Travel is roaring back to life in a big way, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of online searches, and Detroit watchmaker and lifestyle brand extraordinaire Shinola is back on the scene in an equally major way with the road-ready Traveler Collection.
In fact, U.S. travel is expected to grow more than 30 percent this year compared to 2020, so now is as great a time as any to retool your packing list (and watch collection) accordingly.
Never one to stop pushing the envelope — the brand recently debuted a souped-up Shinola Forged Carbon Monster model — the new collection of four distinctive, modern-yet-classic timepieces provides affordable accessible style.
Four colorways, two set on handsome leather straps and two set on durable canvas straps, will set you back between $800 and $850 apiece, a price that’s more than agreeable for the right blend of rugged luxury.
Sub-dials and chronograph pusher buttons amp up the delicate balance of style you can use — and style that looks pleasingly different from the rest of your watch collection.
The brand has no shortage of ways to outfit your home in all manner of refined styles, be it an elegant record player or Shinola’s collab with Crate & Barrel. The new collection echoes the sentiment that the best memories and moments often take place on the road, perhaps outfitted in style and ideally wearing a new Shinola timepiece.
The dials are really what set each timepiece apart in the Traveler Collection, made using a paper vellum textured finish in colors that call to mind the 1970s (and old-school road trips), all the while remaining perfectly on-trend.
It’s the sand dunes of Michigan that provide primary inspiration for the collection’s distinctive colorways, a touch surely any lover of summer travel can appreciate.
The two whip-stitch leather straps will patina gracefully over time, while the hard-wearing canvas strap options provided suitably casual, comfortable style for long days on the road.
The calendar aperture at the 6’o’clock marker is another eye-catching touch, ensuring you stay on schedule even if you run into some Vacation-style hijinks.
Best of all, the 42mm stainless steel case is nicely sized and beefed up for plenty of daily wear with road trip staples, like a breezy polo or a rugged henley.
To get not one, not two, not even three, but four stylish new watch options to consider adding to your collection (and your carry-on bag) is almost as much of a gift as the return of travel itself. Be sure your wrist game is upgraded accordingly.
