Visitors Welcome: A Photo Recap Of Collective Horology's Open House 2026

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Words by Drake Moore | Pictures by Drake Moore and Ronald Tran

When summer inevitably arrives to take the reins from spring, you can feel the shift in the air. Board shorts, Raybans, and cold brew orders proliferate with exponential frequency. Flannels and IPAs go into a more permanent sort of hibernation, and the tops fly off cabriolet cars with vigor. Watch enthusiasts of all stripes more readily deploy rubber straps and micro-adjust-capable bracelets, leaving leather behind until fall decides to do something about its jealousy. The transition in all things is both gently gradual and violently abrupt.

There is a moment from my favorite show, Mad Men, that captures this sensation of coming change. The pro(an)tagonist of the show, Donald Draper, steps outside into Manhattanese sunlight (imported from a film set in L.A., ironically) after a pool session. He looks around, lights a cigarette for a smooth drag, and narrates from on high: “Summer’s coming. I smelled it.”

Don most certainly wasn’t referring to a watch trade show – the man specifically invoked corn and perfume, of all things – but he did like watches, and I find the phrase relatable. For me personally, I know summer has arrived in SoCal when Collective Horology, the nation’s preeminent independent watch dealer, hosts its annual Open House event in June each year. The lead horse to start the summer event season in L.A., Open House is a can’t-miss if you love the world of independent watches.

Open House 2026 was the event’s third year in a row, and Collective Horology expanded it significantly by hosting fourteen brands at the Aster hotel in Hollywood. Armin Strom, Ming, Holthinrichs, you name it – the cast of stars was impressive, the firepower on display immense. This year, I had the pleasure of joining not just my fellow TGN SoCal friends but also a large contingent of TGN travelers from out of town to visit Open House in force. Coffee and watches in the morning, cocktails and watches by midday – such events naturally demand proper documentation, so Ronald Tran and I played Johnny-on-the-spot with cameras in hand. I hope you like watches, both independent and otherwise, because there are plenty to choose from across both venues. Let’s get started with the morning meet-and-greet at Thunder Road Cafe.

*The Zenith El Primero Chronomaster C.01 for Collective Horology, the company’s very first and a fitting watch for Open House.*

Quick two-wheeled trivia: I believe this tank is off a Harley-Davidson Z90, a small-bore motorcycle made for a few years in the 70s by captive Italian manufacturer Aermacchi. The AMF badging and horizontal stripes tell the story.

*Atelier Wen’s Perception ‘鸿 (Hóng)’ in tantalum. The weight is mastodonic; if titanium had a nefarious twin sibling, tantalum would be it.*

^{_{Left to right, a quintet of bangers: A Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech, Zenith Defy Extreme Diver “Topper” L.E., olive drab PVD Heuer 510.502 chronograph (call it Pasadena-adjacent given the Lemania 5100 inside), Longines Legend Diver in Terracotta, and Singer 1969 Timer Original SR301.}}

*An Overseas chronograph donning a stylish tuxedo.*

*This T50 Goldbronze is practically a TGN family watch at this point – sold one, twice, even thrice with love.*

^{_{May we all be blessed to rediscover over and over the feeling of finding that next special watch.}}

*CWC, automatic, Erika’s Originals. Perfect.*

*No CSH article is complete without at least one Doxa in the mix. Second Topper L.E. of the day; these Great Whites are a charismatic lot.*

*Just south of the horizon of this photo, an Invicta is captivating the group.*

*…just kidding. No Invictas in the vicinity; I leave the morality of their absence to your own judgment.*

*A beautiful Infinity by L.A.’s own J.N. Shapiro.*

*Ming’s 57.04 Iris. Peep the Destro crown.*

^{_{The F.P. Journe Centigraphe in platinum. I’m positive I can land this on trade if I buy and sell a condo after a few decades with equity built in.}}

*One of the more playful watches of the morning, the S.U.F. Helsinki x Moomin Diver in bronze.*

*A tangerine dream in the Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour Coral Lacquer.*

Exit Thunder Road Cafe, stage left. Enter the Aster and Collective Horology. Onto more watches we go – let’s head inside.

^{_{A quick wrist check for our gents above: an Omega Speedmaster Mark 40 40th Anniversary Edition, Nomos Gangreserve 84 Stunden, and the ever-classic JLC Reverso.}}

*A lovely Breguet Tradition in rose gold.*

The Breguet owner’s other watch, a 16570 Explorer II with a soft, warm patina to the indices. The pouch is smart; you need to keep those Rolexes hidden lest they be bullied by the independent watches in the room.

*Hanging out at the Ming booth with the brand’s head of marketing and communications, Logan Baker.*

*The Ming 56.00 Starfield. This is just one of twenty total.*

*This Sartory Billard feels Bee Gees-coded.*

^{_{Robert Punkenhofer of Carl Suchy & Söhne. The Belvederes that CS&S offers are ergonomically excellent watches.}}

*Aventurine and titanium as envisioned by Speake Marin.*

*Quick break from camera work to talk about the history of Aventurine.*

*Claude Greisler, co-founder and master watchmaker at Armin Strom.*

*Armin Strom’s Dual Time GMT Resonance Aventurine.*

^{_{Fleming’s Series I Mark II “Redwood.” I love the lugs on this watch; you can’t see it top-down, but they’re skeletonized and visually prominent in a good way.}}

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For more information about Collective Horology, please visit the brand’s website.

To see more of Ronald Tran’s photography and book him for a session, please visit his Instagram profile.

Need more independent watch content? Check out our photo report for Open House 2025.