Sinn Watch Repair & Service

Sinn Spezialuhren is an independent watchmaker in Frankfurt am Main, owned and run by Lothar Schmidt since 1994. Two things shape Sinn service for a US owner: whether to use Sinn's US partner or ship to Frankfurt, and whether the watch has Sinn's own Ar-Dehumidifying Technology.

Sinn factory service

In the US, Sinn's exclusive dealer and service center is WatchBuys, with a repair shop for Sinn watches and Ar-Dehumidifying Technology service. You can also send a watch straight to Sinn's service department in Frankfurt with its customer service order form, but senders outside the EU may owe taxes and customs duties, which is why Sinn recommends going through an international partner. Partners generally service watches locally, and otherwise send them to Frankfurt in batches to keep shipping and customs costs down.

• Turnaround: 4 to 18 weeks, depending on the work.
• Warranty: two, three or five years against material and manufacturing defects, as stated on each model's product page, from the invoice date and valid worldwide. Watches with Ar-Dehumidifying Technology carry three years. Loss of water resistance is excluded once 24 months have passed since purchase.
• Repairs: Sinn also gives a warranty on its repairs.
• Water resistance: Sinn recommends a check once a year.

Independent Sinn service

Sinn's warranty excludes damage from repairs or attempted repairs not carried out by Sinn or its authorized partners, so use WatchBuys or Sinn while the watch is covered. After that, it depends on the watch. Many Sinn models use widely supplied Swiss movements, such as the Sellita SW 200-1 in the U1, which experienced independents service routinely.

Ar-Dehumidifying Technology is another matter. It combines a copper sulfate drying capsule, which turns increasingly blue as it absorbs moisture, with special seals and a protective gas filling. Ask any independent whether they can service it before you send the watch.

Before you ship, ask

• Is my watch still under warranty (two, three or five years, by model)? If so, use WatchBuys or Sinn first.
• Does my watch have Ar-Dehumidifying Technology, and can you replace the drying capsule and restore the gas filling?
• Which movement is in my watch, and have you serviced it before?
• Will you test water resistance after closing the case?
• Are you authorized by Sinn for service, and where does that show on Sinn's own website?
• Will the work be done on site, or sent elsewhere? If it is sent on, where does it go, and does the quote add a fee on top of the service center's charge?

Providers on this page were researched against our Standard at the time they were listed and are rechecked periodically. Details can change between checks, so confirm terms, pricing and turnaround directly with the provider before sending your watch.

Sources: Sinn warranty statement, Sinn inspection, repair and retrofitting, Sinn sales and service partners, Sinn Ar-Dehumidifying Technology, Sinn technology glossary, Sinn U1, About Sinn.