Dilla x Shinola

The Detroit company Shinola honored J Dilla with two versions of Dilla-inspired timepieces, created in partnership with the Estate of James Yancey.

The collection includes the Runwell Chronograph, with a face designed to resemble a cassette tape, and the skeleton-style Runwell Automatic, with layers of organic shapes and color representing an analog signal. The pieces include a note from Dan Charnas, author of the 2022 Dilla biography, Dilla Time. The Dilla set also boasts a leather record bag.

Both watches sold out on the first day of sale.

The watches are part of Shinola’s Great American Series, which honors American pioneers and innovators. The company has also paid homage to Jim Thorpe, Smokey Robinson, the Wright Brothers, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, and Georgia O'Keeffe.