In Review: Shinola Duck

Over the last year or so, we’ve written a number of articles on the Shinola Duck (here and here), it wasn’t a watch that we’d had the pleasure to have come in on a loan for review. I worked on rectifying that oversight, and wouldn’t you know it, we were able to spend a few weeks with the Shinola Duck. While the brighter color combos are no doubt popular, I requested the one that is all various shades of blue.

Once I got the Shinola Duck in and unpackaged, I knew I made the right choice on the colors – if I were buying one, this is the exact one I’d be getting for myself. Once I got done patting myself on the back, I started taking a closer look, and I was really quite surprised by the bezel. When you look at the watch straight on, you see a domed bezel insert, say, like we’ve seen on the Prometheus Sailfish or the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. However, when you look at it from the side, you realize the bezel is actually quite flat (see the photo below). I mean, yes, there is a curve to it, but it’s nowhere near as pronounced as other watches have done it. It’s a very clever visual trick, and then gives you that sort of light-catcher edge to the flat sapphire crystal on top.

It also helps to keep the profile a little slimmer on the Shinola Duck. Sure, the crystal sticks up, but your shirt cuff (if you’re wearing long sleeves) should slide right across the top of the crystal and down the smoothly curved lugs of the 42mm case. Then again, at just a touch over 11mm thick (11.35mm to be precise), shirt cuffs were never really going to be a problem.

Tucked into the case of the Shinola Duck is the Argonite 713, the same movement we saw in the Shinola Vinton. In my long-term time with that watch, I’ve had no problems whatsoever with the accuracy and reliability of the movement, so that should be the same expectation here. Of course, that is a major benefit of a quartz movement. This one will be quite well protected, as the case – once the crown is screwed down – gives you a 200m WR rating, meaning you’re more than ready to tackle summertime and whatever water it may throw at you.

In terms of lumosity, the Shinola Duck gets the job done. Both the numerals and indices on the dial, and the handset itself, are generously sized, so you’ve got a good bit of luminous paint helping you out. On the bezel itself, only the pip at the 0 minutes mark is lumed, which should be just fine. I did half-expect the chapter ring to glow as well, given the color match to the luminous paint. It didn’t though, and that’s fine. I mean, sure, it would be a cool effect, but it’s not the most practical thing (and, as I’ve been told, luminous stuff on non-flat surfaces is tricky).

This particular version of the Shinola Duck shows us how a design can settle on a single (broadly-speaking) hue for a watch and keep it from being boring. Wrapped as it is here on the go-anywhere, do-anything dive watch style, it’s a watch that can keep you company for just about anything (opt for the steel bracelet if you’re wanting something for professional or dressy environments, is my recommendation). Plus, hey, how many watches can say they’ve got a rubber ducky right on the dial? Depending on the case finish and what strap/bracelet you choose, the Shinola Duck starts at $650, and tops out at $800 (on the bracelet). Check out the full collection, and the colors available, directly at shinola.com

Tech Specs from Shinola