Photo Report: Watch Week Aspen Returns For Its Second Year

Hidden away high in the Colorado Rockies, a narrow, two-lane highway winds its way down from Independence Pass. Meandering through the trees from one scenic overlook to another, where great granite cliffs plunge into the deep, frigid punchbowls of the Roaring Fork River, the road gives way to the idyllic town of Aspen, Colorado. It is within this glamorous mountain town that Watch Week Aspen was held for the second year in a row.

Here, amongst the cobblestone streets at the foot of the world-renowned Aspen Ski resort, hundreds of watch collectors and enthusiasts were welcomed to gather and gaze at some of the finest timepieces in the world.

Aspen as seen from the mountain.

Organized by Elizabeth Smith Hrubala of Oliver Smith Jeweler, Watch Week Aspen brought over a dozen brands and multiple retailers throughout Aspen, with more than 200 attendees, allowing everyone from locals and enthusiasts throughout Colorado to diehard collectors who flew in from farther afield to connect over their love of watchmaking and the mountains.

Discussing the return of Watch Week Aspen, Mrs. Smith Hrubala remarked, "Our second year of Watch Week Aspen exceeded all expectations, bringing together 16 brands and more than 200 attendees in the heart of downtown Aspen." The festivities kicked off with a sunset cocktail at the W hotel, seated just at the base of Aspen Mountain, and allowed guests to ease into the festivities (and begin to acclimate to the altitude).

The following day, the festivities kicked off bright and early with a morning hike up the front of Aspen Mountain, hosted by Bremont, where attendees were joined by none other than Bremont ambassador, mountaineer, and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin. While the primary focus of Watch Week Aspen is, of course, watches and watchmaking, an almost equally important aspect of the weekend is enjoying the natural beauty of the Roaring Fork Valley.

The weekend progressed with events and open houses all throughout town. Just a few highlights included watchmaking demonstrations by A. Lange & Söhne and Omega, a fully immersive F1 "hot lap" racing simulator brought in by H. Moser & Cie, and morning Pickleball with Olympian Alex Ferreira courtesy of Norqain.

Oscar-award winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin (center) with Elizabeth Smith & Kent Hrubala.

What made this year particularly special was not just the expanded roster of participating brands but the caliber of pieces on display. Attendees had the opportunity to see rare and special pieces that brands like A. Lange & Sohne, Audemars Piguet, Glashütte Original, or Omega (to name but a few) brought in just for this event.

Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of the weekend (apart from my own personal satisfaction of being back in the place where I grew up and first learned about fine watchmaking) was witnessing the genuine connection between the community and their shared passion. You see, regardless of the level of collector, whether they were considering buying their first or their tenth watch, or indeed if no purchase was possible at all, one thing remained the same—the sheer joy of sharing this wild and impractical passion with which we are all afflicted.

Sure, selling watches is important, especially at an event which takes place somewhere like Aspen—challenging to get to, and expensive to stay in. Still, the true value of events like these is allowing for the community to come together, sharing their love and passion for watches with one another, and having the opportunity to see the rare and special pieces that brands brought in just for this event.

A not-often-seen Porsche Design P6600 Chronograph.

While the second year of Watch Week Aspen was significantly bigger than the first year, with more sponsoring brands, guests, and activities taking place, this appears to be only the beginning of what the watch community can expect in the years to come. The growth from year one to year two demonstrated not just increased industry support, but a deeper understanding of how to blend Aspen's outdoor culture with horological appreciation.

"I am proud that the event reflected both the true spirit of Aspen and the collector community – fun, connection, inclusivity, and a shared passion for what we do," Mrs. Smith Hrubala reflected. "We look forward to making this an annual tradition, listening to feedback from attendees and partners to make it better each year, and continuing to build Watch Week Aspen into one of the premier luxury watch events in the United States."

Scroll through for some scenes and some fantastic watches from the weekend.