Sinn 556 I B
The Sinn 556 IB is my latest acquisition. Like all of Sinn’s watches, it has a hard core German tool vibe that is unmistakable. Most 556 editions by Sinn are very true to a strict formula with black dials, clear numerals (or indices), and simple hands. They are known for being extremely tough, extremely reliable, and extremely legible. The 556 IB (the I standing for Indices vs numerals and B standing for Blue) differs only slightly from that successful formula but the small changes make a large impact on visual appeal of the watch. The blue dial has a metallic starburst effect that is only broken up by 12 nicely applied indices and minimal printed text. The metallic tool like theme is continued in the case design, as it is fully brushed. This definitely adds to the vibe that this watch is meant to be used and used hard. On top of the rugged case design and the minimalistic but elegant dial, Sinn is also quite noted for making just about every watch it produces quite water resistant. Sinn has established itself as a phenomenal dive watch manufacturer. While the 556 is on the lower end of what they can produce, it still has a water resistance of 200m. That is deeper than some dive watches sold today.
When I pick straps for a watch, I really try to take into consideration the watch as a whole. What do I mean by that? I have to take into consideration the capabilities of the watch (which a scan of its spec sheet will show me) and how will it be used (which varies person to person). When I picked straps to fit this particular watch, I had to find some straps to support its rugged nature, the beautiful dial, and also that impressive 200m of water resistance. In many ways, this is very similar to the Breitling on the first Strap This Watch review I did. I have to admit, it does seem like it is the same, but I feel there are a few more lessons to be learned here. While they are similar, the Sinn could NEVER be used as a dress watch like the Breitling could, and the straps I chose will reflect that.
The Sinn I B came on a fine link bracelet which was neither great, nor awful. Unlike the Breitling Bracelet which was quite simply brilliant, the Sinn bracelet looks to run contrary to the typical German precision manufacturing we have grown to expect. Removing it was not a heartbreaking affair.
So let’s get started! Before you is the Sinn 556 I B. It is a fully brushed (which differs greatly from bead blasting mind you) 38.5mm case which is only 11mm thick. Proportionally those dimensions work very well together and along with a 20mm lug width it really opens up what straps you can use, in fact nearly the entire watch strap industry is now basically at your feet. Combine those sweet proportions with the fact that this watch as been blessed with drilled lugs, and I am doing the dance of joy in my office.
The first strap I have to show you is the B and R bands Black Waterproof strap with Blue Stitching. I just recently reviewed this strap (https://strapsense.com/2018/06/22/b-and-r-waterproof-black-watch-strap-blue-stitching/) and it was extremely impressive. The strap was made of a synthetic blend material that resembles sailcloth (polyurethane is the actual material) and it as been splendid. The semi thick construction lends it self perfectly with the 11mm thick watch. It is totally water resistant and durable. During the week I wore it, I found it was comfortable and flexible after only a couple of hours on the wrist. It continued to improve as the days went on. The blue stitches are what drew me to this strap, and they do come very close to the blue in the dial under certain lights. However the Sinn 556 I B dial can take on a violet hue in certainly lighting conditions and then the threads start to depart from that color. This is the challenge of trying to match a sunburst metallic dial. Still, if you pick a strap that only relies on small details to tie it to the dial, then close can sometimes be good enough like in this example.
Keeping with the same theme as the B and R strap above, I ordered a silicone strap made by Fluco with the same idea in mind. Get the blue stitching and hope it is close enough. Well I am happy to report that this shade of blue is a bit darker, and is even closer than the B and R strap in terms of color. The black silicone is unimaginably smooth to the touch and the holes in the slightly curved surface of the strap give it a nice sporty appearance, but it should be noted they do not go all the way through in order to help dry off the skin and wick away moisture. The construction and feel make this strap extremely nice on the wrist and keeps up with the tooly nature of the watch it is on. This strap is a tad thinner than the B and R strap, but not so thin that the 11m case overpowers it. What also helps this strap is that it only tapers bit from 20mm to 18mm, and that gives it an err of strength and sportiness. I really like how this strap looks like it can do absolutely anything, and completely matches the mechanical abilities of the watch.
Next up we are going a bit bolder and a bit more high end. As I mentioned before matching dials can be VERY tricky and if done improperly it can stand out and look ‘off’. Usually the rule of thumb is to get it exactly right, or try something completely different. This is an example of getting right. Or at least it is VERY close. Below is a picture of a strap from one of my all time favorite strap manufacturers most notable line. This is the Hirsch Tiger. It is a strap from the highly recommended (at least by me) Hirsch Performance line, and when I tell you this is close to perfection on this watch, I mean it. The color of the blue matches that sunburst dial about 90% of the time. The straps color has depth and is curved so it also plays with the light nicely. The white contrast stitching bring out the minute markers on the dial and when the sun is at an angle the black sides of the strap match the black shaded sides of the indices. On top of all that is aesthetically pleasing about this strap, it is the right size, 20mm tapering to 18mm, and the right construction, specially treated scratch resistant leather on top with a natural vented rubber on bottom. This unique construction makes this a completely water resistant strap guaranteed to 300m. The Hirsch Tiger is ready for any amount of heat, sweat, water, and work you can throw at it, just like the watch. It does all this while still bringing out some of the dressy flair the Sinn 556 I B has. Overall, I think this may be my new strap for the Sinn and is what is currently on the watch today. This is also on the pricier side of this bunch, as prices range from $79.99 to $99.99. Expect a full review on this watch coming soon.
The next strap is from Zuludiver (purchased through WatchGecko) called the Premium Italian Diver ($37.13) and the only way to describe it is special ops ready. It throws any notion of dressy and classy attire out the window and makes the Sinn ready for a Seal Team mission. The most shocking thing is out of all the straps I put on the 556 I B this one shocked me the most. I did not expect to like it as much as I did. The areas that hold the wrist pin are oversized and actually contact the case. Their is nothing delicate or subtle about this strap. It is a strap you would wear if you were say pouring concrete or using a hammer drill. The rubber is not supple and flexible like the silicone Fluco strap with blue stitching. This is the strap you use in case you would need to tow the titanic back up form the deep. That said, I kind of dig the aesthetic and it may be the one strap here tougher than the watch.
From industrial grade rubber to the glorious feel of Horween Chromexel leather we make a Kessel Run size jump to this next strap. I called this strap the heartbreaker strap for the Sinn. This is the B and R Navy Horween strap ($79.99). The fit and finish is completely flawless and they used one of the finest materials available to make this strap (Chromexcel Leather from the Chicago Tannery Horween), and they did it justice. However, the color for the Sinn is 100% wrong. This photo was taken in the shade and it sort of hides it, but next to the blue dial, this strap looks green, and it is the perfect example of if you cannot match it perfectly, then do not even try. This strap is NOT close to the Sinn and it will never see this watch. It is also NOT waterproof, but I wanted to try range of straps that could dress up the 556 even if it meant losing some of that amazing water resistance. This strap will find a home on another watch, but it will be one with a neutral dial. I have an Oris Big Crown this will look amazing on. No fault of the strap or manufacturer, but this is one of the risks you have to take from time to time.
So matching the Blue is not always easy. The next strap I ordered from a New Zealand company called Bas and Lokes ($165.00). These amazing hand made straps are made to order and I wanted to have nice grey strap on hand as it would look good on a couple of my brushed steel case watches. This being one of them. It is soft and suede like and really contrasts against the cold steel of the Sinn case. The padding is deep and contrasts sharply against the crisp edges of the watch. This strap has next to zero water resistance, so getting it wet would be ill advised, but again, I may wear this Sinn on more than just during poolside activities. I would have to say on this watch this strap is a definite maybe. I need more time with it to see how it ages. Expect a full review on this strap at a later date, but probably not on this Sinn. I just wanted to see if it could bring out the subdued dressy vein that runs in this watch. I will let you decide if I succeeded.
Next up is another Strapsense favorite. The Hirsch James strap, which is yet another strap from the Hirsch Performance line (Also previously reviewed on strapsense. (https://strapsense.com/2018/03/12/hirsch-james-calf-leather-performance-watch-strap-in-gold-brown/). This particular strap has been on just about every 20mm watch I own and it has never disappointed to be a viable alternative to every watch that was blessed enough to wear it. All the great things that the Hirsch Tiger has are true with this watch. Same dual leather/rubber construction, same water resistance, same supple feel and flexibility, same scratch resistant surface, same everything. But this strap is the first I want to show you in NOT trying to match but going the opposite direction. The orange is contrasted nicely against the blue and I think this combo actually works. If it were possible to get tired of beautiful Hirsch Tiger in blue, this brown strap would be an easy one to live with. Always keep in mind the color wheel, and if you are trying to match a particular color and cannot, try the opposite. You may be shocked at how good opposing colors work together.
The next strap truly shows the power of contrast. Still on the contrasting colors with this Colareb Perugia Rust strap ($59.99), but taking the contrast beyond just color and getting into texture. The Sinn 556 I B is a surgically clean design. Smooth edges and crisp machined lines with a precise brushed finish this watch is as far from rustic as they come. When paired with a distressed leather strap it creates a nice tension between the two and they create a nice story line. I often say the watch is the main character but the strap is the story. This strap gives the watch a personality that evokes a great journey of some kind. I think it is a story of a watch like the Sinn could have lived. This strap has the needed taper 20 to 18mm to give it some elegance, while still being made of a raw material that cares not for blemishes and does not apologize for its scruffy nature. This particular strap has been used quite a bit on many watches, and I think it will certainly see time on this Sinn.
The last strap I want to talk about is another jewel from B and R. This one is the Horween classic chicago tan vintage watch strap. The name is long on words, but this strap is long on luxury. I stuck with the vintage leather theme after the Colareb above and wanted to see how far up the luxury ladder I could take the Sinn 556. The smooth leather is wonderful, and the way it distresses is something you must see to believe. I have reviewed this strap already (https://strapsense.com/2018/05/24/b-and-r-bands-brown-horween-classic-vintage-watch-band/) and I encourage you to read about how this straps rugged elegance helps any watch. I think the blue of the dial is not hurt by the dark brown, but unlike the more contrasting lighter browns above, It sort of misses the mark. I do not think it looks bad, but I happen be spoiled by choice, and while this strap has stellar construction and material, it is the wrong tool for this particular job. Luckily for me this strap comes in a light brown/black/grey as well, and I may very well get one of those soon to try when I want to wear the Sinn were water is not an issue.
A few notes about this review. All the pictures were taken in the shade at about 4:40 pm outside under natural light on a mostly sunny day. I really enjoyed how the Sinn could transform form tools watch, to something more like a dressy tool watch. Okay, full disclosure here, their is no denying this will never be an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, but the 556 I B does have a half foot in the door of a dressier piece than its purely aviation themed brothers. I realize this review and the Breitling are very similar, but blue dials are popular and matching them is an extremely difficult challenge. I hope I was able to help anybody out their looking for a strap. Most of the strap on this sight are either reviewed or will be reviewed soon. Thanks for reading!