Hampden Watch

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Hampden Watch

For more than a century, Hampden and the family who owns it have been assembling watches in Chicago.

10/01/2026

is a war correspondent and author. Telling other people’s stories is the job.

The one on the back of his watch is closer to home.

It starts with a girl named Yasameen in Afghanistan. It became a hand-drawn tree in bloom and a line of Braille, engraved on the caseback of his Sullivan.

He tells it himself in First Person, our series of short films about the stories people carry on their watches.

09/28/2026

Fifty years is a lot of dinners, trips, inside jokes, and stories.

Lora and Steve gave one of those stories a permanent place on the back of a Sullivan watch.

If there’s a date, name, or message you never want to forget, we can help you put it on the watch.

09/24/2026

You don't need to be a watch person to love making one.

David walked in a little nervous and walked out asking about the advanced course.

That's First Hand in a nutshell: a full day at the bench, hands-on guidance from our team, great company, and a watch you built yourself to take home at the end.

Spots go fast so tap the link in bio to grab yours.

Available dates for next month: October 10, October 18, October 25

09/21/2026

Nelson Algren wrote Chicago with no filter, and the watch named after him follows the same rule.

Just a cushion case, a Swiss movement that shows up every day, and a caseback that's yours to make personal.

09/18/2026

Let's talk about the Dixon for a second.

Named for Willie Dixon, the man behind the songs that shaped Chicago blues at Chess Records, this two-tone case carries fine parallel grooves along its sides, a quiet nod to the records that started it all.

It’s 40mm of history you can wear.

09/16/2026

This is the part we call bringing the movement to life.

Getting the balance wheel and bridge in place and seeing that first motion kick in is one of the most satisfying parts of the workshop, and one of the hardest to get right on the first try.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us for First Hand, tap the link in bio to reserve your seat.

09/14/2026

Sometimes, the best part is the part nobody sees.

A custom caseback adds the detail you won’t find on anyone else’s wrist, turning a familiar design into something that feels distinctly yours.

09/11/2026

What actually happens when you spend a day building your own mechanical watch?

A Blog to Watch took a closer look inside First Hand, from getting behind the bench to leaving with the watch you assembled yourself.

We appreciate the feature and the chance to share more of what we’ve been building here in Chicago, aBlogtoWatch.com!

09/03/2026

This one means a little more.

shared the story behind his Sullivan, a gift from his dad that marks the watch hobby they’ve built together over the years, and tucked inside the caseback is the part that makes it entirely theirs.

These are the stories we love seeing our watches become part of.

08/31/2026

Here’s a better way to spend a day in Chicago!

First Hand brings guests into our Chicago headquarters for a hands-on workshop where they build a Swiss mechanical watch from the inside out. Small class sizes keep the experience personal, and by the end of the day, the watch on your wrist feels a lot different because you were part of putting it together.

Seats usually book fast!

Available dates: September 6 | September 27 | October 4 | October 18 | October 24 | October 25 | November 28 | December 6 | December 19 | December 20

Address

1550 W Carroll Avenue
Chicago, IL
60607

Website

http://hampdenwatch.com/

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