When it comes to mythical sea creatures, Scotland has nothing on Detroit. Most of us are familiar with the Loch Ness Monster, first sighted in a lake in the Scottish Highlands in the Sixth Century A.D. but not revealed to the world at large until 1933. Fewer may be aware of the so-called Lake Erie Monster, spotted as early as 1783 and an enduring legend in the U.S. Great Lakes region. It was only fitting that Shinola, based in the Great Lakes metropolis of Detroit, adopt the name for its newest timepiece, which represents not one but two firsts for the brand: its first dedicated divers’ watch, and its first watch outfitted with a mechanical self-winding movement.
The Shinola Lake Erie Monster Limited Edition features the Shinola brand’s first automatic movement. The Shinola Lake Erie Monster Limited-Edition Timepiece was conceived, according to the brand, as a tribute to “the explorers, sailors, pioneers, and divers who have spent centuries discovering the wonders of the nation’s largest fresh water lakes” as well as “the natural beauty of the Great Lakes.” This mission statement is in keeping with the staunchly pro-“made in America” identity of the company, which was founded in 2011 by an investment group led by former Fossil Watch CEO Tony Kartsotis, in part to bring back manufacturing jobs to the long-beleaguered city of Detroit.
The watch meets the industry standard ISO 6425 criteria for divers’ watches.
The wa...