Navitimer vs Sinn 903

[wadsy]

I'd been researching into Navitimers and stumbled upon the 903.

Comparing an A32232 with the 903,

The Breitling does seem to have more of an 'iconic' pull for me, but the Breitling I would think would cost about 3k and a Sinn about 2k which isn't to be sniffed at!

Any thoughts please chaps?

[Parabola]

I prefer the Sinn. I may be misremembering but I think when Breitling went bust during the quartz crisis, Sinn bought the rights to the Navitimer design and Ollech and Wajs bought the last of the Breitling stock. The O&Ws became the Aviation and Sinn started making the 903. I think therefore the Sinn is closest to the original design.

All this could be nonsense maybe someone will appear and correct me

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[mart broad]

I prefer the Sinn. I may be misremembering but I think when Breitling went bust during the quartz crisis, Sinn bought the rights to the Navitimer design and Ollech and Wajs bought the last of the Breitling stock. The O&Ws became the Aviation and Sinn started making the 903. I think therefore the Sinn is closest to the original design.

All this could be nonsense maybe someone will appear and correct me

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No not nonsense and an early Sinn is a look out for some very interesting variants out there very few Aviation around but do a google. Having over the years dipped a toe into and owned all three my preference is the Sinn.
http://www.sometimeago.com/sinn-903-st-lemania-1873/

[Rocket Man]

I really like the look of the 903 and I've had the blue dial version in my sights for a while now:

https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/903_St_B_E.htm

As they are Valjoux 7750 driven they are quite thick though.

[wits]

Never knew that
If the name doesn't matter have the Sinn

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[Saint-Just]

Never knew that
If the name doesn't matter have the Sinn

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Some might even say: if the name matters, have the Sinn.

[Sinnlover]

I have had both I only have the 903 left
To me it's a more robust watch, better water resistance, less bling case and nicer dial (hard to picture) it is metallic as has a radial brushed finish.
The lume is not as good but it is usable. Plus you don't see them about.

[robert75]

No not nonsense and an early Sinn is a look out for some very interesting variants out there very few Aviation around but do a google. Having over the years dipped a toe into and owned all three my preference is the Sinn.
http://www.sometimeago.com/sinn-903-st-lemania-1873/

Ollech & Wajs have stopped selling online I believe but the Aviation chronograph can still be found on ebay via a US seller who has his own website (I think the prices are cheaper as well) Factoring in import costs they come in at around 2 or 2.5k which puts them around the price of a new Sinn but the Aviation ones have a hand wind movement rather than the automatic chronograph of the new Sinn. The Aviation watches do seem to look closer to the old Breitling look from what I read the difference between the Breitling and the Sinn is the slide rule is in a different position.

[JimbobIJones]

I prefer the Sinn. I may be misremembering but I think when Breitling went bust during the quartz crisis, Sinn bought the rights to the Navitimer design and Ollech and Wajs bought the last of the Breitling stock. The O&Ws became the Aviation and Sinn started making the 903. I think therefore the Sinn is closest to the original design.

All this could be nonsense maybe someone will appear and correct me

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Yeah, I think you have it spot on. Breitling went bankrupt in 1979 and its corpse was gutted and its remains were sold off to a lot of different companies.

The brand that exists today is the product of Ernest Schneider (who owned Sicura) buying the name and re-branding Sicura as "Breitling". In that respect the 903 has as much Breitling "heritage" as modern Breitling watches!

[PMPM]

+1 on the Sinn, no doubt.

[sweets]

The only other thing to add is the consideration of which movement and therefore features you want. Lemania 1873, valjoux 7740 and 7753 are all to be had in all guises.
Auto or manual, date or not. You choose, but personally i prefer the Navitimer look with no date, and therefore the Lemania movement. There is nice Lemania one on Chrono24 for £2.1k.
Dave

[RustyBin5]

I really like the look of the 903 and I've had the blue dial version in my sights for a while now:

https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/903_St_B_E.htm

As they are Valjoux 7750 driven they are quite thick though.

They did do a Lemania special 903 too - think it was a moonphase also

[Scottd]

I'm partial to a Navitimer and have a couple in the collection at the moment but it still bugs me slightly that Breitling didn't keep pace with Sinn and improve the water resistance.


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[robert75]

The only other thing to add is the consideration of which movement and therefore features you want. Lemania 1873, valjoux 7740 and 7753 are all to be had in all guises.
Auto or manual, date or not. You choose, but personally i prefer the Navitimer look with no date, and therefore the Lemania movement. There is nice Lemania one on Chrono24 for £2.1k.
Dave

I believe the Aviation ones are all Valjoux 7740 or 7753 with no date. I think the early Sinn also used these movements. I suppose the other consideration would be the Sinn would likely be used if handwind the Aviation new. The new Sinn watches with automatic movements seems to represent excellent value for money considering the Breitling navitimer heritage using the same movement is almost double the price.

[wadsy]

Thanks very much for all the replies chaps

[Retep]

I've had both the O&W Aviation and Sinn 903. As nice as they are, people not in the know confuse them with the Breitling Navitimer and consider these 'wannabee'-versions of it. So after a while I stopped wearing them thinking the same thing. If you can stand this idea the Aviations are the closest to the original 806 and 809 Breitlings as they are made from old Breitling stock parts including the plexiglass. The Sinn is more technically advanced and the better overall watch. In my eyes the quality of the Sinn is equal to, or surpasses that of the Valjoux Navitimer.

[wadsy]

Thanks for all the input chaps

I've gone for a 903 ST Be

Cheers

[Parabola]

Thanks for all the input chaps

I've gone for a 903 ST Be

Cheers

Good man. Be sure to post a picture when it arrives

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[Cool Hand Luke]

Congrats, the Sinn would've been my pick too - the B E is a good looking watch.

Were you lucky enough to pick one up in stock or do you now have a bit of a wait for a factory order from Sinn?

[Templogin]

Saw this in another thread about Breitling servicing

Breitling make, and have made, some great watches, but their monopolistic approach to exploiting their customers and their total disdain for those who buy their watches, IMO, sucks.

[bobbee]

Cheapo Rotary quartz take on the 903...

[wadsy]

Congrats, the Sinn would've been my pick too - the B E is a good looking watch.

Were you lucky enough to pick one up in stock or do you now have a bit of a wait for a factory order from Sinn?

I managed to find a mint 'pre-loved' one less than a year old

[Ar.parask]

I have had both I only have the 903 left
To me it's a more robust watch, better water resistance, less bling case and nicer dial (hard to picture) it is metallic as has a radial brushed finish.
The lume is not as good but it is usable. Plus you don't see them about.

Love the 155 in the mix!


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[wits]

Saw this in another thread about Breitling servicing

I agree got a mark on the anti glare £800
Full service.
Get f locked I say

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[Cool Hand Luke]

I managed to find a mint 'pre-loved' one less than a year old

Sounds like a result - congrats - look forward to seeing a couple of pics.

[wadsy]

Sounds like a result - congrats - look forward to seeing a couple of pics.

Only taken one pics so far for the 'new arrivals' thread....





Cheers