Q&A: How do I become a Watchmaker?

New GREY MARKET Episode: "Inside 2025's First Dealer Exclusive Watch Show! (it's WILD!)"

[atticus]

Fires Peter; makes a noble speech about watch repairs. Classy.

[nikkimiddlekillsday]

Do what I did, start with small repairs on cheap watches and work your way up to becoming a repairman

[Karsonbarnes]

The first thing to do is decide what type of career do you want? Do you want to work on the service side and either work at a jewelry store or service center repairing primarily modern watches?
Or do you want to end up either doing extensive restoration where you are making parts or going even further and making watches yourself?
This will help you decide what kind of school to go to.
In the US there are about half a dozen schools operating...half are tied to a brand in some way or another and the other half are independent. Over the years, these schools (for a multitude of reasons) have gotten shorter and more focused on the service side and repair aspect of the industry (which is the route that I went).
If you desire to focus more on the manufacturing side you'll probably have to go to Switzerland to study.
I recommend KHWCC school in Le Locle Switzerland...a very intense program with an intense but knowledge instructor. You'll learn a heavy amount of manufacturing and movement finishing (as well as watchmaking and theory) but the school is quite expensive. 😅
This watchmaking and the watch industry in general isn't for everyone but it can be an exciting and lucrative career!

[johnwalling]

I think you should offer a class on how to spot a fake Rolex with a real Rolex and how and what to look for when it comes to AP & RM.. and other watches

[DirtFather]

Millions want to pursue it, but nobody can afford to go to another country

[CraZyGlueStick]

You can be either Audemar or Piguet, can’t be both:)

[enokaguilar]

We need more shorts like this. #motivational

[Fastxfords]

Yea, let's just haul ass to Switzerland and spend oodles of money to come back and make 60k per year..

[rafimichaelboktor]

i strate watchmaking 2 yeats ago thank to ur vids

[Uriel]

Just do it! i think your right, stady job and otherside you can be creatife!!and certified, and a fun year in the swiess, get aquinted with all other watch nerds and with the beerhut on the skipiste!👍

[sharinglungs]

I seeing these people work at such small scale I wonder if the watch making/repair world would go the route of looking at a screen while you manipulate robot hands.

[Funnyandfunalways]

Why watchmaker is dying is because they being paid peanuts 🥜 how good a the person skill end of the day you can sell 10 watches perday but you gave a watchmaker 10 watches to repair they can't do it because time consuming and learning process too long and underpaid and people gave you their watch once a year expect you to priority them but end up they are not those person to feed your family. Passion, but can't feed their family only resales and brands are driving that sales, but watchmaker can't even effort their kids' degree fee. Will you want your kids to go for passion or survive to earn a living ? End up its all about money what passion its all bullshit. Salary vs cost of living end up sale earn money faster

[PoopDeckSwabber]

Had I considered this much younger, I would have done it. I’m too far in career I like with good part. But that would be my choice of careers looking back