Hampden Watch is America's oldest continuously operating watch company, with an unbroken family legacy in Chicago since 1922. Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Hampden is reimagining what a personalized watch can be—placing customers at the center of the design process to create timepieces that are as individual as the stories they mark.
At the core of this vision is Hampden’s patented Casecap—a removable caseback that lets wearers easily switch between a sapphire exhibition back and a fully customizable engraved caseback. More than an industry first, it transforms the back of the watch into a true design canvas, allowing for engravings that range from meaningful text to intricate, photorealistic art.
Every Hampden watch is designed with personalization in mind. Clients can choose from curated engraving templates, upload their own artwork, or collaborate with the complimentary Design Concierge to create a one-of-a-kind piece. The result is not just a watch, but a wearable heirloom—built with Swiss precision, American ingenuity, and a century of craft—that can be worn today and passed down for generations.
Founding Story
Joe and Daniel Wein are the father-and-son team leading the next chapter of Hampden Watch. As the third and fourth generations to steward America’s oldest continuously operating watch company, they share a singular vision: to transform every Hampden timepiece into a vessel for its owner’s story.
That vision has roots in a family heirloom. Among Joe’s most treasured possessions is his father Irving’s watch—the one given to him by Joe’s grandfather before Irving shipped off to fight in Europe during WWII. As Hampden approached its centennial in 2022, Joe set out to design a Swiss-made mechanical watch that could offer customers the same enduring connection that caseback engravings have offered for so many heirlooms. But he faced a choice: traditional engraving meant sacrificing the beauty of a sapphire exhibition window. Refusing to compromise, Joe invented the Casecap—a patented, removable caseback that preserves both the visibility of the movement and the permanence of a personal engraving.
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Team Bios
Daniel Wein
Brand Director, Fourth Generation
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Daniel is the Brand Director of Hampden, helping define the brand's relaunch as a luxury personalized watch brand in the age of eCommerce. Before joining his father as the fourth-generation at Hampden, Daniel spent a decade building strategic communications campaigns across the tech, advocacy, and nonprofit sectors. That mission-driven experience continues to guide his approach to brand-building: create products with purpose, tell real stories, and always lead with meaning.
Joe Wein
CEO, Third Generation
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Joseph Wein is the CEO and third generation of Hampden Watch,America's oldest continuously operating watch company. He joined the family business in 1985 after working as a computer engineer in Silicon Valley and serving as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves. A graduate gemologist with a passion for innovation, Joe has authored multiple patents and led major improvements in Hampden’s manufacturing processes—including the company’s signature removable Casecap.
Since taking over after his father’s passing in 2002, Joe has guided Hampden into its second century with a focus on personalization, heritage, and storytelling. He now works closely with his son Daniel, the fourth generation in the business. Together, they’re building a watch company rooted in family history and dedicated to helping people mark the most meaningful moments in their lives.
