Lothar Schmidt has owned Sinn since 1994. Since then, he’s led the company through unprecedented growth and technological development that has placed the Frankfurt-based brand in the upper echelon of German manufactories. Read on for our conversation with Schmidt where we discuss how he entered the watch industry, the technology he’s helped pioneer, and the difference between Swiss and German watch companies.
Sinn introduced the 203 Sa B E. at Baselworld this year.°
How did you start your career in the watch industry"
Pretty much by chance. Having studied mechanical engineering, I started working at a machine-tools factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. After I had applied to VDO in Frankfurt, my path led me to their newly acquired subsidiary, IWC, in Schaffhausen. This heralded my future career in the watch industry. What led to the decision to acquire a watch brand like Sinn in 1994"
Even in the early days of my career, I knew that I wanted to be my own boss ? and this desire grew stronger during my successful time at IWC. That’s why I was a freelancer for a long time: I was looking for a brand with a focus on technology and functionality and that had a large enough workforce. I found what I was looking for at Sinn.
What was the biggest challenge in the last 24 years"
Leading an entire company was a challenge. I had to deal with development, technology, production, marketing, sales ? and even finance and investments. The big advantage...