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Introducing the Henry Ford Pocket Watch by Shinola

The young Detroit-based company has recently announced their second timepiece in the Shinola Great Americans Series - the Henry Ford pocket watch. Engraved with Ford’s signature and featuring a limited edition numbering on the caseback, only 1,000 pieces will be produced and the order books open Friday, October 24th.
Introducing the Henry Ford Pocket Watch by Shinola 5 photos
Photo: Shinola
Henry Ford Pocket Watch by ShinolaHenry Ford Pocket Watch by ShinolaHenry Ford Pocket Watch by ShinolaHenry Ford Pocket Watch by Shinola
The exclusive timepiece is a tribute the young American company is offering for probably one of the most iconic industrialists in the U.S. The stainless steel watch features a unique numbered plate and comes packaged with a leather-bound coffee table book of images from the Archive of American Innovation at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.

Engraved with Ford’s signature, the exclusive timepiece features a polished stainless steel case, black dial, cream printing and limited edition numbering on the caseback. The 49mm watch comes with a metal chain and leather fob and is accompanied by a wooden stand, leather pouch and custom gift box. Priced at $1,000, the exquisite set also includes a Certificate of Authenticity and membership to The Foundry, Shinola’s exclusive private collector’s club.

But who is Shinola and why do we care?

In case you’re a fan of the Western movies or even the newer 1950s - 1960s movies, you might remember the original Shinola shoe polish, a brand founded in 1907. It gained popularity during WWI and WWII.

In 2001, the name was acquired by Bedrock Manufacturing, a venture capital firm based in Dallas, Texas. It started off as an American-made product manufacturer in 2011 and they currently produce watches, bicycles, leather goods and journals of the “highest possible quality.”

The company is trying to bring back Detroit's lost glory

The decision to base the company in Detroit derived both from a desire to make watches in the United States and from a strategic decision to anchor operations in a unique city with an established and unshakable reputation as an industrial leader. The company’s headquarters and watch factory are housed within the College for Creative Studies on the fifth floor of the Alfred A. Taubman Building in Detroit, a former automotive research lab.

Most of the workers assembling watches are local Detroiters, and many of them come from the auto business. Since the company’s founding in 2011, the workforce has grown to over 230 people. Shinola’s first watch was released in March 2013. Produced in an edition of 2,500 units and available in two sizes, The Runwell Limited Edition 47mm sold out in one week.
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