. Suffice it to say, they don’t attract the same following as, say, a Patek Philippe Nautilus or a Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet.
No, by investment, I mean that you’re putting your money to good use. You’re spending your money on something strong, reliable, and robust. Sinn watches will stand the test of time.
They’re rough, legible, and have that classic tool watch appeal. They also offer a lot for their money.
By a valuable investment, I mean that these watches feature some of the industry’s best materials. You can expose them to some of the most extreme conditions, and they’ll survive!
Your Turn
I’d encourage anyone thinking of buying a Sinn watch to explore the range on offer. There’s pretty much a tool for everything, but for everyday use, the Sinn 104 gets my vote.
I’ve shown you mine; now you show me yours. What’s your one-watch collection timepiece and why? I’d love to know. Pop your choice in the comments below.
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