Watch Review: Shinola Detroit Runwell Station Agent with Swiss Automatic Movement
Shinola, based in Detroit, launched the original Runwell watch about a decade ago. At the time, Shinola made headlines by announcing that its watches were now manufactured in Detroit, thanks to a major investment by Bedrock (the holding company) in an impressive factory near downtown Detroit. Shinola, a modern company founded by experts with deep knowledge of brand building and distribution to American customers, wasn’t originally conceived as a watch manufacturer for enthusiasts. Ten years later, much has changed. Shinola has refined and improved its products while expanding its technical expertise. The company’s employees began by assembling Swiss Ronda quartz movements and have since mastered the assembly of Swiss mechanical movements.
This Shinola Runwell Station Agent, which I’m testing today, features a Sellita automatic movement, which is installed and tested in Detroit. I recently visited the factory and witnessed the watch being assembled. The factory, in my opinion, was very similar to those found in Europe or Asia. It was heartwarming to see workers in watchmaking smocks, all of whom were fellow Americans, sitting at the workbenches—a new experience for me. I also saw how Shinola produces its leather watch straps in-house. This process results in the highest-quality straps on the market. Even if you’re not interested in Shinola watches, you can still enjoy the brand with its high-quality, American-made straps.
The Shinola Runwell Station Agent represents the latest look and feel of the Runwell while paying homage to a style that has remained largely unchanged since the brand’s inception. This visual impression begins with a 45mm-wide, pocket-watch-style case and a wall-clock-style dial that feels friendly, familiar, and in keeping with the American mid-century aesthetic. The Runwell was a thoughtfully designed watch that stood the test of time and benefited from numerous improvements. This Runwell Station Agent is robust and durable. The case is superbly polished, and the details appear more premium than the retail price would suggest. At under $1,500, it’s truly great value.
The name “Station Agent” (which comes from the station attendants who escorted countless passengers to their destinations every day during busy times in American history) is synonymous with the new Runwell Automatic collection, which features a small seconds dial (instead of a central seconds hand). This gives it a more refined look and more effectively connects a central part of the design to the look of classic pocket watches. The small dial is slightly recessed and features a snail-shaped finish. The rest of the dial details are also excellent, including the shape of the date window (which doesn’t obstruct the 3 o’clock indicator) and the length of the hands. Shinola currently produces the Runwell Station Agent in off-white, but more colors will follow later in 2023. Although somewhat atypical for the brand given its focus on in-house straps, Shinola does offer a strap for the Runwell Station Agent that I think complements this case well. Above the dial is a slightly domed sapphire crystal, which does create a bit of glare, but isn’t too bad.
If you don’t like the 45mm wide case, you should know that Shinola also makes a smaller version of the Runwell. Even so, the watch doesn’t feel overly bulky. The case is only 12mm thick (excluding lugs), and the lug spacing is just under 50mm. This means it wears rather understated for a 45mm width. The rounded and polished steel case has a slim bezel, providing ample space for the elegant dial. The hour markers and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova, and the matte black outer hands offer excellent legibility and contrast with the main dial. (Shinola refers to this creamy shade as “vellum.”) The small seconds dial also helps maximize the dial space—a designer’s homage to classic American watches.
Attached to the case is a 22 mm wide, Detroit-made brown leather strap with what Shinola calls “Cattail Grizzly” texture. Conveniently, the strap is equipped with quick-release spring bars, allowing for easy attachment of additional straps to the Station Agent watch. Although the case has a screw-down crown, it is only water-resistant to 50 meters. I suspect this is because the caseback is screw-down (for style reasons). I would like to see Shinola increase the Runwell’s water resistance to 100 meters in the future, but that’s a minor point. Through the caseback, you can admire the automatic mechanical movement, featuring a custom black Shinola automatic rotor and the company’s lightning bolt logo.
The movement of the Runwell Station Agent is a Swiss Sellita caliber SW260-1 automatic. It’s essentially the SW200 with the addition of a seconds hand. It operates at 4 Hz and offers a power reserve of approximately two days. The movement is also assembled in Switzerland, but Shinola encases and tests it at its Detroit facility. While it’s not a purely American movement, I believe it’s just as emotionally satisfying as one. It combines functionality with the reliability of the movement, which most consumers will likely appreciate.
For years, I’ve seen Shinola Runwell quartz watches on the wrists of people who loved the brand. With its automatic models in improved products like the Runwell Station Agent, Shinola has now opened the world of its most popular watch collection to more enthusiasts. The brand is continually offering more American-made mechanical watches alongside its now well-known American-made quartz movements. Of course, there are now entire Shinola model collections that contain exclusively mechanical watches.
The Shinola Runwell Station Agent is a conservative vintage-style watch designed to celebrate a sense of nostalgic Americana and tell an authentic story about the urban revival of metropolitan Detroit. This story will certainly appeal to some consumers more than others, but I think there’s plenty of opportunity in the US to make such a product a huge success. Despite being a newer model, Shinola has been successful with it. As a simple yet beautiful everyday watch or gift, the Runwell Station Agent is a truly beautiful piece from Shinola. The price (each piece has a unique serial number) is $1,450.
Conclusion: A solid introduction to American watchmaking
The Shinola Runwell Station Agent is more than just a watch—it symbolizes Detroit’s revival and pays homage to the pride of American manufacturing. By combining Swiss mechanical precision (thanks to the Sellita SW260-1 movement) with American manufacturing and craftsmanship, Shinola has struck a balance few brands achieve.
This model pays tribute to traditional mid-century American design with its vintage aesthetic, small seconds hand, and wall-clock-style dial. At $1,450, it’s a competitive price for an automatic watch with a premium feel, polished case, in-house leather strap, and American craftsmanship. At 45 mm in diameter, it may be too large for some wrists, but its well-considered proportions and slim case make it surprisingly wearable.
While there are some drawbacks—such as limited water resistance and slight glare from the domed sapphire crystal—they are relatively minor considering the watch’s overall value and history. For those who appreciate tradition, nostalgia, and local craftsmanship with a modern twist, the Runwell Station Agent is a valuable addition to any collection.