Hampden Watch Since 1877
The Hampden name has been on American watches since 1877. One of them was in Orville Wright's pocket at Kitty Hawk in 1903.
Four generations of our family have made watches in Chicago since 1922. Hampden is the name we build under today.
FOUR GENERATIONS IN CHICAGO
Over the decades, our family's work has taken us far from Chicago, to factories in Switzerland and the Virgin Islands, and to workshops in New York and Providence. In 1958 we acquired Hampden, a name that had been on American watches since 1877, and it became the one we build under today. Along the way we also ran Benrus for close to two decades. But no matter where we built, the heartbeat of the business stayed in Chicago, with tens of millions of watches passing through our factories into the hands of customers.
Now, as a fourth generation joins the story, we're looking ahead. The watches we're creating today honor that history while carrying Hampden forward.
1877
The original Hampden Watch Company is founded in Springfield, Massachusetts. Its pocket watches become staples of early American watchmaking.
1877
The original Hampden Watch Company is founded in Springfield, Massachusetts. Its pocket watches become staples of early American watchmaking.
1888
John Dueber, who had been making Hampden's cases, buys the company and moves both operations to Canton, Ohio. In their first year the combined firms employ close to a tenth of the city's population.
1888
John Dueber, who had been making Hampden's cases, buys the company and moves both operations to Canton, Ohio. In their first year the combined firms employ close to a tenth of the city's population.
1903
Orville Wright carries his Hampden pocket watch aboard the Wright Flyer while making the first flight at Kitty Hawk.
1903
Orville Wright carries his Hampden pocket watch aboard the Wright Flyer while making the first flight at Kitty Hawk.
1922
Escaping war-torn Europe, Hyman Wein arrives in Chicago and founds the Clinton Watch Company.
1922
Escaping war-torn Europe, Hyman Wein arrives in Chicago and founds the Clinton Watch Company.
1927
Pocket watch sales fall after the First World War. Dueber-Hampden enters receivership.
1927
Pocket watch sales fall after the First World War. Dueber-Hampden enters receivership.
1930
The company's machinery is sold and shipped to Russia. Twenty-eight boxcars leave Canton along with twenty-one Dueber-Hampden employees sent to teach the craft. Hampden-pattern movements are produced in Moscow for decades, and the American operations end.
1930
The company's machinery is sold and shipped to Russia. Twenty-eight boxcars leave Canton along with twenty-one Dueber-Hampden employees sent to teach the craft. Hampden-pattern movements are produced in Moscow for decades, and the American operations end.
1933
Hyman's brother Morris Wein moves to Canada and founds Marathon Watch Company, which continues to thrive to this day manufacturing Swiss-made, military-grade watches.
1933
Hyman's brother Morris Wein moves to Canada and founds Marathon Watch Company, which continues to thrive to this day manufacturing Swiss-made, military-grade watches.
1947
After returning home from fighting in the European theatre during World War II, Irving Wein joins his father Hyman as the second generation at the company.
1947
After returning home from fighting in the European theatre during World War II, Irving Wein joins his father Hyman as the second generation at the company.
1958
Hyman acquires the historic Hampden name — linking his family’s Chicago-born business with an American brand dating back to 1877. The two legacies become one.
1958
Hyman acquires the historic Hampden name — linking his family’s Chicago-born business with an American brand dating back to 1877. The two legacies become one.
1973
Irving builds factories in Switzerland and St. Croix, pioneering new designs and bold marketing. Famously, Clinton's diver watches are sold inside vials of water with a lifetime guarantee to prove their durability.
1973
Irving builds factories in Switzerland and St. Croix, pioneering new designs and bold marketing. Famously, Clinton's diver watches are sold inside vials of water with a lifetime guarantee to prove their durability.
1981
Irving acquires the Benrus Watch Company, once one of America’s great national brands. For two decades, the family runs Benrus before returning to its Hampden roots.
1981
Irving acquires the Benrus Watch Company, once one of America’s great national brands. For two decades, the family runs Benrus before returning to its Hampden roots.
1985
Joseph Wein joins his father Irving to become the third generation in the family business.
1985
Joseph Wein joins his father Irving to become the third generation in the family business.
1989
Hampden becomes the first company to use laser machines in watch production, receiving the first of many U.S. patents for its methods.
1989
Hampden becomes the first company to use laser machines in watch production, receiving the first of many U.S. patents for its methods.
2002
Even as globalization and the quartz crisis reshapes the industry, the family holds fast. After Irving’s passing in 2002, the business continues assembling private label watches.
2002
Even as globalization and the quartz crisis reshapes the industry, the family holds fast. After Irving’s passing in 2002, the business continues assembling private label watches.
2023
Joseph’s son Daniel Wein joins the business as the fourth-generation to relaunch the Hampden brand.
2023
Joseph’s son Daniel Wein joins the business as the fourth-generation to relaunch the Hampden brand.
2025
The First Hand Watchmaking Workshop opens at Hampden's West Loop headquarters, where guests build a Swiss mechanical watch by hand in a day.
2025
The First Hand Watchmaking Workshop opens at Hampden's West Loop headquarters, where guests build a Swiss mechanical watch by hand in a day.
2027
The Hampden name turns 150.
2027
The Hampden name turns 150.
