Our friends at Revolution have launched their second limited edition collaboration with Sinn, following up on 2019’s 155 Bundeswehr “Dark Star,” a collaborative effort with both The Rake and Revolution publications. Here we have another 155, this time in a notably darker, and tougher configuration, but still paying tribute to the very roots of the German watch brand. The 155 chronograph, for many Sinn collectors, represents the true beginnings of the brand, and this release captures that spirit while adding some of the contemporary twists you’d expect from a collaboration partner like Revolution. It’s all very enthusiast focused, and should really speak to hardcore Sinn fans.
Before we get into the details on the new release, an introduction to the 155 is probably in order to fully contextualize the limited edition. Beginning in 1967, the 155 Bundeswehr chronograph was made exclusively for the West German Federal Defense Force. Beginning in the 1980s, Helmut Sinn began selling issued Bundeswehr watches that had been decommissioned under his own brand name. This practice helped to bolster Sinn’s reputation in watch communities that care about military provenance, tool watch history, and classic design, and laid the groundwork for what Sinn would come to represent to many, makers of no-nonsense, practical tools with true military bona fides. The 155 itself is a ruthlessly simple affair, with a two register chronograph layout and bi-directional 60 minute bezel designed for use by pilots.
For the new limited edition, officially dubbed the Sinn 155 S Bright Star TEGIMENT, Revolution has given the classic chronograph a new look and feel without straying too far from its foundations. Revolution notes that this is the first fully black version of the 155 ever produced, which makes it the answer to a future trivia question and also fundamentally transforms the watch aesthetically. The goal here though was not to simply make a blacked out 155, but to make one that’s robust in the way we expect a tool watch to be robust in 2024. This limited edition also features the first sapphire crystal on a 155 (that’s the “S” in the model name), and has been given a full TEGIMENT treatment to make the case more scratch resistant. Part of the Sinn trajectory has involved inserting practical technology into their modern tool watches, and this limited edition adds some of that tech to one of their classic references.
In terms of specs, the 155 runs on the automatic Sellita SW510 caliber with a 56 hour power reserve, and is built on a case that measures 43mm in diameter. The dial is straightforward, with both hands and the Arabic numerals at the hours coated with plenty of lume. You’ll notice Revolution’s star logo near the center of the dial, which has also been given a lume treatment. The caseback is closed, which I think is appropriate for a watch of this style, and it’s mounted to a Bund-style leather strap, which is another nice detail that pays homage to the 155’s roots.
Pricing is set at $3,600 for the Sinn 155 S Bright Star TEGIMENT limited edition. Only 300 pieces will be made, and the LE goes on sale March 20. You can find more information at the Revolution website right here.
