Why Every New Watch Enthusiast Should Attend The Windup Watch Fair
"it felt like most of the brands were there because they wanted to be there"
-Jason, WatchRolling
There are so many things to consider when purchasing a timepiece: materials, price, company reputation, and with the advent of social media: community. All in all, it can be a little much, leading to uncertainty, anxiety, and a feeling of being overwhelmed.
I don’t normally associate myself with the terms above, in part due to the confidence built up during my military career, but they have reared their ugly heads during my watch enthusiast journey. After all, there is so much to learn, and I know enough to know that I do not know much.
If you’ve ever felt like me, I’m happy to let you know that I recently attended the Windup Watch Fair in New York City and will share with you why attending Windup can waylay some of your concerns.
What to Expect
Windup offers a new enthusiast a three-day event with a diverse group of watch brands at your disposal. While there was a lively crowd, it was relatively easy to get to see and speak with any brands you might be interested in. Almost all the personnel representing the brands were knowledgeable and eager to share their story and timepieces. Handling the watches, trying them on, and asking questions were encouraged.
To be totally frank, it was intoxicating at times having all these timepieces available. Intoxicating but educational and reassuring at the same time.
Song Credit: Autumn Dunes by Storyblocks
Having 60+ brands available all in one place is no small feat, and the Windup team did a wonderful job organizing the event. Getting in and out of the venue was a relative breeze. Upon walking in, one could tell that the major sponsors received prime real estate, but that’s understandable as it is a consumer showcase.
Make no bones about it-they’re trying to sell you something, and in this environment, you’ll be given all the data you need to make an educated decision with your money.
My Takeaways
Upon arriving late in the afternoon on Friday, I made sure to swing by the brands I’ve worked with for the past year but haven’t had the pleasure of meeting: Zodiac, William Wood, and Nodus.
Meeting Mike Pearson from Zodiac, Jonny Garrett and his fiancee Haieda from William Wood, and Wes Kwok from Nodus simply reaffirmed what I knew to be true: all are ambassadors, not only of their respective brands but of the watch enthusiast community as well. And this might be the most critical takeaway from Windup-it “felt” like most of the brands were there because they wanted to be there and relished the chance to showcase their brands to the public.
My only regret for the event was a self-imposed timeline constraint, professional obligations, and all. The next time Windup is in NYC; I will make sure I have enough time to get to every booth and take in some of the panels as well.
I cannot overstate this enough: the amount of information exchanged at this event is impressive. I overheard brands asking for feedback from consumers, awesome stories being shared between people, and a generally pleasant amount of socializing. It was refreshing, to say the least.
If you are a newer enthusiast and cannot spare three days, then I recommend making a plan before attending. Look up the brands you are interested in and knock them out systematically. Once you satisfied that need, then you can move on to casual browsing. Also, keep in mind that there was a queue to get into the building every day so plan accordingly. Having a plan of attack helped alleviate some of my anxiety about attending and manage my sense of awe.
Conclusion
Attending Windup was as fun as it was informative. Some brands have ascended or descended in reputation for me, based either on tactile or social interaction. Quite a few brands made my watch list for future purchases. Oak & Oscar, Vortic, Vertex, Long Island Watch, Abingdon Watches, and Formex all provided awesome experiences that shed much light on their respective brands for me.
Sadly I did not get to see every single booth, but that reinforces the fact I need to map out more time for my next visit. This experience will also quell the sense of awe that rushed over me this time. That awe will never completely go away, however, and I think that is the point of Windup.
“None of the links provided are affiliate links. Each respective watch brand afforded us the opportunity to handle their timepieces and I figured the least I can do is provide you access to their sites if you are interested in something featured. No brands had any input into this article and I maintained complete editorial control.”
