Watches & Wonders 2026: 936 S by Sinn Spezialuhren – Practical Functionality in a Robust Black Finish

Watches from Sinn Spezialuhren are synonymous with excellent readability, robust functionality and reliable precision. In short: uncompromising timepieces you can always rely on. This also applies to the new 936 S chronograph, a variant of the 936 which won the Red Dot Award in 2020.

Case: Black hard coating on a Tegiment base

Unlike its predecessor, the 43-millimetre-wide and 15-millimetre-high stainless steel model 936 S features a black hard-coating. To prevent the so-called ‘eggshell effect’ – the flaking of hard coatings on soft base materials – SINN uses this technology exclusively on Tegiment surfaces.

The 936 S’s case, which is water-resistant to 10 bar, has also been treated accordingly. Tegiment technology, which increases the hardness of the base material many times over and ensures a uniform hardness profile, was first unveiled at Baselworld in 2003. This was followed shortly afterwards by the complementary black hard coating.

The case of the new SINN chronograph offers further robust features. These include magnetic field protection up to 100 mT (80,000 A/m), which significantly exceeds the requirements of DIN 8309 (the German industrial standard for anti-magnetic wristwatches). This high level of protection is achieved through the construction of a closed, soft-magnetic interior comprising the dial, movement ring and case back.

Added to this is resistance to negative pressure. Whilst a watch’s water resistance always refers to increased external pressure – up to ten bar in the case of the 936 S – negative pressure describes reduced external pressure, such as that experienced at increasing altitudes. If the pressure outside the watch case drops, the pressure difference between the inside of the case and the surrounding environment acts as a force pushing outwards from the inside.

To prevent the crystal from popping out in such situations, SINN goes beyond conventional sealing systems by employing a reinforced press-fit design, which secures the sapphire crystal particularly firmly in place. This is particularly important during rapid changes in pressure, such as during military or professional operations.

The pushers also offer enhanced protection with the D3 system (D3 = direct double sealing), as the actuator pins and crown shafts are guided directly within a very precise and smoothly machined housing bore, thereby forming a seamless seal against the housing.

Dial: Clear functionality

The bicompax arrangement of the sub-dials emphasises the symmetrical dial layout of the 936 S and facilitates quick and intuitive reading of the displays. The 60-minute scale at 3 o’clock also contributes to this. This eliminates the need to add up the stopwatch minutes, as would be required with a 30-minute scale for measurement periods exceeding 30 minutes.

Opposite, at 9 o’clock, is the small seconds dial, whilst the chronograph seconds hand is positioned centrally and the date window is at 6 o’clock. The central fluting of the totalisers creates a subtle contrast to the matt black dial.

The colour scheme of the hands provides further clarity: the hands associated with the stopwatch function are red, whilst the hour and minute hands, as well as the hour markers, are coated with a bright white luminescent paint.

Movement: SZ05 – in-house movement modification

Sinn Spezialuhren sources movements from external manufacturers and focuses on the targeted modification and further development of Swiss movements to create specific functions tailored to the intended purpose. These in-house movement modifications are designated by the abbreviation SZ.

The 936 S is powered by the SZ05 automatic movement, featuring a stop-seconds function and a 56-hour power reserve, which is based on Sellita’s SW500. In modifying the movement, SINN focused on positioning the minute counter with a 60-division scale at 3 o’clock and the running seconds at 9 o’clock.

Strap, price & availability

The SINN 936 S is supplied on a black stainless steel strap in a double case, including a second black leather strap with red contrast stitching, as well as a strap-changing tool and spare spring bars. The price is €4,150.

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