ICYMI, the 2024 Windup Watch Fair was held in Chicago two weeks ago (July 12th - 14th), bringing together dozens of watchmakers and hundreds of horology enthusiasts at Chicago’s Venue West for the third year running.

Over 50 brands came to show off their latest and greatest models, and the afternoons were filled with on-theme events like panels about the future of watch design and the science behind watchmaking. Worn & Wound also recorded a live podcast episode with The Grey NATO in front of a live audience.

In case you didn’t make it out to the Windy City this year, keep reading for a brief recap of the 2024 Windup Watch Fair!

Also in this week’s newsletter:

This Week in Watches

• In honor of the Olympics getting underway, Zenith released a brand-new DEFY SKYLINE piece that celebrates the French capital with intricate details and a gradient-toned, star-patterned dial. The Paris Edition model retails for $9,800, but it will only be available “in physical and online boutique[s] in France.”

• Tickets to WatchTime New York are officially available for purchase on the event website. Featuring brands like Chopard, MB&F, Parmigiani, and Piaget, the event will take place October 18th - 20th at Gotham Hall in New York City – come ready to enjoy a weekend of watches!

• The 2024 Olympic Games (wait, didn’t the Olympics just come up?) officially began yesterday in Paris, France, with a spectacular opening ceremony. Over the next few weeks, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Omega watches on athletes’ wrists. The watchmaker is an official partner of the 2024 Olympic Games and will be eager to put their collections in front of your eyes.

Windup Watch Fair: Chi-Town in Review

Event Recap

Chicago: Home of deep-dish pizza and backdrop for Hulu’s The Bear. And, more recently, the Windy City was the site of the 2024 Windup Watch Fair.

Hosted by Worn & Wound, this horology fest kicked off with an opening reception at the flagship CD Peacock Mansion at the Oak Brook Center. Those who attended had the opportunity to fully experience one of Chicago’s oldest premier jewelers in its finest moment – The House of Peacock opened in the spring of 2023.

On Friday, the Windy City Windup Watch Fair began in earnest. In addition to shopping, content creation, and general watch talk, Worn & Wound put together an assortment of informative and entertaining panels (keep reading for the full list!) to discuss the influx of budding watch enthusiasts and give audiences insights into the past, present, and future of watch design.

Staged throughout the weekend, these mini-events gave attendees a chance to learn even more about the watch industry and hear from esteemed guests like:

• Abingdon Mullin (CEO of Abingdon),

• Bradley Price (car enthusiast and owner of Autodromo),

• V.J. Geronimo (CEO - The Americas at Oris),

• and Marc Frankel (owner of Islander), among many other amazing watch industry leaders.

On Friday evening, event-goers were invited to attend a happy hour hosted by Watch Gang and Bruichladdich. Saturday’s festivities concluded with an aptly themed pizza party jointly held by Studio Underd0g and Ooni. Those who took part in the latter had the opportunity to purchase the industry-upsetting Pizza Party watch directly from Studio Underd0g founder, Richard Benc.

The full event itinerary is below in case you missed it, and Worn and Wound has a full description of each of the various activities that you can read if you want even more detail.

Panels & Events:

Thursday, July 11th:

• Chicago Windup Watch Fair Opening Reception at The CD Peacock Mansion

Friday, July 12th:

• Rewriting the Design Language of Watches

• Intriguing On-Ramps into the World of Watches

• Watch Gang x Bruichladdich Happy Hour

Saturday, July 13th:

• The Future of the Sports Watch with Alpina

• The Science, Innovation, and Technology of Watchmaking with Oris

• Choosing the Professional Watch Life with Christopher Ward

• Studio Underd0g Pizza Party

Sunday, July 14th:

• The Grey NATO x Worn & Wound Podcast LIVE!

If you want to attend more events like these, the next Windup Watch Fair will be in New York City from October 18th - 20th. Hope to see you there!

3 Highlights from Chicago This Year

Over 50 brands appeared at the Windup Watch Fair this year – the vast majority of them watchmakers. From big names like Citizen and Tissot to smaller shops like Studio Underd0g, the event hosted an amazing variety of companies that make the horology industry such a unique community. Though many watches from the fair deserve some time in the spotlight, the three on this list were particularly attention-getting…for various reasons (scroll ALL the way down this list to see what this means).

Shoutout to everyone who made it to Chicago!

Price: €545.00

Overview:

This elegant Baltic watch is a sophisticated piece that delivers modern flair at a shockingly affordable price. Though the MR Roulette is available in several color combinations, the classic silver/blue pairing goes the extra mile when it comes to highlighting the special features of this piece. The case measures only 36mm in diameter – making it one of the smallest watches trelet has featured to date – but it maintains a significant wrist presence with its 44mm, Calatrava-style length.

The contrast between the silver-toned case, grained dial, and navy blue band beautifully complements the Baltic’s modern design. Powered by an automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve, this MR Roulette is well-suited for daily use or occasional formal wear.

Price: $3,850

Overview:

The Spaceview 2020 redefines the modern timepiece niche. Powered by Accutron’s proprietary electrostatic movement, this steampunk-esque watch features a brilliant 43.5mm stainless steel case, an open-work dial with signature green accents, and a green-toned genuine alligator strap (ethically sourced “under the guidance of the US Fish & Wildlife Regulations and all CITIES regulations for International Trade”).

Among many other functions, the Spaceview 2020 offers a power-saving measure under which the second hand rests at the 12 o’clock position if the watch has been inactive for 5 minutes. The watch will continue to keep the hour and minute. To re-activate the hand, Accutron encourages the wearer to “swing arm fully up and down for 3 to 5 seconds,” at which point all three hands should become functional.

All these features and functions culminate in a hefty $3,850 price tag (which isn’t cheap!), but paying that sticker gives you a chance to own a limited-release watch that will likely have few – if any – others like it.

Price: $Price on Delivery

Overview:

Where does one even start with this watch?

Initially released as an April Fools’ joke in 2023, the Pepper0ni Pizza Party went gangbusters in the watch community, receiving shocking attention and hundreds of inquiries about when one could purchase it for themselves. This stainless steel watch features a 38.5mm case delicately wrapped around a dial styled to resemble a pepperoni pizza (you can also purchase one that looks like a Hawaiian pie if you think pineapple belongs on pizza).

The interesting challenge with this limited-edition Studio Underd0g piece is purchasing it. The watchmaker does not sell it on its website or at any retailers–the only means of acquiring one is to meet Underd0g founder Richard Benc in person at watch-related meets, fairs, and events like the Windup Watch Fair. Pricing is ambiguous – some examples have been resold for $1,000 and above – and the watchmaker’s website lacks an established listing for the watch. If you want a Pizza Party, best of luck finding one!

Don’t Leave Without Subscribing!