Hampden Watch

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

This one means a little more. shared the story behind his Sullivan, a gift from his dad that marks the watch hobby they’...
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.

Here’s a better way to spend a day in Chicago! First Hand brings guests into our Chicago headquarters for a hands-on wor...
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

Chicago on the wrist, London in the background.Jelani Alladin took his Algren across the pond and sent us this wrist ch...
08/27/2026

Chicago on the wrist, London in the background.

Jelani Alladin took his Algren across the pond and sent us this wrist check with the Thames, Tower Bridge, and The Shard doing their best to compete for attention.

A good day at the bench usually ends with two things: a better understanding of the craft, and a watch that means more b...
08/25/2026

A good day at the bench usually ends with two things: a better understanding of the craft, and a watch that means more because you built it yourself.

That’s what First Hand is meant to be. A full day inside our Chicago workshop, working through the movement piece by piece, seeing the mechanics up close, and watching everything come together in a way that feels a lot more personal once your hands have been part of it.

We’d love to have you at the bench.

Available dates: September 5, September 6, September 27, October 18, October 24, October 25, November 28, December 6, December 19, December 20

08/22/2026

“All we have is time.” 
 
Jelani Alladin borrowed that line from his friend Billy Porter’s music for the custom engraving on his Algren watch, an ornate case back design with a lion, honoring the Leo, the artist, the man that he is.
 
All watches tell time. Hampden watches tell stories. And this is Jelani’s.

08/17/2026

Club 1922 gave us a chance to show where First Hand is headed next.

The workshop now has a home built around the experience itself, a place where more people can get behind the bench, work through a mechanical movement, and understand a watch by building one themselves.

We’ve got a lot planned for First Hand from here.

08/15/2026

A full look back at Club 1922.

Club 1922 brought together the different sides of Hampden under one roof: watchmaking at the bench, pieces from our history, signature cocktails, live music by Meghan Murphy, and a room full of people who came ready to enjoy all of it.

This was one of those nights that felt easy in the best way. Thanks to everyone who came through and made it such a good one.

One of our favorite parts of First Hand is hearing what stays with people after the workshop.Thank you, Tyrone, for the ...
08/10/2026

One of our favorite parts of First Hand is hearing what stays with people after the workshop.

Thank you, Tyrone, for the kind words and for spending the day with us. We’re glad the experience stayed with you, from learning something new at the bench to leaving with a personalized watch you assembled yourself.

Interested in joining us for First Hand? October - December dates are now available!

Reserve your seat: https://hampdenwatch.com/pages/first-hand-chicago-watchmaking-workshop

Some pieces ask for attention.This one earns it a little differently. The Algren in Carbon feels composed, deliberate, a...
08/06/2026

Some pieces ask for attention.

This one earns it a little differently. The Algren in Carbon feels composed, deliberate, and better the longer you look at it.

Also available in White and Navy.

There’s something really nice about choosing an engraving that says more about your life than anything ever could.Custom...
08/04/2026

There’s something really nice about choosing an engraving that says more about your life than anything ever could.

Custom engraving gives you a lot of options, but for furparents, this one is pretty hard to beat. A familiar face on the caseback makes the watch feel personal right away, and honestly, it is a great way to keep your favorite little furbaby with you forever.

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1550 W Carroll Avenue
Chicago, IL
60607

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