I own a "standard" U1 - it's no standard watch If I were buying new, today, I would certainly spring for the fully tegimented case and bracelet. Well worth the extra funds and the unique aspect is a plus too.

 

I'd go for the fully tegimented U1. Like Nolans, if I were buying my U1 new today and fully tegimented was an option, there would be no hesitation on my part to pick that version. It's still a very robust and hard-wearing watch in standard form, but fully tegimented it will be like a tank!

 

You might be right. The rubber bracelet clasp is apparently also fully tegimented.

From the online description at watchbuys.com: "...and when we say "fully Tegimented" we mean what we say - case, crown, bezel, case back, AR coating and even the clasp on the strap."

Not quite sure how they 'tegiment' the AR coating. :-d

 

Either model of the U1 will survive the activities and rough outdoor play you described. I'll have to agree with everyone else on this one though, get the fully teg'd U1! I have the "normal" U1 and it has some battle scars from daily wear but if it were just a normal 316SS case it would look MUCH worse! IMO, the U1 is one of the toughest watches I've owned! The color of the fully teg'd U1 is awesome, darker like Ti.

 

I guess you have the money you need to spend extra..otherwise you wouldn't play with the idea in the first place...I guess with this watch you can't do anything wrong. And why not treat yourself to a special watch for an apparently very special job...Even though I have to admit that I still don't like the lego hands...and would rather go for an U2....but that's not the question here...

 

Have a fun trip!

I'd get the full tegimented U1.

I have the UX that is also made of sub steel, but only the bezel is tegimented. The bezel and case are the exact same color, so I don't believe the urban legend that tegimenting makes metal darker. Has anybody seen a U1, U2, or UX where the case and bezel are different colors? I have yet to see a picture of that.

It bothers me that only my bezel is tegimented. I know how much it costs to case harden stainless steel to 1200 vickers, whether it is kolsterising, airwater pionite, or SAT12. It is a trivial fraction of the total cost of the watch. I have no idea why Sinn does not bother to tegiment the whole thing. Why go half way? It's like a knight in armor without the pants. Or a bulletproof limousine with a rag top. But it's still my favorite watch.

Have fun with those lions!

 

If I'm going to be doing something where the watch is really going to get smacked around, I switch from a mechanical to a G-Shock. All those little gears can never take the beating that a watch specifically designed for taking punishment can. Plus, if my G-Shock buys the farm I'm only out a hundred or so. JMHO. That being said, the U1 case is as tough as any watch Ive ever owned and after six months I have only managed a scratch on the clasp that can only be seen under certain lighting conditions. Like TrickTock says I can't see the difference between the non tegimented case and edelstahl bracelet or the tegimented bezel. If you have the spare change you can go with the totally tegimented watch, for me the standard U1 is just fine.

Joe

 

Thanks for the feedback, guys. All good observations.

Clonetrooper: "…I guess you have the money you need to spend extra…"

Well, money is always a consideration, no question about it, but as they say, "in for a penny, in for a pound." As some have pointed out, if you're going to spend $1500 for the bezel tegimentation, why not spend $1900 for the fully tegimented case. Probably a better value overall.

Plus, I don't have the substantial collections that many here possess. So I don't mind spending a little extra on one of only two watches. Your collection is truly impressive, BTW.

TrickTock: "…I don't believe the urban legend that tegimenting makes metal darker."

I don't buy it either. I have seen a few photos on another thread on this site, and they look to be the exact same color. If there is a difference, it's subtle.

jstawasz: "If I'm going to be doing something where the watch is really going to get smacked around, I switch from a mechanical to a G-Shock."

I don't think it's going to get smacked around, per se, so much as clawed, possibly knawed, jostled…and, of course, exposed to heavy rains, high humidity and the dust of the savannah. But I agree on the G-Shocks: tough and almost "disposable." Although, to be completely honest, they are not impenetrable. I had a parrot that I was handling once slice deeply into a G-Shock case with his beak (though it's hard to stand up to 1200 lbs per square inch of sharp, vice-like pressure!).

But I find the SINN much easier to read than the Casio…and I won't lie, even though I want a "beater," I still want a watch that I like to look at and am proud to wear. (Nothing against the Casios - I've owned a couple in years gone by - but they're not in the same league. Resin isn't going to be as durable as tegimented submarine steel.)

One thing I AM curious about with the SINN - and maybe someone could chime in about this - is the rubber strap that comes with it. I keep reading about folks "cutting" theirs. Does the strap have to be trimmed by the customer? If so, how, and using what tool?

 

It's actually silicone, not rubber. It has to be sized, a very simple process. Swiss army knife works fine for cutting the strap. As far as tegimented vs standard: either one will do, although a tegimented clasp is nice since it takes much of the abuse. The bezel is also tegimented. It's a great watch, you can't go wrong. I would consider the SDR model.

 

This article might be of interest to some >>

Sinn's Tegiment and Damasko's Ice hardening

 

The SDR looks good, but in this case I think I prefer the "original" U1 to any of the subsequent variations or special editions that have come out.

Thanks for the info on the strap. I stand corrected on it being silicone, as opposed to rubber.

 

I have a U1 SDR on a bracelet and have a non-tegimented U1 on a bracelet on order from watchbuys (scheduled to ship today as they are now back in stock). Like you, I debated whether to go teg. or non-teg. and decided to stay with the standard model. The U1 is a tough watch and I'm easy on watches so I decided to get the non-teg. I should have mine on Wednesday. I will post pics when it arrives. Either way I don't think you can go wrong. Cheers, Bill P.

 

I have the non tegimented U2 which I've worn on some twenty odd trips into Africa, the full Ar-Dehumidifying Technology was more important to me, given the temperature and humidity swings from day to night. The second time zone is a plus for me.

The overhang of the bezel is sufficient to protect the watch body, and mine still looks like new some 4 years later.

I had the bracelet but changed to the silicon band as it is more comfortable on hot days, I did have issues with fine sand and dust with the links of the bracelet, so I "retired" it for the time being.

For a tool watch its actually quite hard to make it look "worn-in"

If you get the silicon strap, do yourself a favor and get a spare set of the bands, in case one of the cats gets too involved..

Save the money on full teg and buy a cheapy for the rough and tumble!

DM

 

If you get the silicon strap, do yourself a favor and get a spare set of the bands, in case one of the cats gets too involved..

Save the money on full teg and buy a cheapy for the rough and tumble!

DM

Might get a Maratec Nato band as a spare before traveling.

As to 'cheapys'...if I were going that route, I'd get the Casio, but then there would be no need to even consider buying a SINN.

It might be worth considering, too, that the tegimenting process only affects the uppermost outer layer of the watch's surface...so it might be questionable as to how valuable it is having it on the case. I do think having it on the strap clasp is worthwhile though; will at least reduce marring due to desk diving.

There is a U1 on eBay right now; currently at $850.00.

Hmmmm? I wonder...?

 

There is a difference in the colour but as has been said you have to look for it most of the time. If you are counting votes I say: full Tegimented. Do you need it ? Well that is not really the question is it. The watch is very tough with or without the full treatment. You have to decide if you will wish later that you had gotten the 'other one'. My fully Teg'ed U2 SDR spends most of its days on my wrist and has little if any visible wear.

 

Re: sizing the U1 rubber(silicone). Just follow the directions in the little book that comes with your watch. One piece of advice. Size the strap a tad large, I use the two finger method like with your Dog's collar. If you don't size it too small, it's one of the most comfortable dive straps you'll ever wear. It also has a beautiful machined dive extension. I'm wearing my U1 on the bracelet at the moment, but if I wish to change to the rubber it only takes a minute to change out because of the drilled lugs. OMG I'm sounding like a Sinn commercial LOL!!! By now I guess you've figured that I really like my U1.

Joe

 

Sure, keep an eye on that U1. I don't know if you have
followed watches on eBay. The prices have a tendency
to go up just before the end of the auction. Good luck.

Thanks,
rationaltime

 

The prices have a tendency
to go up just before the end of the auction. Good luck.

Thanks,
rationaltime

Like many things on eBay.

The best strategy is to wait until the final minute to bid, otherwise all you do is risk driving the prices up for yourself prematurely.

 

Here are some more thoughts on darker steel due to tegimenting. Some people observe a subtle difference, so it is clearly a real phenomenon.

When I bought my UX new in 2010, the steel bracelet matched the case and bezel perfectly. It was all exactly the same shade of steel. Then I had to send the watch back to Frankfurt for warranty repair. The bracelet was severely scratched in transit. Probably a clumsy inspection by the customs agent. So I got a new replacement U bracelet, and it is now a different color. It is slightly darker than the case. Up close the surface finish is slightly different. Under magnification I see different size micro-indentations from the media blasting.

The shade of steel depends on the media blasting process, so can vary from batch to batch. You can see the surface finish up close in this photo -- see the crown that is in focus.

Tegimenting (or kolsterising, or an equivalent carburizing process) does not change the color of the steel directly. But I think there may be an indirect effect here that some people are seeing. In the course of tegimenting, the metal is coated in black soot when it comes out of the carburizing furnace. The soot is lightly adhered to the surface and is removed entirely by a cleaning step. The easiest way to get this off is media blasting or light abrasion. The steel is probably getting another round of light bead blasting or mechanical buffing at Body Cote. This step at Body Cote probably does not exactly match the surface finish done by Sinn (SUG). And the tegimented surface is harder, so probably has a different response to any sort of abrasion process.

So it's quite possible to have a subtle change in the surface finish and apparent "darkness" of the steel. My bezel happens to be the exact same shade as the case. Just luck of the draw from batch to batch.

I have handled kolsterised parts at work with a mirror polish that look exactly the same as the non-treated parts. It is easy to match a mirror finish, but notoriously difficult to match a bead blasted surface.

So everyone appears to be right about color variations in tegimented steel or lack of them. It's all subtle stuff...

 

If I had my choice I would go for the full monty

 

I wonder if Sinn can re-tegiment if the original watch does not come with tegemention.

 

Hope you find one you like...As to tricktock's comment about the bracelet material, as far as I know part of the reason there is a difference in colour is that uboat steel is not used in the bracelet.

 

that uboat steel is not used in the bracelet.

That´s right.

 

Whatever the steel is in the bracelet still holds up far better to normal wear than my brushed Breitling ProII. Then again, the clasp on my Sinn Bracelet doesn't always want to seat firmly. I still love the bracelet even though it's a bit loud when the links move. Regardless, it's very comfortable and the diver extension is nice for me as I wear mine pinky tight which means a normal bracelet without an extension takes some wiggling to get over my hand. I own a Sinn rubber for it but will probably never put it back on.

Can't go wrong with either U1s but the tegimented will withstand more and will probably be in better condition years from now if you ever decide to part with it.

 

I believe that on the fully tegimented U1 that the rubber strap clasp is also tegimented.

"...and when we say "fully Tegimented" we mean what we say - case, crown, bezel, case back, AR coating and even the clasp on the strap."

Again, how they tegiment the AR coating remains a mystery to me. ;-)

 

It involves a complex alchemy-like process that is 50% marketing hype and at least 51% plausible deniability.

 

Well, that's it, fully tegimented are gone. Guess I'll go for the "regular version." Sounds like with the submarine steel and the tegimented bezel (which, let's face it, always takes most of the hits) overhanging and protecting the case, is probably just fine.

 

Van, I debated with myself whether to get the fully tegimented model or the reg. model. Both were available when I bought week before last. I bought the reg. model and have no regrets. I think you will be pleased with a U1. Cheers, Bill P.

 

the tegimented bracelet is worth getting, in my opinion--the clasp will not become scratched. The color difference is very subtle as many have pointed out--I only noticed a slightly darker hue in bright sunlight. A very comfortable watch on the bracelet for its size and weight.

 

I have read stories on this very forum that people with the teg bracelets still got scratched as easy as non-teg. I personally am going with the non-teg.