Shinola Debuts Watches Honoring Comic Genius Gilda Radner

By Karen Dybis | June 30, 2026

Shinola is paying tribute to legendary comedian and Detroit native Gilda Radner with the latest installment of the Detroit-based watch brand’s Great American Series.

The two limited-edition Gilda Radner watches were released today, honoring the memorable spirit, fearlessness, and vulnerability of the original Saturday Night Live cast member, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989 at age 42. Radner’s famous SNL characters included Lisa Loopner, Emily Litella, and the unforgettable Roseanne Roseannadanna.

To market the watches, Shinola is working with SNL alums Molly Shannon and Alan Zweibel and current cast member Ashley Padilla, who’ve all said their creative lives have been shaped in part by Radner’s work and legacy.

A portion of proceeds from every watch sold will benefit the Metro Detroit chapter of Gilda’s Club, a nonprofit organization supporting individuals and families affected by cancer.

Ashley Molly Gilda watch — *Comedians Ashley Padilla and Molly Shannon are part of the marketing campaign for Shinola watches that pay homage to their* SNL forebear Gilda Radner.

Radner helped redefine what comedy could look like and opened doors for future generations of performers, says Shinola director of marketing Dana Mosa-Basha.

“What makes her a Great American goes beyond her professional accomplishments. She navigated life’s challenges with remarkable humor, humility, and grace, even in the face of serious illness,” Mosa-Basha says. “Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, she continued to bring joy to others and ultimately inspired a community that continues to support individuals and families facing cancer today.

“For us, the Great American Series is about honoring people whose influence extends beyond their craft. Gilda left a lasting mark on American culture while demonstrating resilience, generosity, and humanity. That’s what makes her a Great American,” Mosa-Basha tells JCK.

Previous honorees in the Great American Series include the Wright brothers, Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, Georgia O’Keeffe, and the Statue of Liberty. While Radner is the first comic to receive Great American recognition from Shinola, she was an easy selection for watches that are assembled in Detroit.

“As a brand, we’ve always gravitated toward wit, personality, and a sense of humor—qualities that make life a little more joyful—and Gilda embodied all of those things,” says Mosa-Basha. “What made her an even more compelling choice is her Detroit connection. Celebrating someone who not only shaped American culture but also came from our hometown felt especially meaningful.”

Shinola developed the watches in collaboration with the Gilda Radner estate, and the late comedian’s brother Michael attended Shinola’s event Monday night in Detroit, which included a screening of the documentary Love, Gilda and a talk with the film’s director, Lisa D’Apolito.

Gilda Packaging Shinola — *Red, which was Gilda Radner’s favorite color, makes the packaging for the new Great American limited-edition watches even more collectible.*

The two watches are a 39 mm Runwell Automatic ($2,500) and a 25 mm Runabout ($1,995). They both have red rainbow jasper accents on the dial and a cabochon crown, as a nod to the red doors found at Gilda’s Club locations across the country—a symbol of welcome, community, and support—as well as to Radner’s well-known love of red candies.

The Runabout, which is limited to 300 pieces, also features a red-toned dial. It has a gold-finish stainless steel case, encircled by 60 pavé-set diamonds, and a wavy bar link bracelet.

The Runwell Automatic is limited to 400 pieces and features an open heart dial window revealing the movement—which Shinola said is a tribute to Radner’s emotional honesty and humanity. The gold-finish stainless steel case is paired with a tan leather strap and houses a Sellita SW200-2 automatic movement with 26 jewels and approximately 65 hours of power reserve.

Shinola’s Gilda Radner collection also includes a travel jewelry case in red leather with a soft pink microfiber liner, which the watchmaker said it designed to reflect the warmth, joy, and vibrancy Radner brought to the world.

Top: Detroit-based Shinola has introduced two watches in its Great American Series honoring original Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner, a Detroit native. (Photos courtesy of Shinola)