BMW
X1 / X2
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums Off-Topic Discussions Board Watches The USA Has A New Watchmaking Company

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      09-25-2013, 06:15 AM   #1
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

The USA Has A New Watchmaking Company

So there's little doubt in my mind that someone at Shinola has a sense of humor. Why else would a company choose that name given the age old epithet?

I went shopping for some new rags yesterday and passed the watch counter, and this new brand of watch, Shinola, popped into view. They are clearly not expensive but they have a nice solid feel and a sensible look. Most notably, they are American made in Detroit. Sure Keyton Myrick makes watches, in the most very literal sense of the word, as do RGM with their Caliber 20 (fairly new) and we now have another US manufacture watch, albeit in the quartz space, and this one at a very reasonable price point.

http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/hands-o...a-runwell-40mm
http://wornandwound.com/2013/04/08/s...rn-in-detroit/
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      09-25-2013, 06:56 AM   #2
wrickem
Big Beaver Smile
wrickem's Avatar
2101
Rep
3,790
Posts

Drives: What he wants to
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: lambertville nj

iTrader: (0)

Oh, what do you know, Tony20009, you don't know $hit from Shinola anyway!!!! (somebody had to say it). I have an old bottle of Shinola edge and heel dressing sitting in my shoe-shine kit.

It's a beautiful watch, I can see why it caught your eye. I think it might do better if the name wasn't so crappy.
__________________
______________________________________________
Current- '21 430 , '19 911, 07 M6 ,'17 Jeep Wrangler, "23 Bronco OBXluxsquatch
Appreciate 0
      09-25-2013, 08:36 AM   #3
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by wrickem View Post
Oh, what do you know, Tony20009, you don't know $hit from Shinola anyway!!!! (somebody had to say it). I have an old bottle of Shinola edge and heel dressing sitting in my shoe-shine kit.

It's a beautiful watch, I can see why it caught your eye. I think it might do better if the name wasn't so crappy.
Well, at least they didn't choose the other key term in the axiom. LOL.

I know somebody would surely share the complete epithet, though I'd hoped it wouldn't have been levied at me, even in humor.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      09-25-2013, 09:16 AM   #4
MandMs335Msport
Private First Class
MandMs335Msport's Avatar
3
Rep
131
Posts

Drives: 335i M-sport, '10, etc
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Luis Obispo County, CA

iTrader: (0)

Very attractive watch, being a small collector of watches, I was ignorant of the fact that there are American made watches, albeit, Swiss movements.

Nice, name doesn't bother me, thinking it is a family name of some type, now that would suck!

Have to keep an eye on this company, perhaps get one of these upon future release.
Appreciate 0
      09-25-2013, 12:34 PM   #5
wrickem
Big Beaver Smile
wrickem's Avatar
2101
Rep
3,790
Posts

Drives: What he wants to
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: lambertville nj

iTrader: (0)

I just hit their website and I think it's funny that the same company that makes this beautiful watch also really does make shoe polish.
__________________
______________________________________________
Current- '21 430 , '19 911, 07 M6 ,'17 Jeep Wrangler, "23 Bronco OBXluxsquatch
Appreciate 0
      09-25-2013, 01:23 PM   #6
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

As luck would have it it turns out that a watch brand I knew of is indeed American too: Hager. They make a military styled mechanical watch for about the same price as the Shinola (a bit less actually) and use the ETA 2824 movement.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      09-25-2013, 01:43 PM   #7
kits135i
Private First Class
9
Rep
145
Posts

Drives: Coming Soon
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Diego

iTrader: (1)

Most of these watches have a quarts movement. What a waste for that kind of money. Also most are very small. Only a handful that are decent size.
Appreciate 0
      09-25-2013, 07:10 PM   #8
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by kits135i View Post
Most of these watches have a quarts movement. What a waste for that kind of money. Also most are very small. Only a handful that are decent size.
???
  • Shinola: Quartz. Not small at all. 40 mm is smallest. It is still a manufacture watch. There aren't too many in-house made watches you can buy at all for $500.
  • Hager: Mechanical. 40 mm is smallest. 42 mm is most common size. Not manufacture.
  • RGM: Mechanical. 35 - 42 mm, maybe larger. Calibre 20 watches are manufacture.
  • KM: Mechanical. 100% custom made by hand, so you can have any size you want.
Are you sure you posted in the right thread?


To my mind, Shinola's seem like watches priced and marketed to exactly the kind of person who shops in the stores in which they are sold -- Saks is the store I know about. I suspect for that store's customer, many of whom are quite comfortable with having spent $5K+ for one or more watches, $500 - $600 is fine price point for a smart looking, "fun," casual watch -- for oneself or as a gift -- for it's not expensive and it's not dirt cheap either. It is, however, no more costly than a pair of decent shoes or a couple shirts and thus falls into much the same vein as those items. If you see it and you like it, just buy it and enjoy.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      09-26-2013, 10:54 AM   #9
kits135i
Private First Class
9
Rep
145
Posts

Drives: Coming Soon
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Diego

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
???
  • Shinola: Quartz. Not small at all. 40 mm is smallest. It is still a manufacture watch. There aren't too many in-house made watches you can buy at all for $500.
  • Hager: Mechanical. 40 mm is smallest. 42 mm is most common size. Not manufacture.
  • RGM: Mechanical. 35 - 42 mm, maybe larger. Calibre 20 watches are manufacture.
  • KM: Mechanical. 100% custom made by hand, so you can have any size you want.
Are you sure you posted in the right thread?


To my mind, Shinola's seem like watches priced and marketed to exactly the kind of person who shops in the stores in which they are sold -- Saks is the store I know about. I suspect for that store's customer, many of whom are quite comfortable with having spent $5K+ for one or more watches, $500 - $600 is fine price point for a smart looking, "fun," casual watch -- for oneself or as a gift -- for it's not expensive and it's not dirt cheap either. It is, however, no more costly than a pair of decent shoes or a couple shirts and thus falls into much the same vein as those items. If you see it and you like it, just buy it and enjoy.
40mm is small. There are plenty of women's watches that are 38mm. Sorry to me they are small. Maybe on the average wrist they are ok, but I have 9" wrist. 40mm and even 44mm looks like a child's watch on my wrist. I wear 50-55mm and my daily is 53mm and most people think its a 42 or 44. Smallest I have is 45mm. That is a LumTec. Seems to be better quality than what's listed for less money.

500$ for quarts??? That just does not add up to me. I see they use sapphire crystal and other stuff, but seriously, you can get a swiss auto from Hamilton for $500 which has a lot more to offer in every aspect.

I like the looks, but not for the price range for what you are getting. Just my opinion. The lower end range I would buy LumTec. Same money and you get more. Again just how I feel.

But just like you said. Does not matter what you buy, buy what you like and wear it in good health. Who cares what others say. But being a forum, I am putting my worthless .02 in just like everyone else.
Appreciate 0
      09-26-2013, 04:41 PM   #10
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by kits135i View Post
40mm is small. There are plenty of women's watches that are 38mm. Sorry to me they are small. Maybe on the average wrist they are ok, but I have 9" wrist. 40mm and even 44mm looks like a child's watch on my wrist. I wear 50-55mm and my daily is 53mm and most people think its a 42 or 44. Smallest I have is 45mm. That is a LumTec. Seems to be better quality than what's listed for less money.

500$ for quarts??? That just does not add up to me. I see they use sapphire crystal and other stuff, but seriously, you can get a swiss auto from Hamilton for $500 which has a lot more to offer in every aspect.

I like the looks, but not for the price range for what you are getting. Just my opinion. The lower end range I would buy LumTec. Same money and you get more. Again just how I feel.

But just like you said. Does not matter what you buy, buy what you like and wear it in good health. Who cares what others say. But being a forum, I am putting my worthless .02 in just like everyone else.
I can understand how your wrists make a 42 mm watch small. Okay.

I would grant your point re: Hamilton but for the fact that Hamiltons just use OTS movements from ETA. Shinola does at least assemble their own movements, even if they are quartz and not mechanical. For that reason, a Shinola is minimally a semi-manufacture watch in much the same way an Omega is a semi-manufacture watch. The difference being that Omega takes am OTS ETA movement and tweaks it. It's certainly safe to say that neither has a full on in-house movement as does JLC, Patek, Nomos, even Auguste Reymond or that Russian company whose name escapes me just now.

The Russian folks make a watch model called a Pilot that can be had for about ~$700 and is entirely mechanical and manufacture. Citizen actually builds its quartz movements and one doesn't have to pay $500 for one. So, yes, there is no shortage of ways to spend one's five or six hundred dollars and get a nice watch. What one cannot do is spend that sum and get an American made manufacture watch, but by buying Shinola, one can get about as close as is possible to do.

I respect your POV and have no issue with it, for as you said, placet suum cuique. The short is that I just don't see ~$500 as sum worth stressing over just exactly how much value I'm getting from a watch so priced. I like Robert Graham shirts, so whenever I go shopping, I invariably see one or two that catch my fancy, even though I'm not really there to buy shirts, but I buy them anyway. The Shinola strikes me about the same as buying a couple shirts or pair of shoes, either of which will run me about the same amount of money. (More often though two shirts will cost more than than the darn watch. )

By the same token, were someone to ask me what watch should they buy for ~$500, I doubt I'd suggest Shinola unless they mentioned desiring something that was entirely consistent with a Shinola. For example, they wanted an American manufacture watch or if they wanted something that some hundred years from now might be of note/value. That's not to say I am certain that the Shinola will become a collectors piece, but as it's the first of a thing, it might be, if only for it's historic and cultural significance and because it's the first thing issued by a company that promises to produce some really great watches down the road. Something similar happened to the 1933 Ingersoll Mickey Mouse watch which then sold for, what $1, but now would be hard to find for $1000.

All the best.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      09-27-2013, 07:51 AM   #11
beamercharles
New Member
0
Rep
9
Posts

Drives: beautiful BMW z3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Brighton

iTrader: (0)

ohh,...looks good!
Appreciate 0
      10-24-2013, 11:48 PM   #12
WillBilBy25469
Registered
0
Rep
1
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Pakistan

iTrader: (0)

I agree with you.
__________________

Last edited by WillBilBy25469; 01-23-2014 at 03:43 AM..
Appreciate 0
      10-25-2013, 07:35 AM   #13
beamercharles
New Member
0
Rep
9
Posts

Drives: beautiful BMW z3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Brighton

iTrader: (0)

I've just finished writring an article about Detroit. And I love watches. thanks for the post!
Appreciate 0
      10-25-2013, 09:11 AM   #14
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

Yet Another American Watch - There're Coming Out of the Woodwork

Once in a while, I find something that appeals to me as a story. When I find such a thing for less than $3K, I like it even better.

Roland Paige. Anybody heard of them/him? Bought one? Waltham or Elgin? Got an old one hanging around somewhere? Maybe you like a lot about vintage looks aside from having to restore them. Problem solved. If you happen to have a soft spot for the old names in American watchmaking, check this out, and be sure to peek at the vintage movement page. I'm liking what I see so far.

http://www.rpaigewatch.com/collection/
http://www.ablogtowatch.com/rpaige-w...aige-review/2/

All the best.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      10-31-2013, 10:01 AM   #15
Bronze
First Lieutenant
Bronze's Avatar
United_States
12
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: 2008 335i sedan
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Berkley, MI

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2008 BMW 335i  [0.00]
A guy here at work has a Shinola. He loves it, and I think it looks better in person than in any photo. I don't have a problem that the founder is previously behind Fossil. Seems like a lot of people buy expensive brands out of Switzerland even though Swatch Group owns many of them. Doesn't seem to bother them that the parent is famous for watches in crazy colors for under $100.
__________________
Bronze
2008 335i sedan | black/black | Sport | Premium
Appreciate 0
      10-31-2013, 01:26 PM   #16
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronze View Post
A guy here at work has a Shinola. He loves it, and I think it looks better in person than in any photo. I don't have a problem that the founder is previously behind Fossil. Seems like a lot of people buy expensive brands out of Switzerland even though Swatch Group owns many of them. Doesn't seem to bother them that the parent is famous for watches in crazy colors for under $100.

  1. That's a good thing. They'd not get far with the profits if the thing got worse looking in person. LOL
  2. True. And when you consider that between them and Richemont Group well over 60% of the major, pricey Swiss brands are covered. When you take that in concert with the fact that the guts of something like 90% of all non-manufacture watches are made by ETA, and Swatch owns ETA, it's even more surprising.
But the fact is that for many folks, what they think about a watches is very much like racism: the color of their skin (brand) rather than the content of their character (anything other than the brand name affixed on the dial) is the basis for judgment.

But there are other American companies making watches, Bernhardt, Kobold, RGM, Towson Watch Company and RPaige to name a few.

RPaige is doing something rather novel, though some vintage-watch snobs don't care for it, folks who don't care if a watch is vintage or not might well enjoy them. http://www.rpaigewatch.com/
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      11-01-2013, 02:23 PM   #17
Bronze
First Lieutenant
Bronze's Avatar
United_States
12
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: 2008 335i sedan
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Berkley, MI

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2008 BMW 335i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
[LIST=1]
RPaige is doing something rather novel, though some vintage-watch snobs don't care for it, folks who don't care if a watch is vintage or not might well enjoy them. http://www.rpaigewatch.com/
Those RPaige watches are cool. I like it when fonts are creative. They are out of my price range for now, but I like them.
__________________
Bronze
2008 335i sedan | black/black | Sport | Premium
Appreciate 0
      11-19-2013, 12:18 AM   #18
JN1
Lieutenant Colonel
JN1's Avatar
301
Rep
1,591
Posts

Drives: S211 AMG E63
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Los Angeles CA

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronze View Post
A guy here at work has a Shinola. He loves it, and I think it looks better in person than in any photo. I don't have a problem that the founder is previously behind Fossil. Seems like a lot of people buy expensive brands out of Switzerland even though Swatch Group owns many of them. Doesn't seem to bother them that the parent is famous for watches in crazy colors for under $100.
I was just going to ask if anyone had seen one of these in person. I'm thinking about picking one up to add to my collection. A clean 'American' made watch is nice to diversify the collection IMO. I'll have to check out a shop that has them in stock nearby. I'm thinking the place inside OC Mix that sells their other stuff must have them there.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
[LIST=1]


RPaige is doing something rather novel, though some vintage-watch snobs don't care for it, folks who don't care if a watch is vintage or not might well enjoy them. http://www.rpaigewatch.com/
RPaige is 'novel' but their fonts are way too huge IMO and they look a bit too whimsical for my personal tastes. That's just me though.
__________________
-JustinNApproved
Appreciate 0
      11-19-2013, 12:31 PM   #19
Bronze
First Lieutenant
Bronze's Avatar
United_States
12
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: 2008 335i sedan
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Berkley, MI

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2008 BMW 335i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by JNLBC View Post
I was just going to ask if anyone had seen one of these in person. I'm thinking about picking one up to add to my collection. A clean 'American' made watch is nice to diversify the collection IMO. I'll have to check out a shop that has them in stock nearby. I'm thinking the place inside OC Mix that sells their other stuff must have them there.



RPaige is 'novel' but their fonts are way too huge IMO and they look a bit too whimsical for my personal tastes. That's just me though.
Niemen Marcus sells Shinola in the men's department (I stumbled upon this last Friday). I'm not sure if every store has them, but here in Detroit, they do.
__________________
Bronze
2008 335i sedan | black/black | Sport | Premium
Appreciate 0
      11-19-2013, 12:48 PM   #20
JN1
Lieutenant Colonel
JN1's Avatar
301
Rep
1,591
Posts

Drives: S211 AMG E63
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Los Angeles CA

iTrader: (2)

Nordstrom has them online, so I'm assuming they have them in-store. I wonder if anyone can hook up a disco yet.
__________________
-JustinNApproved
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:54 AM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST