Hodinkee
Just Because: How To Spend $250 At Windup New York
Windup Watch Fair has become a mainstay of New York Watch Week and one of the biggest gatherings on the city’s watch calendar, bringing thousands of watch enthusiasts together each year. Now in its eleventh edition, the fair continues to grow, with more than 160 brands (including Baltic, Brew, Sinn, and Oris) participating this year. The 2026 edition marked Windup’s third year at Center415 on Fifth Avenue, where the venue once again gave visitors the opportunity to interact with and shop from a mix of independent and established watch brands — with a handful of tech, outdoor gear, and travel brands thrown into the mix (including Ad Patina, a fan-favorite that sells historic print ads from iconic watchmakers). With free admission, Windup offers an accessible way for both longtime collectors and curious newcomers to experience the industry in person, making it no surprise that it's the world's largest public watch fair. This year, we of course wanted to check out the show, but we also decided to add a little competition to the mix. Our Editor-in-Chief, James Stacey, and Deputy Editor, Tim Jeffreys, went head-to-head to see who could make the most of a $250 budget at the fair. With plenty of watches, straps, fun gadgets, and other items to choose from, each had to decide how best to spend their money. Watch the video and let us know in the comments who had the best haul. Video Producer/Editor: Erika Kondo
