I make no attempts to hide the fact that I’m a fan of the watches that Shinola produces. It’s a great story about bringing manufacturing back to my old hometown, and hey, it’s watches. I’ve been particularly keen on their Monster line (especially the GMT) and now they’re back with an even more compact version. Time to meet the Shinola Monster Circadian 36mm.
Shinola Monster Circadian 36mm: what it is
On one hand, you can think of the Shinola Monster Circadian 36mm as the designers taking their existing Monster design, and hitting it with the ol’ shrink ray. And sure, that’s a little bit of it. But they’ve taken the design and refined it for the smaller format.
For one, the dive bezel is gone. It’s a nod to the fact that most of these dive watch designs aren’t going diving, and realistically, a 36mm bezel would be hard to read regardless. Instead, you’ve got a smooth expanse of steel surrounding the crystal, which helps keep things thin.
As long as you’re refining things, why not up the game on the dial front as well? I know not everyone is a fan, but I do really like what mother-of-pearl can do on a dial. In this release, there are three dial colors – red, black, and white. Over the dial, the indices and handset have gold-tone accents, which the white dial then picks up in the bracelet.
The hard specs
Obviously, we know the stainless steel case of the Shinola Monster Circadian 36mm is 36mm. It measures in at a svelte 9.25mm thick, and the lug width is 18mm. The crystal is indeed sapphire with an AR coating on it, and the crown is screw-down. With that locked up, you’ve got a 100m WR rating, plenty to go for a swim with.
Inside that case, staying nice and dry (and visible through the exhibition caseback) is the well-known Sellita SW200-1. While it may not have the exciting technical stuff some movements have these days, it’s a solid workhorse, quite comparable to the ETA 2824. In other words, it’s going to get the job done and stay relatively accurate. And, when it comes time for servicing, it should be one most watchmakers know how to work on.
Wrapping things up
In our book, there’s a lot to like about the Shinola Monster Circadian 36mm. Whatever your reasons, if you want (or need) a more compact watch for your wrist, this has the classic steel diver aesthetic, with a few dressier touches added, between the dial and 5-link bracelet.
Want to get your own Shinola Monster Circadian 36mm? They’re available now, with the two steel models going for $1,450 and the two-tone version at $1,550. Check them out, and order yours, over at shinola.com\
Shinola Monster Circadian 36mm Tech Specs
- MOVEMENT
- SELLITA SW200-1 AUTOMATIC
- Powered by your movement, this Swiss automatic movement drives the hours, minutes, seconds and calendar aperture function. Twenty-six jeweled bearings help reduce friction to maintain accuracy, and with a minimum 38-hour power reserve, you can trust this timepiece with your deep dives.
- CASE
- The solid stainless steel case features a smooth top ring and alternating brushed and polished details. View the movement at work through the exhibition caseback. A screw-down crown, 10 ATM rating and double-domed sapphire crystal finish the piece.
- DIAL
- CRAFTED BY MOTHER NATURE
- Extraordinarily elegant and uniquely crafted as only mother nature can, each one of the gray, white or red Mother of Pearl dials on these timepieces is one of one and unique to the wearer. Signature Shinola Monster indices and hands with Super-LumiNova lum complete the look.
- STRAP
- FIVE-LINK STAINLESS STEEL BRACELET
- This stainless steel bracelet is the perfect complement. It’s also removable, making the timepiece customizable with the purchase of an additional strap.
- PACKAGING
- Built from premium wood, every Shinola watch box is designed to last for generations.
