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“For $1,500 more, I could have gotten a 3970 . . .”

“A micro-rotor is the best of both worlds because you get the benefit of an automatic without obscuring the beauty of the movement . . .”

“The one on my left wrist is a double-red 1665 . . .”

If the snippets above mean anything to you, congratulations—you’re officially a watch geek. And if you happened to be in Los Angeles this past Saturday, the Neighborhood Watch Fair, a collection of 13 exhibiting brands that popped up at the Bike Shed Moto Co. in Downtown L.A., would have felt like a homecoming. Organized by Jarrod Cooper, founder of the Neighborhood Watch Club, the event attracted collectors and enthusiasts from across Southern California who came to see a mix of brands representing the wide world of high-end watchmaking.

Christopher Wegener, the cofounder and director of Pragma, a 2-year-old independent maker based in Geneva, was there, showing off a new version of the brand’s P1 Perseverance model featuring a seductive silver obsidian dial. The watch, which will make its official debut during London Watch Week next month, is available in a series of six pieces: five in steel (for 34,500 Swiss francs) and one in rose gold (53,810 Swiss francs).

“When I created Pragma, my idea was not only to focus on high watchmaking—everybody always speaks about savoir faire and everybody does savoir faire—so my main focus was also to be wholly transparent,” Wegener told Robb Report. “The watches are 100 percent Swiss made, and I’m proud to say with whom I’m working. The case is made by Kari Voutilainen. The movement is made by Chronode. My website showcases everything. I have nothing to hide.”

He pointed to the case architecture of the 39 mm P1. Inspired by Swiss and Japanese wood working techniques, it features a layered construction and a Bauhaus sensibility, made clear by its lack of ornament.

At the next table stood Brandon Skinner, founder of Horology by the Sea, a dealer in Encinitas, Calif., who specializes in independent watch brands and special pre-owned models. Among the rarities he brought to the fair was the new Montpelier watch by 1776 Atelier, an American brand founded in 2023 by the Houston-based tech executive Jason Lu. The $17,800 piece features a skeletonized hand-wound movement that’s earned praise from watch lovers for its expert finishing.

“Jason’s going hard-core into high watchmaking,” Skinner said. “This piece is finished by hand. The hands are made by hand—80 percent of the work right now is American made. Every single watchmaker that Jason showed the watch to, their common refrain was, ‘You’re not asking enough money for it.’ It stands up to scrutiny.”

Jed Lackman, an attorney and longtime watch lover, stopped by the fair specifically because he’d seen a social media post about the event and knew that Skinner would be there. He hoped to see Skinner’s special edition of the Chopard L.U.C XP Skeletec, featuring bright-orange lacquered hands, in the metal (he was in luck).

“I became aware of Chopard as a watch manufacturer in the early 2000s and I subsequently became co-moderator of the Chopard forum on Purists.com,” Lackman said. “I just really love what they do, and I love the way they’ve evolved over that period of time.”

The fair was equally enticing for vintage lovers. Keepiece, Cooper’s own vintage dealership, showed lovingly worn wristwatches from brands such as Omega, Tudor, and Grand Seiko, as well as a selection of colorful, customizable leather straps. Meanwhile, Craft & Tailored cofounder Tyler Vanes brought a few special pieces, including a 1978 Rolex Ref. 1530 (“Essentially an Oysterquartz case with an automatic movement inside”) and a mint condition Patek Philippe Ref. 570 in 18-karat yellow gold, available for $37,500.

“This is a model from the early ’60s,” Vanes said as he held up the gentlemanly Patek. “It actually has a hard enamel text on it. And then after 1969, they went to a patent printed dial. This one comes with its original box and original certificate of origin. So it’s a real time capsule piece and just a really exciting thing to see.”

Not all the vintage wonders were for sale, however. Local watch connoisseur and card-carrying magician Morgan King was working the event; he was due to perform for the crowd in the afternoon. “I will not be pulling out any pigeons, bunnies, or cats,” King said in his signature self-deprecating style. “I’m very allergic to hard work. I do not bring props. All I have are a deck of cards, and I’m going to do magic with cards because they’re easy.”

Robb Report couldn’t stay for the act, but suffice it to say the watch geeks in the audience were very likely distracted by King’s choice of timepieces (as always, he showed up double-wristing): a Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller 1665 MK0 prototype, supposedly one of three ever made, and an original Omega Speedmaster Ultraman, an homage to the Japanese TV show, featuring a distinct orange seconds hand. “Omega came out with a re-edition a few years back ago, but this is the OG,” King said. “I’m an old school guy and I like the OGs. Although the re-editions are great, because guess what? They are actually waterproof.”

Beyond wristwatches, the fair showcased the work of artisans such as master engraver Artur Akmaev, and L.A. cutlery brand Fell Knives. A Porsche 993 Turbo and Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato sat in the middle of the event space. The variety of makers, dealers, and products on-hand was very much intentional. “Neighborhood Watch Club has always been inclusive,” Cooper said. “We have collectors who have those million-dollar collections, and also those buying $1,000-and-under watches. It’s always been about letting the whole community take part. “The aim is to keep rolling these fairs out, maybe have two in L.A. this year and next year, we’ll try to roll them out to different states,” Cooper added. “I like the aspect of having all different types of brands and companies coming together. Collectors are very like-minded. We’re into the same sorts of things. We maybe don’t know a lot about knives, but it doesn’t take much to twist our arms.”