The biggest problem with learning on-the-job is that your progression is at the mercy of your employer. They will also rarely have any hand skills to manufacture or alter parts. My experience of working alongside watchmakers in this category is that they can be fantastic at servicing watches, and are usually the most productive workers in a repair service centre, however it is often the case that they don’t understand the “why” of watchmaking such as the theory or the history. Short courses can be used to supplement gaps in knowledge. They have come into the role with no previous experience and then learnt and developed through practice and being shown techniques by colleagues. The majority of watchmakers and watch technicians in the industry are in this category. The Watch Forum My first watchmaking workbench I set up at home in 2012 Learning Watchmaking On-The-Job There’s a range of skills from the professional with 40+ year’s experience right down to the enthusiast with no prior knowledge.įor forums there’s a huge variety of specialised sites, but a couple of popular places to start are: On Facebook the best group I’ve found is Retro and Vintage Watches and Restorations they are a friendly and active group and also have a very active admin who helps keep all the posts helpful and on-topic. There are plenty of forums that allow a good exchange of ideas. The key to making this successful is to find a like-minded group of enthusiasts who you can ask for advice and help, and also share your passion with. This is a great way for the self-disciplined to learn some basic skills, and possibly some bad habits too. You can pick up some old watches and cheap tools from eBay and practice and learn through watching YouTube videos and online forums. This is the route taken by most hobbyists. Watchmaker Training Opportunities Outside the UK.Supplementary Watchmaker Training Courses.I have split this article about learning how to train to become a watchmaker into 6 parts, you can skip to any section by clicking on the link below: In this part we will focus on watchmaker training and education, and the different routes you can take on your journey to becoming a watchmaker.

This is the 2nd part of the 5 part series on how to become a watchmaker.

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