★★★★★
5.0 Average Rating
First Hand Watchmaking Workshop
Build Your Own Swiss Mechanical Watch in One Day
Six-hour, small-group workshop at Hampden HQ in Chicago. No experience required. Leave wearing the watch you built.
West Loop, Chicago • 6 hours • $2,100
"BEST WATCH CLASSES IN AMERICA"
"You Leave Wearing The Swiss Watch You Built With Your Own Hands"
"Tick, Tick, Boom! Students Flock to Hampden’s Watchmaking Workshop"
"Country's Oldest Watch Company Committed to Chicago"
The First Hand Experience: What You'll Leave With
A Swiss Mechanical Watch You Built
You’ll assemble and regulate a Swiss mechanical movement under magnification, guided step-by-step at the bench. You’ll understand it because you built it, and you’ll wear it because it’s yours.
Real Instruction in a Small Room
Each six-hour class is capped at six guests with a 2:1 instruction ratio, so you’re never stuck or left behind. It’s beginner-friendly, hands-on guidance the whole day, not a group demo.
An Engraving That Marks the Moment
Before you leave, we’ll engrave your movement with your initials and the year to make the day permanent. That’s when it shifts from “a watch” to your story.
Leave With the Watch You Built
You’ll walk out wearing the watch you built, finished and ready for real life. And every time you glance at it, you’ll remember the bench, the tools, and the moment it came to life.
Reserve your seat with a $525 deposit (25%) today.
Balance due 30 days prior.
Join First Hand, Hampden’s best-selling watchmaking workshop in Chicago, hosted at our historic West Loop headquarters.
Developed by third-generation CEO Joseph Wein, you’ll explore the mechanics of a Swiss Made 6498 movement — learning to disassemble, rebuild, and regulate it yourself. After a chef-catered lunch, you’ll add the dial and hands, case your watch, and take home a 42mm Swiss mechanical timepiece engraved with your initials.
Before You Book
Absolutely not. First Hand is designed for beginners. About 90% of our guests have never sat at a watchmaking bench before. We teach you step-by-step with a 2:1 instructor-to-student ratio, so you’re guided closely the entire time.
You’ll build a Hampden Model 1 in a 42mm case around a Swiss manual-wind 6498 movement, then leave wearing the finished watch. This isn’t a demo. It’s a real build, guided by Hampden’s watchmaking team, designed to become an heirloom you’ll actually wear.
Our flagship First Hand workshop centers on the 42mm Model 1. During the experience, you’ll select from several class-exclusive dials. We also engrave your initials on the movement, and the sapphire exhibition back lets you revisit the moment every time you look down.
Plan for a full day. We start at 9:00 AM and typically wrap around 4:00 PM. Lunch is included, along with a break for a private gallery tour of Hampden’s vintage watches.
Your seat includes:
- A full guided watchmaking workshop at Hampden HQ
- Your Swiss mechanical watch (the one you build)
- Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
- All tools, materials, and instruction throughout the day
- A private tour of Hampden's corporate watch collection, featuring 150 years of watchmaking history
First Hand takes place at Hampden Watch HQ in Chicago at 1550 W Carroll Ave, on the edge of Fulton Market. Free parking is provided, and you’ll receive simple arrival instructions after booking.
Each class seats only six guests, so we keep our policy simple and flexible:
- Your seat is fully transferable. Send someone in your place anytime.
- Need a different date? We'll help you reschedule whenever we can.
- Prefer to step away entirely? We'll convert your payment to Hampden store credit.
Because seats are limited and held for you, we don't offer cash refunds, but every other option stays open to you.
- JCJohn C.Rated 5 out of 5 stars3 days agoReview of Workshop (Chicago)
This workshop is a real life "Field of Dreams" for watch fans. Collectors can all read and talk about watches. But Daniel, Joe and Marc (and the team) provide something uniquely different with this experience. The watch collector (and horology fans) are offered a truly hands on experience.
To actually assemble and walk out with a very nice watch (ETA movement) is a chance for the participant to take their love of collecting and appreciation to a new level.
- KJKelly J.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars2 weeks agoAmazing experience
This exceeded my expectations in literally every way. The class was intentionally small, with two instructors, three technicians, and an incredible setup that made the experience feel personal and immersive. The group included hobbyists, collectors, and complete beginners like me, but the course was approachable and engaging for every skill level.
The technical information was presented exceptionally well through videos, step-by-step tablets, instructor demos with a projected microscope, and plenty of individual support. What I expected to be overwhelming was actually fascinating and easy to follow. Joe and his team were knowledgeable, engaging, and entertaining throughout.
The experience itself was thoughtfully considered from start to finish. The building is stunning, and the historical tour featuring hand-engraved pocket watches and Russian military-issued watches was one of my favorite parts. Even the food served was exceptional.
The class walks you through the entire watchmaking process, including setting the hands and water testing the watch. They laser engrave your initials on the movement, provide both a strap and bracelet, and let you choose the color combination.
This was one of the most enjoyable classes I’ve taken, and I’ve recommended it to anyone who will listen. I would sign up for another one in a heartbeat.
- SMSteven M.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars3 weeks agoAmazing Experience!
Every part of this experience is well designed and planned. Just like the detail that goes into assembling the watch itself, the same level of care goes into the experience itself. The facility, the equipment, the people teaching us, the tour of the history of Hampden, and the food — just a stellar experience for watch lovers!
- LMLanthony M.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1 month agoAmazing Experience!
From start to finish this experience was amazing! The team was super approachable and nice, full of knowledge, patience and most importantly the one to one attention that each student, this definitely was the best part of the experience.
Would do again, thanks team!
- GDGregory D. K.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1 month agoAWESOME EXPERIENCE!
For any watch lover/collector out there, I can't recommend this great class enough. We enrolled our our 13 year old son in the class, who is a watch collector and budding watchmaker, for his spring break adventure. He (and we) truly enjoyed the class, talking with Joe Wein and his amazing colleagues. Joe, thank you for creating such a memorable experience for our son. We hope to be back another time; maybe for Jay to join your team!?