Whitney Weiss, wife of renowned watchmaker Cameron Weiss and mom of two, can be credited with much of the Weiss Watch Company’s success. After all, she spearheads everything from its marketing and branding to sales and social media. But she’s also immersed in the pursuit of meaningful moments — whether on a farm, in her garden, or on adventures with her family.
We caught up with Whitney to hear about her approach to work-life balance and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the watchmaking business, including why she and Cameron chose Wedgewood-Houston for the Weiss workshop!
How did you and your husband meet, and what began the watchmaking journey?
My husband and I were introduced by friends in college, and at that point, he was interested in watchmaking already. He had watchmaking tools and books, but it was a hobby. After that, he fell deeply in love with the artistry. His acceptance into a watchmaking school in Miami really kicked off his future ideas.
Tell us about your role within the company.
I wear a lot of hats. I am in charge of all of our marketing, branding, collaborations, sales, customer support, email marketing, advertising, social media, events, and big projects. I love that I create my own schedule and tasks for what I need to accomplish each day. I enjoy the freedom it gives me to make a schedule that allows me to spend time with our two daughters. This lets me go outside on adventures with them and really focus on them fully when I am away from my desk.
What made you choose the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood for the company headquarters, and what do you love most about it?
We wanted a spot that felt vibrant and energetic, and the creative energy of Wedgewood-Houston felt like the perfect place for us. There are craftsmen, artists, bakers, and many other creative fields represented. I love all the creators in the neighborhood, especially the artists and galleries displaying some of the most incredible artwork around.
What might people be most surprised to learn about watchmaking? What are some common misconceptions?
I think most people are surprised to meet a watchmaker in general and learn just how much thought, time, and energy is required to make each component of a watch. Sometimes people think we order parts “off the shelf,” but that infrastructure doesn’t exist in the U.S.
Our workshop is full of intricate equipment we’ve imported from other countries to machine watch parts. We have different machines for making watch cases; screws and pinions; movement bridges and main plates; and one for “bigger” parts, including watch crowns, movement barrels, and wheels. You need all of these big machines to make tiny parts. It’s a very time-consuming process.
What separates Weiss Watches from the other timepiece-makers out there?
So much of the work is done under one roof by Cameron himself, which is rare in this industry. We are creating a timepiece from a sketch all the way to completion within our workshop. And each step has many substeps. There are a lot of different elements that are needed to produce the watch that ends up on your wrist. For instance, once a single watch case comes off our machine in the workshop, it has to be polished by hand in three different ways before it is prepared for assembly.
You moved from California to Nashville a few years ago. What drew you to relocate, and what is your favorite thing about Nashville?
We left Los Angeles so we could have more room to do our work and raise our family. We needed more machining space for our workshop and a better commute into the workshop — Cameron was spending so much time in the car. We know some people in Nashville and came to visit. We could tell it was a good fit.
My favorite thing about living here is the community: I love seeing the way people in different parts of the creative community support each other, whether they are creating goods, food, art, or music. Our neighborhood in East Nashville is full of great food and parks, but it’s also easy for us to quickly go to the forest or a farm.
We like to visit Bloomsbury Farm for Farm Friday or Beaman Park for hiking and creek splashing. Our whole family loves the outdoors, so we try to incorporate a bike ride with the girls to get ice cream at The Soft Service Station or coffee at Weak Coffee each weekend. We get tacos at Redheaded Stranger a minimum of one night a week. And I love the way you run into people you know no matter where you go here. The community feeling at each of these spots is something really special.
What’s next on the horizon?
It’s hard to believe we’ve been in business for 10 years! Cameron and I have packed in a lot of adventures while plugging away at this business, both before and after our daughters were born. As a small business, we’ve been struggling to find the best, most natural way to celebrate our anniversary. Whatever we do needs to feel authentic to us and this community. At this point, the plan is to celebrate in a lot of little ways throughout the year. You’ll see hints of what we’ve got planned on Instagram!
When you aren’t working, how do you love to spend your time?
I really feel most refreshed and clear-headed after purposeful movement, which may be due to my childhood spent at the ballet studio. I love venturing out to Shelby Park, Beaman Park, or Percy Warner for trail running or hiking. I love a good yoga class, whether virtual or in person. I find live music invigorating and try to get out to a concert at The Brooklyn Bowl or a small venue once in a while, too.
After a day of work and fun with our girls, I love to read a book in bed before I go to sleep. I turn to historical fiction — anything by Elizabeth Strout or Fredrik Backman — and the occasional light rom-com. Novelette and The Bookshop both have great book selections in East Nashville.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
My dad once told me that a lot of people have good ideas, but it’s what you do with those ideas and how much work you put into them — that’s what will make you successful.
Outside of faith, family, and friends, what three things can’t you live without?
Coffee, books, and my Weiss watch.
Our ‘lightning round’ questions:
Most exciting hidden gem you’ve discovered?: Matryoshka Coffee. It’s a joyous, art-centric, positive, female-owned coffee shop. The coffee and vibes are fun, sparkly, and extremely delicious.
Last memorable meal?: The last memorable meal I enjoyed was the tasting menu at June. Cameron surprised me with a reservation to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, my birthday, and our business anniversary all at once. They accommodated all of my food allergies and made the most memorable meal for us. It was impeccable.
What is your go-to gift to give?: I try to give very intentionally, so I usually find myself shopping at Apple & Oak, Thunder Moon Collective, or A Shop of Things to find something personal. For kids’ gifts, I love The Getalong or Tabla Rasa.
What book are you currently reading? The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout.
What is the one thing you would never travel without? My eReader.
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Nashville women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives!
