Last of the New...

[danomar]

...And why Daniel won't be getting new watches until the end of the year, if that.

A firmly tongue-in-cheek review.

This is the most recent of my acquisitions. It is also the most expensive watch I have bought. Everyone seems to want one, so I thought why not. It's only money, right?



It is from the original owner, a police officer in Germany, who bought it new in 2007 and sent it in for a service two years ago. It comes with all the boxes, documents, and spare straps. For the price—relatively speaking—it seemed to be a decent deal.





So I get the thing and put it on. First I notice that the case is not made from steel. It seems to be some type of cheap metal, judging by how light it is. It feels nice enough, but I think the manufacturer was trying to save some cost there.



Then I noticed the crystal has some type of green-purple layer on it. You won't believe how easily it shows up finger smudges! Luckily I can just wipe the crystal on my sleeve and it goes away, but what were these people thinking?!



And then there is the dial. At first I was wondering where the chronograph was. I paid all this money for a watch and it doesn't even have subdials. How cheap! It does have an extra central hand, probably a GMT function, but I realized that all the hands are the same color. What's up with that?! At least they glow in the dark very brightly.



That is when I noticed that everything (except for the name) on the dial is either black or white. Well, except for the date, but it is so small and the numbers are thin and red, so I can barely see it. There is no chrome or white box around the date window, either. How are you supposed to knw what the date is with this thing?

And that is when it hit me: There are no numbers on the dial!





I know this is supposed to be some type of special fancy watch, but I have to be honest: It seems to me a pretty cheap, poorly thought-out item. The manufacturer cut corners on everything and even put the crown and pushers on the wrong side. That's okay because I don't mind wearing a left-handed watch.

It leaves me wondering why so many folks think this is a special watch. I think they must be stupid or something.



Now for Dave to write a proper review!

[DaveS]

Love the review, it is amazing what corner-cutting some manufacturers can get away with isn't it?
The unreadable date thing is perfectly true, no irony required there at all

You have had a busy summer, that's 4 new acquisitions posted in almost as many days!!
And this one is the crowning glory???
I am sure you will not regret this one, I am finding more reason to appreciate my EZM1 almost every week.
It is very interesting that yours was new in 2007. Mine has one of the last serial numbers for the standard EZM1, numbering just over 3000 (a WUS post detected only one example with a later serial). But mine was sold new in 2003-4.
So it is sad to think of yours sitting unloved in a shop window for so long after it's likely production date.
Did yours come with solid end links, or not? I know that a few did, but have always wondered whether it was by specific request, or whether a batch were sent out with SELs as standard.

Well done, by the way

Dave

[danomar]

Originally Posted by DaveS

It is very interesting that yours was new in 2007. Mine has one of the last serial numbers for the standard EZM1, numbering just over 3000

Small story to that. The original owner had placed an order with Sinn that was un-filled for several months. He put his name on a list and waited—nine months, I seem to recall. Possibly longer. He was looking at getting a different watch when Sinn contacted him to let him know he could get his EZM1. He purchased it in 2007 but it might very well have been produced long beforehand. Which is to say that there might not be a direct correlation between the serial numbers and when the watches were sold, relatively speaking. It might have been that Sinn wanted to ensure that other parts of the world got their allocations before selling the last of their stock in Germany. My seller said that he was one of the last to order an EZM1.

Are you certain that your was sold in 2003-4? I thought that production of the first batch went up through 2005-6. It seems quite early in EZM1 history to have a 3000-serial in 2003-4. Did you ever contact Sinn to inquire about it? I'm told they are happy to provide all information about their former watches.

Originally Posted by DaveS

Did yours come with solid end links, or not? I know that a few did, but have always wondered whether it was by specific request, or whether a batch were sent out with SELs as standard.

Another small story there. The owner bought the EZM1 with a sharkskin strap and then bought the titanium bracelet from the fellow who came up with the EZM1 concept. He said it was cheaper that way, and since the original owner is a police officer, he had contacts.

But no, my end links are not solid. The history behind that is also unclear. I thought all LE's came with solid end links but some have shown up (mostly in the USA) with original style end links. I have no issue with the 'hollow' end links. They fit fairly well when I got it, and a few slight bends made them seat that much better. The complaint about end link color not matching the case is another thing that does not bother me. My case and bracelet are close, but titanium ages differently.

Originally Posted by DaveS

Well done, by the way

Thanks! My bank account wonders what in the heck I did to it, but this seemed like a good opportunity to catch one of my top three most-wanted watches while I still had the funds.

I realized after posting that all of my Sinns use the 5100 inside:



Interesting how that happened...

[andy_s]

Great review - tat indeed, it makes you wonder why they bothered...

As an aside, although I've managed to get some SELs for the LE (which came from the UK with the folded links), I'm now having a problem getting the bracelet that goes with them....! I must admit I'm not too bothered but fancied the 'upgrade' for completeness - the folded ones are perfectly functional although I can see why some thought them not quite as refined as solid ones (Al', I'm looking at you... )

I'm with you on the colour difference too Daniel, it's hardly noticeable and doesn't detract - the focus was tight on this one and although from a 'WIS' pov it would have been 'better', I doubt it bothered many of its users in the real world, as it doesn't bother me.

Look forward to the review Dave - I won't bang on about it any more as I've done that in the past but I do love mine, would even consider a second (3H) and can't imagine me letting it go as it's become my daily watch - out of interest what was retail on these when they were available - about £1,200 or something iirc? Slow sellers too apparently - as borne out by the history of yours Daniel.

Do you have any more info on the guy you mentioned that came up with the concept?

Anyway; cheap tat, enjoy it while it lasts, you'll go off it quickly and get onto something better I hope!!

Andy

[danomar]

Originally Posted by andy_s

...out of interest what was retail on these when they were available - about £1,200 or something iirc? Slow sellers too apparently - as borne out by the history of yours Daniel.

This one cost €1750 with a sharkskin strap, shipped, in September 2007. Add another €200 for the bracelet and it seems a bit expensive for even then. But nowhere near the crazy-high prices these things command now.

Originally Posted by andy_s

Do you have any more info on the guy you mentioned that came up with the concept?

The seller told me he was a policeman in a special units division—nothing we do not already know. Apparently the fellow was selling the watches to other police officers, that is how my seller indicated he got the bracelet. It might be that the fellow had a connection with a Sinn retailer. The receipt I have is from a place called Point-of-Time, a Sinn retailer still in business. I do not know how Sinn dealt with ZUZ or ZTZ. Probably not directly, but you never know.

I do not remember anything further about him. I was mostly concerned with making dollars speak euro and getting them to the seller as soon as possible. He had a long queue of buyers waiting. I was the third respondent to the ad: The first wanted a "mint" watch which my man interpreted as NOS (lucky for me because this watch is near mint), and the second responder tried to get the price lowered. It was a nutty few days that week for me!