New Shinola watch, bicycle pay homage to the Wright Brothers
Shinola is paying homage to the Wright Brothers with a limited-edition timepiece and even more limited edition bicycle, both of which were unveiled at a private launch event in Detroit last night.
The wristwatch, based on Shinola’s Brakeman timepiece, uses the brand’s Argonite 715 quartz movement and has a stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, chocolate brown Horween leather strap and a black dial with the words: “The Wright Brothers” above the number 6.
In a cool flourish, the “T” in Wright is designed to look like the instantly recognizable double wing configuration of the brothers’ early aircraft.
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The company says production of the Wright Brothers watch will be limited to 1,000 pieces total -- 500 with a 46-millimeter case and 500 with a 40mm case -- and retail for $1,000.
That premium price tag (Shinola’s standard-issue Brakeman retails in the $625 to $725 range) comes with a hickory watch box and a leather-bound coffee table book of photography from the Wrights’ private collection.
The label is also wheeling out 25 customized versions of its 11-speed Runwell bicycle with a jet-black finish, retro-looking headlamp and bamboo fenders ($2,950), appropriate given the brothers’ background in the velocepedic arts.
(Detroit’s Henry Ford Museum, where the launch event took place, is apparently the permanent location of the Orville and Wibur’s bike shop.)
Both the wristwatches and bicycles are available starting today at Shinola’s Detroit and New York City flagship stores and online.
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