How One Family Turned Six Personalized Hampden Watches Into Heirlooms for Generations

At Hampden Watch, we believe every timepiece should tell a story. For our client Joseph Lester, that story was one of family, memory, and legacy.

Earlier this year, Joseph reached out with a vision: he wanted six personalized watches designed as heirloom gifts for his brothers and the son of one of his late brothers at an upcoming family reunion. He'd spent months searching for a company that was up to the challenge, since these custom timepieces would be more than accessories—they would become wearable family history, passed down for generations.

A Vision of Personalization

What made Joseph’s project special wasn’t just the final product—it was the creative journey to get there.

While many of our clients approach our Design Concierge with a blank slate, Joseph already had a crystalized design concept: a rough hexagon with his brothers’ names, the Celtic symbol of brotherhood, and the phrase “Family is Everything”. 

Our Hampden design team then translated his concept into four professional caseback mockups, exploring different typefaces, layouts, and placements of the brotherhood symbol. These custom watch design proofs gave Joseph the chance to compare styles side by side and refine the direction.

“I really love the ideas, and would like a bit of a mixture,” Joseph told us in his feedback. “The main design from Style D, the font of the name in Style B… I love it. You can go ahead and print it.”

With Joseph’s final approval, our team engraved the six custom caseback watches using proprietary precision methods we've refined over decades of laser engraving in our Chicago factory. The finished timepieces—seen lined up together in Joseph’s family photos—represent both collaboration and legacy.

This four-step arc—client consultation → Hampden design options → client feedback → final personalized watches—is standard of our custom design process. Every client gets the opportunity to see their ideas evolve into reality, ensuring that the final watch is not just made for them but made with them.

"The Best Give I've Ever Received"

When Joseph presented the watches at his family reunion, the response was overwhelming.

“Most who received the watches tearfully said that it was the best gift they have ever received,” Joseph shared in his review.

“I am a watch collector, and these watches are very high quality and second to none. I can’t recommend Hampden watches highly enough, and I will certainly be creating more designs with them for every personal and business opportunity that I can.”

Moments like this are why Hampden exists—to transform watches into personalized heirlooms that honor milestones, memories, and the people who matter most.

Joseph and his brother later joined us in Chicago for our brand relaunch event, going so far as to change his flight to make it on time. 

He brought photos of his family wearing their watches, already making history together. 

For Joseph, Hampden’s story and his family’s story are now intertwined. And for us, his project perfectly embodies our tagline:

All Watches Tell Time. Hampden Watches Tell Stories.