By Brent Robillard
Celebrating excellence
Sinn Spezialuhren has been recognised once again on the international stage. The German Design Council has awarded the German Design Award – Excellent Product Design 2026 to the Sinn 104 Classic 12, acknowledging the watch’s thoughtful execution and refinement within one of the brand’s most recognisable collections.
The Sinn 104 Classic 12 may well have stood alongside the 613 UTC on our Best Watches of 2025 list this year had we handled the it (a caveat for inclusion). Instead, the award provides an opportunity to examine why this particular reference has resonated with one of the most respected design juries in the world.
Advertisement
The Watch: The Sinn 104 Classic 12
The 104 line has long been a gateway into Sinn’s world: a clear, functional pilot-style watch with everyday versatility. The 104 Classic 12 builds on that blueprint with a number of firsts for the series.
Most notably, Sinn introduces a small seconds display—a chamois-coloured subdial designed to give the watch a slightly more classical rhythm without compromising its legibility. The second major update is the pilot’s bezel with hour ratcheting, equipped with a ceramic inlay for the first time in the 104 family. Ceramic’s hardness and scratch resistance deliver material durability while reinforcing the utility-first nature of the design.
The bezel’s 12-hour scale also allows tracking of a second time zone, expanding the watch’s functional range without altering the core layout. True to Sinn standards, the bezel is captive within the case to prevent accidental removal.
The watch remains water-resistant (and pressure resistant) to 20 bar, while also being low-pressure resistant, consistent with the brand’s engineering-led philosophy.
Altogether, the 104 Classic 12 refines a familiar silhouette with subtle adjustments in proportion, material choice, and layout—enough to shift the experience of the watch without abandoning the identity of the line.
Advertisement
Recognition for Design Quality
The German Design Awards recognise products that demonstrate a clear synthesis of purpose, clarity, and execution. In awarding the 104 Classic 12, the jury highlighted the watch’s distinctive profile, the integration of technically relevant enhancements, and its coherent design language.
The addition of small seconds changes the cadence of the dial; the ceramic bezel reflects material improvements that benefit long-term durability; and the restrained, functional layout continues Sinn’s tradition of designing watches around real-world requirements rather than purely aesthetic considerations.
As Sinn owner Lothar Schmidt noted, the award validates the brand’s commitment to developing watches “in strict conformity with the relevant requirements”—a sentiment that has guided the company for decades.
Advertisement
About Sinn Spezialuhren: Function First, Always
Founded in 1961 by Helmut Sinn, the brand built its reputation supplying mechanical instruments not for display cases, but for people working in critical environments. Over the decades, Sinn watches have been worn by pilots, divers, rescue teams, Germany’s GSG 9 special forces, naval commando frogmen (KSM), and ZUZ customs tactical units.
The brand’s engineering innovations—DIAPAL lubrication-free escapements, Ar-Dehumidifying Technology, HYDRO oil-filled cases, TEGIMENT surface hardening, and magnetic-field protection—all emerged from practical need rather than marketing ambition. The 104 Classic 12 is consistent with that lineage: incremental evolution, technical upgrades, and design guided by function.
About the German Design Awards and German Design Council
The German Design Awards are among the most recognised design distinctions globally. Products and projects cannot simply be entered; they must be nominated by expert committees of the German Design Council. Evaluation occurs through a multi-stage review ending in a two-day jury session.
The 2026 jury comprises members from 17 nationalities, drawing on backgrounds in business, academia, industrial design, engineering, and cultural studies. This diversity reflects the Council’s theme of “Connecting Global Excellence”—a framework intended to evaluate design beyond regional taste or trend.
This year’s awards took place against a notable backdrop: Frankfurt RheinMain has been named the World Design Capital 2026 by the World Design Organization. The German Design Council, one of the WDO’s founding members, is playing an active role in shaping the yearlong series of events.
With more than 3,900 submissions from 57 countries, competition was substantial. The 104 Classic 12’s inclusion among the winners underscores its clarity of purpose and the strength of Sinn’s design approach.
Advertisement
Final Thoughts
The 104 Classic 12 represents a measured yet meaningful evolution in one of Sinn’s most enduring models. It may not be a radical departure, but it is a refinement that aligns with the brand’s engineering-led identity—and evidently with the German Design Council’s standards for design quality.
Advertisement
About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
On Spec articles refer to upcoming projects and rely upon available information on Kickstarter, the brand website, and promotional materials provided by the watchmaker. An On Spec article does not preclude a future full-length review in our Off The Cuff section. If you would like your project to feature in On Spec, please contact us here.
Please understand that using any links to products on this site might result in us money.