The Sinn 140 A Space Chronograph ($4,930) is a Limited Edition update of the 140 S that German physicist/astronaut Reinhard Furrer wore on his voyage to SpaceLab in 1985. Furrer’s 140 S was reputed to be the first automatic chronograph to be worn in space (the Seiko 6139 may have beaten it though), proving once again that a self-winding watch would work just fine without gravity.
Like all chronographs, the 140 A features a center-mounted stop-seconds hand. What sets this watch apart, however, is the center stop-minutes hand, which makes reading the elapsed minutes a lot easier than squinting at a tiny sub-dial. This would be handy when you’re going through your pre-launch checklist and comes courtesy of the SZ01 movement, Sinn’s innovative adaptation of the common Valjoux 7750 chronograph calibre. The one less sub-dial also gives the Space Chronograph a non-traditional, more appealing look. Why aren’t all chronographs like this?
An internal rotating bezel is manipulated by the crown on the left side of the case and allows for less precise timing of events separate from the chronograph. The tonneau-shaped case is a spitting image of the original 140 S and hearkens back to the curves so common on the watches of the 1970s and ’80s.
Another significant, more technical feature of the 140 A is the use of Ar-Dehumidifying Technology. Water molecules — always present in the air — get trapped inside the case during watch assembly. Sinn eliminates this moisture by filling the case with Argon gas, keeping the innards free from micro-condensation and fogging, which are never good things in the vacuum of space.
Finally, the updated stainless steel case is surface-hardened with Sinn’s patented TEGIMENT Technology. This treatment significantly increases scratch resistance so at least the watch will remain nick-free when you launch your answer to Virgin Galactic in the backyard.
Available for pre-order, the Limited Edition of 500 pieces (only a few for North America) is scheduled to splash down later this year.
