Hands-On Sinn 6052 Review – The Frankfurt Financial District Watch
We always had a slight preference for Sinn watches that we would categorize as tool watches: the 140/142, 103, EZM series, 358, 756, 856 and so on. However, there’s more to Sinn than these watches for professional use only. They also have collections like the ‘Klassische Meisterwerke’ (dress watches basically), ladies’ watches and of course, the Frankfurt Financial District collection. Or Frankfurter Finanzplatzuhren, if you want to come correct.
Frankfurt am Main
As you might know, Frankfurt am Main is the financial capital of Germany. If you’ve ever been there, you will know about the city’s center, a combination of modern skyscrapers and beautiful old buildings. Frankfurt was bombed severely during WWII, so the combination of buildings that were left and restored and hypermodern skyscrapers was born out of necessity. The large buildings host over 500 companies in the financial industry, such as banks and insurance companies.
“Sinn Spezialuhren zu Frankfurt am Main” as their official company name is, isn’t located in the city center of Frankfurt, but just outside. Nevertheless, besides pilots, divers, fire brigade and other ‘professional purpose’ watches, Sinn also decided to create watches for those who are working in the financial industry.
Today we have a look at one of their Frankfurt Financial District watches, the Sinn 6052.
Sinn 6052 Calendar Week Display
A big, no, huge box was delivered to the Fratello HQ. Now, we often receive large boxes, mainly filled with protective material, but in this huge box was another huge cardboard box. A large wooden box came out, that not only contained the Sinn 6052, but also an additional stainless steel bracelet, screw-driver, extra spring bars, a loupe and a little bottle of loctite. All together, a very impressive ‘kit’ I would say.
I decided to keep the Sinn 6052 on a strap, as that is how I saw it in the Sinn catalogue and how I wanted to wear it. The stainless steel bracelet is very nice though, it is a fine link bracelet that has a concealed clasp.
No Extra Time Zones
What most Frankfurt Financial District watches by Sinn have in common, is that they are able to indicate at least a 2nd or even 3rd additional time zone. It is a useful complication when it comes to a mechanical watch for people working in the financial industry. For this Sinn 6052 reference however, the Frankfurt based watch company used another complication instead: a calendar with week display. I remember when I had a real job a few years ago, with a desk and a Windows PC with all sorts of uninteresting software, I needed to look up week numbers once in a while. Some how people with real jobs use week numbers for deadlines, appointments etc. Even though it was a few mouse clicks away, a watch like the Sinn 6052 would have been useful.
Would an extra timezone indicator be useful for the Sinn 6052? Probably, but the dial of the watch would also become very crowded, or cluttered even. Five central hands is a bit much, I believe.
Calendar
The calendar on the Sinn 6052 is an easy to use – and read – one, with a central hand for the date, apertures for the day and month and a small hand that indicates the week number.
To adjust the weekday (upper left aperture), you just have to push the flat button at 10 o’clock. To adjust all other calendar settings, you have to pull the crown into the 2nd position and turn it clockwise for the week adjustment and counter-clockwise for date and month adjustment. Never correct the calendar functions between 9pm and 3am, as the mechanism already engaged and the movement might be damaged if you do so anyway.
Together with the chronograph function of this watch (going up to 59 minutes and 59 seconds), the dial is crowded but still easy to read. The chronograph seconds hand is clearly different from the weekday hand, with the bracket at the end to ‘capture’ the day. The sub dial for the chronograph minutes is located at 12 o’clock, and has two small apertures for the day and month indication. Using black discs and white printed characters, it keeps te black dial very balanced.
Sunburst Dial
Although the specifications of the Sinn 6052 talk about a black-electroplated dial with sunburst decoration, I didn’t see this at first. Perhaps because of the bad lighting conditions in our office, or the fact that it was already a bit darker outside. However, in sunlight and good clear artificial light, there is indeed a sunburst decoration applied to the dial. It gives the watch a classy appeal, and moves it away from the tool-watch signature that most Sinn watches have.
Sinn 6052 Dimensions
When wearing this watch, I noticed that it actually wears bigger than the specification would indicate. The case diameter is ‘only’ 41.5mm, but because of the very small bezel and large dial, it appears to be much bigger. The space between the lugs is 22mm and the case is 14.5mm thick. A watch with complications like this needs space of course. It doesn’t wear exceptionally thick, but the Sinn 6052 is definitely present on the wrist.
Sinn SZ03
This Sinn 6052 is powered by Sinn’s calibre SZ03. This movement, based on the famous ETA/Valjoux 7751, has been modified with a weekly calendar and a 60 minute chronograph counter instead of the default 30 minutes. It is a hack-movement, and uses 26 jewels. Additionally, the calibre SZ03 is compliant to DIN8308 (shock-proof) and DIN8309 (anti-magnetism) standards. The typical Valjoux 775x wobble is also present, which isn’t something I personally fancy, but I know a lot of people love to ‘feel’ the watch on their wrists.
Sinn SZ03 calibre, based on the ETA/Valjoux 7751.
The finish of the movement is nicely done, with perlage and striping on the bridges and plates and blued screws. I love how Sinn put the skyline of Frankfurt on the rotor in gold engraving. It makes sense for this Frankfurt Financial District watch and certainly isn’t too gimmicky. The engraving on the bezel of the caseback is well-balanced, and done in German language. Besides the brands, model’s name and reference number, it indicates that it is water resistant to 10 bar, is made of steel and has a ’52 weeks’ indicator.
Some Thoughts
With my sincere love for the Sinn 140/142 and some other classic ‘tool watches’ from their stable, I knew it would be difficult to be enthusiastic about a more ‘formal’ watch like the Sinn 6052. I never handled one for a review so I felt I needed to give this watch a well deserved platform. However, the Sinn 6052 amazed me and after a short while, we got to know each other a bit better and we definitely connected. I didn’t fell in love with the Sinn 6052, nor will I ever with any of the Frankfurt Financial District pieces, but that is fine. The watch wears nicely on the wrist and is very easy going with whatever attire you fancy. Although I didn’t try the stainless steel bracelet, it will make the watch a bit more ‘tough’-looking and makes it a perfect companion for more casual wear as well.
Daily Wearer
That said, I can imagine that the Sinn 6052 can be one’s daily wearer for a long time. It has all necessary complications one needs, including a week number indicator. If you are in an office, perhaps in the finance industry even, it is a welcome function I imagine. A chronograph is always useful, either to time events, the pizza in the oven, traveling etc. What surprised me most is that this watch has a great design, without too much distractions besides all that functionality. The instrumental (or tool) watches by Sinn are often designed by ‘form follows function’ mentality. Although I personally like that, it isn’t always suitable for more formal occasions. This Sinn 6052 is a great allrounder and if you like its style, it might be a watch for you to check-out and try.
Sinn 6052 on its leather calf strap with steel buckle.
Pricing
The retail price in Germany for this Sinn 6052 is 3990 Euro. That is a fair price for this watch, with all of its complications and considering that it comes with a big box with an additional stainless steel bracelet. It is also a difficult price range, as a lot of brands operate in this 3000 – 5000 Euro category. You can either go small and independent microbrands for this price as well as joining some of the Top 10 brands out there. That is up to you to decide, but I believe that Sinn represents a lot of value for money. They always did and still do, even though some of their prices increased a bit over the years (like all other brands did as well).
Availability
Sinn has a network of retailers and distributors world wide, but you can also order this Sinn 6052 directly on-line via their website. They offer free shipping within Germany and use flat rates of 50 Euro for EU countries and 120 Euro for the rest of the world.
