If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance you’ve been to one of our Windup Watch Fairs in San Francisco, Chicago, or New York City. In the nine years we’ve brought together enthusiasts and brands across the country, it’s been incredible to hear the different stories of how people have come to Worn & Wound and all the reasons they’ve stayed. If you’re a long-time-reader-none-time-attendee lamenting, “I’ve never been to a fair like this before…” – trust us, neither have we.
2024 is going to be a brand new year for the Windup Watch Fair. With over 30 first-time watch and EDC brands as well as many familiar favorites, everyone is in for a treat as we descend on the Fort Mason Gateway Pavilion later this week for the Windup Watch Fair. Maybe it’s our refreshed mission for the year, to include even more enthusiasts under the Worn & Wound umbrella, catalyzing the new EDC Expo with Carryology. Maybe it’s the new venue, the historic (literally) building in the arts and cultural hub along the San Francisco Bay. Maybe it’s the over 90 watches and gear brands coming this year. Ok, a big part of it is the brands. All of these different pieces make this year an all-together new Windup for everyone. If you’re in the Bay Area this weekend, we have two words for you: get here!
Fort Mason – Gateway Pavilion, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123
Friday, May 3: 12PM – 6PM
Saturday, May 4: 12PM – 6PM
Sunday, May 5: 12PM – 5PM
Free and open to the public
Of course, Windup will have some familiar aspects in 2024. Beyond wandering the brands around the two story (with elevator!) event hall of Gateway Pavillion, we’ll offer a number of events and activities which will mostly happen on the lower floor of the event space. Read the full overview of the weekend’s programming here. Be sure to stay on the lookout for members of our team capturing wrist shots and your impressions of Windup throughout the fair.
1:00 PM PT | Time on Screen: Dunkirk featuring Jonny Garrett, Founder & CEO of William Wood Watches and Zach Kazan, Managing Editor of Worn & Wound
Jonny joins one of our most-beloved podcast series, discussing great stories on cinema and the watches within them. William Wood has made its name integrating the unique history of fire-fighting into their watch designs. Their next watch, teased here and to be released at the end of May, features pieces from real fire boats that followed Royal Navy requisitions in World War II to travel to Dunkirk and help evacuate soldiers. That ground-level heroism inspired Christopher Nolan’s 2017 epic and William Wood today.
2:30 PM PT | Introducing The Twelve X with Christopher Ward featuring Mike France, CEO of Christopher Ward and Zach Kazan, Managing Editor of Worn & Wound
Christopher Ward is known for two things: beautiful watches and ambition. Celebrating their 20-year brand anniversary and 10 years of the SH21 movement, we’ll sit down with CEO Mike France to share stories from 20 years innovating and how all their learnings have come together for their latest release: The Twelve X. You can read our review of The Twelve X here, and get the BTS experience from Mike on Friday.
4:00 PM PT | Exploring the Collecting Journey with Watch Gang featuring Chad Tsargis, Senior VP of Product at Watch Gang, Vishal Tolani, CEO of Solar Time Ltd. and Uwe Rucker, CEO of Laco.
If you like story time, don’t miss this panel! Chad, Vishal, and Uwe are all storied collectors as well as notable stewards for multiple notable brands. Bringing their own sensibilities to the business side of the enthusiast market affords them unique perspectives on the state of the community today and where it could be going. The conversation will cover a breadth of topics including advice to newer collectors and lessons learned from their own journeys collecting.
We’ll close Day 1 with a celebratory Happy Hour by the Oris Booth, toasting to their new Aquis Collection and the start of a great weekend.
11:00 AM PT | Leica Photo Walk with Camera West and Worn & Wound
Early birds can join us before the Saturday doors even open, as West Coast photography brand Camera West will lead interested attendees on a short walk around our corner of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (one of the most visited National Park Sites in the United States). Cameras will be available to borrow, or you are welcome to bring your own as we explore the beauty and serenity of the Bay before the din of Windup continues. To reserve your spot and get more information, head to the Leica booth on Friday.
1:00 PM PT | Talking Typography & Watch Design with Paulin featuring Katie Muir, Designer at Paulin, and James Edmondson, Type Designer at OH no.
For all our talk of movements and complications, typography is perhaps the most under-discussed element of the watches we wear. Fortunately Paulin is standing up for the unsung typographists and designers today. Join us for a conversation about integrating typography into the watch-making process and the lessons we can all learn from prioritizing joy in design.
2:30 PM PT | Collection Protection with HODINKEE Insurance featuring Marc Hajjar, Head of HODINKEE Insurance and Zach Kazan, Managing Editor at Worn & Wound
Watches mean so much to the people that wear them, whether it’s the pride of passing something down to posterity or a recognition of work well done. How can we ensure these pieces remain for years to come? Zach and Marc will discuss the realities of a growing watch collection and when enthusiasts should start thinking about protecting their pieces.
4:00 PM PT | The Art of the Wrist Shot with Citizen, Camera West, and Leica Store SF featuring Neall Brick, Director of Merchandising at Citizen Brand, Ben Carpenter, Marketing Manager at Camera West, and Kat Shoulders, Head of Production at Worn & Wound
Join Neall, Ben, and Kat as they discuss the importance of the Wrist Shot and best practices for enshrining your own pieces in film. After a short chat, the presenters will lead an interactive demonstration, using cameras provided by Camera West and watches from Citizen to allow participants to take their own wrist shots. Phone cameras are also encouraged. The event will take place off the Windup Floor in a private room.
Day 2 will close with a 4:30 PM PT Meet Up with Carryology in their EDC Expo Lounge on the Second Floor as well as a W&W+ Meet Up at 5:00 PM with Fears by the venue bar.
12:30 PM PT | Crafting a Collab with Zodiac and Redbar featuring Kathleen McGivney, CEO of RedBar, TJ McKnight, Senior Director of Zodiac, and James Helms, Co-Founder of Worn & Wound
Collabs are not new to the world of watches, Worn & Wound has done its share of them… even a few with Zodiac! What exactly goes into the concepting, the design process, the manufacturing and the positioning to make a collab a success? Join Kathleen, TJ, and James as they discuss the behind-the-scenes process of a collaboratively-designed watch and what excites them most about building those relationships.
1:30 PM PT | Trend Forecast: Enthusiast Car and Travel Gear with Carryology & Topo Designs featuring Jedd Rose, Founder at Topo Design, Taylor Welden, Creative Director at Carryology, and Kyle Snarr, Head of Partnerships at Worn & Wound
Product Design is a balance between internal creative innovation and external realities of material durability, production costs, and consumer choice. Kyle sits down with Jedd and Taylor to discuss the wild worlds of Car and Travel enthusiasts, their similarities with the watch world, and what kind of trends could influence us in the next couple years.
3:00 PM PT | Evolution Vs. Revolution with ORIS featuring V..J. Geronimo, CEO of the Americas at ORIS, Zach Kazan, Managing Editor at Worn & Wound, and Blake Malin, CEO at Worn & Wound
Oris has a long and storied history of going their own way, one that complements Worn & Wound’s (albeit much newer) path in the enthusiast community. These two CEOs will share thoughts on the strategy of evolutionary growth and how they’ve used it to navigate the world of watches. With a commitment to supporting the fans of their brands, the conversation between Blake and VJ is a must-see for watch lovers.
We’re so looking forward to the Windup Watch Fair San Francisco 2024! Be sure to check out directions to Fort Mason Gateway Pavillion and local weather forecasts as you’re planning your trip to the Fair. We encourage all attendees to take public transit or carpool as able. There is metered parking directly across from the venue entrance. You can count on food trucks on-site throughout the weekend and strap and bracelet adjustments provided by Sutcliffe Hansen (a new brand including Marshall Sutcliffe of Wristwatch Revival).
A heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors and all attendees for making this the biggest Windup we’ve never been to. Get the latest Windup info by signing up for email notifications, following us on Instagram, and by joining our private, free Slack community Worn & Wound+. See you soon!
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