Six hours. Six guests. One Swiss mechanical watch you build yourself.
Every session since launch has sold out. Here's what guests, press, and watchmakers are saying about the experience.
Priority Access Alerts (Free) — Email waitlist with 48-hour heads-up before new dates go live.
First Access Booking (Gift Card) — Exclusive pre-sale seat selection before public release, plus price protection.
AS SEEN ON NBC CHICAGO
NBC5 Chicago spent an afternoon touring Hampden's HQ and First Hand workshop. This is what they found.
FEATURED IN THE PRESS
"We traveled from Utah to Chicago for the weekend, and this class was truly the highlight of our trip — we were treated first class from start to finish." — Jared, Utah
"At the end, my son and I proudly wore our matching watches that will bond us forever — which made this experience priceless." — Adam, Florida
"I am notoriously clumsy. I always lose parts. But the watch professionals were absolutely amazing — I honestly think I got so much more than what I paid." — Omayr, Illinois
"I’m happy to travel to Chicago again for round two! Maybe even three. Dare I say four?!" — Brent, Colorado
THE EXPERIENCE
YOUR DAY AT FIRST HAND
Six hours that go by too fast.
MORNING
1: Welcome + Overview
Arrive at Hampden's historic West Loop headquarters and enjoy a delicious homemade breakfast + refreshments.
Meet your fellow guests. Your master instructor walks you through the day and what you'll build.
MORNING
2: Movement Work
Under magnification, you'll disassemble, inspect, and reassemble a Swiss Made 6498 movement. You learn what makes it run then make it run yourself — with personalized attention from our master instructors.
MIDDAY
3: Lunch + Tour
A chef-catered lunch and personal tour of Hampden's private corporate watch collection.
AFTERNOON
4: Dial, Hands, and Casing
You add the dial and set the hands, then case your movement. The mechanics become a finished watch.
AFTERNOON
5: Final Checks + Regulation
You verify your movement's precision. If needed, you regulate it yourself. Your watch earns its accuracy.
AFTERNOON
6: Wear It Home
Time for your wrist shot and a toast! You leave with a 42mm Swiss mechanical watch you built by hand. And a certificate to prove it.
- TSTessa S.Verified ReviewerRated 5 out of 5 starsYesterdayAwesome Class!!!
My son, daughter, and I all thoroughly enjoyed our experience assembling our individualized Hampden watches. I was a bit nervous prior to the class, but they made us all very comfortable as soon as the class began. There was 1 instructor for every 2 students with a small overall class size, so we had excellent, close supervision throughout the class. We used professional, high-end equipment to assemble our watches and we both watched a live demonstration by the master instructor modeling the necessary techniques while referencing the notebook instructions provided. The presentation of the final assembly stage was very cool - see photo below. Engraved initials and date of assembly on the watches is a special feature to make each one of a kind. The class felt so welcoming with delicious, homemade food for breakfast and lunch. My family appreciated learning the history of the company as well as understanding the inner functioning of the watches we assembled. After enjoying a tasty whiskey pour, we left with a personalized watch, travel case, leather & stainless steel strap. All of us highly recommend and would do it again!
- LWLuke W.Rated 5 out of 5 stars2 days agoWatching making class
This was an incredible experience. Class was well planned out, not too overcrowded, had incredible helpers along the way, and came home with a brand new working watch.
- AWAdam W.Rated 5 out of 5 stars3 days agoUnforgettable Experience!
I’m a collector of watches and was excited when several years ago my son also got the bug. I saw this class and thought what an interesting father/son activity this could be.
I flew from FL to Detroit, and my son from MI and we met at the airport. In the cab we talked about our next day and had no idea what to really expect.
From the moment we walked through Hampden’s beautiful building, we knew this was going to be special, and Joe Wein, Marc and his crew did not disappoint!
As you sit around the room at your workstation with microscopes and tools surrounded by other enthusiastic students, I was a little nervous since I am not one who would be considered “handy”!
From the moment we began the Hampden team were patient, helpful and you knew you were in the presence of people who really loved what they did.
Step by step instruction with both live demonstrations and a book to follow made it easy throughout the day (except getting used to handling screws with tweezers that are literally microscopic) and even then there was always a helping hand making sure you didn’t get frustrated.
Did I mention the absolutely fantastic lunch that was served?
At the end, my son and I proudly wore our matching watches that will bond us forever, which made this experience………priceless.
- ONOmayr N.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars4 weeks agoAn unparalleled experience!
I have been into watches for a year and a half. I have bracelets and straps down pat. But that’s it. I wanted to delve deeper: get into the movement, learn how watches work, familiarize myself with the parts and functions. I was too scared to do anything, even though I had a bunch of cheap, Chinese movements. When I learned about this class, I jumped at the opportunity and registered. I was so happy to be able to learn from professionals and even put together my own watch! That was a major plus.
I was really nervous the day of the class. I am notoriously clumsy. I always lose parts. I am also a bit socially inept. But the watch professionals were absolutely amazing. The class went on at a steady pace. We were told what to do, showed how to do it (along with plenty of tips and warnings about what we might encounter), and then did it ourselves. The watch professionals kept a close eye on what we were doing. They swept in to help when we needed, but not too much coddling.
In the course of the class, we disassembled a movement, then put it back. Then we started putting together the watch. I expressed these in just a few words, but this was a very involved process with detailed instructions. Fortunately, we had an instruction book with very clearly labeled pictures to show what we were to do and where to put parts or from where to pick them up. I enjoyed the anecdotes and hearing about the instructors’ experiences. Every single step was explained, including the technique.…
- BFBrent F.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1 month agoWatchmaking Workshop=Awesome Experience
This watch workshop was simply awesome. A ton of fun and informative.
Joe Wein does a great job teaching the class and Marc is perfect in helping each participant with questions and problem solving along the way. Technical yet achievable for all.
I’m happy to travel to Chicago again for round two! Maybe even three. Dare I say four?!
Leaving with a watch that you build is a gratifying experience.
Sign up! Bring a few friends. You won’t regret it.
BF
Denver CO
First Hand Started With a Watch in a Drawer
First Hand Started With a Watch in a Drawer
Third-generation CEO Joseph Wein had always believed that an engraving transforms a watch into something precious. Most watch brands are about the brand. He wanted Hampden watches to be about the wearer.
Then the team asked a different question: what if the watch wasn't just engraved with your story, but became part of your story? What if you built it?
What followed was a year of curriculum development, microscope modifications, tool sourcing, and testing checkpoints designed to make watchmaking genuinely approachable for beginners. The goal, as Joseph puts it, was never to make it fancy. The goal was to make it possible.
The first time you install a balance bridge and the movement starts running on its own, you'll feel something. Watchmakers call it bringing the movement to life. First Hand was built around that moment.
First Hand, Reserved for Your Team
PRIVATE + CORPORATE SESSIONS
First Hand, Reserved for Your Team
First Hand is available for private bookings — corporate offsites, executive team events, client experiences, and milestone celebrations. Your group gets the full day: the movement build, the lunch, the engraving, and the watches. All of it exclusive to your party.
We've hosted work teams, business partners, and groups marking significant moments together. The experience translates well to any context where you want people to slow down, work with their hands, and leave with something they made.
Private sessions require a full six-person class and can be scheduled around your calendar. Inquire below and we'll follow up within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
None. First Hand is designed for complete beginners. Joseph and the Hampden team guide every step, and the class is structured so that you succeed regardless of your background. If you can handle tweezers, you're qualified.
The watch you built. It's a 42mm Swiss mechanical timepiece with your initials engraved on the movement, an exhibition caseback so you can see it running, and a dual-strap setup in leather and stainless steel. You also receive a certificate of completion and a custom travel case.
More than half our First Hand guests travel from out of state to join us. The consistent answer afterward is yes. There is no comparable experience offered to the public anywhere else in the country — a full build, on professional equipment, in a small group, with a Hampden watch you wear home the same day.
Priority Access Alerts are free. You join the list and receive a 48-hour heads-up by email before new dates go live to the general public. It's the best way to stay informed without committing money now.
First Access Booking is a gift card purchase. Gift card holders get pre-sale access — meaning you can select and reserve your seat before dates are released publicly. Gift cards also include price protection if the workshop price increases. If you want to guarantee your spot rather than compete for one, this is the path.
Each gift card covers one full seat in any future First Hand session (Caliber 6498 course only). Gift cards are fully transferable, carry no expiration date, and are applied at booking when the next dates open. They also make a strong gift for anyone on your list who would never buy this for themselves.
Yes. Private First Hand sessions are available for corporate teams, executive groups, and milestone events. Reach out directly via our contact page to discuss availability, group size, and options.
Six guests, with a 2:1 student-to-instructor ratio throughout the day. The small size is intentional. It's what makes the level of individual attention possible.