1961 Helmut Sinn, an instructor for blind flight and former World War II pilot, founds the company "Helmut Sinn Spezialuhren" in Frankfurt am Main. The company's core business is the manufacture of navigation clocks and pilot chronographs.
1985 German physicist and astronaut Professor Dr. Reinhard Furrer wears the 140 S on his wrist during the D-1 spacelab mission and proves herewith that the self-winding mechanism of a mechanical wristwatch works even in weightless conditions. The company headquarters moves from "Rödelheimer Parkweg 6" to their current location with the address "Im Füldchen 5–7".
1992 During the Mir-92 mission, astronaut Klaus-Dietrich Flade wears a 142 S. 1993 The 142 chronograph goes into outer space on board the D-2 space mission.
1994 Certified engineer Lothar Schmidt acquires the company on September 1 and initiates a major strategic reorganisation to lead the company into the future and enhance its technological expertise. The company is renamed "Sinn Spezialuhren GmbH". The company's first new model is the 244 made of pure titanium with Magnetic Field Protection and a freely oscillating suspended movement. With its Magnetic Field Protection feature, Sinn Spezialuhren far exceeds the DIN standard for anti-magnetic watches and minimizes magnetic disruption.
1995 Lothar Schmidt presents the first gold watch made by SINN. A special alloy with an unusually high proportion of 22-carat gold (917/1000) matches the material hardness of stainless steel (220HV). Ar-Dehumidifying Technology is introduced for the first time, in the 203 Ti Ar model. The new technology prevents the crystal from fogging up even when faced with sudden temperature changes and effectively retards the aging process of the components in the watch, thereby extending the functional life of the watch.
1996 HYDRO Technology is introduced for the first time, in the 403 HYDRO model. This technology guarantees absolute freedom from fogging, pressure resistance at every accessible diving depth and optimal readability under water at any angle. S & S Uhrenmanufaktur is founded in Schweina. The company assembles and inspects watches exclusively for Sinn Spezialuhren.
1997 Sinn Spezialuhren introduces the EZM 1 and EZM 2 mission timers.
1998 Lothar Schmidt perfects Ar-Dehumidifying Technology in combination with SINN special
oil 66-228 to create a Temperature Resistance Technology, with which watches remain functional between temperatures of –45 ˚C up to +80 ˚C. Equipped with the newly development technology, the 303 KRISTALL model is tested at the Yukon Quest, the world's most demanding dogsled race, and passes the test with flying colours. The 103 Ti Ar model is honoured for the first time with the "Goldene Unruh" award.
1999 The 203 ARKTIS passes an endurance test in the Arctic Sea on the wrist of extreme diver Mario M. Weidner. SUG (Sächsische Uhrentechnologie GmbH Glashütte) is founded in Glashütte. The company manufactures technologically sophisticated watch cases for Sinn Spezialuhren. Lothar Schmidt presents the Frankfurt Financial District Watch at a ceremony in the Archaeological Museum of Frankfurt am Main.
2001 Sinn Spezialuhren celebrates its 40th anniversary and presents its catalogue in book form for the first time. DIAPAL Technology is used for the first time in the Frankfurt Financial District Watch (6000 Jubilee) an 18-carat model made of an alloy of white gold and palladium. The new technology features a special combination of materials that requires no lubrication, thereby ensuring long-term precision of the movement. 2002 TEGIMENT Technology is used for the first time in the 756 model. The stainless steel watch case hardened using the pioneering technology effectively protects against scratching.
2004 Participants in the "most demanding adventure in the world," the "Fulda Challenge", wear the newly developed 958 model, a limited-edition chronograph with a stay-set indicator. Hans-Joachim Stuck wins the 24-hour-race at the Nürburgring race track wearing a 958 on his wrist.
2005 For the first time, engineer Lothar Schmidt uses German Submarine Steel as the case material for a diving watch. The watches are certified as pressure resistant by Germanischer Lloyd of Hamburg.
2006 In polling for the "Goldene Unruh" award, the white gold Frankfurt Financial District Watch takes first place, and the 956 Classic takes second place. The 756 and the 900 withstand a crash test executed by DEKRA on the Lausitz Eurospeedway test track. Sinn Spezialuhren is the first company in the watch industry to have its diving watches certified by Germanischer Lloyd of Hamburg for compliance with European standards for diving equipment. This proof of quality has been obtained for the U1, U2, UX, U200, U1000 and EZM3 models. For the 6100 REGULATEUR series, Lothar Schmidt develops the SZ04 based on the pocket watch calibre ETA 6498. The new model is a reconstruction of a movement with regulateur display.
2007 Sinn Spezialuhren takes second place in the pilot's watch category in polling for the "Best Brand" conducted by the trade magazine "aerokurier".
2008 The REGULATEUR 6100 Rose Gold takes first place in polling for the "Goldene Unruh" award.
2009 The Frankfurt Financial District Watch celebrates its tenth anniversary. Racing champions Walter Röhrl and Peter Göbel win the Costa Brava Rally for historic racing cars while wearing the 917 GR Rally Chronograph. Polar explorer Arved Fuchs relies on the robustness of the U2 diving watch for his arctic expeditions.
2010 On the full vehicle test rig at the Fraunhofer Institute for Operational Stability and System Reliability (LBF) in Darmstadt, the 757 DIAPAL, 900 PILOT, U1000, 6000 Frankfurt Finance District Watch and the 917 GR withstand extreme impact and vibration during testing on a simulated rough road track. SINN watches take first place for the 900 PILOT, first place for the 6100 Rose Gold and second place for the Frankfurt Financial District Watch in platinum in polling for the "Goldene Unruh" awards, making SINN the most successful brand.