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
"My watch collection is valued at more than 1M...and yet, since our class, I have not worn any timepiece other than my Hampden watch that I crafted myself. Pride of craftsmanship. And it’s keeping perfect time." — Vincent, Chicago
"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 a private tour of the Hampden Gallery, our collection of historic watches.
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.
- JPJeffrey P.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsYesterdayDon’t pass this up!!
I had an amazing time at Hampden making my own watch. The people were very knowledgeable and very friendly.
This is the best in class of any other watch making class I’ve taken so far!!
If you ever have the opportunity don’t pass it up!!
I’m looking forward to doing the Level #2 when it becomes available!!
- TMTroy M.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars4 days agoGreat Experience
This was a great way to spend a day. Got to tear down and reassemble a Swiss movement, Take the asembled movement pick a dial and build a beautiful watch from all the parts!
- DMDavid M.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars3 weeks agoWhat else can be said!?
Worth every penny! What a unique, extremely well curated experience. Marc, Oscar, and Gian were a pleasure to learn from and get to know throughout the day. And above all, love the watch! It will certainly get a lot of wrist time.
- SPSteven P.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars3 weeks agoOne of the best classes I’ve ever taken
Every once in a while you come across a class that interests you and wonder if it’s too good to be true… for a watch collector and hobbyist, that would be a class where you take apart a Swiss watch movement and reassemble it in one day’s time. This is that opportunity.
Hampden nailed it! From the moment I walked in the classroom to when I left in the afternoon with my new timepiece that I built, I was treated as a VIP guest. Joe and his team consisting of Mark, Gian and Oscar not only make you feel welcome, but instill the confidence throughout the day that you’re going to build a cool watch step by step, and I did.
The class is laid out perfectly and is well thought out, so even someone who never opened a watch is successful and is having fun.
I highly recommend this class to anyone interested in watches or even to those who are just curious to learn how things work. You won’t be disappointed.
Looking forward to the next class they offer, I’ll definitely be coming back.
- MPMichael P.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars3 weeks agoCore memory experience
I cannot recommend this experience enough for those interested in watchmaking and/or just interested in experiencing something new and different.
Great instructors that were knowledgeable, patient and personable, amazing space to work in and highly engaging content about horology, company history and of course the watch making.
I’ve made several watches through at home kits and on my own and learned many new techniques that help me with my hobby and this watch is by far my favorite that I have made.
I highly recommend this experience!
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.