This Iconic Enthusiast-Favorite Tool Watch Just Reached Its Stunning Final Form

Sinn has a new version of the legendary 104, and it’s a total knockout.

Close-up of a black Sinn wristwatch face with silver hour markers and hands, featuring a small beige subdial marked "Made in Germany" with minute increments. The bezel has numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 in a light color, and a silver crown is visible on the right side. The watch has a polished metal case and a black background.

Published September 3, 2025

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Updated September 3, 2025

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When I was first bitten by the watch bug a decade or so ago, one of the first watches that drew my eye was the Sinn 104.

A pilot’s watch that looks and acts more like a dive watch, the versatile and attractive tool watch had just the right mix of toughness, affordability, wearability and luxury to become a de facto recommendation on forums like Reddit’s r/watches for any budding enthusiast looking to purchase their first “nice” watch.

12 years after its introduction, the 104 remains an enthusiast favorite, and now Sinn is making the tool watch even more tempting by introducing an even better-looking, more premium version.

Close-up of a Sinn wristwatch with a black dial and bezel. The watch features white hour markers and hands, a day-date display showing "MON 8," and the words "Sinn," "Automatik," and "Made in Germany" on the dial. The bezel has minute markings, and the watch is attached to a textured dark gray strap. The crown is positioned on the right side of the watch case. — The original Sinn 104 is one of the most iconic watches to debut this century.

The new classic

The German watchmaker’s new take on the 104 is the 104 Classic 12, and several notable differences are evident when compared to the original pilot’s watch.

First up is the bezel. While the original 104 is well-known for its signature countdown bezel, the Classic 12 features a 12-hour bezel — hence the name. This effectively transforms the watch into a simpler version of a GMT, as the bezel can be used to track a second time zone. The bezel also has a much cleaner look, as there are no individual minute markings, and its insert is made of hard-wearing, luxurious ceramic instead of the less resilient aluminum found on the original.

Behold, the latest evolution of the Sinn 104.

Sinn

Moving on to the dial, we see some other big changes that make what was already a good-looking watch downright gorgeous. First, the hands, text and indices have been changed from stark white to an elegant cream color —which Sinn calls chamois — matching the markings on the bezel. The 104’s signature syringe hands and baton hour markers remain, but they’re both now rhodium-plated, and the indices are applied instead of printed. The minute track is also much cleaner, with the fractional second markings having been removed.

The day-date complication at 3:00 has been jettisoned, further cleaning up the look of the dial and improving its symmetry. Leaning further into this symmetry is the addition of a small-seconds subdial at 6:00. It’s cream-colored to match the rest of the dial and bezel markings and adds a classic “panda” aesthetic to the watch. Lastly, the black dial now features a more eye-catching sunburst finish, which pairs beautifully with the new polished ceramic bezel. The whole package looks just spectacular.

Close-up of a black wristwatch with a rotating bezel marked with numbers 5 to 10. The watch face has silver hour markers and hands, with a smaller subdial at the 6 o'clock position displaying seconds. The subdial is white with black markings and the text "MADE IN GERMANY." The watch hands indicate the time as approximately 9:00. — The addition of a nicely detailed small-seconds subdial adds symmetry and elegance to the dial.

The movement is also different, of course, given the new complication and the lack of a day-date feature, but it’s comparable to the original’s. The Classic 12 again uses a Sellita automatic movement, opting for the Calibre SW261-1 instead of the SW220-1 in the regular 104.

The easy-wearing 41mm x 11.9mm stainless steel case remains the same as before, as far as I can tell, and it’s still sandwiched by sapphire crystals. The new 104 is also just as rugged as the original, with the same 200m of water resistance, low-pressure resistance for aerial security, and Sinn’s Captive Bezel technology to prevent the bezel from coming loose. After all, it wouldn’t be a Sinn if it wasn’t built to take a beating.

Don’t let its gorgeous looks fool you; the Classic 12 is just as tough as the original Sinn 104.

Sinn

Pricing and availability

Hoo boy, is this a nice release from Sinn. The 104 is an icon, so messing with its design is flirting with disaster, but I think Sinn has managed to once again capture lightning in a bottle here. The Classic 12 manages to keep the general vibe and wearability of the original 104 while slightly toning down the toolishness and dialing up the elegance. I love it, personally, and if I were going to buy a 104, this would be the one for me.

Part of the appeal of the 104 has long been its approachable sub-$3,000 price point, and I’m happy to report the Classic 12 remains in the same ballpark, albeit slightly more expensive due to the value added from pricier materials like ceramic and rhodium. On a fabric or leather strap, the 104 Classic 12 retails for $2,170, and tops out at $2,650 when purchased on the quick-adjust H-link bracelet. All versions are available in the U.S. through Sinn’s American retail partner, WatchBuys.

Sinn wristwatch with a black dial and silver-tone hour markers and hands. The watch features a small seconds subdial at the 6 o'clock position and a black bezel with cream-colored numerals. It has a stainless steel case and bracelet. The dial includes the text "Sinn" and "FRANKFURT AM M.

Sinn 104 Classic 12

Specs

Case Size	41mm
Movement	Sellita Cal. SW261-1 automatic
Water Resistance	200m

$2,650 at WatchBuys

About the Author:

Johnny Brayson is an editor at Gear Patrol mostly covering watches. He enjoys watches that are packed with blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em details and believes nearly every watch could stand to be a tad smaller.