Episode 13 - How to Become a Watchmaker, From Hobbyist to Professional
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- Опубликовано: 3 апр 2018
- In this episode of Watch and Listen, Cameron takes us through the process of becoming a watchmaker, from a complete novice, to a weekend hobbyist, all the way up to being a professional at one of the "Big Three" or Rolex. We discuss how to build a basic tool set and practice at home, local apprenticeships, how to apply for and get into watchmaking schools, and career placement prospects for those who choose to do it professionally.
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I bought one of those cheap ebay tool kits and fixed my first mechanical watch today.
I had to replace the hairspring, a couple of the jewels and fix the ratchet mechanism for the mainspring. I had another junk watch which I cannibalised the parts from and it took me forever because I've never touched a watch movement before but it's working now and seems to be keeping good time so far so I'm pretty happy.
I am a nearly 80 year old WATCHMAKER and was pleased to hear you distinguish between a WATCHMAKER and a watch technician, and I would say that at least 95% of so called watchmakers are not watchmakers but watch repairers. I have a number of so called watchmakers that when they want a wheel cutting or cylinder or a verge staff making they send them to me, if they were WATCHMAKERS they would be able to do it their selves. A number of years ago I went to work at a well known watch manufacturers repair department the manager told me he had eleven watchmakers in his department, When I started there, there wasn't a WATCHMAKER amongst the eleven they were all repairers. So it's great to hear someone else distinguish between a WATCHMAKER and a watch repairer. Just in passing when I started in the trade it was a five year apprenticeship with two years improver ship.
keith solloway hey Keith, I want to network with you. Really I just have a ton of questions to ask a veteran as yourself 🤝
Maybe they are Watchmakers that send you work. Some of them feel like they can't be bothered with such mundane task such as the manufacturing process. I have heard the two used interchangeable. But at the end of the day I believe your correct. I have struggled with what to call myself because I am self taught and the industry calls the two the same thing and they are not. So from here on out I am a watch repairman. But really I drag them out of the scrap heap and return them to their formerly glory. So Ive been thinking about naming my repair shop the Glory Hole.
For all intents and purposes, if you've made it through either the SAWTA or WOSTEP programs, you are in fact a certified watchmaker, and recognized as such by the watchmaking community which includes the manufacturers themselves. End of story.
Sorry but there is a difference and it isn't the one you pointed out.
Loved this episode, Cameron certainly knows his stuff!
I come from switzerland but my family moved here, one day I want to move back and work with watches, thanks for helping me understand how to go about that!
My good friend, how long have you lived outside of Switzerland? I am a Chef, grew up and trained in the Netherlands (US born). When I was 19 I did a 3 month internship in a hotel in Switzerland. In the US I have worked with a ton of Swiss Chefs, good people.....no, take that back, GREAT people. But as they were out of Switzerland for 20-30 years or more and going to Switzerland for 3 week vacations, they returned in sadness, dismayed at what they saw in Switzerland, complaining that it's nothing like the old country anymore (just like anywhere else I guess) . One good friend of mine, Otto Spielman, was in the US for over 40 years. Gave his kids excellent educations here in the US but he always planned to retire and return to the old country, he prepared for it for over a decade. He sold his home, scrambled together his retirement money and went to Switzerland with more than 1 Million Dollars (in the 80's, that's pretty good for a Chef). He came back to the US after 15 months, all he could afford in Switzerland was a 550 sq. foot apartment, he was disgusted by the Swiss politics, the new Swiss way of life and the culture and attitude of younger generation Swiss people. Sad, makes me wonder about living in the Netherlands today, I am going for a visit with my American son next year.
where in switzerland.. im in southern swiss.. i will partner with you
Fascinating! Dude can you please explain what in particular disgusted them/him? I am convinced liberalism has ruined many things.
Loved this episode. I hope you do the follow-up you mentioned, about starting your own watch company!
Thanks for making this video. It is very informative and inspirational.
Just found this podcast now! Seems great so far.
Your best podcast yet! I just applied to several watchmaking schools this past week so this definitely gives me more motivation to keep going. Keep these podcasts coming!
good luck! let us know what they make you do in the tests!
which ones and what are there websites
3 years later... any update?
how u doing now
@@destroy_television i gues not lol
Absolutely golden Information! I just bought a movement and a cheap tool set to see if this is right for me. Super stoked to get them in. Also, Richemont is only an hour away from me!
Love this show!
Thank you so much for all those useful information.
Great episode, as usual. Would love to see a Q&A at the beginning or end of each episode or every other episode.
I was going to say the same thing
Cool episode. My father does restoration work on antique clocks and watches, it is very cool stuff. Like you said, sometimes you simply have to make parts
Thanks for putting these up here I am really liking them. Also thanks for showing me another hobby to spend all my money on😉.
Great episode, as usual.
Aww... Look at Matt when Cameron does the introduction.
He is so in looove.
Just watching this, I love it
Very interesting. Putting in an order for tools right now. This is gonna be fun.
I spoke to my independent watch guy. He said for a hobbyist, a good starting point would be clocks. Might lean towards that before tackling a pocket watch.
I just tried with my first pocket watch, it was an 89 cent if you order 10 at a time alibaba. Funnily enough it was a wristwatch movement in a placement ring, I didn't use gloves or lubricate it or anything, but I did take it apart and put it back together because I bought 10 to play with. I accidentally pushed a gem out of the movement, and strip a left hand screw in the winding, but if I wound it with a screw driver and heald the gem in by hand it ticked and ran again, so I am pretty sure I could get it in 5 more where I was a bit more confident in just tearing down and rebuilding. I'm terrible with little stuff too, so I think a pocket watch is a good place to start. I don't know how easy finding mechanical clocks that are $0.89 each though.
Really enjoyed listening to his perspective. Any time I'm allowed a real peak "beyond the brochure" of a niche interest/craft, I'm locked in. Even better when my tour guide is a dude who, among a community full of enthusiasts, he was such an enthusiast that he made it his profession. The interviewer is tough to listen to though. Probably just me.
Very interesting and very useful information I applied to NAIOSW,
North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking
Connected to The Richman Group.
I’d made it to phase 4 the face to face interview and the tests. That was Cameron was talking about. It will be very soon. Keep up the great work guys
Where did you start? Like how did you learn this art?
I miss this show.
Really enjoying the show, this episode was very informative! Have you thought about doing a show on timepieces in cars? I'd like to know what they used before quartz and digital became available.
Very well structured interview
Just wanted to shout out to Crown and Caliber for some good service. If anyone on here is thinking about buying / selling with them, their service and trade value is excellent. I told my brother to check them out, and he has already sold and bought a new watch from them. They trade value was by far the best out of 6 dealers he contacted. Very fair markups on their watches, and the service was impeccable. Good job Matt on picking a great sponsor!
Matt Wasilewicz so glad it worked out! Congrats on the new watch for your brother!
Very informative thanks guys
Wish you were on spotify
Thank God the interviewee brought the interviewer back on track. Why would you say you're going start from the beginning and then immediately try to skip to after you've fixed the watch in the first two minutes? Some advice: let your guests speak. After thirty minutes of sponsors I was wondering if we were even going to get an interview.
I think I need a career change! That was cool!
Seen you on Joe Rogan. Love your videos man.
Also I can't wait for podcast #3. With my bad back maybe there's something I can get that may help. We have medical now.
I tried what you spoke about with a Smiths pocket watches (60's era).
I ran into a problem, and because it's a small brand, information online didn't help me at all. It's a hobby project but because I'm at a road block, progress and enthusiasum has halted. Have you guys, or views, been in this situation? If so how do you deal with it?
I'm also a hobbyists.
You can do overhaul to basic eta and seiko movements.
I invested nearly 1k in tools but its pretty doable give how many information is avialbe in RUclips and forums.
1k usd? well how is your studies and practice going on its been 2 years
@@29ibrahimsayed95 pretty good. fixed couple of my friends watches
Just a note, the SAWTA watchmaking school in Seattle costs 20K to attend, (that was in 2015). This tuition included 5k in tools and is all out of pocket for each student. No, not all of these schools are free. This is assuming you even have what it takes to be accepted, as only 10-12 students are admitted each year as was touched on by Cameron.
Very interesting thank you
This video inspired me to get my nice tweezers and precision screwdriver out which work great for macbook repairs and try at a cheapo 3$ chinese pocket watch, it had a cheapo 35mm hand wind movement that I destroyed, I forced a pressed in crystal holder out of the face stripped a left hand threaded screw but I took out the balance wheel and put it back in and it came back to live as long as I held that crystal in the face, 4/10 would try again. I feel like there's a level of better tools (certainly not a magnetic screw driver like I was using) that would make this a lot of fun to do.
I want to switch out the hands and hour markers on my Raymond Weil and it was a cheaper one so I’m not scared to try it myself 😅
I'm seriously considering watchmaking. As a model builder that scratchbuilds a ton of parts for my builds and the patience of a mature man I am very suited. my only wish is that I had started sooner.
Did you start?
I have.. I have 2 Waltham pocket watches and a Seiko 5 under my belt. Varying levels of success but it goes onward. Thanks
@@NitroModelsAndComics that's awesome. You've inspired me to start.
Oh now don't go blaming me!
LOL
Honestly, I wish you well. What is your background if I may ask.
@@NitroModelsAndComics I like watches, buying good knock offs of watches that are stupidly expensive. Would be nice to restore nice watches people don't want anymore for myself. Thinking I'll buy DIY Watch Club to get started
Great information. Would love to have heard it. Holy crap, you talked over him the whole frigging time. Let the smart man talk.
Hello, I want to learn to manufacture mechanical watches. What are the specialized universities or schools specialized in this science?
This was a very interesting episode. I wish Cameron was more vocal now. This guy has a lot of intelligent things to say and strikes me as a very determined consistent fellow who isn't quiet because he has an empty mind, on the contrary.
Love the show, still hate the long intros
Does anyone know if it is allowed or legal to build a custom watch using parts online and sell it as your own?
where can we buy parts wholesale
i go to antique shops in northern illinois and one in particular, a very large antique mall, there were Hamilton, Illinois, Elgin pocket watches all day long 50-100 bucks, a nice one working, maybe close to 200. sounds like a good area to start messing around; that and a fake Rolex that my friends dad had, which I now have, I want to know what movement is in it.
Probably a Seagull
Hi, I have some questions about, screwed drivers, and other things. Pliers. Can you send me an answer from Mexico City. I like to fix my own watches so can you helped me
I was considering buying a Swiss watch- but now I will support our American maker- Weiss!! USA USA USA!!!
What’s the second set of tools a watch junkie should get
Hah.. I've definitely had to make tools even working with cars and motorcycles. I keep extra cheap versions of many tools around in case I need to take one and make something out of it (or I'm doing something with it that might destroy it).. if I've needed special tools in the things I've done none of which were in a watch, I can imagine you definitely would with something like this. I could do stuff like this all day, Aside from the occasional need to stretch. Sitting at tables/desks working on small things really wears on you
I had started with an HMT watch 35mm and it was a disaster. I ordered a pocket watch and I'm on my way.
This is my question, If I want to do design watches and build a company like RIchard Mille what I have to do? How do you go about that route? That is mu qusetion. Pleaseeeeee someone answer me
You gotta answer your own questions if you want a company like Richard Mille my friend
I can't speak to watch making but just by watching youtube videos I've done everything from replace a clutch on my Volkswagen GTI to replacing my radiator and power steering pump to installing a lift on my SUV. The most important thing is to have all the tools needed and to have them ready to go when the project commences. Most frustration occurs when you have everything disassembled and realize that you don't have a $10 tool. Nothing worse than having to pay for a $30 Uber to Autzone for a $10 tool.
Video starts at 3:25
You skipped over his answer when he was about to talk about how the options now are better if you failed the tests.
I have been watching a ton of these watch making videos lately and have gotten interested myself as something to do in my retirement. I think that I could learn from the internet and by trying, getting my hands on it.
My thought is that you can get the word out on social media that you repair and clean watches, you can also go to small retailers where you live that may not employ a watchmaker and offer your services and when work is slow you can buy broken watches from ebay or anywhere else, repair and clean them and sell them as good watches, again in ebay and other places.
I even believe that it's possible to scout out estate sales in your neighborhood. You may pick up a really dirty, maybe non working Rolex for $5K, a watch that has been on some man's wrist for 40 years and now he's past away and the children are dealing with the estate. You could repair and flip such a Rolex for maybe $12K or more. Opportunities everywhere.
Content is pretty much rich. But can you ensure that the sound quality of the video is less chaotic and more soothing please?
Gratitudes in advance 🖤
I know I'm almost a year behind on commenting on this, but yes, as far as I know we do have a SAWTA program here in Seattle, at the North Seattle Community College
I really want to go there. Do you know how many people they accept a year????????
@@jakegwen2393 Not many. When I tried to apply last year (I was late by about 2 days, and missed my chance), I think they said they accept 12 people, or something like that
Scott Helmer Dang. What do they look for in the applications? High school GPA, SAT scores??? Also what would increase your chance of getting in?
@@jakegwen2393 If you watch the video all the way, Cameron explains all of that. Short answer is they test and interview you before accepting you. SAT scores aren't generally used at community colleges, by the way.
Scott Helmer So basically there’s like no way to have a career in watchmaking unless you’re extremely lucky from the beginning?
Yea I looked on google maps for the AP Service center. It is an Unassuming Building. I wouldn't want to be the Fed Ex Driver picking up and delivering from the AP service center. I live only 20 min from Clear water. And know where to find a watch maker
Thanks for making this series of shows!
While the S-Town podcast hooked me on horology, I like Cameron’s version MUCH better, since it doesn’t involve huffing mercury vapor and suicide. 👍👍
Why so vague on salaries. What does a beginner watchmaker get paid? How much do the experienced watchmakers who service complicated watches make?
Salaries really vary a lot, just like any other industry They are also constantly changing. Salaries when I graduated from school were much higher than they are now, because there was such a huge demand for watchmakers and almost no supply of young watchmakers at the time. Currently, a freshly graduated student going into a large service center in the USA like Swatch Group, Richemont, or RLX, in a low cost of living city could be in the $30k-$50k/year range with a good benefits package. Someone with more experience, who can work on higher level timepieces without the guidance of a more experienced watchmaker can get six figures. Then beyond that, there are the watchmakers with a high level of technical knowledge and skills paired with management abilities. This is very valuable in an industry where the most experienced watchmakers are ageing and are retiring at a fast rate. At the same time, interest in mechanical watches is growing rapidly. So compensation varies greatly and depends completely on the competency of the candidate.
I am very interested in watch repair. I am a life long motorcycle mechanic hobbyist but it is becoming evident that, as I age, my body is not up to the physical rigors anymore. I still se well and my hands do not shake and I understand mechanical systems. I have thousands invested in tools, what's a few thousand more?
Excellent, informative video. Thanks!
That last point is my issue. I wanna go to school. I have some tools, but i cant afford to take two years off when i have a mortgage. Maybe one day.
Wow, would you stop interrupting the poor guy already? I cannot believe the patience of your guest, how he just sits silently and smiles every time he's interrupted, all respect to him!
Researching my family tree I have recently discovered My family history of watch making.Im a Descendent of Charles Girardier .I'm fascinated by the skill and trade I want to learn this skill and trade can you help me get started while I'm still young
I am a descendant of Pierre-Louis Guinand who was a very first optician of Europe
To repair a watch i have to drink coffee? I don't understand
What the salary range for a watch maker who goes through one of these programs and works for Rolex or Omega.
Salaries really vary a lot, just like any other industry They are also constantly changing. Salaries when I graduated from school were much higher than they are now, because there was such a huge demand for watchmakers and almost no supply of young watchmakers at the time. Currently, a freshly graduated student going into a large service center in the USA like Swatch Group, Richemont, or RLX, in a low cost of living city could be in the $30k-$50k/year range with a good benefits package. Someone with more experience, who can work on higher level timepieces without the guidance of a more experienced watchmaker can get six figures. Then beyond that, there are the watchmakers with a high level of technical knowledge and skills paired with management abilities. This is very valuable in an industry where the most experienced watchmakers are ageing and are retiring at a fast rate. At the same time, interest in mechanical watches is growing rapidly. So compensation varies greatly and depends completely on the competency of the candidate.
@@thewatchmakersworkshop How old were you when you got your start just messing around and deciding that this is what you wanted to do?
Matt and Cameron, I am really enjoying this podcast series! I have watched all of them in the past 3 days!
One suggestion I have would be to have an episode or two dedicated to Japanese Watchmakers like Seiko, Casio, Citizen, etc. Maybe going through the history of Seiko, as they have a very storied past. Also, please do another affordable watches episode!
On a side note, have you guys heard of the Japanese watchmaker Masahiro Kikuno www.masahirokikuno.jp/ ? He makes some very unique and interesting watches as well. Anyway, keep up the good work and I'm looking forward to your future episodes!
We have an entire episode planned on Seiko, as well as a second cheap watches and an "entry level" $500-1000 swiss watch episode.
Awesome! This is one of the few channels that I turned on Post Notifications for, the other being TST! Thanks for the reply, my friend!
I live in Scotland and recently got in touch with swatch about one of their schools in the UK, I was told that tuition was 20k. Maybe I misheard the video, but I got the notion that a school such as swatch does schooling, at least in the USA, for free. Did I get my facts mixed up or is their way of schooling just different internationally?
Not sure about the USA but in the UK it's just over 20k for the school in Sale, Manchester. There is a university course (3yrs) with Birmingham City University and one can study through the BHI as well. I've just started studying myself with a distance course with the BHI.
The Schools in the USA are currently tuition free due to a low number of qualifying candidates and a high demand for entry level watchmakers. The school operated by Patek Philippe even pays a stipend to students, but it is located in NYC and so cost of living will be much higher than other Schools in Dallas, Miami, Lititz, etc.
@@avimm2120 how did you find the BHI distance course? I was looking into it as I don't have a school in Canada to learn from.
calculus is pretty easy by the way
okay, looking for a box of cheap watches now =)
are there any courses
wow thank you.. i want to do this.. im a doctor working in sicily from galveston....and retiring to southern swiss and northern italy..
thank you so much
I understand money has to be made bills paid of course. On this podcast and your car podcast space out the commercials abit. Takes so long to get either show going. I do enjoy both podcasts but
I don't mean this in a negative way whatsoever; but if I won the lottery and was able to retire, but needed a career to keep me busy, and turn my hobby into a way to make money I would definitely investigate watchmaking.
Yeah you're probably right. This is more of a craft, one that taken time and money to perfect. Though it's an amazing world to explore.
When it comes to coffee blonde roasts have more caffeine then dark
Trig is Ninth grade!?!?!?! I've never taken trig. Graduated with a D in Algebra 2
Is 57 to old to begin a new career in watch making?
Its never too old!
I'm 59 and just starting out myself. I'm acquiring tools now and even built a little custom workbench. As of this writing I'm starting out solely as a hobbyist for now and I will see how this progresses but nevertheless it's something to keep me busy in my retirement years.
skip to 3:50 to start it
All the fun about a student fixing your watch: i went to technical school (not watches), and when we did something for somebody „outside“ i would bet my money that it wasn’t of any less quality than if it was made by a graduate : 1. because the teachers and students where dedicated to do it right -> „You cant f.. up other peoples belongings“. 2. Only when you seemed able to do it would you be given such a task. Sure i cannot prove that those schools would have the same opinion about it, but it would really surprise if not.
Oklahoma State U. program is out of business- cancelled by legislature to avoid confronting the twentieth and twenty-first centuries..
18:00
An interesting topic. I would suggest letting the guest speak a little more, rather than constantly cutting him off.
I thought this was going to be the watchmaker talking directly to us. Interviews almost never work because the vast majority of the interviewers have an agenda and along list of prepared questions. They only need one; how do you go from a hobbyist watch maker to a professional. And then stand back and let him explain.
Guy thinking you’d get it working after taking it apart once 😂 thinks we are Tony stark or something
I've worked extensively on cars, ATV's, bicycles, motorcycles, drones, and I've always really liked watches but just didn't really consider as something to do as a hobby but now that I need a watch I'm thinking about it and I've been gathering tools over the years and wanting to get some metal crafting tools and Mill and make my own stuff and being in an apartment now instead of a house, and with very limited space, watches are making a lot of sense. Could be fun. Soon as I learn something fairly well I start to get bored with it. So I'm always trying to find things I can put together and do something different with or finding reasonable access to hands on experience with something I've learned a good chunk about but just haven't had the opportunity to really DO. I wish there was one of those public sort of DIY industrial like shops around me where the community can come in with a project and use modern, large shop tools to help fully realize that project. They've been popping up in cities around the USA but not enough of them!
Great and interesting guest, but it was so hard to listen to with all the interruptions, please let the guy speak without interrupting his every sentence
Yikes watchmaking school actually sounds pretty stressful. It’s not for me I guess. Soon as he said trigonometry I was like yea never mind lol.
DID HE JUST SIP STEAMWISTLE BEER?
That's not watch making. That's watch assembly. Building your own baseplates, bridges, cases and wheels, that's watchMAKING.
Not really but ok
The guys charging over a grand for what appears to be a stock Eta 6497 which he’s just engraved his name on. Then sits there like he’s George Daniels.
What is the cutoff age for entry?"
There is no cutoff age. One of my classmates even had a full career as a Chef prior to becoming a Watchmaker and getting his Diploma and Certificate from WOSTEP.
I might have missed this, and I can't find answers on the pages for the schools, but is it possible to take classes/courses online?
There is plenty to learn on the internet to start, but mostly for the hobbyist. There are no real watchmaking schools like WOSTEP offering online classes.
Thank you or the quick response! I'm barely getting into watches, and just like you, I am a ACVW fan. I've had numerous bugs and had one '77 westy.
I've always enjoyed watches but I've been diving deeper into it lately. I purchased a toolkit like you guys showed a few weeks ago and I have a beater-watch to experiment on. I'm still very new to this, but I want to learn as much as I can. This is def a hobby. But who knows what the future may hold. Thank you!
Cameron Weiss Realistically though if someone, like myself, is approaching 50, what would their prospects be? Just finished watching this episode and found it very informative. Wish I knew about this when I was in my 20's... feel like I missed my calling.
shame about this, up here in canada we only have one school. in quebec. the french resent those who aren't french, and out of province tuition costs dickloads.
its a bilingual school you fuckin angry ass. but go ahead be mad at french people ya fuckin loon
I am pretty sure they take English Students....
@@1UpKroeker they do
@@chris-ui3zh have you taken the course?
You should allocate more time to tell us about your sponsors.....
These guys are just like all the other gatekeepers out there. If you are passionate enough about anything then "school" or an apprenticeship is only a bump in the road. Unlike years ago, there is so much free information out there that you don't need to be at the mercy of some power hungry jackass.
Over 30k for a watchmaking school😭
Depends where.
Try online $100 and they give you tools and a dead watch!!
One has to go through additional certifications to be able to touch a customer's Rolex, so no students.
Good show, just let him talk, dude. cut him off a little less so he can finish a thought.
The host comes off as incredibly self centred. Seems like the kind of guy that just waits for you to stop talking rather than listening so he can start talking. 0 eye contact and just fiddling around the moment his guest starts speaking. Also let the fucking guy talk without interrupting him every 2 seconds. So frustrating to watch, he was a great guest.
Into just far to long sorry
I'm sorry, but if you have a podcast, you just can't have parasite words. It's off putting.
No it isn't
I really would have likes to hear more from the person being interviewed (wasn't that the point?) than from the person doing the interview. Few times Cameron was about to go with an important detail, then... lost due to pod host interrupting because wanted to be seen and goes off for a minute. Shame really (like why do an interview show and then host talks more? Shades of Joe Rogan).