Watch Week Aspen: The Rocky Mountain Alternative to Dubai's Horological Festival
In mid-August 2023, Aspen, Colorado, hosted the third and largest edition of Watch Week Aspen, a four-day event dedicated to horology. Established in 2024 by Elizabeth Smith Hrubala and Oliver Smith, the gathering drew over 300 affluent watch collectors who collectively spent millions. The Smiths had previously launched their Aspen store in 2020. Unlike Dubai Watch Week, this event showcased various retailers, including Avi & Co. and Betteridge, featuring 14 prestigious brands such as A. Lange & Söhne and Omega. Notable pieces included a Patek Philippe valued at $64,000 and a Ulysse Nardin priced at $162,000. Chris Drake, COO of M.S. Rau, noted that the demand was "insatiable," as collectors from both the U.S. and overseas forged connections in a stunning alpine backdrop.
Key facts
- Watch Week Aspen is held over four days in mid-August in Aspen, Colorado.
- Founded in 2024 by Elizabeth Smith Hrubala and her father Oliver Smith, founder of Oliver Smith Jeweler.
- The third edition welcomed more than 300 collectors who collectively spent millions.
- The event features 14 watch brands including A. Lange & Söhne, Blancpain, Hermès, IWC, and Omega.
- Participating retailers include Avi & Co., Betteridge, Meridian Jewelers, and M.S. Rau.
- M.S. Rau displayed a Patek Philippe with a salmon dial priced at $64,000 and an Ulysse Nardin x Urwerk model at $162,000.
- Demand for luxury watches in Aspen was called "Insatiable" by M.S. Rau's COO Chris Drake.
- Collectors Ron Champagne and Jeff Schmalback met in person after connecting on WhatsApp.
Entities
Artists
- Elizabeth Smith Hrubala
- Oliver Smith
- Ahmed Seddiqi
- Chris Drake
- Avi Hiaeve
- Robyn Lamson
- Charles Langlois
- Christine Hutter
- Hugo Lesizza
- Ron Champagne
- Jeff Schmalback
- Victoria Gomelsky
Institutions
- Oliver Smith Jeweler
- A. Lange & Söhne
- Analog:Shift
- Blancpain
- Buccellati
- Cyrus Watches
- Gerald Charles
- Glashütte Original
- Hermès
- IWC
- L. Leroy
- Moritz Grossmann
- Norqain
- Omega
- Avi & Co.
- Betteridge
- Meridian Jewelers
- M.S. Rau
- Patek Philippe
- Ulysse Nardin
- Urwerk
- Rolex
- Jaeger-LeCoultre
- H. Moser & Cie.
- Laurent Ferrier
- Goyard
- Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
- Dubai Watch Week
Locations
- Aspen
- Colorado
- United States
- Scottsdale
- Arizona
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates
- Miami
- Florida
- Los Angeles
- California
- Germany
- Switzerland
- French Riviera
- New Orleans
- Louisiana
- Peoria
- Illinois
- Austin
- Texas
- Maroon Bells
- Arabian Desert
- Burj Khalifa