ith a history dating back to the founding of the Clinton Watch Company in 1922 by Hyman Wein, the Wein family claims the title of “America’s oldest family-owned watch company.” Their business has remained based in Chicago and under continuous family ownership for more than a century, assembling watches in both Switzerland and the U.S.

Today, third-generation CEO Joe Wein and fourth-generation Brand Director Daniel Wein are bringing the 146-year-old Hampden brand — founded in 1878 as part of America’s early watchmaking industry — back to consumers with a renewed focus on meaningful, heirloom-quality personalization. The relaunch begins with the Centennial Collection, led by the flagship Model 1 Sullivan, a Swiss-made automatic featuring Hampden’s recently patented Casecap^®.

At the heart of Hampden’s offering is caseback personalization, an often-overlooked space traditionally limited to a few characters or a single line of text. Most watch brands treat engraving as an afterthought, offering limited options or requiring buyers to seek out third-party vendors for anything more meaningful.

Daniel and Joe Wein, fourth- and third-generation leaders of Hampden Watch, at the company’s A Century in Time relaunch celebration in Chicago’s West Loop on July 12, 2025.

Hampden changes that. With personalization built into the product from the start, the Casecap transforms the caseback into a fully expressive canvas. Customers can engrave handwriting, illustrations, coordinates, or symbols—etched in-house with exceptional precision and depth. The Casecap offers the freedom to switch between an exhibition back and an engraved back with no tools.

“Connecting to people’s personal stories is our mission,” said Daniel Wein. “We’ve spent years preparing for this moment — not just relaunching Hampden as a brand, but redefining what a personalized watch can be.”

The Model 1 Sullivan, Hampden’s flagship automatic, shown in all three dial colors: Carbon, Navy, and Parchment. Each features a Swiss Made Sellita movement, 38-hour power reserve display, and the patented Casecap® system for interchangeable caseback personalization.

This philosophy guided the development of the Casecap, designed to preserve a personal engraving without sacrificing mechanical movement visibility.

“I’ve always disliked having to choose between a meaningful engraving and an exhibition caseback,” said Joe Wein, Hampden CEO and inventor of the Casecap. “So when we set out to design our flagship model, I created a new solution: one that could honor a memory on one side and celebrate horological beauty on the other.”

Hampden’s patented Casecap® system, shown with an engraved casecap. The interchangeable caseback allows wearers to switch between an engraved back and exhibition back.

Customers can design their engraving through Hampden’s Design Concierge, a complimentary virtual service that pairs each buyer with a professional designer. From handwriting samples to original illustrations, the team works with clients to bring their one-of-a-kind engraving to life.

One early customer engraved a handwritten quote from his father as an enduring tribute. Another, Joseph Lester, worked with Hampden’s Design Concierge to create a custom family crest, which he gifted to five members of his family at a reunion. “Most of my brothers tearfully said it was the best gift they had ever received,” Lester said.

Over the past hundred years, Hampden has produced more than 10 million timepieces, serving generations of customers across the country.