{"id":1775,"date":"2019-03-26T14:11:45","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T14:11:45","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-08-03T16:34:20","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T16:34:20","slug":"an-automatic-evolution-the-story-behind-the-runwell-automatic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/an-automatic-evolution-the-story-behind-the-runwell-automatic\/","title":{"rendered":"An Automatic Evolution: The Story Behind The Runwell Automatic"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Runwell Automatic is recognizable but refreshed with refined details, including microtracking, a richly printed dial and an iconic caseback with an exhibition window, giving people a peek at the timepiece\u2019s workhorse movement.<\/p>\n

But taking a flagship product that is beloved and evolving it i<\/span>n the right way is not an easy feat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to make it feel recognizable, but also not take the same thing and just change what\u2019s inside,\u201d said Product Development Director Chelsea R. \u201cI\u2019ve heard people say how lucky we are to have a flagship like the Runwell. It can take years to build that so it\u2019s scary to evolve and change that because you have something so precious.\u201d<\/p>\n

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For inspiration, the team looked to an industry that is well versed in evolutionary design: the auto industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Jeep Wrangler evolution is a great precedent. They successfully updated their icon while sticking to their core values. They made it feel familiar, but took the next step in its evolution,\u201d said Watch Design Director Greg V.<\/p>\n

The team said it started laying out a road map at the component level, analyzing every detail and looking for elements that could be pushed. One of the first things to stand out was the dial.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe wanted to do a printed dial on the Runwell Automatic to keep it more approachable and not make it super dressy,\u201d said Chelsea.<\/p>\n

And since the original was such a delight on the first Runwell, the team wanted to maintain a certain level of surprise with the Runwell Automatic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe never thought we\u2019d get rid of the caseback plate, it was such a surprise when we launched the original,\u201d said Greg. \u201cInstead we kept the element of surprise\u2014a beautiful domed and polished caseback with a sapphire window to show the movement.\u201d<\/p>\n

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There were many, many design iterations.<\/p>\n

\u201cDesign is a process of editing. Only after many rounds of prototypes are you confident you\u2019re on the right track,\u201d said Senior Watch Designer Molly W.<\/p>\n

Of course, even when ideas began to materialize, their commitment to excellence drove the watch team to strive for perfection.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the mantra that we used was \u2018Don\u2019t screw it up,\u2019\u201d joked Greg.<\/p>\n

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The Runwell Automatic is recognizable but refreshed with refined details, including microtracking, a richly printed dial and an iconic caseback with an exhibition window, giving people a peek at the timepiece\u2019s workhorse movement. But taking a flagship product that is beloved and evolving it in the right way is not an easy feat. \u201cWe wanted […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[3],"yoast_head":"\nAn Automatic Evolution: The Story Behind The Runwell Automatic - Our Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/an-automatic-evolution-the-story-behind-the-runwell-automatic\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"An Automatic Evolution: The Story Behind The Runwell Automatic - Our Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Runwell Automatic is recognizable but refreshed with refined details, including microtracking, a richly printed dial and an iconic caseback with an exhibition window, giving people a peek at the timepiece\u2019s workhorse movement. 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