Above: Bill McDowell
Right: Loren Sciurba
D
istrict Time is an annual watch show held in Washington,
DC. Now in its fourth year, it has become a must-see event
for watch enthusiasts, especially those who like small,
independent watch brands and affordable vintage pieces. The 2019
event will take place on October 12th and 13th, and it promises to be
the biggest yet. AboutTime has participated in the past and will return
this year. We sat down with the event’s organizers, Loren Sciurba and
Bill McDowell, to talk about who they are, and what drives the show.
Bill is the founder of McDowell Time, a microbrand watch
ally met for dinner, but nothing too big. I kept thinking there was the
company located in Rockville, Maryland. He takes great pride in the potential to do more. In early 2016, Bill raised the idea of a microbrand
fact that his watches are assembled in the United States and fitted watch event, I thought it was brilliant.”
with American crafted straps. We asked if it wouldn’t be cheaper to
Bill described how he had seen watch events and enthusiast com-
outsource, and Bill admitted that it would, but he has other concerns. munities coming together elsewhere, mostly New York, but not in DC.
“It’s part patriotic, part practical,” he explained. “Of course, I am com- “It just didn’t make sense.,” he said. “With a large metropolitan region
mitted to helping create American jobs whenever possible, but also, that arguably stretches from Baltimore to Richmond, I knew there was
with assembly in the states, I can keep a closer eye on quality control more than enough local interest to support a show.”
too. It may be more expensive, but it makes me feel good about the
product I’m putting my name on.”
Loren publishes TheTimeBum.com, a popular watch review site
Loren agreed and added, “Everything is online now — and it’s
great. I mean, it’s the reason I could come out of nowhere and publish
my reviews. It’s how one person can start a watch company and deliver
that extends a considerable amount of its coverage to microbrands. a product to a worldwide market. It kind of makes our hobby tick, if
“I’ve got to admit that watch blogging was a weird niche to get in to,” you will, but it has its limitations too. You can browse photos and specs
he said. “I mean, it’s rather odd that total strangers around the world online all day and still not really appreciate how a watch will appear in
care what I think of a new watch, and yet, it’s great fun, and I’ve gotten real life, or how it will feel on your wrist. For all the online chatter, there
to know some terrific people who are truly passionate about all kinds is a weird divide between the product and its consumer. We wanted to
of watches.” bridge that gap.”
It was this shared passion that inspired Bill and Loren to start their
They dubbed their event “Microbrand Meetup” and booked a din-
show. “It was Bill’s idea,” said Loren. “We had met when I reviewed ing room at a local restaurant. “The plan was to attract 10 watchmak-
his first watch and kept in touch after that. I had organized a couple ers and maybe 50 or so attendees,” said Loren, “but then...” he rolled
of get-togethers and a small band of watch nerds who occasion-
his eyes. Bill jumped in, “It was crazy! We had 20 brands on board,
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