You know me by now – if Shinola releases a new watch, I’m going to be paying attention to it. I’m particularly fond of those that break away from the standard circular shape (ala the Brakeman). Well, their latest definitely breaks that mold, squaring things off in the form of the Shinola Omaha.
I know, you’re thinking – Omaha? That’s in Nebraska – not anywhere near Detroit! This watch is actually named after the Omaha-class Navy cruisers, which gives the whole watch a sort of vintage inspiration (and military as well), which is quite present in this watch.
First off, you’ve got a 26 x 36.5mm rectangular case, which is definitely is not something you often see in modern watches. Set into that case, the Shinola Omaha has an glossy enamel dial into which the numerals are set, and the handset spins over. Down at the bottom of the dial, you’ve got the running subseconds letting you know the watch is ticking away.
Powering the whole thing you’ve got the Argonite 1069 quartz movement, assembled (as always) in their Detroit workshop. On the strap side of things, you’ve got many choices, and they come with quick-release spring bars, so changing the look around won’t be an issue.
The Shinola Omaha is available now, and carries a pricetag of $650 (plus any engraving charges, should you want to personalize that caseback), or $700 for a boxed set that comes with two spare straps. For me, while it’s more compact than I’d normally go for, it’s interesting, and I’ve generally been fond of the rectangular cases. We’ll be looking into getting a loaner in, so we’ll let you know how it wears in person. shinola.com
