I will compare in this review the 4 following watches : ( from left to right )
– Tutima Military Chronograph , Bund version officially issued to German forces
– Orfina Porsche Design , Swiss air force version , officially issued
– Sinn 156B : "mid type" version with 4 srews back
– Sinn 142 Ti Ar : Titanium with the Argon gas option
Availability of the watches :
The only watch of this review which is available as new is the Sinn 142 Ti Ar : this might not last long : the Lemania 5100 movement is now discontinued and I have heard that the 142 might be not available in 2005. this particular model is the titanium version with the Argon filled case. it also exist in stainless steel or black stainless steel version
The Orfina military edition is a Swiss military issued watch , rare in this green version. The watch existed in civilian versions stainless steel or black , in other military issued version : stainless steel, black or grey.
The Sinn 156B has been discontinued in 2003 , the particular model of the review is a "mid generation" model with the "4 screws" back system similar to the Heuer bundesluftwaffe watch. The last version of the watch had a more traditionnal screwback
The Tutima military is a Bundesfutwaffe issued watch , but this watch is avalable in its civilian version (tutima logo on the dial instead of the"tutima military") or in titanium version
Size and weight of the watches :
|
Model
|
Diameter
|
Thickness
|
Weight
*
|
|
Tutima
military
|
43
mm
|
14,5
mm
|
130
gramms
|
|
Orfina
military
|
40
mm
|
14,5
mm
|
85
gramms
|
|
Sinn
156B
|
43
mm
|
15,5
mm
|
75
gramms
|
|
Sinn
142 Ti Ar
|
44
mm
|
15
mm
|
100
gramms
|
* All the weight including the presented strap or bracelet : Tutima : stainless steel bracelet , Orfina : "bund" leather strap , Sinn 156 : "Bund" leather strap and Sinn 142 : titanium bracelet.
Movements :
The 4 watches share the same movement : the Lemania 5100 , I will not detail this movement in this review : please repport to the other part of this website for more details on it
Accuracy :
The four watches keep exellent time within the COSC specifications (-4 / +6 sec/day) : the precision of the watches have been measured with a "Microset" timing machine giving instantly the shift per day. Note that the most accurate of the 4 watches is logically the only one to be officially "COSC Chronometre" certified : The sinn 142 Ti Ar reccorded to have a mean accuracy of +0,7 seconds/day on the timing machine
Cases :
3 watches are in stainless steel : The Tutima, the Orfina and the Sinn 156 , the Sinn 142 Ti Ar is in titanium including the bracelet , giving a weight advantage in the bracelet version (more than 30 gramms lighter compared to the steel version) . The tutima is also available in titanium but not in its military version.
The 4 watches can have opionnal bracelets even the Orfina which had a metal green bracelet available (looking very close to the Tutima version) 3 watches uses the classical spring bars : Orfina, and the two Sinns , where the Tutima uses a removable bar but not spring loaded : the bar must be forced in the case : not easy to change the strap but VERY secure
All the watches are relatively thick : this is due to the Lemania 5100 movement : remember that at noon 5 hands are superposed ! hours, minute , minute register , central second and 24 hours indicator ! , the movement by itself uis also thick due to its construction.
Pictures of the sides of watches :
you can click on images for lager version
|
Tutima
Military
|
Orfina
Military
|
Sinn
156 B
|
Sinn
142 Ti Ar
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Note on the Sinn 142 Ti Ar the humidity sensor located at 8′ on the left side of the case : you can click here to have a detailled pic of the sensor : the sensor is filled with copper oxiyde and will turn dark blue if humidity came in the case.
Backs :
3 watches have a traditionnal srewback which can be oppened with a 6 slot tool , the 156B have a very original system described in detail on this website (go to the "Sinn 156" section)
The Tutima Military have its Bund engravings : this is particular of military issued watches , the Sinn 142 have the space shuttle engraved on the back because the model equip the German Astraunauts
You can click on images for larger version :
|
Tutima
Military
|
Orfina
Military
|
Sinn
156 B
|
Sinn
142 Ti Ar
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Pushers / operation of chrono :
The Lemania 5100 is a chhronograph which need a real firm push to start : this is the case on all 4 watches , but the large square pushers of the Tutima have the best feeling to start and stop the chronograph , the only drawback of theses square pushers is the possibility for dirt/sand to came in the mechanism and they are not very easy to clean.
Dials :
All dials offers the same excellent readability , typical from Lemania powered watches , military inspired design. the two military issued watches (Tutima and Orfina) have hour markers on the inner bezel , the two sinns have minute markers on it
The Tutima and Orfina have Tritium luminous compound and the Sinn have Super luminova : those have their own advantages : Tritium offers by far the longset bright during all night but the luminosity is poorer in the first hours compared to Luminova … unfortunatly Luminova do not glow at all after 4 to 5 hours in the dark.
Hands of the Orfina and Tutima offers the same "milirary" style : straight cut for the hour hand , both Sinns have a little extention on the minute hand for a more accurate reading
Bezels :
Only the two Sinns are equipped with turnablr bezels , the 142 offers a smart "inner" rotating bezel which is moved with the left hand crown located at 10′ , this might not very easy to operate for persons wearing their watches on the left wrist , but as a lefty, wearing my watches on the right wrist this is VERY convinient. The 156 have a rotating bezel in aluminium which unfortunatly moove too easely.
You can click on images for larger version :
|
Tutima
Military
|
Orfina
Military
|
Sinn
156 B
|
Sinn
142 Ti Ar
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Crystals :
The Tutima , Orfina and Sinn 142 are fitted with a flat sapphire crystal , the Sinn 156B with a plexi crystal , The Orfina crystal is anti reflexion coated on both sides , the Tutima and Sinn 142 are only coated on the inner side
I tried to judge the amount of light reflexion of the 4 crystals under strong light :
the easy winner is the Orfina , offering nearly NO reflexion even under a very strong light , this is due to the double side AR coating of an extremly good quality optically speaking : probably the best I have ever seen : the drawback of it is that is is subject to small scratches , surprisingly the second is the Sinn 156 with it plexi crystal offering a light reflexion (due to the small index of refraction of plastic). The tutima offers a lower reflexion compared to the Sinn 142 probably due to a better AR coating.
Water resistance :
The 4 watches offers a 10 ATM water resistance : 100 meters , but I would be more confident with the 3 "caseback" watches , the Sinn 156 offers a complicated water resistance design due to its particular "4 screws" case.
Resistance to scratches and wear :
The most rugged watch of the 4 is the Tutima , offering a stainless steel case and sapphire crystal , the Orfina is the most fragile of all with its painted case and double AR coated crystal. the Sinn 156 is subject to scratches due to its plexi crystal and aluminium bezel and the Sinn 142 Ti have a case and bracelet more subject to scratches due to its titanium construction (hopefully titanium can be easely re-surfaced using … Scothbrite !)
Technical inovation :
The easy winner of this aspect is without any doubts the Sinn 142 Ti Ar : titanium case for lightweight , Argon filled case to limit outgassing of oils with time , humidity sensor … the sinn 142 offers "state of the art" specs. The other 3 watches are by far more traditionnal technically speaking.
Plus and minus of each watches :
| Tutima Military | Orfina Military | Sinn 156B | Sinn 142 Ti Ar | |
| Plus |
– Original "square pusher" design – Real military issued watch, valuable in the collecting point of view – Very rugged watch – Fairly rare in the real military issued version |
– Rare and "different" look in this green version – Best readability due to outstanding AR – the "Porsche" name and heritage – no light reflexion from case or crystal |
– Military "heritage" of the 1550 SG – possibility to change crystal very easely – very discrete "black" looking – Price on second hand market |
– High technical inovations – Lightweight in Titanium version – comfort of the integrated bracelet – Quality of the finish , extremly good accuracy |
| Minus |
– Square pushers subject to polution when used in sand/dirt – Weight in its stainless steel version – Price new or used |
– Case and crystal subject to scratches – availability of parts – not easy to wear every day in this green version |
– Bezel and crystal subject to scratches -"complicated" case design – Bezel too "loose" |
– Titanium version subject to scratches – operation of the inner ratating bezel not easy for right handed users |
Conclusion :
As you can read from the last chart , there is no real "winner" of this review : each watch have its own advantage and will be the best for a specific use … a difficult choice to make if you are looking for just one of theses
let me give you some personnal oppinions which might help you in your choice : if you are looking for the best watch for any use including rough tasks , I would highly recommand you the Sinn 142 St : the steel version of the 142 which offers a better resistance to scratches : it offers all the tech aspects of the titanium version , but with a slightly higher mass : probably the best rugged watch based on the Lemania 5100
If you are looking for a "state of the art" watch with latest inovations the 142 Ti Ar would be the best choice : I do not know any watches offering so much for this price on the watch market
If you like real military issued watches the Tutima is a must : a "classic" of the military aviation watches : a "must have" in a military theme collection
And finally if you like "different" watches , some with a distinctive look you will find on no others : both of the 156B and the Orfina are great choices , the Orfina might be very difficult to find on second market , but they sometimes "pop out" on e-bay Germany, the 156B is one of my favourite "military inspired" watch : it gets interesting case design, a unique look and a military heritage.
I hope you enjoyed this little review and I wish it was usefull for you to choose your next Lemania 5100 powered watch !