SINN 903 "Navitimer" Steel with Lemania 1873 1980s

-Specifications

Brand
Sinn
Model
Navigation Chronograph
Reference
903 St.GL
Year
1980s
Movement
Manual Wind Lemania Cal.1873
Case
41mm
Material
Stainless Steel
Bracelets
Original Black Leather Strap
Includes
Original Steel Buckle
Box/Paper
No Box/No Paper
Notes
The watch is working condition (+29 sec/day 310°)
The chronograph functions is working as it should
Warranty
1-year Mechanical Warranty by us
Shipping
Global shipping via DHL Express with full insurance

*Model wrist size is 16.5cm circumference

-Description

The official name of SINN is Sinn Spezialuhren (Sinn Special Watch Company). The company was founded in 1961 by Helmut Sinn, a German military pilot and flight instructor, who named the brand after himself and started making watches for pilots.

This is the Navigation Chronograph, model 903. You may think it is similar to Breitling's Navitimer, but there is a story behind it.

In the 1970s, Breitling was on the verge of bankruptcy due to the so-called “quartz shock” that hit the Swiss watch industry, triggered by a quartz movement made in Japan.

Sinn bought the design rights to the Navitimer, as well as the movement and other supply lines, and became Breitling's savior.

Although there are some minor differences in the bezel and other parts, this is a rare watch with the same design sold by two different companies.

This 903 St. GL was released in the 1980s and is equipped with the Lemania Cal.1873. A 24-hour version with a Lemania 1877 was also sold at the same time.

The case size is 41 mm and the thickness is 13 mm. The crown is not screwed down, but simply pulled. One of the features is that the transparent caseback.

One of the major differences from the current model is that the inner dial is more centered. The overall condensed design can be said to be unique to vintage watches.

The movement is Lemania Cal.1873 with manual winding as mentioned above. It is the base model of Cal.861 installed in Omega Speedmaster, and is known as a very famous chronograph movement.

There are very few watches with the Lemania 1873 in the Sinn model, so it is a rarity in that sense.

The watch comes with the original leather strap with some signs of use and the original steel buckle.