Yellow and EZ

[danomar]

I was inspired by my new espresso cups and some late afternoon sun to share my third recent Lemaniacal acquisition, a Sinn EZM4.





It is essentially... Okay, it IS a flipped-around 157 in steel. Nothing uncertain about that. I suspect mine is an early one given the "3H" logo and low serial number. It represents the latest version of the case with shrouded pushers, though that feature is unnecessary with them on the left.





It might not be so obvious, but the lume markers have aged, more than the hands.



The dial seems a bit busy, but in use it is very readable. The continuous seconds register at 3 o'clock is nice and big with a prominent hand and a clear top position marker. Something I did not notice until I got to use the chronograph is (are) the five-minute numbers inside the hour markers. First, numbers 5 through 30 are in yellow, the rest in white. Neat. Second, while using the chronograph, these numbers make it supremely easy to spot elapsed minutes. The font is a bit uninspired to my eye, but in use this might be the most legible 5100 chrono ever. The first thirty minutes have large, clear blocks and subtle numbers within immediate view.



I can understand how a firefighter with an air tank would want clearly legible countdown, and this definitely fulfills that need.

The pulsometer is for a quick check of heart rate. I tried it and found it somewhat difficult to activate the chronograph while also holding onto my pulse. I hope it is easier when checking someone else's pulse!

I was a little worried about the steel case being too heavy for my preference, but it wears very comfortably. I am still toying with the idea of swapping it with the titanium case of my other 157, but for now it stays as is.



Interesting that, in direct comparison, the EZM4 dial doesn't seem so busy after all.

[DaveS]

Nice catch, again, although I detect you are not as ****-a-hoop over it as you could be....? You do not seem to be as, er, effusive in your description as I thought you might be.
Of all the remaining (current and past) Sinn's, this is the one that I have never owned that holds attraction for me.
I like the re-complicated de-simplification from the EZM1 with the addition of running seconds, and the way that its sub-dial shares its 15 with the main dial.
I love the the lefty-ism.
I am amused by the miniature EZM-12-marker at the top of the sub-second dial, it makes me chuckle.
I like the pump pushers, it adds the right weight and bias to a case shape I owned in the form of a Tengler Bund
I don't like the addition of the day
And am not a big fan of the 30 minutes of colour on the dial (which is one of its most obvious features).
And I have always suspected that it is one of those watches that looks a little different in the flesh from forum (and press) photos.
As a result I have never tracked one down, and I am not sure that I will.

But definitely a fine and rare watch, and a great looking example, so well done.

Dave

[danomar]

Originally Posted by DaveS

Nice catch, again, although I detect you are not as ****-a-hoop over it as you could be....?

Sorry, Dave, maybe I didn't have as much to write about it. I very much like the EZM4, more every time I wear it. It is essentially a 157, so there is not much exceptional to write about the case shape and whatnot. I am continually surprised by how comfortable it is and how supremely legible the dial is. Add the color splashes and it makes (for me at least) a very fun watch to wear.

Originally Posted by DaveS

I like the re-complicated de-simplification from the EZM1

That's a mouthful! Yes I think I know what you mean. Sinn took a design, simplified it à la EZM1, then added some complications to make it useful. I like it!

Yes, that little 12 o'clock marker on the running seconds register makes me chuckle, too. Cute but also surprisingly useful.

Originally Posted by DaveS

I don't like the addition of the day

Interesting, that. I am a bit neutral on the day and date windows. I like how they are unobtrusive, and they are not boxed-in or highlighted so they do not stand out against the rest of the dial. I like having a day wheel, but this is in German so it is less easy to use for me anyway.

I was not planning on getting an EZM4, but I made an offer that was accepted so I jumped on it. I am quite glad I did. This piece seems to rise in my estimation every time I wear it—even though it needs a minor service and the lume is yellowing. Maybe it was the good price, but I feel better about this purchase than many others.

It is interesting how the exclusivity factor come into play. Only a handful of EZM4's come up for sale each year, it uses a derivation of the 5100 that no other manufacturer tried (AFAIK), it might be the rarest (aside from ZUZ, ZTZ, and similar specialty small runs) of the EZM series, and it possesses one of the most unique dials I know of; yet the value has stayed moderate, perhaps even low in comparison to other EZMs. It reminds me a bit of the Lorenz diver, a truly wonderful piece that is largely overlooked yet possibly rarer than many so-called exclusive watches. Perhaps if firefighters went sneaking around killing people then the EZM4 would go up in value. No, sorry, we would need some movies about it before that happens...

[andy_s]

These have grown on me after being in the wilderness of my radar for quite a while - I've come to appreciate the functional design bent which typifies Sinn (as per their newer EZM-7) and this manifestation of that is very well designed with its focus on timings for BAs.
I'd never noticed the yellow minute figures!

Great one Daniel, I think the colour is superficial fun, but 'all business' when the reasoning behind it is known.

Yes - the " 12 marker is a neat reflection of the EZM style, although perhaps superfluous in this context it's a nice 'wink'!

Very nice, and indeed, quite rare.

[andy_s]

...and one thing I did wonder with the EZM series was why this particular case was used as opposed to the EZM case, I'd have thought that it would have been more cohesive to have kept case shapes similar - there must be a reason...