We don’t shy away from watches or brands with mixed views around them, and this is not the first time we feature a watch from a brand that created a divide within the watch community. In fact, we very much enjoy the challenge of digging beyond the surface and analyzing the arguments of both isles. Here’s our review of the Runwell 41 by Shinola, a brand some watch enthusiasts love to hate.
Shinola: The Brand
Shinola was a shoe polish company initially founded in 1877 in Rochester, New York, and they went out of business in 1960. Tom Kartsotis re-founded the Detroit-based Shinola in 2011. Kartsotis, who had previously founded the Fossil Group, aimed to establish an American company that produced high-end watches to compete with Swiss watchmakers on a more affordable scale.
Technically, every Shinola watch is made in the United States. However, a large number of the components used in Shinola watches are produced in Thailand, China, and Europe. As you can imagine, this is the source of controversy surrounding the Shinola brand. Aside from a few specialized businesses like RGM in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, no American watchmaker has made watches on a large scale since the late 1960s. In the end, the slogan “Where American is Made” used by Shinola was dropped when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asked for modifications to certain marketing and labeling techniques.
That said, let’s dive into the specifics, and decide for ourselves whether or not a Shinola watch gets our approval.
Shinola Runwell 41: Overview
Specs:
- Ref # 10000026-sdt-000009876
- Movement: Quartz
- Caliber: Argonite 1069
- Case Width: 41 mm
- Lug Distance: 20 mm
- Price: Around $700
Shinola released a limited-edition watch with the name “the Runwell” in March of 2013, a timepiece that perfectly encapsulated Shinola’s dedication to traditional design, high-quality craftsmanship, and American production. Since then, Runwell watches became very popular and they are Shinola’s flagship collection.
The 41 mm Runwell brings us a classic looking watch with a modern twist: the signature Arabic numerals and a subdial for the seconds. The stainless steel case, green dial and brown leather strap combination adds visual appeal and the result is a reliable, comfortable, and stylish timepiece that can be your new best friend for almost all occasions.
Dial
The dial itself has some very interesting design features, however, the color choices steal the show -and rightly so.
The rich green dial color is the focus point of the watch. This is beautifully complemented by the bright orange secondary color that can be found in the Shinola logo under the 12 o’clock position, and the seconds sub-dial. Interestingly, the seconds sub-dial has the same green color, however, it is decorated with concentric circles, giving it a subtle texture and depth, therefore the dial doesn’t feel flat.
The white Arabic numerals around the dial is a look we’re all familiar with when it comes to Shinola watches. These are paired with silver-tone sword hour and minute hands.
An overall tasteful design that has plenty of dynamism due to the rich green and vibrant secondary orange colors, while maintaining an old school look.
At 12 o’clock position, under the Shinola logo and brand name, “Argonite-1069” is written, which is the quartz movement caliber of the watch (more on this later), and under this “DETROIT” is displayed to emphasize the fact that Shinola is based in the “Motor City”.
Case
The Shinola Runwell 41 (as the name suggests) has a case width of 41 mm and a very elegant 10.1 mm case thickness, therefore the watch can be a great fit for all wrist sizes.
The polished (not brushed) stainless steel case with the rounded surface makes the appearance of the watch less sporty and more urban-style.
Our favorite part is the screw-down pumpkin crown: its design is similar to the classic pocket watch crowns, and we think it’s an excellent choice to create a timeless design.
Movement
The Shinola Runwell 41 comes with the Shinola caliber Argonite 1069 quartz movement, which is assembled in the USA, and is based on the Ronda 1069 Swiss quartz movement. This quartz movement comes with 6 jewels.
Strap and Stainless Steel Bracelet
This particular Runwell model comes with a tan leather strap with a 20 mm width. In our opinion, this is one of the best stap choices for the watch – both material and color. It’s elegant, comfortable, and the color plays really well with the colors of the dial.
Of course we love creative ideas, and if you want to customize your Shinola, it can be easily done as you don’t have to deal with an integrated bracelet. Just make sure you look for the right width: 20 mm.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at the summary of pros and cons, in our humble opinion:
Pros
- Very comfortable wear.
- Truly unique design with signature Shinola elements.
- Beautiful color – not the easiest to create an elegant watch with green and orange, but Shinola did it.
- Low maintenance due to the reliable quartz movement.
Cons:
- The water resistance of 50 meters could be underwhelming for some.
- The ~$700 price point can be considered high for a quartz movement.
- There is some negative connotation around the brand name due to the “American-made” fiasco.
Summary: Takeaway and Final Thoughts About Shinola Runwell 41
As we’ve mentioned, Shinola is a brand that some watch enthusiasts love to hate. We are focusing on this specific watch: its design, features, characteristics, and technical specs. We think it’s truly a unique design, with very impressive color choices. Creating a watch that can be recognized from a distance is not easy, and Shinola definitely did it. If you like the design, and it’s within your budget, we can only recommend it, as it is a very comfortable wear, with a classic look – from an American company.
Specs:
- Ref # 10000026-sdt-000009876
- Movement: Quartz
- Caliber: Argonite 1069
- Case Width: 41 mm
- Lug Distance: 20 mm
- Price: Around $700
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