I have both (Damasko DS30 yellow seconds hand and Sinn 556a) and both of them are staying in my collection. Love the size and dimensions of the Damasko also the scratch resistance of the case is really amazing. The Sinn has a nicer finish and a darker dial which makes the contrast of black and white better than anything else, the display case back is a beautiful plus (we love our mechanical watches don’t we?). Fun fact, the H-link bracelet of the Sinn 556 fits perfectly on the Damasko, the finishes are different but the fit is perfect. I know a lot of DS30 owners are looking for a bracelet alternative...
That’s good to know but I really wouldn’t use a bracelet with such a difference in sheen. If you had to choose one of them, which would it be? With the current price increases, I’m leaning towards the damasko with the bracelet
@@mariog7213 I would probably choose the Sinn with H-link bracelet. However I wouldn’t buy it retail probably. It is relatively easy to find a good one on the secondary market.
This is good to know. I wanted to get a Sinn silicone fitted strap for my DS-30! If the metal braclet of the 556 fits, then the Silicone will too! Thanks!!
Man, you have all three of the watches I am considering right now! Excellent comparison! One small point, the DS30 is surface hardened, where the rest of their line is ice hardened (all the way through the metal). I found this out when I contacted them and asked the difference. Not sure which is tougher, but I'm sure people are debating it somewhere. Great looking watch, and it really works further out from the camera on the wrist. Up close, the marking look a little too heavy. So, I'm really glad you did a more distant wrist shot. Now, I just need to pick one of these three brands! ;)
If I only need one watch, I'd take Sinn as well. It can sort-off take off as a flieger or as a field watch, sort of sports/tool/explorer dial, you can dress it up, and you can dive with it's 200m wr. As a daily watch, it's got a date window compared to Stowa.
Im scouring reviews on UA-cam as I look at pulling the trigger on a Sinn 556i and always heard the value proposition with the Damasko is better. Can you guys give me some feed back on your experiences owning the Sinn? I would appreciate it as bump up in price to $1,500 is making think twice about the purchase.
Amazing trio. Best of high quality, affordable German fliegers. The Damasko is the winner for me. The thinness and the quality of the case takes the win. Thanks for a great video!
I don't know about your country, but in Germany the Sinn costs EUR 890 on leather whereas the Damasko is EUR 980. If you add a bracelet to the equation, Sinn is + EUR 170, Damasko usually + EUR 500. Cheers from Switzerland.
I owned several Damasko's , Sinns and Stowas and of these three prefer the 556 A. I had a Damasko DA 36 Black and a Sinn 556 A on finelink bracelet and rotated those two for over 3 years, two of my favorites in my collection but sold them for a Rolex Explorer I. I plan on reacquiring a Sinn 856 UTC (owned one before) and possibly a Damasko dA 36 on bracelet since I have never owned one on bracelet
Thanks for another excellent, detailed review. Great comparison between 3 great watches. It is unfortunate that Sinn has been pricing itself out of the pack in recent years. I've been to the WatchBuys roadshow for 3 years and have handled their product line and inspected them very closely. Damasko and Stowa offer more watch for the money and I feel in some instances better watches than Sinn.
I like the quality and technology in the Damasko, but hate the crosshairs dial. I think the Sinn's overall style is much better than the Damasko and Stowa. However, I think Sinn and Damasko prices have gotten ridiculous.
My ds30 has picked up a few scratches on the outer AR coating. You have to look for them, but they're there. No big deal. Overall, great watch and runs quite accurate.
Very nice video of watches that offer lots of value for their price, imho. Perhaps I misunderstood your points, but the Sinn is being sold for $1080 on the strap vice the $995 for the Damasko. I'd easily pay the extra $85 for a display caseback and added WR. The hardened steel of the Damasko is a real selling point, too, but it makes it much less dressy, more tooly, and less of a one-watch-for-all-occasions than the polished Sinn.
I paid for both watches, so I'm not saying the Sinn isn't worth it, clearly it is, I bought two of them one 556A and one 556IB both on bracelets, which add even more to the price.
Good to know. In listening to your vid, which I enjoyed, I had the impression that you thought the Damasko was a much better value and I just don't see that. To each his own.
A superb watch by the looks of things. Love Damasko, however, I don’t think this one is as scratch resistant as the earlier ice hardened ones, but it does have submarine steel which is über corrosion resistant and anti magnetic. Reading this in 2021, it appears that they have discontinued it, which is a real shame. Is this hand wound rather than automatic. I even fancy selling a fair few of my value pieces and getting this one watch collection piece. Great review, by the way, I love the light transition stuff, superb.
First DS30 review! Well done! Had they released this with a good bracelet, I would have been very tempted to buy. It is good to see that their are improving their lume, which has traditionally been a weak point of Damasko.
Awesome informative review. I particularly liked the transitional light segment. Definitely got me considering a Damasko as my next watch. Still not sure if I can get past the cross hairs on the dial.
From tech standpoint Damasko is the winner. But I’d still prefer the Sinn dial. Personally I think Damasko would look better without the large crossing lines
Fantastic review - subbed. This is a great watch with perfect proportions. However I’d love to see some variants of this model. My preference would be to use standard brushed stainless steel over this bead blasted hardened steel. I’d also like to see some polish, perhaps a thin ring of polish on the bezel (like what you get with the IWC Mark). Lastly I’d really like an exhibition case back, part of the joy of a mechanical timepiece.
Are you making the case for the Stowa over both the Demasko and the Sinn? 😂😂😂 I would have picked the Sinn going in but the order flipped looking at the three together. Legibility, simplicity, and lume. Thanks for a great video.
think a lot of tool watch fans have been waiting for this...I got the white dialed DA37. Think the Sinn is a bit dressier with the less matt looking finish especially the glossy dialed 556i
From my experience owning bothers sinn and Damasko, Damasko seems to be better regulated from the factory. Does this DS30 have the same crown coupling technology as others in the lineup have? Also, Damasko seems to significantly underrate their WR specs. With viton seals and submarine steel, I bet this DS30 could actually be more like 300 meter... not that it matters. I'm not going below 100 meters any time soon.
Appreciate the review and like the strap on damasko. the 856 has sellita sw300 movement which is supposed to be highest grade of 2824’s.just bought the 856 with leather strap and enjoy it. the sinn bracelet is not supposed the great and it is only offered in steel.
Both of Damasko and Sinn are tough and suitable for outdoors activity, but not for dressy, I still love the style of Omega rail master or Rolex explore, they can wear at any occasion, and the good news is you can get them as the price of Damasko or Sinn in second hand market.
Looked Omega Railmaster up in Chrono 24: it started with nearly 2 k€ and the price went up to 3,5 k€. Did not like the look and it s a complete different type of watch in my eyes.
As Patrick Ickxs says below, the 'S' on Sinn crowns comes from the historical Sinn logo from the 1960s. I almost love a number of Damasko designs, but they all seem to have one or two poison-pill details that have prevented me from owning one. While I don't care for all Sinn designs, I generally like Sinn pilot watch designs better than the competing Damasko ones. I think the DS30's main flaws are that the minute markers are too long and too fat, and the minute hand is much too long. Because the minute markers are so long and fat, you almost loose the effect of white lines on a black background. Notice how the Sinn and Stowa have short little minute tic marks that clear the end of their minute hands. Instead of a ring of short tick marks that are cleared by the hands, the Damasko's long minute marks almost have the effect of a chapter ring. You read the time by noting the position of the tip of the minute hand, but you identify which minute it is by looking at the inside tips of the minute markers. The tip of the hand is all the way at the edge of the dial, and the ends of the long minute markers are inwards of the tip and may be hidden by the hand itself. You need to look in two different places to see the exact minute. Again: your eye needs to hunt for the hand's white tip at the outside edge of the dial as it overlaps the ends of the white minute marks, and you then then try to figure out which minute marker it indicates by looking for the inside tip of the minute marker. The whole point of a pilot's watch is to be able to read the time very accurately. Damasko is going for a clear and high-precision look, but in the execution they compromise legibility and make the watch less clear and precise and betray its function. In addition to the legibility problem, I find the DS30's hands proportionately seem too big for the dial. I do really like the crosshairs on the Damasko dial. For pure function, I like what Sinn did on the 556 and similar designs much better (and the Stowa is classically legible). The minute and seconds hands stop just short of the minute track, the individual markers are thinner and easier to 'read,' and you can immediately see, to a fraction of a minute, exactly where the point is in relation to which markers. The minute markers and points of the hands are always silhouetted against the black of the dial, and you can read or set the time quickly and precisely. I understand the look Damasko was going for when they made the hour and minute hands white all the way to the hub, and made the seconds hand's counterweight (the part that extends past the hub) black. However, it annoys me when the black silhouette of the counterweight passes over the white hour and minute hands. I think it would have been less distracting to make the seconds hand all white. Again, I understand the look they were going for, but that moving silhouette is really distracting. The Stowa and Sinn do that, too. On the Sinn 556, I like the way the hands are all three white towards the tip and black towards the hub. This makes the center of the dial clean and uncluttered and guides your attention to the points of all three hands, but the counterweight still passes over the white parts of the hands. I know this is an OCD detail, but it bothers me. That is the main reason I own an 856 instead of a 556 or 656. BTW, the dial designs of the 556, 656 and 856 are nearly-identical to Sinn's vintage aircraft-instrument-panel chronometers. I really like the Damasko's lume; the design of the dial with only lume visible is great!
Excellent review Sir have subscribed.... Thing with damasko brand though I've been waiting since Oct 2020 for my purchase via concessionaire to be delivered!!! Yet they continue at damasko to advertise and solicit custom based upon 2-3 weeks delivery... Am thinking shouldve bought a tegimented sinn
I like the hands on the Damasko better than the Sinn 556. The second hand on the 556 looks a little too short. Would love to see the Damasko on a nice 5 link "fine-line" bracelet.
In the reviews I have read of the 556, it uses the Top Grade 2824-2. The Stowa definitely has the Top Grade 2824-2 but it has crap water resistance. If you want a comparable Stowa you need to look at the 43mm Stowa Fleiger Klassik Sport which as 200m water resistance. At $1000 I would not buy the Damasko unless it had the Top Grade movement. I have submitted a question on their website and will get back to you when I know.
The Damasko may have a lower grade 2824 than the Sinn, but they regulate their movements better and they generally give superior performance. My own 556 runs +3s/day crown up, +1s/day worn and a dodgy +16s/day dial up!
Nice review. Are you able to tell me the lug to lug length of the DS30 and does it wear noticeably larger than the 556? Also, Damasko will be offering versions with different coloured second hands.
I am a couple years late on this question, but if you see this comment can you tell me where you got the strap for the Damasko? If you said in the video I missed it sorry.
The Damasko does not offer the Sinn 856 specs. The Sinn has the copper sulfate capsule dehumidifying technology. Damasko does not have anything that resembles that. The Sinn 856 comes with the SW 300-1 movement (equivalent to ETA 2892) and the Sinn 856 UTC comes with the ETA 2893-2 (which is a GMT version of the 2892). Both movements are superior to the ETA 2824 that the Damasko has. I don't know what is the grade of the movement in the Damasko, but the 2824 in the Sinn 556 is a Top grade movement.
Kacper Wierzchos I was speaking generally to the cases being hardened vs. not. I know about the other specs, but the closest thing to a hardened 556 would be an 856, hence the comparison, thanks
You make a good point. The basic 2824 is used in watches costing much less. To me the best comparison is the archemede outdoor protect not the sinn. The outdoor is surface hardened with a salita. The looks are totally different though. I'm sure that's why this one and the sinn will be direct competitors. That said, I really enjoyed this review and am considering the damasko. Thanks
Sinn owners are so fragile! Anyone can see that this Damasko provides better value than the Sinn. Do you know why hardly any watches use that copper sulfate capsule? Because it isn't necessary for function. It also only drives up the price to get it serviced. And I can say from experience that a higher grade movement does not translate into keeping better time. Sinn used to be at a good value but they've priced themselves out of that honor in recent years.
I agree that Damasko provides better value for the money. In fact I prefer Damasko ice hardened steel to the Sinn tegimented steel. I was just stating a fact in my comment. Your experience must be different from mine and from the ETA specs. A higher grade movement will normally keep better time.
I want to like Damasko because I admire what they are doing build wise but I find their styles too... inelegant. Something about the hash marks on this one hurt my eyes. And look at the end link on the bracelet they offer, what happened there? The Sinn has a nicer balance between tool and style, IMO.I always kind of like when a tool watch gets scratched up anyway, I bet a scruffy looking 556 on bracelet would look awesome!
The Sinn is a much nicer total package. Damasko name sounds and looks a bit strange - Ukrainian sounding. Sounds more like a brand of tractor than watch. Damasko face is busy and tries too hard. “D” logo is tacky - literally the same font as the “D” from the name. Looks like first-year design student whipped it out.
![Average Bros [Mark Alamares]](http://yt3.ggpht.com/AMTyfBoS_HGUS5NeMIdml3FQHYPLCvE10yYPfvjGSZRfNEkgmgSJlVqPFEQ4yky_fTnRrnqQ=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
I have both (Damasko DS30 yellow seconds hand and Sinn 556a) and both of them are staying in my collection. Love the size and dimensions of the Damasko also the scratch resistance of the case is really amazing. The Sinn has a nicer finish and a darker dial which makes the contrast of black and white better than anything else, the display case back is a beautiful plus (we love our mechanical watches don’t we?).
Fun fact, the H-link bracelet of the Sinn 556 fits perfectly on the Damasko, the finishes are different but the fit is perfect. I know a lot of DS30 owners are looking for a bracelet alternative...
That’s good to know but I really wouldn’t use a bracelet with such a difference in sheen.
If you had to choose one of them, which would it be? With the current price increases, I’m leaning towards the damasko with the bracelet
@@mariog7213 I would probably choose the Sinn with H-link bracelet. However I wouldn’t buy it retail probably. It is relatively easy to find a good one on the secondary market.
Why Yellow..
This is good to know. I wanted to get a Sinn silicone fitted strap for my DS-30! If the metal braclet of the 556 fits, then the Silicone will too! Thanks!!
In Germany, the damasko is actually more expensive than the sinn 556!
Sinn costs around 890€ on a leather strap and the damasko costs 990€!
One of the best watch reviews I've ever seen. You really put a lot of thought and effort into to this.
From Damasko: "The DS30 has an ETA 2824 movement with Elaboré."
The S on the Sinn's crown is from the old Sinn script back in the days. So, it isn't some random S, it's heritage!
We got it Bro
Man, you have all three of the watches I am considering right now! Excellent comparison! One small point, the DS30 is surface hardened, where the rest of their line is ice hardened (all the way through the metal). I found this out when I contacted them and asked the difference. Not sure which is tougher, but I'm sure people are debating it somewhere. Great looking watch, and it really works further out from the camera on the wrist. Up close, the marking look a little too heavy. So, I'm really glad you did a more distant wrist shot. Now, I just need to pick one of these three brands! ;)
For anyone wondering, the lug to lug length of the DS30 is 47.7mm. Which is quite noticeably larger than the 45.7mm of the Sinn 556.
Dennis Kwok True but the thinness of the DS30 makes up for it, at least it does for me. Also the lugs on the Damasko looks better than Sinn’s 556.
Watch and wound say it’s 46 mm on the ds30
Thanks, decided on the Sinn and this video helped me decide.
If I only need one watch, I'd take Sinn as well. It can sort-off take off as a flieger or as a field watch, sort of sports/tool/explorer dial, you can dress it up, and you can dive with it's 200m wr. As a daily watch, it's got a date window compared to Stowa.
Went with the Sinn too, great watch but not mad in the clasp
I went for the Sinn. Great watch.
Im scouring reviews on UA-cam as I look at pulling the trigger on a Sinn 556i and always heard the value proposition with the Damasko is better. Can you guys give me some feed back on your experiences owning the Sinn? I would appreciate it as bump up in price to $1,500 is making think twice about the purchase.
Sinn dial design is so much nicer. Damasko is getting better on appeal but need more refinement.
Amazing trio. Best of high quality, affordable German fliegers. The Damasko is the winner for me. The thinness and the quality of the case takes the win. Thanks for a great video!
Thanks Boss!
I don't know about your country, but in Germany the Sinn costs EUR 890 on leather whereas the Damasko is EUR 980. If you add a bracelet to the equation, Sinn is + EUR 170, Damasko usually + EUR 500. Cheers from Switzerland.
Tbf the bracelet on the Damasko is super high tech in comparison. Hex bolt screws, all ice hardened steel same as the case
Can’t wait for the submarine steel bracelet for the DS30
It's kind of a deal breaker to me that they don't sell them on bracelets. I know that there are bracelets available but they're $700 which is a joke.
Not a joke at all considering what are those made of
The low light shots in your video are excellent. I have a Damasko da37 that has pretty much become the only watch I wear.
Thanks Jon!
For me it's the Sinn. Although I still prefer the original Sinn 656 to the 556.
The DS30 is also 200m water resistant. The initial released batch was 100m but changed on the second batch.
NIce comparison. I love my DA36 on an in house bracelet. Its my everyday watch, and the outer AR is still mint.
I owned several Damasko's , Sinns and Stowas and of these three prefer the 556 A. I had a Damasko DA 36 Black and a Sinn 556 A on finelink bracelet and rotated those two for over 3 years, two of my favorites in my collection but sold them for a Rolex Explorer I. I plan on reacquiring a Sinn 856 UTC (owned one before) and possibly a Damasko dA 36 on bracelet since I have never owned one on bracelet
I'm looking at getting one of the 3, what makes the 556 better in your opinion?
Thanks for another excellent, detailed review. Great comparison between 3 great watches. It is unfortunate that Sinn has been pricing itself out of the pack in recent years. I've been to the WatchBuys roadshow for 3 years and have handled their product line and inspected them very closely. Damasko and Stowa offer more watch for the money and I feel in some instances better watches than Sinn.
I wholeheartedly agree that Sinn's year on year price increases somewhat take the piss. A 556 now costs double what it did 5 years ago.
The 2824 in the DS30 is elabore grade. I picked up a new DS30 a few weeks ago. No complaints, it's a cool watch.
A damasko without the metal bracelet is like half the collection. I'm a NATO watch person myself but having the whole package is a must for me.
I like the quality and technology in the Damasko, but hate the crosshairs dial. I think the Sinn's overall style is much better than the Damasko and Stowa. However, I think Sinn and Damasko prices have gotten ridiculous.
Great review, thanks. I own a 556i and have been lusting after a DS30; so this is a very pertinent review as far as I'm concerned, thanks!
My ds30 has picked up a few scratches on the outer AR coating. You have to look for them, but they're there. No big deal. Overall, great watch and runs quite accurate.
Very nice video of watches that offer lots of value for their price, imho. Perhaps I misunderstood your points, but the Sinn is being sold for $1080 on the strap vice the $995 for the Damasko. I'd easily pay the extra $85 for a display caseback and added WR. The hardened steel of the Damasko is a real selling point, too, but it makes it much less dressy, more tooly, and less of a one-watch-for-all-occasions than the polished Sinn.
I paid for both watches, so I'm not saying the Sinn isn't worth it, clearly it is, I bought two of them one 556A and one 556IB both on bracelets, which add even more to the price.
Good to know. In listening to your vid, which I enjoyed, I had the impression that you thought the Damasko was a much better value and I just don't see that. To each his own.
A superb watch by the looks of things. Love Damasko, however, I don’t think this one is as scratch resistant as the earlier ice hardened ones, but it does have submarine steel which is über corrosion resistant and anti magnetic. Reading this in 2021, it appears that they have discontinued it, which is a real shame. Is this hand wound rather than automatic. I even fancy selling a fair few of my value pieces and getting this one watch collection piece. Great review, by the way, I love the light transition stuff, superb.
just bought one a yellow hand date. This is my 6th Damasko watch DA 20 DA 35 DA 46 DK10 DC 56 DS 30
Mike Soroka congrats. Want a medal?
Jealous?
Agree the strap you chose goes well with the watch...
Looks much better with that watch than the original leather one.
First DS30 review! Well done!
Had they released this with a good bracelet, I would have been very tempted to buy.
It is good to see that their are improving their lume, which has traditionally been a weak point of Damasko.
I know I’m late but they do have a bracelet now. Check longislandwatch. They are around 599.00 but, are bead blasted sub steel and match perfectly
Never really paid much attention to the brand buy that Stowa looks great, love the case profile.
Great buy! Excellent review.
Awesome informative review. I particularly liked the transitional light segment. Definitely got me considering a Damasko as my next watch. Still not sure if I can get past the cross hairs on the dial.
Two years ago Ds 30 had 100m wr, now it has 200m.
From tech standpoint Damasko is the winner. But I’d still prefer the Sinn dial. Personally I think Damasko would look better without the large crossing lines
frisco works i have the DS30 and trust me, the crosshair dial looks much better in person than it does on pictures or videos.
What I really appreciate is adding the Stowa Classic 40 for comparison. I'm currently considering all three. Thanks.
Fantastic review - subbed. This is a great watch with perfect proportions. However I’d love to see some variants of this model. My preference would be to use standard brushed stainless steel over this bead blasted hardened steel. I’d also like to see some polish, perhaps a thin ring of polish on the bezel (like what you get with the IWC Mark). Lastly I’d really like an exhibition case back, part of the joy of a mechanical timepiece.
Loved the review I’m going for the Damasko. But those gloves don’t fit
Got the Damasko DA 47 and a Sinn UX, Love them both.
I prefer the Sinn 856 UTC. That watch has got more values than all if the presented watches in this video. ☺️ Sure, double price but it worth it. 😉
Great review-thanks
That Damasko looks incredible!
Are you making the case for the Stowa over both the Demasko and the Sinn? 😂😂😂 I would have picked the Sinn going in but the order flipped looking at the three together. Legibility, simplicity, and lume. Thanks for a great video.
Better comparison with the Damasko would be the Sinn 856... :)
856 is a lot more expensive, putting in another price bracket
think a lot of tool watch fans have been waiting for this...I got the white dialed DA37. Think the Sinn is a bit dressier with the less matt looking finish especially the glossy dialed 556i
From my experience owning bothers sinn and Damasko, Damasko seems to be better regulated from the factory. Does this DS30 have the same crown coupling technology as others in the lineup have? Also, Damasko seems to significantly underrate their WR specs. With viton seals and submarine steel, I bet this DS30 could actually be more like 300 meter... not that it matters. I'm not going below 100 meters any time soon.
The S on the Sinn is NOT generic… 🤯
Like your strap choice, bold minute hand. Like the sinn also but that tiny afterthought date on it, no.
AL McL What makes you think it's an afterthought? It's blends so well and dosent cut into the indices at all
Appreciate the review and like the strap on damasko. the 856 has sellita sw300 movement which is supposed to be highest grade of 2824’s.just bought the 856 with leather strap and enjoy it. the sinn bracelet is not supposed the great and it is only offered in steel.
great review by the way
I'm not sure if this damasko is hardened. I think it's just submarine steel.
But I can't be sure.
I think you’re right
Both of Damasko and Sinn are tough and suitable for outdoors activity, but not for dressy, I still love the style of Omega rail master or Rolex explore, they can wear at any occasion, and the good news is you can get them as the price of Damasko or Sinn in second hand market.
Looked Omega Railmaster up in Chrono 24: it started with nearly 2 k€ and the price went up to 3,5 k€. Did not like the look and it s a complete different type of watch in my eyes.
A Rolex Explorer would be easily 6 times the price of either of these if you’re lucky!
No you can't.
As Patrick Ickxs says below, the 'S' on Sinn crowns comes from the historical Sinn logo from the 1960s.
I almost love a number of Damasko designs, but they all seem to have one or two poison-pill details that have prevented me from owning one. While I don't care for all Sinn designs, I generally like Sinn pilot watch designs better than the competing Damasko ones.
I think the DS30's main flaws are that the minute markers are too long and too fat, and the minute hand is much too long.
Because the minute markers are so long and fat, you almost loose the effect of white lines on a black background. Notice how the Sinn and Stowa have short little minute tic marks that clear the end of their minute hands.
Instead of a ring of short tick marks that are cleared by the hands, the Damasko's long minute marks almost have the effect of a chapter ring. You read the time by noting the position of the tip of the minute hand, but you identify which minute it is by looking at the inside tips of the minute markers. The tip of the hand is all the way at the edge of the dial, and the ends of the long minute markers are inwards of the tip and may be hidden by the hand itself. You need to look in two different places to see the exact minute.
Again: your eye needs to hunt for the hand's white tip at the outside edge of the dial as it overlaps the ends of the white minute marks, and you then then try to figure out which minute marker it indicates by looking for the inside tip of the minute marker.
The whole point of a pilot's watch is to be able to read the time very accurately. Damasko is going for a clear and high-precision look, but in the execution they compromise legibility and make the watch less clear and precise and betray its function.
In addition to the legibility problem, I find the DS30's hands proportionately seem too big for the dial.
I do really like the crosshairs on the Damasko dial.
For pure function, I like what Sinn did on the 556 and similar designs much better (and the Stowa is classically legible). The minute and seconds hands stop just short of the minute track, the individual markers are thinner and easier to 'read,' and you can immediately see, to a fraction of a minute, exactly where the point is in relation to which markers. The minute markers and points of the hands are always silhouetted against the black of the dial, and you can read or set the time quickly and precisely.
I understand the look Damasko was going for when they made the hour and minute hands white all the way to the hub, and made the seconds hand's counterweight (the part that extends past the hub) black. However, it annoys me when the black silhouette of the counterweight passes over the white hour and minute hands. I think it would have been less distracting to make the seconds hand all white. Again, I understand the look they were going for, but that moving silhouette is really distracting. The Stowa and Sinn do that, too.
On the Sinn 556, I like the way the hands are all three white towards the tip and black towards the hub. This makes the center of the dial clean and uncluttered and guides your attention to the points of all three hands, but the counterweight still passes over the white parts of the hands. I know this is an OCD detail, but it bothers me. That is the main reason I own an 856 instead of a 556 or 656.
BTW, the dial designs of the 556, 656 and 856 are nearly-identical to Sinn's vintage aircraft-instrument-panel chronometers.
I really like the Damasko's lume; the design of the dial with only lume visible is great!
pixelpanache beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Stowa. It's not even a competition. Having no date, no logo alone is enough to win.
To answer the title.... it should be. At least for anyone that actually appreciates value for their money.
Dial looks almost identical to Stowa TO2
How's the DS30 AR coating holding up?
Glass vs steel Bottom ? No doubt, steel. Case? Damasko . LUG to LUG distance? Sinn.
The glass case back is to me a minus, the damasko steel Is far better.
Excellent review Sir have subscribed.... Thing with damasko brand though I've been waiting since Oct 2020 for my purchase via concessionaire to be delivered!!! Yet they continue at damasko to advertise and solicit custom based upon 2-3 weeks delivery... Am thinking shouldve bought a tegimented sinn
I like the hands on the Damasko better than the Sinn 556. The second hand on the 556 looks a little too short. Would love to see the Damasko on a nice 5 link "fine-line" bracelet.
I think Damasko made the case on your Sinn.
Cool watches and great review as always. To bad the watches are not 41mm-43 mm.
In the reviews I have read of the 556, it uses the Top Grade 2824-2. The Stowa definitely has the Top Grade 2824-2 but it has crap water resistance. If you want a comparable Stowa you need to look at the 43mm Stowa Fleiger Klassik Sport which as 200m water resistance. At $1000 I would not buy the Damasko unless it had the Top Grade movement. I have submitted a question on their website and will get back to you when I know.
I'd like to know what they answer you. Keep us updated!
Elabore Grade.
The Damasko may have a lower grade 2824 than the Sinn, but they regulate their movements better and they generally give superior performance. My own 556 runs +3s/day crown up, +1s/day worn and a dodgy +16s/day dial up!
Incredible nice Video!!!!👍✌✌✌
Great review thanks. Can you tell us what strap you have on the Damasko? Thanks.
Raymond Y Damasko textured rubber strap
Nice review. Are you able to tell me the lug to lug length of the DS30 and does it wear noticeably larger than the 556? Also, Damasko will be offering versions with different coloured second hands.
I am a couple years late on this question, but if you see this comment can you tell me where you got the strap for the Damasko? If you said in the video I missed it sorry.
You didn't talk about any of the internal tech upgrades of the Damasko.
Have you had any indication if the lume lasts through the night?
What strap do you have that Sinn on? Great strap. Thanks.
Hadley Roma Cordura
Nice video. What is the strap on the Stowa?
May I know is that Sinn “NATO” textile band on the Sinn 556? Thank you!
Which one out of the three have the best movement?to me the best in the dark is the stowa luuurvly all the best
Chris williams well, the Stowa and Sinn both have Top Grade movements, while the Damasko only has Elaborated.
What is the lug to lug on the Damasko?
I'm looking at my Damasko DS30 right now and it is 200m WR. The one I had before also was 200m . Not sure why the one you have is 100m.
mine was from the first batch before they made the change to 200m
The Damasko does not offer the Sinn 856 specs. The Sinn has the copper sulfate capsule dehumidifying technology. Damasko does not have anything that resembles that. The Sinn 856 comes with the SW 300-1 movement (equivalent to ETA 2892) and the Sinn 856 UTC comes with the ETA 2893-2 (which is a GMT version of the 2892). Both movements are superior to the ETA 2824 that the Damasko has. I don't know what is the grade of the movement in the Damasko, but the 2824 in the Sinn 556 is a Top grade movement.
Kacper Wierzchos I was speaking generally to the cases being hardened vs. not. I know about the other specs, but the closest thing to a hardened 556 would be an 856, hence the comparison, thanks
You make a good point. The basic 2824 is used in watches costing much less. To me the best comparison is the archemede outdoor protect not the sinn. The outdoor is surface hardened with a salita. The looks are totally different though. I'm sure that's why this one and the sinn will be direct competitors. That said, I really enjoyed this review and am considering the damasko. Thanks
Kacper is wright. You should edit the video. What you say is is misleading. Damasko is far from 856 specs.
Sinn owners are so fragile! Anyone can see that this Damasko provides better value than the Sinn. Do you know why hardly any watches use that copper sulfate capsule? Because it isn't necessary for function. It also only drives up the price to get it serviced. And I can say from experience that a higher grade movement does not translate into keeping better time. Sinn used to be at a good value but they've priced themselves out of that honor in recent years.
I agree that Damasko provides better value for the money. In fact I prefer Damasko ice hardened steel to the Sinn tegimented steel. I was just stating a fact in my comment.
Your experience must be different from mine and from the ETA specs. A higher grade movement will normally keep better time.
I want to like Damasko because I admire what they are doing build wise but I find their styles too... inelegant. Something about the hash marks on this one hurt my eyes. And look at the end link on the bracelet they offer, what happened there? The Sinn has a nicer balance between tool and style, IMO.I always kind of like when a tool watch gets scratched up anyway, I bet a scruffy looking 556 on bracelet would look awesome!
could you let me know the lug to lug of Damasko - DS30 and Sinn 556?
The 556 is 45.7mm lug to lug. I also want to know the lug to lug of the DS30, but it looks to be slightly longer.
Does the outer AR coating give off that bluish hue sometimes seen on watches with outer coating?
No, it's very clear and also durable
There is different colors of ar.
Damasko do think that will be my first and probably last watch
The AR coating on top is a huge no no for me.
A tegimented 856 would have more appropriate to compare IMHO.
Yeah, that's the whole point, is that due to the pricing deficit the Damasko is even more value rich.
@@AverageBros 👍
WR of the DS30 should be 20 bar instead of the 10 bar that are mentioned in the video...
Looks like the first batches of the DS30 offered a water resistance of „only“ 100m (10 bar) - current models are at 20 bar...
Where can I get that DS30 strap?
From Damasko or a Damasko dealer
Look like the both come from same manufacture.
STOWA TO2. ETA 2824 -2 top.
I've got number 001 with red second hand. As new if anyone is interested.
If the Stowa had a date like the Sinn, it would be the winner with ease.....
DK 32
The Sinn is a much nicer total package. Damasko name sounds and looks a bit strange - Ukrainian sounding. Sounds more like a brand of tractor than watch. Damasko face is busy and tries too hard. “D” logo is tacky - literally the same font as the “D” from the name. Looks like first-year design student whipped it out.
IMHO the Damasko face is too busy for this genre of watches. The Sinn and Stowa stick to a cleaner design for mil spec and too watch type design.
Damaskos are nice but they got nothing on a Sinn.