We don’t often see new releases within Sinn’s Einsatzzeitmesser, aka Mission Timer, aka EZM series of watches, especially when it comes to the earlier models, but that’s exactly what we’re getting this week with a new EZM 3 S. The EZM 3 first appeared in 2001, representing the brand’s uncompromising take on the dive watch set forth in a vision that began with the legendary (and now retired) EZM 1 in 1997. With the EZM 3 S, the watch welcomes a blasted black hard coating on their TEGIMENT technology, extending to even the bracelet for a full blackout look.
Sinn’s Mission Timers enjoy a heady reputation amongst enthusiasts for their no holds barred take on sometimes very specific niches of instrumentation. EZM watches take a stripped down approach, and rethink even the smallest details in service to the greater goals of the design. This has resulted in some cult classics, such as the EZM 1, the oil-filled EZM 2, and the colorful EZM 4 and 7. The EZM 3 fits into the picture as a somewhat traditional take on the dive watch, beginning with the design of the EZM 2 HYDRO (which itself was based on the Model 403 HYDRO), and backing off on the oil-filled aspect to make use of a mechanical movement. It’s better to think of it as a non-chronograph variant of the EZM 1.
The EZM 3 uses the same destro orientation with the crown along the nine o’clock side of the case, thus preventing intrusion against the bend of the wrist. If you already wear on your right wrist for exactly this reason, well, you’re outta luck here. A fully indexed bezel is employed here, while the dial keeps things relatively straightforward with a throwback set of pencil hands and coated hour markers. A date window is nestled in at 3:30 on the dial, using a black disc with red printing. This is an intentional move as it doesn’t create contrast with its surroundings, allowing the timing elements to take priority at a glance.
As with all EZM watches, the beauty is in the small details. The coating of the case, the 500 meter depth rating, and Ar-Dehumidifying technology, the functionally reliable from -45 °C to +80 °C, and the magnetic field protection to 80,000 A/m. None of these are readily apparent, but they are exactly what make these watches so capable for tip of the spear level of operations. While they put the watch firmly into ‘overkill’ territory for the average enthusiast, these watches were originally designed explicitly for groups of people that rely on this set of features.
The new EZM 3 S certainly looks the part, with the all black aesthetic fitting into the overall aesthetic rather neatly, as a surprise to exactly no one. In fact, we’ve seen this general design in all black before with the likes of the modern EZM 1.1 S, which celebrated 25 years of the EZM 1. Here, it’s put to use on the 41mm steel case of the EZM 3, which measures a hair over 12mm in thickness, with a Sellita SW200-1 inside.
The Sinn EZM 3 s on bracelet is priced from $3,650, while on a strap the watch can be had from $2,820. Sinn