We took the Sinn U2 S dive watch deep into the craggy darkness of a water cave. Does it come out alive" Find out in this comprehensive watch test feature, with original photos by Nik Schölzel.
Caves are dangerous places. Spelunking technology has advanced, but the risks associated with cave exploration remain. Before our team of explorers can navigate Falkenstein cave, the longest cave in Germany?s Swabian Alps, each of us must put on protective gear: a helmet with a watertight headlamp, rip-resistant coveralls, thick gloves and sturdy boots. The cavern we plan to explore is a water cave through which the Elsach River flows, so we need to dress to prevent hypothermia as well; a diving suit and neoprene footwear are necessities. Diving through ?siphons,? parts of the cave that are completely filled with water, will be on today?s agenda, too, so each of us will need diving equipment: a mask, a breathing regulator and a heavy tank of air. Needless to say, we also want to put our test watch, the Sinn U2 S, through these ordeals. The cave’s entrance narrows quickly.
We chose the Sinn U2 S watch for this excursion mainly for its robust and scratch-resistant case; a caver?s watch often rubs against rough stone, and not only when he must crawl through low and narrow passageways. To create this rugged case, Sinn uses submarine steel, the same steel alloy that?s used on the outer hull of submarines. Then the steel is ?Tegimented,? i.e., hardened using Sinn?s special engin...