In what feels like an annual tradition, I caught up with Jason Hutton, founder and organizer of the Vancouver Timepiece Show, walking the boardwalk near the Pipe Shop venue. The weather cooperated again somehow, the energy on the floor was undeniable. At the time we recorded, Jason estimated just shy of 3,000 attendees over the weekend, which shows about 20-25% over last year. The show may had a smaller brand count; but still had big energy.
What stood out to both Jason and I was the crowd itself. People weren’t just coming from across Vancouver or even Canada. Saskatoon, Calgary, the UK, Washington, California... the #watchfam are making a full weekend out of it, treating Vancouver as the destination and the show as part of the reason to make the trip to the PNW.
On the brand side, it was great to see familiar friends like Baltic, Christopher Ward, and Elliot Brown back on the floor, just to name a few. For me there were some new standout brands too. 22 Studio, a Taiwanese brand led by an industrial designer working with concrete as a watch material, was unlike anything else at the show. Catching up with Mike Pearson of Christopher Ward is always a treat, and honestly a feat, given the CW booth was easily one of the busiest on the floor. And it was great to see James Stacey, editor-in-chief at Hodinkee and one half of The Grey NATO, in attendance alongside Marathon Watches and Roldorf Watch Co., with TGN hosting an after-show party at Roldorf’s shop. A sign of just how much gravity this show pulls in the #watchfam community.
Looking ahead, the Pipe Shop is already locked in for next year, last full weekend of April in 2027, with Jason starting to think beyond the exhibition floor maybe even toward outdoor activations and experiences that tap into everything that makes Vancouver, and the PNW, such a special backdrop for all of this.
Montreal is joining what people are already naturally calling the “Canadian Timepiece Show Series” at the end of May. Honestly, that title fits with now a trio of shows.
Head over to the Timepiece Show website for more, and especially if you’re eyeing tickets for one of the upcoming shows. A genuine thank you to Jason and the entire Timepiece Show team for continuing to welcome me back as a content creator from the PNW. Full interviews are rolling out on the Analog Explorer podcast feed. Stay tuned.
Wrist Check’n
